These Sweet Chili Chipotle Wings are crispy, sticky, and loaded with smoky heat. Baked in the oven and tossed in a homemade chipotle sauce, they're perfect for weeknight cravings or your next game day spread.
This recipe was born from my love for smoky chipotle flavors and I knew those flavors would work beautifully as a sticky glaze for chicken wings. With a touch of brown sugar, a squeeze of lime, and a quick homemade chipotle sauce, these wings check all the right boxes. Crispy, sweet, spicy, and totally addictive.
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Why You'll Love Sweet Chili Chipotle Wings
No frying required: These wings bake up crispy in the oven without any oil splatter.
Bold & Balanced Flavor: The homemade chipotle sauce is smoky, sweet, and a little tangy.
Party Ready Favorite: These wings always disappear fast at gatherings or game nights.
Key Ingredients
Chicken Wings: Bone-in wings hold up well in high heat and soak up the glaze perfectly.
Tomato sauce: The base for the chipotle sauce.
Chipotle in Adobo: Adds that signature smoky heat to the sauce.
Brown Sugar: Balances the spice with natural sweetness and helps thicken the glaze.
Lime Juice: Brightens the flavors and cuts through the richness.
Fresh Cilantro (optional): A sprinkle of chopped cilantro adds color and freshness before serving.
Ingredient Substitutions
Homemade Chipotle Sauce: Use my Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette for a quicker option.
Brown Sugar: Substitute with maple syrup, or honey.
Lime Juice: Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can work in a pinch.
Recipe Variations
Extra heat: Add a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Air Fryer Option: Cook wings at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, shaking once halfway through cooking time.
Garlic-Lime Glaze: Add more lime zest and garlic for a punchier finish.
Top Tips for Sweet Chili Chipotle Wings
Pat the wings dry before baking - this helps the skin crisp up better in the oven.
Use a wire rack on your baking sheet if you want the air to circulate under the wings. This helps get an even crisp.
Flip the wings halfway through baking for even browning on both sides.
Serve with...
Serve these wings with creamy Homemade Ranch Dressing for dipping. Pair them with Air Fryer French Fries and a side of Air Fryer Shishito Peppers.
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Sweet Chili Chipotle Wings
Equipment
- mixing bowl
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Ingredients
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 2 chipotles with adobo sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter , melted
- 1-2 medium lime , juiced and strained
- 5 pounds chicken wings
- ¼ fresh cilantro , chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
- Pat wings dry, season with salt and pepper, and bake for 35 minutes, flipping once, until crispy.
- While wings are baking, in a mixer, blend together the tomato sauce, chipotle peppers in adobo, brown sugar, butter, lime juice, and garlic.
- Remove wings from oven, place in large bowl and coat with about ⅓ cup of sauce.
- Return wings to pan and broil 3-4 minutes until they start to look crispy.
- Remove wings from oven and toss with more sauce. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Serves 4 people.
- You may have some sauce left over. This is great to dip fries in too!
Aunt Bee says
Oh how I love Sweet, Smoky & Heat! These sound SO GREAT!!!! <3
Jenny Unternahrer says
These chicken wings look super! I think they would be great on nuggets and skip the bones for easier eating. Pinning!!
From Valeries Kitchen says
I will have to pick up another jar of the Herdez Chipotle sauce to try these. They look fantastic Shelby! Perfect for game day 🙂
Megans Cookin says
Sweet, chili, lime,and chipotle are some of my favorite words. These sound amazing!