Mango Habanero Wings

5 from 7 votes

These Mango Habanero Chicken Wings are like a Buffalo Wild Wings copycat, made even tastier at home! These spicy, sticky, and sweet wings are bursting with the flavor of fresh mango, habanero, honey, and lime. You'll fall in love with these wings!

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 423kcal

Author: Briana

Equipment

baking sheets
parchment paper
Saucepan
immersion blender (or food processor, or blender)
air fryer

Ingredients

Wings

3 pounds chicken wings, split
1 tablespoon kosher salt (about 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of wings - NOT table 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

We recommend about 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of meat. Kosher salt is less salty than regular iodized table salt, so keep this in mind, that if using table salt, you will need to use less.
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.

Nutrition