Mango Habanero Wings

Ingredients

• Chicken – I like leaving the whole wing with the drum, flat, and tip attached. If you making these for a party, however, you might want to separate them into individual drums and flats.
• Spices and herbs – The chicken is simply seasoned with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper since we’re adding plenty of flavor with the barbecue habanero sauce. Use fresh chopped parsley as a garnish, if desired.
• Pantry and fridge –Plain barbecue sauce (not sweet, spicy, etc.), use your favorite brand. Mango juice, find it in the tropical juice section, international section, or refrigerated section depending on your supermarket. They come in plastic, glass, or aseptic boxes. Sugar adds a little extra sweetness.
• Habanero pepper sauce – Use your favorite brand and variety.
• Mango – You can use fresh or canned mango. If mangos are not in season diced canned mangos make a nice substitute. If you do find yourself with extra mangos make this mango tomato salsa too. Give your party a tropical theme!
• You will also need – Cooking spray, 2 large baking sheets (half sheet pans 18 by 13 inches), 1 cooling rack to elevate the wings and allow air to circulate around them, a pastry brush, and parchment paper or foil for easy clean-up.
• See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.

How to make mango habanero wings

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking spray. Prepare the second baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper (or foil) for easy cleanup. Then place the cooling rack on it. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

1. Pat the wings dry with a clean paper towel. Season them on both sides with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Arrange them on the pan skin side up, without overlapping. Bake for 30 minutes.

2. Remove the wings from the oven. Arrange them on the second baking sheet in a single layer, skin side up. Bake them for 15 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Cook an additional 10-15 minutes if necessary.

3. Add the barbecue sauce, mango juice, sugar, and habanero sauce to a small saucepan. Heat over medium. When it starts to simmer lower the heat to medium-low to low. Cook gently for 5-7 minutes. Stir often to prevent sticking. Take the sauce off the heat.

4. Remove them from the oven. Turn each one so the paler side is up. Brush them with about a third of the habanero barbecue sauce. Bake for 5-7 minutes.

5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, turn each wing so the skin side is up and brush generously with about half the remaining sauce. Bake again for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven again. Don’t turn them, brush one last time using the remaining sauce. Bake for 5 minutes.

6. Arrange the wings on a plate or platter. Garnish with diced mango and chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy.

Storing and reheating instructions

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezer: To freeze, allow the wings to cool completely. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer the frozen wings to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Freezing may affect the texture of the glaze.
• Defrosting: When ready to use, defrost the frozen wings in a single layer, in the refrigerator overnight.
• Reheating: Oven - Preheat the oven to 350°F, place the wings on a baking sheet, and bake until hot all the way through, usually 15-20 minutes. Microwave - Place the wings on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high until hot.
• Leftovers should be reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.

Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a deliciously different dinner option, these baked wings will be a hit. I prefer baking wings instead of deep frying because I can cook them all at once instead of frying batch after batch. There’s less mess, and I can bake the glaze right on them. If you like these wings try our popular sticky chicken wings and these baked buffalo wings, which are perfect for watching a game on TV.