Sweet & Spicy Honey Garlic Jerk Chicken Wings Recipe (Gluten Free)

Crispy, golden chicken wings coated in a mouthwatering honey garlic jerk sauce spark instant cravings for bold Caribbean-inspired flavors.

These air-fried wings deliver an incredible crunch that makes every bite irresistible.

The gluten-free recipe combines sweet honey with fiery jerk spices for a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.

Each wing packs a punch of aromatic garlic and warm spices that dance across your palate.

The air fryer ensures a crispy exterior while keeping the meat incredibly tender and juicy.

Quick to prepare and packed with authentic jamaican-style seasoning, these wings are a game-day favorite that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Prepare to savor a restaurant-quality dish that brings the vibrant taste of the Caribbean right to your kitchen.

Honey Garlic Jerk Wings: Sweet Heat Perfection

• Prepare mouthwatering chicken wings with minimal effort using an air fryer, perfect for busy home cooks wanting fast, flavorful results.
• Blend spicy jerk seasoning with sweet honey and tangy garlic, creating a bold taste profile that satisfies diverse palate preferences and transforms ordinary wings into an extraordinary dish.
• Air frying reduces oil usage, provides crispy texture without deep-frying, and offers a lighter alternative to traditional wing preparation while maintaining incredible taste and crunch.
• Accommodate dietary restrictions easily with this naturally gluten-free recipe that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture, making it accessible for more people to enjoy.

Flavorful Wing Ingredients For Maximum Impact

• Chicken Wings: Juicy and flavorful base for this delicious jerk-style dish.

• Salt, Pepper: Classic seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of the chicken.
• Jerk Seasoning: Provides a signature Caribbean-inspired spicy and aromatic profile.
• Baking Powder: Helps create extra crispy skin on the chicken wings.

• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, glossy sauce.
• Garlic: Provides a pungent and intense flavor to the sauce.
• Honey: Offers natural sweetness and helps create a sticky glaze.
• Tamari: Gluten-free soy sauce alternative that adds depth and umami.
• Hot Sauce: Brings additional heat and tanginess to the wing coating.
• Ginger: Contributes a warm, spicy undertone to the sauce.
• Paprika: Adds a subtle smoky flavor and beautiful color to the dish.

• Cooking Oil Spray: Prevents sticking and helps achieve crispy wings.

Air Fryer Tools For Crisp, Juicy Wings

• Air Fryer: Essential for crispy, evenly cooked wings without excess oil.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for seasoning and tossing chicken wings with spices.
• Paper Towels: Needed to pat chicken wings dry before seasoning.
• Pot: Used for preparing the honey garlic sauce over medium heat.
• Cooking Oil Spray: Helps prevent wings from sticking to air fryer rack.
• Tongs: Great for flipping wings halfway through cooking and handling hot chicken.
• Measuring Spoons: Useful for accurately measuring seasonings and sauce ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon or Whisk: Helps mix and combine sauce ingredients smoothly.

The Best Way To Make Honey Garlic Jerk Chicken Wings

Step 1: Massage Chicken Flavor

Grab your chicken wings and give them a good pat down with paper towels.

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Jerk seasoning
• Baking powder

Toss the wings around until every inch is coated with delicious seasoning.

Step 2: Warm Up Your Air Fryer

Fire up your air fryer to a sizzling 400°F.

Quickly spray the rack with cooking oil to prevent sticking.

Spread out the wings across the rack, making sure they’re not crowding each other like passengers on a packed subway.

Step 3: Crisp Those Wings

Let the wings dance in the hot air for 15-17 minutes.

Halfway through, flip them over to ensure they get that perfect golden-brown crunch on all sides.

Step 4: Whip Up The Magical Sauce

While wings are cooking, grab a pot and melt butter with minced garlic over medium heat.

Watch the garlic turn fragrant and golden.

Step 5: Create Sauce Magic

• Honey
• Tamari
• Hot sauce
• Ginger
• Paprika

Let the sauce simmer and bubble for 3-4 minutes, then pull it off the heat.

Step 6: Give Wings Their Saucy Coat

Once wings are crispy, dunk them into the sauce, making sure every wing gets a perfect, sticky-sweet massage.

Alternatively, brush sauce over wings and pop them back in the air fryer for 8 more minutes to lock in the flavor.

Step 7: Serve And Enjoy

Plate those gorgeous wings and get ready for a flavor explosion!

Tips For Perfectly Sticky, Flavorful Wings

• Remove excess moisture from chicken wings using paper towels to ensure a crispy exterior when air frying.
• Arrange wings in a single layer without overcrowding to promote even cooking and maximum crispiness.
• Adjust the amount of jerk seasoning based on your spice tolerance for a personalized flavor profile.
• Simmer the sauce until it slightly thickens for better coating and more intense flavor on the wings.
• Use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce to keep the recipe gluten-free without compromising taste.

Creative Wing Variations For Every Occasion

• Spicy Caribbean Remix: Replace jerk seasoning with Caribbean hot sauce and add diced scotch bonnet peppers for an extra fiery kick.
• Coconut Fusion Variant: Swap honey with coconut nectar and incorporate coconut aminos instead of tamari for a tropical flavor profile.
• Vegan Wing Alternative: Use cauliflower or seitan instead of chicken wings, maintaining the same marinade and cooking technique for plant-based eaters.
• Low Carb Protein Option: Substitute honey with monk fruit sweetener and use almond flour instead of baking powder to reduce carbohydrate content while keeping the crispy texture.

Plating Honey Garlic Jerk Wings Like A Pro

• Party Platter Paradise: Create a vibrant spread with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges scattered around crispy wings for eye-catching presentation.
• Dipping Delight: Whip up a quick cooling yogurt or ranch dip to balance the spicy jerk seasoning, providing guests a refreshing counterpoint to the wings' bold flavors.
• Caribbean Companion Sides: Pair wings with coconut rice, grilled pineapple salsa, or a crisp Caribbean-inspired coleslaw to enhance the tropical jerk seasoning profile.
• Game Day Glory: Serve these wings as the star appetizer during sports events, movie nights, or casual gatherings, ensuring they're hot and ready for immediate munching.

Keeping Wings Fresh And Tasty

• Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep sauce separate to maintain wing crispiness.
• Wrap wings individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Label with date for easy tracking.
• Warm wings at 375F for 4-5 minutes until heated through and crispy. Avoid microwave to prevent soggy texture.
• Spread wings on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165F for food safety.

FAQs

• What makes jerk seasoning unique?

Jerk seasoning is a traditional Jamaican spice blend featuring allspice, thyme, scotch bonnet peppers, and other bold spices that create a complex, fiery flavor profile with Caribbean roots.

• Is baking powder important in this recipe?

Baking powder helps create extra crispy skin by drawing moisture out of the chicken wings and promoting better browning during air frying, resulting in a crunchier texture.

• Can I use regular soy sauce instead of tamari?

While you can substitute soy sauce, tamari is gluten-free and provides a richer, deeper umami flavor compared to traditional soy sauce, making it ideal for this gluten-free recipe.

Honey Garlic Jerk Chicken Wings (Air Fried & Gluten Free) Recipe

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4.7 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Jamaican-inspired honey garlic jerk chicken wings combine sweet and spicy flavors for an incredible culinary experience. Home cooks can quickly prepare these gluten-free wings with simple ingredients and minimal kitchen effort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken:

• 2 1/2 pounds (1.13 kilograms) party chicken wing dings, disjointed with tips removed

Seasonings:

• 8–9 teaspoons jerk seasoning, to taste
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or fresh grated ginger

Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tamari
• 1/4 teaspoon gluten free hot sauce

Additional:

• Cooking spray

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly pat chicken wings dry with paper towels, then generously season with salt, pepper, jerk seasoning, and baking powder. Massage seasoning into wings until evenly distributed.
2. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Lightly coat air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
3. Arrange seasoned wings in a single layer inside air fryer basket, ensuring pieces do not overlap or touch each other for optimal crispiness.
4. Cook wings at 400°F for 15-17 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking time to ensure uniform browning and crispy texture.
5. While wings cook, create sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and golden.
6. Incorporate honey, tamari, hot sauce, ginger, and paprika into butter-garlic mixture. Simmer sauce for 3-4 minutes, stirring consistently to blend flavors.
7. Once wings reach crispy golden brown, transfer to sauce and gently toss to coat completely. Alternatively, brush sauce onto wings and return to air fryer for additional 8 minutes of crisping.
8. Transfer glazed wings to serving platter and present immediately while hot and aromatic.

Notes

• Pat the chicken wings thoroughly to ensure maximum seasoning adherence and crispiness.
• Using baking powder helps create an extra crispy exterior by drawing out moisture from the chicken skin.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Tamari can be substituted with coconut aminos for a soy-free option, maintaining the gluten-free requirement.
• For a spicier version, increase the amount of hot sauce or add cayenne pepper to the jerk seasoning.
• Let wings rest for a few minutes after cooking to help retain their juiciness and prevent burning.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: Caribbean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg