These copycat KFC Honey BBQ Wings deliver the perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavor you crave without the spicy heat of traditional wings. I discovered these were only available for a limited time at KFC, so they weren’t a regular menu item, which inspired me to recreate them at home. Now, you can enjoy these restaurant favorites anytime for a fraction of the cost; these are complete with that smoky honey BBQ sauce. I know you will love these saucy wings when you make them at home. These are so good with the sticky sauce that is oh so flavorful.
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What Makes These KFC Honey BBQ Wings So Good?
Unlike typical chicken wings that bring the heat, these KFC-inspired Honey BBQ Wings focus on a sweet, smoky flavor that appeals to everyone. The double-breading technique creates that signature KFC crunch, while the homemade honey BBQ sauce caramelizes perfectly in the oven. This two-stage cooking process, frying and baking, ensures that the wings stay crispy even after being coated in sauce.
Why Should You Try This Recipe?
Have you fallen in love with these wings at your local KFC restaurant? Well, I have some bad news for you. They’re available for a limited time only! That may be disappointing, but once you master this KFC chicken wings recipe, you can make them at home whenever you want!
Enjoy your favorite Honey BBQ Wings KFC style at home for a fraction of the cost of buying them at the restaurant.
KFC Wings Recipe Ingredients
For the Wings
- Chicken wings – Provide the perfect bite-sized portion with an ideal meat-to-skin ratio
- All-purpose flour – Creates the signature crispy KFC coating
- Salt – Enhances flavor throughout the breading
- Freshly ground black pepper – Adds subtle spice to the coating
- Buttermilk – Tenderizes the chicken and helps the breading adhere
- Vegetable oil – High smoke point oil perfect for deep frying
For the Honey BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- Hickory smoke BBQ sauce – Delivers authentic smoky flavor (Heinz brand recommended)
- Water – Thins the sauce to the right consistency
- Honey – Provides natural sweetness and helps the sauce caramelize
- Ketchup – Adds tomato flavor and thickness
- Liquid smoke – Enhances the smoky barbecue flavor
To prep the wings:
- Use a sharp, heavy knife or poultry shears to break the chicken wings into drumettes and wingettes. Remove and discard the wing tips or freeze them for stock.
- Set up a breading station for the wings with two wide, shallow bowls and a wire rack over a baking tray in a row.
- Mix the flour, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in the first bowl using a fork.
- Pour the buttermilk into the second bowl.
- To bread the chicken wings, coat chicken wings one at a time in the flour mixture and then dunk them in the buttermilk. Give them an extra coating of the flour mixture and put them on the wire rack.
- Once you have breaded all the chicken wings, place the uncovered baking tray in the fridge for about an hour. Resting the wings will help the breading stick to the chicken while frying.
To make the honey BBQ wing sauce:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the BBQ sauce, water, honey, ketchup, and liquid smoke.
- Bring the honey BBQ sauce mixture to a simmer while stirring, and then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cook the sauce, stirring from time to time, for about 20 minutes or until it thickens.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it, and reserve the sauce for later.
To fry the chicken.
- Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with at least four inches of vegetable oil. If you have a deep-fryer, it will make frying much easier.
- Attach a deep-fat thermometer to the side of the pot and heat the oil over medium-high heat to 375°F.
- Carefully add about a third of the chicken wings to the hot oil. Ensure the oil temperature remains about 375°F and fry the wings until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Use a kitchen spider to remove the wings from the oil and place them on the wire rack to drain.
- Repeat with the remaining wings.
- You can cool the chicken wings on the wire rack and store the fried wings and Honey BBQ sauce in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up three days or finish the wings in the oven immediately.
To finish the wings in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lightly grease a baking tray.
- Dunk the wings in the Honey BBQ sauce and spread them out on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake the until the wings are hot and the sauce browns slightly.
- Serve hot.
What to Serve Them With?
Ranch or blue cheese dressing are great options for dipping. But to turn these wings into a full meal, serve them with a side of French fries, onion rings, or fried pickles.
How to Store Them
Throw away any extra KFC wings that have been sitting out for a while, but you can keep those you haven’t served in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
What Is the Best Way to Reheat KFC Honey BBQ Wings?
To reheat the chicken wings in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lightly grease a baking tray.
- Spread out the chicken wing on the tray.
- Let the chicken wings come up to room temperature while the oven preheats.
- Drizzle a little water on top of the chicken wings before putting them in the oven. The water will turn to steam and prevent the chicken wings from drying out.
- Bake the chicken wings for six minutes and then flip the wings and cook until hot, about five to six more minutes.
More KFC Menu Copycat Recipes
Favorite Chicken Wing Recipes
- Cajun Wings
- Grilled Buffalo Wings
- Habanero Wings
- Lemon Pepper Wings
- Parmesan Garlic Wings
- Pluckers Wings
- Spicy Asian Wings
- Sweet and Spicy Wings
Check out my easy appetizer recipes and the best copycat fast food recipes on CopyKat!
KFC Honey BBQ Wings (Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk
- vegetable oil for frying
Honey BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup hickory smoke BBQ sauce Heinz
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut the chicken wings to separate the drumette and wingette by cutting through the joint section between the two parts.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer or a large, heavy bottom pan to 375°F.
- Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl and set aside.
- Place buttermilk in a separate bowl.
- Dip chicken wing pieces in flour then in buttermilk and then again in flour.
- Place the breaded wings in the hot oil; the temperature of the oil should be 375. Do this in batches so you never overcrowd chicken. Fry until lightly golden brown. This should take about 15 minutes.
- Place hickory smoke BBQ sauce, water, honey, ketchup, and liquid smoke in a small saucepan, mix thoroughly, and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Let the sauce cool slightly, then dip one fried wing in the sauce at a time, and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the BBQ coated wings for 10 minutes. This will give the sauce a chance to caramelize and thicken.
Can I just buy chicken strips or do I buy boneless chicken breast and cut them into strips ?
You can do either but buying the breast’s skinless and boneless will give you more chicken. They charge extra per pound to cut it for you.
These are wonderful. So easy and quite tasty. They are sticky when comming out of oven but have great flavor.