Hot Honey & Cider-Glazed Wings with Apple Celery Slaw
Shatter-crisp, oven-baked wings tossed in a sticky, sweet-and-sour cider reduction that gets a trendy kick from a hot honey finish. Pairing these intensely flavorful wings with a bright, crunchy apple and celery slaw cuts the richness perfectly and completes the meal. The secret to that deep-fried crunch without the oil? A simple dusting of baking powder and a wire rack.
- Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
Crispy Baked Wings
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 3 pounds split chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Hot Honey Cider Glaze
- 1 ½ cups apple cider
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
Apple Celery Slaw
- 1 large crisp apple (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and cut into matchsticks
- 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced on a bias
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced (divided)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of flaky sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the oven and pans: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire baking rack inside it. Spray the wire rack generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- Dry and season the wings: Pat the chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels (removing moisture is essential for a crispy skin). In a large bowl, toss the wings with the baking powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper until every piece is evenly coated.
- Bake the wings: Arrange the seasoned wings in a single layer on the prepared wire rack, leaving a little space between each piece. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the skin is golden, blistered, and shatter-crisp. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (74°C) (though taking wings to 175°F yields more tender meat).
- Reduce the glaze: While the wings are in the oven, combine the apple cider, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, hot honey, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer vigorously until the liquid is reduced to about ½ cup and becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cold cubed butter until smooth and glossy.
- Toss the slaw: In a serving bowl, combine the apple matchsticks, sliced celery, half of the sliced scallions, olive oil, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Toss well and season with a pinch of flaky sea salt and black pepper.
- Glaze and serve: Transfer the hot, baked wings to a large clean mixing bowl. Pour the warm cider glaze over the top and toss thoroughly until perfectly coated. Serve immediately alongside the fresh apple slaw, garnished with the remaining sliced scallions.
Notes
- Why it works: Tossing the wings in baking powder slightly alters the pH level of the chicken skin. This helps break down peptide bonds and draws moisture to the surface where it evaporates, resulting in a crispy, deep-fried texture straight from the oven. Always check that your baking powder is aluminum-free to avoid any metallic aftertaste.
- Glaze consistency warning: Keep a close eye on the cider reduction during the last 5 minutes. Because of the natural sugars in the apple cider and honey, it will transition from a perfect sticky syrup to burnt very rapidly once it drops below the ½-cup mark.
Nutrition (per serving — estimates)
Calories: 560 | Total Carbs: 26g (Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 20g) | Fat: 35g (Saturated: 11g) | Protein: 35g
Nutritional values are approximate, based on standard reference data (USDA FoodData Central). Actual values vary by brand and exact measurements. For precision, use a tracker like MyFitnessPal or Cronometer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 6-7 wing pieces and ¾ cup slaw
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 20g
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g