Add a sweet and fiery twist to your next batch of wings with this Mango Habanero Chicken Wings Recipe! These mouth-watering wings combine the sweetness of the mango and honey with the robust heat of habanero peppers. Look out Wingstop - these homemade spicy chicken wings will elevate your next game-day gathering to the next level!
Disclosure: This recipe was originally photographed and published in August of 2021, but has been re-photographed and the recipe has been revised for clarity and improvement. We hope you enjoy the new look!
You can't go wrong with homemade mango habanero sauce slathered on some crispy chicken wings! If you like spicy food, you're in for a treat.
Made with fresh sweet mangos, spicy habanero peppers, plus a touch of honey and lime. You won't be able to stop at just a few of these sticky sweet wings! They're the perfect appetizer for a party, game day appetizers like a Super Bowl party, or just a fun weeknight dinner.
If you're looking for more chicken wing recipes, be sure to try our delicious hot honey wings, this lemon pepper wings, these garlic parmesan wings, or even these boneless chicken wings!
Looking for more mango recipes? Check out our mango cherry popsicles, or this mango mojito!
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❤️Why we love this recipe
- Flavorful. Combining the sweet, tropical taste of mangoes, sweet honey, and the spicy kick of habaneros. We love to serve it with lime wedges and fresh cilantro for a little freshness. This flavor profile is totally crave-worthy!
- Crowd-pleaser. The perfect party wings, game days, or family dinners, these wings are sure to impress everyone around the table.
- Easy to prepare. This recipe doesn't require professional cooking skills despite the gourmet taste. With simple, step-by-step instructions, even beginner cooks can make these wings perfectly every time.
- Simple ingredients. If you can get your hands on fresh habanero peppers, which are generally quite easy to find, you can find everything you need at your local grocery store or in the pantry.
- Customizable. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients so that there's nothing funky about them. These wings are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free since they're sweetened with honey. These wings suit multiple diet types. You can also customize the heat level, and even make these low-carb!
🥭Ingredients
Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.
- Avocado oil - We use just a bit of oil to cook the onions and garlic.
- Sweet onion
- Garlic cloves
- Red pepper flakes - Optional, but makes for an easy way to increase the heat gradually.
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder & onion powder
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- Habanero peppers - These spicy little peppers pack a REAL punch. Less is more, seriously! We recommend only using one or two peppers in the sauce. You can always add more spice later, but it sneaks up on you quickly, so tread lightly.
- Mango
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lime juice
- Chicken wings - We use split chicken wings.
- Cilantro - Optional, but adds a delicious freshness to the wings.
Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.
✨ Substitutions & Variations
Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.
- Mango nectar. You can use mango nectar in place of fresh mangos with a few considerations. It is generally sweeter than mangos because it normally includes added sugar, so you may need to add less honey. The cooking time will probably increase as well, as there will be more liquid in nectar than just in fresh mangos.
- Extra crispy wings. You can coat the wings with 1 teaspoon of fresh baking powder per every pound of chicken wings. This helps create an extra crispy texture. You can also bake or air fry for longer for an even crispier texture.
- Low carb. We have made this delicious appetizer a low-carb version before! All you have to do is use your favorite sugar replacement instead of honey.
- Less or more spicy. Adjust the spice level of these wings according to what you like. Add more or less spice by way of habanero peppers, red pepper flakes, or even cayenne pepper if you like more heat. You can also add less for a more mild flavor.
- Less or more sweet. Add more or less sweetness to suit your personal preferences!
- Different sweeteners. Use maple syrup or even brown sugar if you like instead of honey for a different flavor profile.
🔪Prep Work
- If using the oven, preheat it to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- If using an air fryer, preheat it to 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket or trays with a bit of cooking spray if needed.
- For best results, make sure to dry the wings off really well with paper towel s to get rid of the extra moisture. This helps ensure nice crispy skin.
- Cut up a large mango and dice it into bite-sized pieces. They don't need to be super uniform since it will get pureed later.
- Carefully, while wearing gloves, dice up the habanero peppers.
- Dice an onion.
- Mince garlic.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice.
- Measure out the remaining ingredients.
📖Instructions
Season the wings with some of the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Toss to combine. (Image 1)
Oven: Place the wings skin side down on a parchment lined sheet pan in a single layer. Cook for 45- 50 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure crispiness.
Air fryer: Air fry for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F and the chicken wings are golden brown and crispy. For crispier wings, continue air frying until your desired level of crispiness is reached. (Image 2)
Meanwhile, while the wings cook, make the sauce. Over medium heat, add the oil to a medium to large saucepan, followed by onions and fresh peppers with a pinch of salt. (Image 3)
Cook until the onions are becoming translucent, stirring often so nothing burns. This should take about 4-5 minutes. Then, add the garlic, mango, and the remaining seasonings. (Image 4)
✨Pro Tip: Less is more with the habaneros and red pepper flakes! Start out very slow with the habaneros, as they are a very hot chili variety. Even a little bit can be too spicy for some people. If you're craving more spice later on, add red pepper flakes to taste!
Add in the honey, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar. (Image 5)
Cook for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and for the liquid to reduce by about half. (Image 6)
Now, it's time to blend the sauce. Use an immersion blender, regular blender, or food processor to puree the mixture. (Image 7)
Add the sauce back to the saucepan, (Image 8) and simmer it over medium heat, stirring often until the mixture reduces and reaches your desired consistency. This should take about 10 minutes. (Image 9)
Bake or air fryer until golden brown. The internal temperature should read at least 165°F with an instant read thermometer. (Image 10)
Place the wings in a clean, large bowl and coat them in the sweet, sticky glaze. Using a rubber spatula. (Image 11)
If desired, you can return the wings to the air fryer or under the broiler to get a nice crispy char on them. This is optional, we tend to dig right in!
Garnish with more fresh lime juice, minced cilantro, and lime wedges. Serve with celery and your favorite dipping sauce, like this Wingstop ranch copycat.
✨Tips & Tricks
- Proceed with caution with the habaneros! If making these wings for the first time, add spicy ingredients (like dry seasonings and habaneros) slowly to adjust to your preference! You can also leave out the habanero pith (the white part on the inside) and seeds to make the sauce less spicy. Taste as you go and start out with less. These wings are pretty spicy!
- For crispy chicken wings, don't overcrowd the air fryer baskets or trays (or oven trays). This is also just good general advice. Don't pile chicken wings up on top of each other, or else they will not cook evenly. For best results, place them in a single layer.
- Pat wings dry before air frying. Patting off the extra moisture beforehand will ensure the wings will be crispy.
- Be mindful that cooking times will vary. The time needed to cook the wings is based on the model of your air fryer and your personal preference. Our air fryer is 1500 watts. It is a good idea to check the wattage of your air fryer before cooking. Higher wattage may want to use a lower temperature/shorter cooking time.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the wings. They should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for food safety.
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💭Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Habaneros are really, REALLY hot. We always recommend using gloves when handling them, and maybe even wearing some goggles. They are somewhere between 100,000 and 350,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) on the Scoville Scale. Apparently, they are about 40 times hotter than jalapeño peppers!
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat the chicken wings under the broiler, in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. Do not freeze.
Leftover sauce: The sauce can be frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge, or under warm running water in the container it was frozen in.
🌟More Recipes To Consider
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📖 Recipe
Mango Habanero Wings
Equipment
- Saucepan
- immersion blender (or food processor, or blender)
Ingredients
Wings
- 3 pounds chicken wings (split)
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional and to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
Mango habanero sauce
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ medium yellow onion, rough chopped
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- 1 - 2 whole habanero peppers, diced (Go slowly, and be aware, they are super spicy!)
- 1 large mango, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional and to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ - ⅔ cup honey (to taste)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 ounces lime juice (about 2 limes)
Serving
- ½ cup cilantro, minced
- 1 whole lime, juice of
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F or an air fryer to 400°F. Dry the chicken wings off very well with paper towels to get rid of extra moisture. Coat the wings with 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Toss to coat.
- Place the wings skin side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet to help crisp up the skin or in a single layer on air fryer trays or baskets. Flip halfway through. Air fry for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F and the chicken wings are golden brown and crispy. For crispier wings, continue air frying until your desired level of crispiness is reached. In the oven, this will take 45-50 minutes.
- Meanwhile, while the wings are baking, prepare the sauce. Add avocado oil to a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, and habanero with a pinch of salt. Cook until softened and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Then, add the mango, 3 cloves of garlic, ½ cup of honey, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 ounces lime juice, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and salt to taste. Cook for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and for the liquid to reduce by about half.
- Now, it's time to blend the sauce. Use an immersion blender, regular blender, or food processor to puree the mixture. Add the sauce back to the saucepan, and simmer it over medium heat, stirring often until the mixture reduces and reaches your desired consistency. This should take about 10 minutes.
- When the wings are nice and crispy, place the wings in a clean, large bowl and coat them in the sweet, sticky glaze. Using a rubber spatula to toss and combine them. If desired, you can return the wings to the air fryer or under the broiler to get a nice crispy char on them. This is optional, we tend to dig right in!
- Garnish with more fresh lime juice, minced cilantro, and lime wedges. Serve with celery and your favorite dipping sauce.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the oven, under the broiler, in the microwave, or in the air fryer.
Notes
- If making these for the first time, add spices slowly and to taste! We have made them incredibly spicy in the past just by adding more habanero peppers, but tread lightly, because they are HOT.
- You can remove the habanero seeds and pith to decrease the impact of the spice of the sauce.
- For crispy chicken wings, don't overcrowd the air fryer baskets or trays (or oven trays). This is also just good general advice. Don't pile chicken wings up on top of each other, or else they will not cook evenly. For best results, place them in a single layer.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the wings. They should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for food safety.
- Pat wings dry before air frying. Patting off the extra moisture beforehand will ensure the wings will be crispy.
- Be mindful that cooking times will vary. The time needed to cook the wings is based on the model of your air fryer and your personal preference. Our air fryer is 1500 watts. It is a good idea to check the wattage of your air fryer before cooking. Higher wattage may want to use a lower temperature/shorter cooking time.
Moe says
Wow! This sauce was spicy and delicious.
Briana says
Perfect sweet and spicy combo! 😉