Do you like hot wings, but also like that sweet flavor? These mango habanero chicken wings provide a nice balance of sweet and heat while taking your tastebuds for a ride. It’s makes for the best tailgate food!
What are Drums and Flats?
When buying chicken wings at the store, they are usually sold as whole wings. You can find chicken wings in the store already separated, but they usually cost more per pound.
The whole wing is composed of three parts: the flat, the drum (or drumette), and the tip. When you order your favorite chicken wings at a restaurant, they come separated into flats and drums.
What is the Difference Between Drums and Flats on Chicken Wings?
The drum is the thicker end of the chicken wing that was connected to the body of the chicken. It contains more dark meat, but does come with more cartilage to work around.
The flat of a chicken wing is the middle portion that is connected to joints on both sides. The flat has two thin bones and while it has less meat than the drum, it doesn’t have all that cartilage.
Video for Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
Step 1: Prepping the Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
For this recipe, we are prepping 24 chicken wings as drums and flats. Use a paper towel to pat the wings dry. This will help you get crispy skin on your chicken wings, which is always a good thing.
In a medium-sized bowl, place your chicken wings and season with your favorite chicken rub. I prefer Ck rub from Christie Vanover at Girls Can Grill as it has a little heat to it. Pour in enough to cover two dozen wings, which should be about 1/2 Cup. Also add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of corn starch. This helps the skin on the wings get crispy as you cook them.
Step 2: Smoking the Wings
Preheat your grill to 375 degrees with cherry wood over indirect heat. Once at temp, place your seasoned wings on the grill and make sure none of them touch each other. This makes sure all the wings cook properly, especially the skin.
Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the wings hit close to 165 degrees. I recommend checking the temps with the Thermapen ONE from Thermoworks. I swear by it and use it on every cook I do.
Step 3: Making the Mango Habanero Sauce
This step for the mango habanero sauce takes the most work, and it’s still easy. Take three habaneros and cut of the stems, then slice in half to remove the seeds. Next, peel a mango and cut up into cubes, cutting around the seed in the middle.
In a blender or food processor, place the mango and habanero inside. You’ll also put in two cloves of garlic, 1/4 Cup apple cider vinegar, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1/4 Cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Blend until smooth.
Step 4: Pour Mango Habanero Sauce on Wings, Back to the Grill
Pour mango habanero sauce on the wings in the medium-sized mixing bowl from earlier and mix around in the bowl. I wear food safe nitrile gloves to do this.
Place back on grill and cook for another 10-15 minutes so the sauce gets cooked into the chicken wings, making them sticky. Remove and serve up with your favorite dipping sauce!
What if I Want my Mango Habanero Chicken Wings to be Spicier?
If you want spicier mango habanero chicken wings, then keep the seeds from the habanero in your mix. You can also use a spicier rub on the chicken wings, too.
What if I Want my Mango Habanero Chicken Wings to be Sweeter?
If you want the sweet to dominate the heat, then add two more tablespoons of honey and increase your brown sugar from 1/4 to 1/3 Cup.
Can Chicken Wings be Made in the Oven Instead of Smoker?
Yes, you can make this chicken wing recipe in the oven instead of the smoker. The smoke flavor will be missing, but the mango habanero sauce on the wings will still be awesome.
Can I Eat Leftover Chicken Wings?
When stored properly in an airtight container, cooked chicken wings can last up to three days in the refrigerator. Reheat in an air fryer at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Some of the Best Tailgate Food Recipes
Hosting a party? Here are some other ideas for your tailgate food (and/or party food):
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers with Chorizo
The Recipe!
Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
Do you like hot wings, but also like that sweet flavor? These mango habanero chicken wings provide a nice balance of sweet and heat while taking your tastebuds for a ride. It's makes for the best tailgate food!
Ingredients
- 24 chicken wings (flats and drums)
- 1/2 Cup BBQ seasoning
- 1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch
- 3 habaneros, stemmed and deseeded
- 1 mango, peeled and cubed
- 1/4 Cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1/4 Cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat grill to 375 degrees with cherry wood over indirect heat.
- Put chicken wings in medium-sized bowl and apply BBQ seasoning and corn starch. Mix in bowl.
- Place chicken wings on grill at least 1/2 inch apart. Cook for 25-30 minutes. Remove and put in a bowl. Set aside.
- Cut stems off habaneros and remove seeds. Peel skin off one mango and dice into small cubes (cut around the seed in the middle).
- Place habaneros and mango cubes in blender or food processor, along with apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, honey, and brown sugar. Blend until smooth.
- Pour mango habanero sauce over wings in bowl, mix wings around so they are completely covered in the sauce. Place back on grill for 10-15 minutes so the sauce cooks into the wings and makes them sticky. Chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees.
- Remove from grill and serve!
Notes
- To make spicier mango habanero wings, leave seeds in habanero and/or reduce brown sugar to 2 Tbsp.
- To make sweeter mango habanero wings, increase honey to 3 Tbsp.
- Wings can be made in the oven instead of grill.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 4 chicken wingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 350Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 19g
Note: Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
