Crispy Baked Mango Habanero Hot Wings
These crispy baked chicken wings, tossed in an extra spicy habanero hot sauce and be the hit of your next wing night. The homemade mango habanero sauce is slightly sweet, a bit sticky, and super spicy. The perfect wing if you love your chicken wings extra hot. Serve with a side of dip, or eat them as is, either way, the platter will disappear quickly.
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What are Mango Habanero Hot Wings?
Mango habanero hot wings are delicously crispy wings that have been tossed in a super spicy, homemade hot sauce made with fresh mango and habanero peppers.
If you love hot wings, then these may become your new favourite wing.
Different from a regular hot wing, the sauce is slightly fruity and sweet, but full of savoury flavours from the added onion, galrlic and ginger. The fresh habanero peppers takee the spice level up a notch or two from the typical buffalo wing. These wings are spicy!
The wings are coated in a mixture of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and spices before being baked in the oven. The coating on these wings makes them extra crispy and helps give the sauce something to stick to.
They are crispy, sticky, spicy, and absolutely delicious.
These hot wings make a delicious appetizer, snack, or meal. They are perfect for serving on an appetizer or wing platter or with friends gathered around the table for game day.
Because they are made with fresh peppers, the spice level of these wings will depend on how many peppers you choose to use, whether you remove the seeds or leave them in, and can vary depending on the peppers themselves.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
For the Wings
Split Chicken Wings – You will want about 2 pounds of chicken wings. In our family, we do a mixture of flats and drumettes, but you can do all drumettes or all flats if you prefer. We also like to do chicken drumsticks if you want a more substantial meal.
For the Seasoning
These wings are coated in a mixture of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and seasonings. The combination of these ingredients will give your wings that extra crispy texture you are after. You will need the following:
- All purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Aluminum free baking powder
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
For the Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
This hot sauce is made with fresh ingredients and has exceptional flavour. You will need the following:
Mango – You will use one large mango or approximately one and a half cups of diced mango. If you can’t find fresh mango, you can use frozen; just be sure to thaw it first for the best results.
Habanero peppers – Habanero peppers are spicy little peppers and are what gives this sauce its heat. The heat level in habaneros can vary greatly depending on where they are grown, the season, when they are picked, and the individual variety. We use about five peppers in our sauce, and it is very hot. You can use as few or as many as you like. For extra spicy, leave the seeds in; if you want it slightly milder, you can remove the seeds.
Butter – Gives the sauce a silky smooth texture.
Honey – Adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce to balance the spice and creates a sticky glaze that sticks to the crispy wings.
You will also need the following:
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Yellow onion
- Fresh lime juice
- White wine vinegar
Pro-Tip: Use caution when handling habanero peppers. It is highly recommended you use gloves while cutting and seeding peppers as the oil in the peppers can cause burns, especially if you are using them in large batches. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling hot peppers, and be sure not to touch your face.
Step by Step Instructions
Step One – Mix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt in a small bowl.
Place the wings in a large bowl and toss with half of the flour mixture. Wait 5 minutes, then add the rest of the flour mixture and toss again.
Step Two – Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and place an oven safe rack on the baking sheet. I use a cooling rack. Lightly spray the rack with non-stick spray or lightly rub with vegetable oil.
Place the seasoned wings in a single layer on the rack and spray the top with a bit of olive oil spray or lightly brush them with a bit of melted butter. Bake at 400°F for 25 mintues. Flip the wings and cook for another 10-15 minutes until wings are crispy and cooked through.
Pro-Tip: If you want to caramelize the wings a bit, you can place them back in the oven for about five minutes after you have tossed them in the sauce. This will make them extra sticky, but keep an eye on them as the honey in the sauce may cause them to burn.
Make the Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
Step three – Make the habanero hot sauce while the wings are cooking. Start by dicing the onion and habaneros and add them to a small pot with two tablespoons of butter, garlic, ginger, and salt. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until the onions and peppers are softened and fragrant.
Step Four: Place the diced mango in a blender and add the sautéed mixture. Place the lid on the blender and blend until smooth. Then return to the pot.
Step Five – Add the lime juice, vinegar, and honey and stir until the sauce is hot and the honey is melted, then stir in the remaining butter. Heat for another few minutes to ensure the sauce is heated through. Remove from the heat and set aside until the wings are ready.
Sauce the Wings
Step Six – When the wings have finished cooking, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour some of the habanero sauce over the wings and toss to coat. Add as much or as little sauce as you like. Then transfer the wings to a platter and serve.
Pro-Tip: This recipe makes enough sauce for 2-3 batches of wings, depending on how saucy you like them. The remaining sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Serving Suggestions
They are great on an appetizer platter, can be eaten as a snack, or they can serve as the protein portion of your meal.
When served on an appetizer platter, they go great with finger foods such as air fried shrimp, baked jalapeno poppers, or cheeseburger taquitos.
When served as part of a meal, then you can’t go wrong with a simple salad, creamy mashed potatoes, or even some creamy jalapeno mac & cheese.
I always like to serve wings with a side of dip, and these wings match well with blue cheese dip or your favourite ranch dressing.
Selecting and Handling Habanero Peppers
- When choosing fresh habanero peppers, look for habaneros with bright-coloured fruit, bright green stem and a firm shape. Avoid wrinkled, soft, and bruised peppers if possible.
- Like all peppers and fresh produce, Habanero peppers vary widely in flavour. The flavour and spice level will depend on where they were grown when they were picked, freshness, size, and the individual variety.
- Handle fresh peppers with caution. Hot peppers contain an oil called capsaicin. It is this oil that makes the peppers hot. While it is found everywhere in the pepper, it is more concentrated in the white membrane and seeds found inside. This oil can burn your skin and will cause irritation to eyes, nose and throat. For that reason, it is recommended that you wear gloves when chopping habaneros, wash your hands well, and do not touch your face.
- If you have leftover habanero peppers, they can be frozen whole in ziplock bags. They should keep for several months.
Storage
We recommend that these wings are eaten the same day they are made. But if you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for about three days.
Leftovers can be enjoyed cold, or you can pop them in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to warm them up.
Top Tips & FAQS
- Use caution whe handling fresh peppers. Gloves are recommended while chopping peppers and be careful not to touch your face.
You can reheat these chicken wings in the oven, microwave or air-fryer. To reaheat them in the oven set the oven to 350°F and heat the wings for 10-15 minutes. If they have already been sauced, keep an eye on them to make sure they aren’t burning.
More Appetizer Recipes
Crispy Baked Mango Habanero Hot Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings wings and drums split
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon table salt
Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
- 1 whole mango peeled and diced or 1 ½ cups diced mango
- 3-5 whole habanero peppers
- ¼ cup diced yellow or sweet onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ tsp kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar or white vinegar
- ¼ cup salted butter divided
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F
- Place the chicken wings in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Sprinkle half the flour mixture over the wings and toss to coat. Let rest for 5 minutes, then add the remaining flour and toss again.
- Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and place an oven safe rack on the baking sheet. I use a cooling rack. Lightly spray the rack with non-stick spray or lightly rub with vegetable oil.
- Shake the excess flour off the wings and place them in a single layer on the rack. Spray the top with a bit of olive oil spray or lightly brush them with a bit of melted butter. Place the tray on the middle rack of the oven and bake at 400°F for 25 minutes. Flip the wings and cook for another 10-15 mintues until wings are crispy and cooked through.
- Avoid crowding the basket and work in batches if necessary.
- While the wings are cooking, make the sauce.
Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
- Peel and dice the mango and place it into a blender.
- Carefully dice the habanero and add to a sauce pot with 2 tablespoons of the butter, the diced onion, garlic, ginger, and salt. Heat on medium heat for 6-7 minutes until the onions and peppers have started to soften and are fragrant.
- Add the pepper mixture to the blender, place the lid on the blender, and puree until smooth.
- Return the mango habanero mixture to the pot and add the vinegar, lime juice, and honey. Heat on medium heat until the sauce is simmering, then stir in the remaining butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Remove the pot from the heat and set aside until the wings are ready.
Sauce the Wings
- When the wings are finished cooking, place them in a large bowl.
- Pour some of the sauce over the wings and toss to coat. Add as much or as little sauce as desired.
- Move the wings to a platter and serve.
Air Fryer Directions
- Follow the directions to season the wings, then place the floured wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
- Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook the wings for 23-25 minutes until crispy.
- Shake the basket a couple of times to ensure the wings aren't sticking together and they are evenly cooked.
- Follow the remaining directions for making the sauce and coating the wings as above.
Notes
- Use caution when handling habanero peppers. You are highly recommended to use gloves while cutting and seeding peppers as the oil in the peppers can cause burns, especially if you use them in large batches. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling hot peppers, and be sure not to touch your face.
- If you want to caramelize the wings a bit, you can place them back in the oven for about five minutes after you have tossed them in the sauce. This will make them extra sticky, but keep an eye on them, as the honey in the sauce may cause them to burn
- This recipe makes enough sauce for 2-3 batches of wings, depending on how saucy you like them. The remaining sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
