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    Home » Newest Recipes! » Sauces, Spices, Dressings and Condiments » Best Chicken Wing Sauce

    Best Chicken Wing Sauce

    Published: Mar 27, 2020 · Modified: Sep 10, 2020 by Aubrey · This post may contain affiliate links

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    This sweet, spicy and sticky chicken wing sauce is absolutely incredible! Super easy to make, only three ingredients and also serves as a great dipping sauce for other appetizers including pizza! I will go down in battle to defend the awesomeness of this chicken wing sauce!

    Chicken wings on a plate covered in best chicken wing sauce

    This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through this link (at no extra cost to you).

    Why This Recipe Works

    • It is super easy to make!
    • Only 3 ingredients necessary.
    • Great on chicken wings and as a dipping sauce for all different foods, including my personal favorite, pizza!

    What is the best hot sauce to use?

    Hot sauce is typically a mixture of chili peppers and some type of liquid, most common being vinegar. This recipe will work with most hot sauce brands but Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is my personal favorite. I have also used the Safeway brand of this sauce which also works well.

    How can I make this recipe more spicy?

    Add 1-2 tsp. of crushed red pepper or cayenne to give it a little extra kick. You could also use a different variation of extra hot sauce instead of a basic Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. This is an example of a hotter hot sauce version for sale on Amazon.

    What else can I dip in this sauce besides chicken wings?

    The thing that I love about this sauce is that it is not just good on chicken wings! Here is a list of other great foods that are delicious with this sauce:

    • Pizza!!!
    • Mozzarella sticks
    • French fries
    • Potato chips
    • Spruce up a boring chicken breast
    • Veggies! Celery, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower – you name it!
    • Flatbread
    • Sandwich or sliders

    My trick for super crispy oven baked chicken wings!

    My trick to super crispy oven baked wings is boiling them first. Sounds weird but it renders out a lot of the fat which shortens oven time and makes them more crispy.

    • Preheat oven to 450 degree.
    • Bring pot of water of water to boil. Add 1-2 tablespoon salt (should taste like salt water).
    • Add chicken to pot, lower heat to simmer for about 5-8 minutes depending on how big wings are.
    • Dry wings thoroughly. This is important!
    • Place wings on metal sheet pan (thicker side face down). 
    • Cook for 25 minutes.
    • Flip and cook another 5-12 minutes. Cook time varies based on size of wings and oven (regular vs convection).
    • Sauce wings hot out of oven. Make sure sauce is warm when you coat them.

    What if my other guests want regular buffalo wing sauce?

    Good news! You can make both wing sauce versions and you don’t need any additional ingredients! A basic buffalo wing sauce recipe consists of ⅓ cup butter to ½ cup hot sauce (such as Franks Red Hot).

    The original buffalo wing recipe was made popular by the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

    Some other variations of the traditional wing sauce recipe can include vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper or garlic powder, just to name a few.


    How to make this recipe

    wing-sauce-in-bowl-and-all-ingredients-in-separate-bowls-brown-sugar-butter-hot-sauce-cayenne-crushed-red-pepper

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 cup hot sauce (Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is a great one).
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup butter spread
    • 1-2 teaspoon crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper (OPTIONAL)

    INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Combine butter and brown sugar in sauce pan.
    2. Cook on medium heat until all brown sugar is dissolved.
    3. Remove from heat and add hot sauce. Mix thoroughly.
    4. Pour into serving bowl.

    How is this sauce different from buffalo wing sauce?

    This recipe is very close to buffalo wing sauce but with a sweet and spicy twist. Buffalo wing sauce is typically a combination of butter and hot sauce. This wing sauce has the addition of brown sugar which adds a sweetness and complexity from the sugar and molasses.

    FAQ and expert tips

    What do you serve with buffalo wings?

    Popular side dishes with buffalo wings include a variety of crunchy vegetables (carrots and celery), dipping sauces (blue cheese or ranch) and other fun appetizers like nachos or quesadillas are great choices.

    How do you make wing sauce thicker?

    Typically your wing sauce is going to be the thinnest when it is at its hottest. However, this recipe has brown sugar so as it cools, it will thicken naturally.

    Related Recipes

    For other healthy and delicious dinner options, check out:

    • Jackfruit Curry
    • Furikake Salmon
    • Spinach Artichoke Chicken

    Hungry for more? Subscribe to my EMAIL NEWSLETTER and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all of the latest delicious food!

    You can also comment below. I LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, a 5 STAR RATING is the ultimate compliment as food is my love language!

    chicken-wings-on-plate-covered-in-wing-sauce

    Best Chicken Wing Sauce

    This sweet, spicy and sticky chicken wing sauce is absolutely incredible! Super easy to make, only three ingredients and also serves as a great dipping sauce for other appetizers including pizza! I will go down in battle to defend the awesomeness of this chicken wing sauce!
    5 from 194 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, dipping sauce, sauce, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 273kcal
    Author: Aubrey
    Cost: $8

    Equipment

    • Sauce pan, serving bowl

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Hot sauce (Ex: Frank's Red Hot Sauce)
    • 1 cup Light brown sugar·     
    • ⅓ cup Butter spread
    • 1-2 teaspoon Crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper OPTIONAL

    Instructions

    • Combine butter and brown sugar in sauce pan.
    • Cook on medium heat until all brown sugar is dissolved.
    • Remove from heat and add hot sauce. Mix thoroughly.
    • Pour into serving bowl.

    Notes

    My trick to super crispy oven baked wings is boiling them first. Sounds weird but it renders out a lot of the fat which shortens oven time and makes them more crispy.
    • Preheat oven to 450 degree.
    • Bring pot of water of water to boil. Add 1-2 tablespoon salt (should taste like salt water).
    • Add chicken to pot, lower heat to simmer for about 5-8 minutes depending on how big wings are.
    • Dry wings thoroughly. This is important!
    • Place wings on metal sheet pan (thicker side face down). 
    • Cook for 25 minutes.
    • Flip and cook another 5-12 minutes. Cook time varies based on size of wings and oven (regular vs convection).
    • Sauce wings hot out of oven. Make sure sauce is warm when you coat them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 273kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AubreysHealthyKitchen or tag #aubreyshealthykitchen!
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    About Aubrey

    My name is Aubrey. I am a busy lawyer and momma. While I am passionate about both, I have a place in my heart for great food and want to share it with other food lovers!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lyn

      September 25, 2022 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This sauce is soooooo good! I dipped the wings in the sauce before I put them in the oven and then again just before serving. Amazing! This is now my favorite go to sauce. I’m going to try it on ribs next. Thanks for this simple yet delicious recipe.

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        September 25, 2022 at 11:48 am

        Thanks Lyn! So happy you enjoyed! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Amanda

      August 19, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      Ok, I don’t usually leave reviews. I typically take the recipe and go but this sauce is EVERYTHING not to mention the amount of money I saved by opting out of going to my favorite wing spot. The best wings yet…makes me want to open my own wing joint! 😆

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        August 20, 2022 at 7:10 am

        Thanks Amanda!!! I am so happy you enjoyed and thank you for your kind words. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Ang

      May 11, 2022 at 2:54 am

      5 stars
      Wing sauce was sooo good!! Definitely will keep this recipe around!!

      Reply
    4. Patrice

      January 16, 2022 at 10:04 am

      Can I use Valentine Mexican hot sauce?

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        January 16, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        Hey Patrice, I have not tried this recipe with Valentina hot sauce but I do love that hot sauce and use it often. It would not be the same flavor profile but it would probably still be yummy. I would recommend you do a test run with smaller ingredient ratios and see if you like the flavor. Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    5. Valerie

      September 05, 2021 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      Amazing! I was web surfing for a recipe for party wings for Labor Day and I kept coming back to this one and I’m so glad I did! Folks don’t sleep on this one it’s a WINNER!!!

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        September 05, 2021 at 12:50 pm

        Thanks Valerie! I am so happy you enjoyed!

        Reply
    6. Nicole

      July 16, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      The best sauce! Would be delicious on anything!

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        July 17, 2021 at 1:53 pm

        Thanks Nicole!

        Reply
    7. Michelle Montgomery

      January 21, 2021 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      This was incredible! I was worried it would be really sweet but it was nicely balanced. Definitely my new go to for wing sauce.

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        January 21, 2021 at 1:54 pm

        Hello Michelle!!! Thank you so much! I am so happy you enjoyed! ☺️

        Reply
    8. Deanna

      December 26, 2020 at 12:12 pm

      Can I use regular butter instead of butter spread

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        December 26, 2020 at 12:19 pm

        Hey Deanna! Yes you can use regular butter. Let me know how it turns out for you! 😁

        Reply
    9. Natasha

      October 31, 2020 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      I only have thighs this time… should I double recipe??

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        October 31, 2020 at 1:19 pm

        How many chicken thighs are you cooking? This chicken wing sauce recipe makes about 1.5 cups of sauce.

        Reply
    10. Cindi

      October 25, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      I have to agree that this is the “best” Chicken Wing sauce. It reminds me of the sauce we used to get back home at our favorite pizza place! Thank you Aubrey for keeping the dream alive. Now I can enjoyed my old favorite once again.

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        October 25, 2020 at 3:04 pm

        Thanks Cindi!!! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Yvonne Yeager

      October 07, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        October 07, 2020 at 6:51 pm

        Thank you Yvonne! I am so happy you enjoyed. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Ryan

      October 06, 2020 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      This recipe lives up to its name as the best chicken wing sauce! Think of a regular buffalo wing sauce but taken to the next level with a sweet and spicy combo. This will be my go-to wing sauce for sure.

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        October 06, 2020 at 10:47 am

        Thanks Ryan!

        Reply
    13. James

      August 02, 2020 at 7:18 pm

      5 stars
      There are a million wing sauce recipes out there but I wanted to try a sweeter sauce. This sauce was the perfect combo or sweet and savory. I also added the optional crushed red pepper because I like spicy and it was perfect.

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        August 02, 2020 at 7:43 pm

        Thanks James! There are definitely a ton of chicken wing sauces out there and I so glad you love this one! I am biased myself! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Morgan

      July 27, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      5 stars
      This buffalo wing sauce is incredible. It is hands-down the BEST chicken wing sauce I have ever had. The sweetness makes it so much better than boring traditional wing sauce and it is so well balanced. My family went crazy and we dipped everything in it, especially the pizza!!!

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        July 27, 2020 at 10:04 pm

        Thank you Morgan! I am beyond excited to hear that. I am so happy your family enjoyed!

        Reply
    15. Lisa May

      June 09, 2020 at 4:30 am

      5 stars
      Yes! Yes! Yes!! This was so easy and delish! It was a fun app to make at home on the weekend. These wings were perfect & hit the spot! Sweet & spicy 🌶 is a favorite of mine! Thank you again Aubrey!

      Reply
      • Aubrey

        June 10, 2020 at 11:01 am

        Thank you so much Lisa!!! I am so glad you enjoyed. I have to admit, I dip my pizza in this sauce too 😂

        Reply
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