Turn any game night or weekend gathering into a feast with this ultimate Honey Garlic Wings and BBQ Chicken Bites Platter. Featuring sticky, sweet honey garlic chicken wings, tender, smoky BBQ chicken bites, and a side of creamy macaroni and cheese, this recipe offers a delicious combination of flavors and textures that is guaranteed to satisfy a crowd. It is comfort food at its absolute finest.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings (split into flats and drums)
- 1 lb boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- For the Honey Garlic Glaze: 1/3 cup honey, 4 cloves garlic (minced), 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- Salt, pepper, and vegetable oil for baking/frying
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Bake the Wings: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss wings with 1 tablespoon of oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and golden.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce: While the wings bake, combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, cooking for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Prepare BBQ Chicken Bites: Toss the chicken breast pieces in cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken bites for 6 to 8 minutes until golden-brown and cooked through. Toss them in BBQ sauce.
- Coat the Wings: Toss the baked crispy wings in the warm honey garlic glaze.
- Assemble the Platter: Arrange the glazed honey garlic wings and BBQ chicken bites on a large serving platter, alongside a warm bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Tips and Notes
- Get Crispy Wings Without Frying: Baking wings on a wire rack allows the hot air to circulate all around the meat, melting the fat and yielding incredibly crispy skin without deep-frying.
- Cornstarch Secret: Coating the chicken breast bites in cornstarch before cooking gives them a light, crispy outer layer that holds onto the BBQ sauce beautifully.
