These teriyaki chicken wings are sweet, sticky, smoky, and incredibly easy to make. Whether you're using the grill, oven, or fryer, this awesome recipe is packed with flavor thanks to a homemade teriyaki sauce that's better than store-bought. Perfect for game day, backyard BBQs, or weeknight dinners!
🕒 Prep Time: 10 mins | 🔥 Cook Time: 30 mins | 🍗 Serves: 4 | 👩🍳 Methods: Grill, Bake, or Fry | 🌟 Flavor: Sweet, Smoky, Umami
Why You'll Love These Wings!
- Sweet, savory, and sticky - These wings are coated in a homemade teriyaki sauce that's sweet and salty, with a little of that indescribable umami that makes a dish incredible. It clings to the crispy skin so you won't miss even a drop.
- We make wings a lot, and we only publish our best chicken wing recipes.
- Grilled to perfection (or bake or fry!) - While we love the smoky flavor you get from grilling, you can bake or fry these wings with equally delicious results. No matter which method you choose, they turn out crispy, juicy, and so flavorful! You can also air fry them and, if your wings are frozen, you can try our frozen chicken wings air fry method.
- Made with pantry staples - The sauce comes together in minutes using ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- They're great for a crowd - These wings are always a hit. I've made them on the grill for a summer BBQ and for a weeknight dinner with a salad.
- They can be made ahead of time - The teriyaki sauce can be made in advance so all you'll have to do is cook the wings! You can also cook the wings ahead of time and run them under the broiler before tossing with the sauce.
Ingredients You'll Need
Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings
- Cooking Oil
- Sesame Seeds
- Green Onions
All you really need are the wings, but you can toss them in a small amount of oil to help them get even crispier. If you grill them, it'll also prevent the wings from sticking to the grates.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
- soy sauce
- honey
- light brown sugar
- garlic
- ground ginger
- cornstarch
The sauce only takes about ten minutes to make and it tastes much better than store-bought. But if you want to use a bottled version, that will work just fine!
Teriyaki sauce typically contains soy sauce, mirin (or sake), and a little sugar. This version skips the mirin and uses more common ingredients to achieve the same result: delicious.
I make this homemade teriyaki sauce often and it's so delicious on grilled chicken wings. When it's not grilling season, I usually opt for baked lemon pepper wings. And when I want something spicy, I go for crispy baked buffalo wings.
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Grilled
Grill the chicken wings over medium-low heat with the cover on until they're almost cooked through, about 20 minutes. Flip once halfway through. Brush on some of the teriyaki sauce over the wings, then continue cooking until they're completely cooked through, about 5 more minutes.
Baked or Air-Fried
Place wings on a wire rack set on a baking sheet, taking care not to crowd wings. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Flip once halfway through, brushing on more teriyaki sauce, if desired.
Use the same method to air-fry your wings, but flip them after the first 15 minutes, and check them for doneness starting at 25 minutes.
Deep-Fried
Pour 3 inches of oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer and heat to 375°F. Fry the wings in a single layer for 8 to 10 minutes until they're golden brown and cooked through. Let the cooked wings drain on paper towels while you fry the remaining wings.
Tips for Perfect Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Cooking Tips
- Use a wire rack for baking - Placing the wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet allows heat to circulate and fat to drip away, resulting in crispier skin.
- Avoid overcrowding - No matter which cooking method you choose, give your wings space! Overcrowding can cause steaming and prevent them from getting crispy.
- Dry wings thoroughly before cooking - Pat the wings dry with paper towels before seasoning or cooking. This helps the skin crisp up and allows the sauce to adhere better.
- Use a meat thermometer - Wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Keep an eye on them with a meat thermometer - it's dangerous to eat undercooked chicken and no one wants overcooked wings.
Sauce & Flavor Tips
- Simmer the sauce to thicken - If your sauce seems thin, simmer it for a few extra minutes to reduce and thicken before glazing the wings.
- Double the sauce for dipping - Reserve half of the teriyaki sauce for dipping after the wings are cooked. It adds even more flavor!
- Customize the sweetness - Add more or less honey or brown sugar depending on how sweet you like it. Remember - you can always add more.
- Add sesame seeds or green onions for garnish - Don't be tempted to skip the sesame seeds or green onions at the end. They add texture, color, and definitely flavor.
Grilling Temperature Tips
Teriyaki chicken wings should be grilled over medium or medium-low heat. I usually go for medium-low since I've had better success at that temperature. You can also start the wings over medium-high heat until they're seared, then move them to the cooler part of the grill to finish cooking.
How to tell when the wings are done
We mentioned this above, but one more time for the people in the back: chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. A meat thermometer can test this for you. It's simple to do, just press the thermometer into the thickest part of the wing and pull them when they reach the right temperature.
If you don't have a meat thermometer, just remember that grilling these teriyaki chicken wings will go pretty quick! It usually takes wings about 30 minutes total on the grill, give or take depending on their size. I put our wings on the grill, then turn them after about 10-15 minutes.
If you love the flavor of teriyaki, try this easy teriyaki chicken recipe made in a skillet or dutch oven!
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
You'll love the flavor combination of chicken wings and a sweet teriyaki wing sauce made with brown sugar, soy sauce and more delicious ingredients. These are great as an appetizer or a main course.
Ingredients
For the wings
- 2 lb chicken wings
- 1-2 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1-2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 green onion, chopped
For the teriyaki wing sauce
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 5-6 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup cold water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, add the water, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Cook over medium heat until very hot and the sugars are dissolved.
- Mix the cornstarch and cold water together in a small dish. Add it to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens to your preference. It will thicken a bit more as it cools.
- Toss the wings with the oil. Grill them over medium-low heat (with the cover on) until they're almost cooked through, flipping them halfway through, about 20-25 minutes depending on their size.
- Brush on some of the teriyaki sauce over the wings, then continue cooking until they're completely cooked through, about 5 more minutes.
- Place the wings on a serving platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve them with the remaining teriyaki sauce for dipping.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1170Total Fat: 63gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 1794mgCarbohydrates: 113gFiber: 1gSugar: 85gProtein: 40g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
- Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake (A Make-Ahead Holiday Favorite) - September 29, 2025
- Cucumber and Pineapple Salad with Hot Honey - July 23, 2025
- The Best Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon & Chipotle - July 9, 2025
2pots2cook says
I', in. Thank you !