Chicken wings coated in a sweet, spicy and irresistible hot honey rub – this is one of the most crave-worthy appetizers that Wingstop is famous for. The combination of cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic, brown sugar and honey creates an explosion of flavors in your mouth that will have you licking your fingers and going back for more.

This copycat Wingstop hot honey rub recipe reveals how you can easily recreate this signature dish at home when those Wingstop cravings hit. With simple pantry spices and ingredients, you’ll be surprised at how close this tastes to the actual restaurant version. Trust me, one bite and you’ll be hooked!

Why You’ll Love This Wingstop Copycat Recipe

Recreating your favorite Wingstop wings at home has some great advantages:

• It’s budget-friendly – Making them yourself saves money compared to ordering takeout every time a craving hits
• Customize the flavor – Adjust spice levels and ingredients to suit your taste preferences
• Satisfy cravings fast – No need to leave the house or wait for delivery
• Impress guests – Serve these wings at your next game day party or potluck

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s so simple to put together. Once you mix up the hot honey rub, just bake or fry up some wings and coat them in the sweet and spicy blend. The result is chicken wings bursting with finger-licking, lip-smacking flavors in every bite!

How to Make This Copycat Wingstop Hot Honey Rub Recipe

Making these crave-worthy wings at home is easy. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, patted very dry
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 cup honey for coating (warmed)

Kitchen Tools Needed

You don’t need much specialty equipment to whip up these wings. Having a few basics on hand will make the process smoother:

• Large baking sheets – Make sure you have baking sheets with a rim to catch any drips. I line mine with foil for easy cleanup.
• Cooling racks – Essential for air frying and crisping the wings evenly.
• Large mixing bowls – For tossing the dry rub mixture.
• Cooking thermometer – To check for doneness.
• Silicone brush – For evenly coating the baked wings with honey.
• Tongs, forks, gloves – For handling wings.

Beyond that, standard kitchen tools like measuring spoons, mixing spoons and oven mitts will do the trick.

Step-By-Step Cooking Instructions

Once you have all your ingredients and tools ready to go, it’s time to get cooking!

Follow these simple steps:

Step 1. Prep the Chicken Wings

Rinse the wings and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Make sure they are fully dried or else the spices won’t stick properly. Cut off any excess skin or tips.

Step 2. Make the Hot Honey Rub

In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, brown sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, chili powder and cumin. Whisk thoroughly so ingredients are well distributed.

Step 3. Coat the Wings

Add dried chicken wings to the spice mixture and toss gently with tongs until the wings are completely and evenly coated in the rub. Take your time distributing the spices.

Step 4. Arrange on Baking Sheets

Place wire cooling racks on top of rimmed baking sheets. Arrange wings on the racks in a single layer, making sure none of the pieces are overlapping.

Step 5. Bake

Bake wings for 20 minutes at 400°F. Remove pans and carefully flip each wing using tongs. Return to oven and bake 20-25 minutes more until crispy and browned.

Step 6. Finish with Hot Honey

While wings are baking, warm 1⁄4 cup of honey in a small saucepan or microwave until just drizzly. Once wings are done baking, immediately brush the warm honey evenly over both sides.

Step 7. Enjoy Immediately

Serve the wings straight from the oven while hot and crispy, with more warmed honey for drizzling over the top if desired.

These wings go fast, so dig in while that audible crunch and jolt of spice is at its peak!

Special Notes for the Best Hot Honey Wings

Here are some tips and tricks to take your wings to the next level:

• Roast the wings uncovered for optimum crispiness
• Position the wire rack at least 1 inch above the bottom of the pan so air can properly circulate as they bake
• Test wings for doneness by cutting into the meat near the bone
• Adjust baking time up or down based on your oven strength and whether wings are drummettes or flats
• Let any leftover sauce come to room temperature before tossing it again on reheated leftovers the next day

Rave-Worthy Variations You’ll Love

Once you master the classic version, get creative with these fun flavor twists:

• Toss roasted wings in peach or strawberry preserves instead of honey for a fruity twist
• Add 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice to the rub for an Asian-inspired zing
• Mix 1⁄2 teaspoon espresso powder into the rub and coat with mocha sauce instead of honey
• For a sticky sweet and spicy Korean BBQ flavor, brush with gochujang sauce

Serving Suggestions

These hot honey wings shine as appetizers for game days, parties or snack attacks:

• Pair wings with crispy celery and carrot sticks plus a creamy blue cheese dipping sauce
• Serve on a platter with buttermilk ranch drizzle and chopped scallions
• Pile high on a paper lined tray for no fuss snacking during a Netflix binge
• For a complete meal, add baked beans, slaw, and cornbread on the side

However you choose to enjoy them, have plenty of napkins ready to tackle sticky fingers and sweet and spicy drips. These chicken wings are that irresistible!

Storage and Reheating Tips

Like most fried or baked wings, these reheated best when consumed shortly after cooking. However, properly stored leftovers can still hit the spot.

Storage

Let wings cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Frozen pre-baked wings will keep for 3 months.

Reheating

Option 1: Reheat wings in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes, until hot. Brush with extra honey right before serving.

Option 2: Re-crisp wings under the broiler for 2-3 minutes per side. Watch closely to avoid burning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hot Honey Wings

Here are answers to some common questions about making these craveworthy wings at home:

How long is the hot honey rub sauce good for in the fridge?

The rub mixture will keep fresh for about 2 weeks sealed in an airtight container. The honey itself keeps almost indefinitely.

Can I use frozen chicken wings instead of fresh?

Absolutely! Just be sure to thaw wings completely before coating and increase cooking time by 5-10 minutes.

What’s the best oven rack position?

The wings should bake on a rack set in the middle of the oven for even heat circulation.

What if my wings aren’t crispy enough?

Increase baking time by 5 minute intervals, carefully monitoring doneness between each one. Crispiness develops toward the end.

Why add baking soda to the rub?

A pinch of baking soda raises the pH level for better browning reactions and extra crispy skin when the wings bake.

Got a question that wasn’t answered? Reach out in the comments below!

Conclusion

With this easy copycat recipe, you can now recreate Wingstop’s insanely delicious hot honey rub wings to fully satisfy cravings at home. One bite of these sweet heat chicken wings, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t try making them sooner.

The next time a spice and sugar chicken wing craving hits, instead of dialing for takeout, head to the kitchen to whip up a batch yourself. Customize flavors to suit your taste, save money on delivery fees and have fun getting creative in the kitchen.

Thanks so much for reading! If you end up trying this Wingstop chicken wings recipe, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how you enjoyed them.