Tailgating season is fully upon us, and that means we need tailgating food. Crispy with a zippy orange sauce, these Orange Fanta Hot Wings are sure to be a touchdown at your next football bash. The recipe here is for two dozen wings, but can easily be scaled up for bigger crowds.
Ingredients
Wings:
- 2 dozen chicken wings, drum and/or flat
- 2 tbsp baking powder (NOT baking soda!)
- Salt
- Pepper
Sauce:
- 1 bottle Orange Fanta (16.9 oz)
- ½ cup hot sauce (Frank’s is the traditional choice, but anything goes!)
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ stick unsalted butter, melted
Equipment/materials:
- Baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowl(s)
- Sauce pan
- Chef’s knife (or chopper)
Directions:
An hour or so before you plan to cook your wings, spread them out on a paper-towel-lined tray. Pat them dry, then place them, uncovered, in the refrigerator. This step will help to dry out the skin, making for crispier wings.
Heat oven to 250˚F. Line the baking pan with parchment paper. Do not use aluminum foil as the wings will stick and come apart when you remove them.
As the oven heats, remove the wings from the refrigerator and pat dry once again. Combine the baking powder (NOT soda!), salt, and pepper in the large mixing bowl. Toss the dried wings in the mixture a few at a time, then spread the wings evenly on the parchment-lined pan. You’ll want a single layer of wings, but it’s ok if they’re touching.
Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the pan.
Increase the oven temperature to 425˚F and bake for another 35 minutes.
As the wings cook in the oven, prepare the sauce on the stovetop. Combine the Orange Fanta, hot sauce, honey, butter, and garlic in a sauce pan. Here’s your opportunity to adjust the heat of your sauce: if you want a more intense spiciness to your sauce, add more hot sauce at this point. If you prefer milder flavors, add less. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Allow the sauce to simmer as the wings cook, thickening to a glaze consistency.
Remove the wings from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. Toss the wings and sauce in the large bowl (which you’ve washed and dried while the other things were cooking!). Reserve some sauce in a bowl for folks who want even more Orange Fanta Hot Wings.