Orange Hennessy BBQ Wings

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken wings
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp baking powder (for crispiness)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2.5 garlic cloves (minced; 2-3 cloves)
• 0.5 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 0.5 orange juice (juice of half an orange)
• 0.5 orange zest (zest of half an orange)
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 50 ml Hennessy (4 cl-6 cl)
• orange slices (for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Season the chicken wings with salt, pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, and 2 tsp baking powder. Ensure wings are evenly coated.

2. 2

   To cook in an air fryer: Preheat to 390°F (200°C). Cook wings for 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until very crispy.

3. 3

   To cook in an oven: Preheat to 425°F (220°C). Place wings on a wire rack over a baking tray and bake for 40–45 minutes. If no rack is available, flip the wings halfway through cooking.

4. 4

   While wings cook, melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan over medium heat.

5. 5

   Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.

6. 6

   Add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and cayenne pepper to the pan.

7. 7

   Simmer the sauce for 6–10 minutes until it becomes thick, glossy, and reduced.

8. 8

   Add the Hennessy to the pan. If using a gas stove, the alcohol may ignite from the flame; otherwise, you can use a lighter to flambé or simply let it simmer.

9. 9

   Let the sauce simmer for 3–4 more minutes until fully blended and glossy.

10. 10

    Toss the hot, crispy wings in the sauce immediately until fully coated.

11. 11

    Serve the wings with your favorite dip and top with fresh orange slices.

Notes

For the crispiness, do not skip the baking powder. If you prefer not to flambé the Hennessy, simply simmering it for the allotted time will still cook off the harsh alcohol bite while retaining the flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• appetizer
• wings
• chicken
• air fryer
• baked
• spicy
• sweet