Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings: Sweet and Smoky on the Grill

There’s nothing like a batch of crispy, saucy wings fresh off the grill, and these Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings bring the perfect balance of sweet heat, smoky depth, and a little tang. Whether you’re tailgating, hosting a backyard cookout, or just craving some seriously good wings, this recipe is a game-changer.

One of the biggest challenges when grilling wings is getting that crispy, crunchy bite without deep frying. The key is drying the wings thoroughly before seasoning. Patting them dry with paper towels removes excess moisture, allowing the skin to crisp up instead of steaming. Then, tossing them in cornstarch creates a light coating that helps mimic that deep-fried crunch. Combined with indirect heat on the grill, this method ensures wings with a perfect texture every time.

While the wings cook, you’ll make a sticky, flavorful honey bourbon sauce that takes them over the top. The combination of hot honey, bourbon, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar creates a glaze that’s sweet, spicy, tangy, and rich. As it simmers and thickens, the bourbon’s deep caramel notes shine through. This adds a bold kick that pairs beautifully with the heat from the honey and the tang from the vinegar.

And the best part? This sauce is incredibly versatile. Besides wings, it’s fantastic on grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps, tacos, or even brushed over pork chops or ribs for a sticky, flavorful glaze. You could even use it as a dip for crispy tenders or drizzle it over roasted Brussels sprouts for a sweet and savory twist.

Set your grill up for indirect cooking at 375°F so the wings cook evenly without flare-ups from dripping fat. Let them roast until they reach an internal temp of around 180°F, which ensures that crispy, rendered skin while keeping the meat juicy and tender. Then, toss them in the sauce while they’re hot so they soak up all that incredible flavor.

Serve these wings with ranch or blue cheese dressing and plenty of celery sticks for the ultimate game-day snack. Whether you’re grilling for a crowd or just making a batch for yourself, these Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings are a must-try.

Give it a try and let me know how you use it. Tag @thatgrillerguy on social media and show off your creations!

Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings: Sweet and Smoky on the Grill

Recipe by That Griller GuyCourse: MainCuisine: American

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

These Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings are sweet, spicy, and perfectly crispy off the grill! Coated in a bold, sticky glaze, they’re a must-try!

Ingredients

• For the Wings

• 3 lbs chicken wings (drummies and flats separated, tips discarded)

• 2 tbsp cornstarch

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp coarse ground black pepper

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• For the Honey Bourbon Sauce

• ½ cup ketchup

• ¼ cup hot honey

• ¼ cup bourbon

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 1 tbsp coarse mustard

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions

• Pat wings dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss them with cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to coat evenly.
• Preheat your grill to 375°F for indirect cooking.
• Place the wings on the grill over indirect heat. Cook until they reach 180°F internal temp, about 45-50 minutes, flipping occasionally for even cooking.
• While the wings cook, combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until the sauce reduces and thickens, about 10-15 minutes.
• Remove wings from the grill, place them in a large bowl, and toss with the sauce until coated. Serve with ranch, blue cheese dressing, and celery sticks.