These Mango Habanero Wings are the best recipe with a homemade sweet and spicy sauce! If you love Wingstop or Buffalo Wild Wings hot wings, you will love this recipe. It’s even better! Bake or air fry these to get them crisp. Then drizzle them in the delectable sauce.
What Type of Wings to Use
I love to use party wings that are already split as opposed to whole chicken wings. Party wings will cook at a more even and consistent temperature. Feel free to use whole chicken wings if you like.
Sauce Ingredients
I love to use my Homemade Mango Habanero Sauce in this recipe. It includes:
- Fresh Habaneros
- Honey
- Lime Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper
How Spicy are Habaneros?
Habaneros have a bright, reddish-orange color and green stem. They originated in the Amazon, but you can typically find them in the hotter regions of Central America and Mexico.
Habaneros fall into the extra hot zone and have a heat rating of 100,000–350,000 Scoville heat units (the measurement of the heat of chili peppers). For comparison, a ghost pepper can hit one million Scoville heat unit, the habanero is three to ten times milder.
These peppers are hotter than poblano, serrano, and cayenne peppers. If you don’t like spicy dishes, feel free to modify the servings used or substitute for a pepper that is less hot. The recipe calls for 1-2 habaneros, you can always use half, 1/4th, etc.
Is it Sweet?
A little sweetness will balance out the heat so well! I like to add honey to the sauce but you can also use something like pure maple syrup. The key is to taste as you go. Add additional sweetness if you feel the need.
How to Make the Sauce to Suit Your Taste
In the recipe, I use 2 habaneros. This is pretty spicy, even for someone like me who loves really spicy food. If you are nervous or making this for the first time I recommend you start with half of a habanero, combine the sauce, and taste it. Continue to build in additional heat with additional habaneros as needed.
If you are looking for something on the medium side, in terms of spicy, I think 1 habanero works well. I still recommend starting with 1/2 a habanero even if you are looking for something hotter than mild.
It’s easy to add additional spice when needed. It’s difficult to take it away once it’s already been added.
How to Make Mango Habanero Wings
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a bowl to blend using an immersion blender or add all of the ingredients to a standard high-powered blender. Pulse and combine the ingredients until thick and smooth.
- Season the chicken wings with smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Bake or air fry.
- Remove the chicken and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the mango habanero sauce throughout.
- Bake or air fry.
Bake or Air Fry the Wings
The instructions below in the recipe card include full details for both cooking methods.
How to Make them Spicier
You can add cayenne pepper to your rub for the raw wings. That way they are cooked in additional spice.
How to Make Breaded Wings
You can use 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder or 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (enough to fully coat the chicken).
How to Reheat the Wings
The best way to reheat wings is on the grill or in the air fryer or oven. I wouldn’t microwave them. You can use the same cook temperature and reheat the wings until warm.
Can You Use Other Types of Chicken?
Absolutely! Chicken tenders, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs will work. Click the links to check out my other recipes for cook time.
Pair With These Recipes
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Grilled Asparagus in Foil
More Flavored Chicken Wings Recipes
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Honey Hot Wings
Honey Garlic Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Honey BBQ Wings
Keto Low Carb Chicken Wings (Maple BBQ)
Traeger Smoked Chicken Wings
Dry Rub Wings Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Crispy Ranch Chicken Wing
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Cajun Chicken Wings
Naked Chicken Wings
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken Wings
Mango Habanero Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings I use split/party wings
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper taste
Mango Habanero Sauce
- 1 cup diced mango
- 1-2 habaneros chopped, see notes
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Baked Wings
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Season the chicken wings with smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings to the pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes and then flip the wings.
- Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- While the chicken cooks, combine the ingredients for the sauce using an immersion blender or a standard high-powered blender. Taste the sauce repeatedly and make adjustments to suit your taste.
- Remove the chicken and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the mango habanero sauce throughout. I like to reserve 1/3 of the sauce for dipping and drizzling the wings in additional sauce prior to serving.
- Place the sauced chicken wings back onto the sheet pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes (same temperature). Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
Air Fryer Wings
- Season the chicken wings with smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- If necessary, spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking. Add the chicken to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- While the chicken cooks, combine the ingredients for the sauce using an immersion blender or a standard high-powered blender. Taste the sauce repeatedly and make adjustments to suit your taste.
- Remove the chicken and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the mango habanero sauce throughout.I like to reserve 1/3 of the sauce for dipping and drizzling the wings in additional sauce prior to serving.
- Place the sauced chicken wings back into the air fryer. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
Hattie
Tuesday 12th of July 2022
Whewww these were a hot one, but so perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the mango. Will be a repeat on our wing flavor rotation! Can't wait to bust these out for tailgates this fall!
staysnatched
Tuesday 12th of July 2022
Perfect for tailgates!
Kara
Wednesday 6th of July 2022
Mango habanero wings are the secret combination I have been missing!! I’ve made them twice so far and I absolutely love these. I have already upgraded the sauce to the full two habaneros! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!!
Ashley
Monday 27th of June 2022
Incredible! I didn’t have any wing/drumettes,(party foul, I know!) but I had thighs. Doubled the sauce recipe and cooked thighs to temp, perfection. As usual, knocked out the park!
staysnatched
Monday 27th of June 2022
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Diana Majczan
Monday 27th of June 2022
These wings were amazing! So flavorful and delicious. I need to make a double batch next time because the fam ate them all up and there are no leftovers. Once again, another home run!
staysnatched
Monday 27th of June 2022
Wonderful! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Danielle
Wednesday 22nd of June 2022
Made these last night after I received the emailed recipe. Delicious! Another hit from Stay Snatched. Perfect balance of sweet and heat! Probably my new favorite wing. And as always, read the entire recipe people!!!!! So many helpful tips and all your questions will be answered. Brandi outlines everything you need to know for each recipe to come out perfect!
staysnatched
Wednesday 22nd of June 2022
Wonderful! Thanks for making these.