The Best Butter Chicken Hot Wings Recipe Ever Made

Butter chicken hot wings change a classic Indian dish into an irresistible finger-food experience that tantalizes taste buds with bold, creamy flavors.

Culinary enthusiasts appreciate how this fusion recipe merges traditional spice profiles with contemporary appetizer trends.

Succulent chicken wings get coated in a rich, velvety sauce that captures the essence of beloved butter chicken.

The marinade creates a complex layering of warmth and tanginess that elevates standard wing preparations.

Exotic spices dance across each crispy morsel, promising a delectable journey through aromatic ingredients.

Home cooks can easily recreate restaurant-quality results with minimal kitchen expertise and maximum flavor impact.

Expect a crowd-pleasing dish that sparks conversation and satisfies hunger with its incredible combination of textures and tastes.

What Sets Butter Chicken Wings Apart from the Rest

• Spice-Packed Flavor Explosion: Dive into a mouthwatering fusion of traditional butter chicken spices with crispy wings, creating an explosion of bold, complex flavors that dance across your taste buds.
• Crispy Texture Perfection: Achieve restaurant-quality crunch through strategic salting, baking powder technique, and precise frying method that guarantees golden, crispy exterior with tender, juicy meat inside.
• Versatile Cooking Options: Enjoy ultimate flexibility with both deep-frying and baking instructions, allowing home cooks to choose their preferred cooking method without compromising on taste or texture.

Everything You Need for This Spicy-Creamy Mix

• Chicken Wings: Fresh, high-quality wings with a good meat-to-skin ratio for maximum crispiness and flavor absorption.
• Baking Powder: Helps create a crispy exterior by breaking down proteins and promoting browning.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base with deep, smooth flavor.
• Tomato Paste: Adds concentrated tomato richness and depth to the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, silky texture in the sauce.
• Milk: Helps balance and thin the sauce consistency.
• Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness to cut through the richness.

• Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning and drawing out moisture from chicken skin.
• Black Pepper: Provides warm, subtle heat and aromatic complexity.
• Peanut Oil: High smoke point oil perfect for deep frying wings.

• Yogurt: Cool, creamy accompaniment that balances spicy wings.
• Cilantro: Fresh herb for bright, herbal garnish and flavor.

How to Make Butter Chicken-Inspired Wings

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Wings

Separate chicken drums from wings if needed. Toss wings with salt in a large bowl or bag. Place on a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes to overnight. Add baking powder while salting for extra crispiness.

Step 2: Craft Butter Chicken Sauce

Create a rich, aromatic sauce in a medium saucepan. Melt butter over medium-high heat. Toast spices until fragrant. Add tomato paste and cook briefly. Whisk in heavy cream and milk, simmering until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Fry Chicken Wings

Heat peanut oil to 350-375°F in a large pot. Carefully fry wings in batches until golden and crispy, about 15-20 minutes. For extra crunch, re-fry wings for 2-3 minutes. Drain excess oil on paper towels.

Step 4: Coat With Spicy Butter Sauce

Toss hot, crispy wings in warm butter chicken sauce, ensuring even coverage.

Step 5: Whip Up Cooling Yogurt Raita

Combine yogurt and fresh ingredients in a small bowl. Chill until serving time.

Step 6: Plate And Garnish

Arrange wings on a serving platter. Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top. Serve immediately with chilled yogurt raita on the side.

Pro Tips for Sticky, Saucy Perfection

• Crisp Up Perfectly: Pat wings completely dry before seasoning to ensure maximum crispiness and better sauce adherence.
• Marinate for Depth: Let wings rest in the refrigerator overnight to allow salt and baking powder to penetrate the meat, creating an incredibly tender texture.
• Control Oil Temperature: Use a reliable thermometer to maintain consistent 350-375°F oil temperature, preventing soggy or burnt wings.
• Sauce Consistency Matters: Simmer butter chicken sauce slowly, stirring constantly to prevent burning and achieve a smooth, rich texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare sauce and wings separately in advance, then reheat and combine just before serving for maximum flavor and convenience.

Best Way to Keep Wings Crisp After Storing

• Refrigeration: Store leftover wings in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain food safety and quality.
• Reheating Oven Method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm for 10-15 minutes, turning once halfway through to ensure even heating and crispy texture.
• Reviving Crispiness: Briefly air fry or broil wings for 2-3 minutes after initial reheating to restore their original crunchiness and prevent sogginess.

What Drinks & Sides Work Best with These Wings

• Chilled Mango Lassi Companion: Pair these spicy butter chicken wings with a refreshing mango lassi. The creamy, sweet drink perfectly balances the rich, tangy wing sauce and cools down the heat.
• Crisp Indian Lager Pairing: Grab a cold Kingfisher or Taj Mahal beer to complement the complex flavors. The light, crisp beer cuts through the creamy sauce and enhances the spicy notes of the wings.
• Fresh Cucumber Salad Side: Create a quick cucumber salad with mint and a light vinaigrette. This cool, crunchy side dish provides a fresh contrast to the rich, saucy wings and adds a bright, clean element to the meal.
• Aromatic Basmati Rice Base: Serve the wings over a bed of fluffy basmati rice. The rice soaks up the delicious butter chicken sauce and provides a perfect neutral backdrop for the flavorful wings.

Wing Variations That Bring the Heat

• Grilled Butter Chicken Wings: Marinate wings in butter chicken sauce for 2-3 hours before grilling over medium-high heat. Brush with additional sauce during cooking for enhanced flavor and caramelization.
• Tandoori-Style Butter Chicken Wings: Coat wings with yogurt and tandoori spice blend before baking or air frying. Create a deeper, smokier flavor profile that mimics traditional Indian tandoori cooking techniques.
• Spicy Butter Chicken Wing Sliders: Shred cooked wings and mix with extra sauce. Serve on mini slider buns with pickled onions and fresh cilantro for a handheld party appetizer that transforms the original recipe.
• Vegetarian Butter Sauce Alternative: Replace chicken wings with cauliflower florets or tofu chunks. Maintain the same cooking method and butter chicken sauce for a plant-based version that captures the original recipe's rich, creamy essence.

Butter Chicken Hot Wings Recipe

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4.8 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Butter chicken hot wings blend Indian and American flavors into an irresistible appetizer. Spicy marinade and creamy sauce create a mouthwatering fusion that will make your taste buds dance with excitement.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat:

• 1.5 pounds chicken wings, split into drums and flats

Spices and Seasonings:

• 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt per pound of meat
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder (or regular chili powder)
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne
• 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon garam masala

Additional Ingredients:

• 0.75 teaspoon baking powder (optional, only for baking)
• 1 quart peanut oil for frying
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 0.75 cup full fat plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons parsley, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely minced
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest
• 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.125 teaspoon black pepper
• Minced cilantro for garnish

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Instructions

1. Marinate chicken wings with kosher salt, ensuring even distribution across all pieces. Place on a wire rack-lined baking sheet and refrigerate uncovered for minimum 30 minutes to enhance skin crispiness.
2. Prepare butter chicken sauce by heating butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Quickly toast aromatic spices until fragrant, releasing their intense flavors.
3. Incorporate tomato paste into the spice mixture, stirring continuously to prevent burning. Allow paste to caramelize and develop deep, rich undertones.
4. Gradually whisk in heavy cream and milk, creating a smooth, velvety sauce. Simmer gently, allowing the liquid to reduce and thicken naturally.
5. Remove sauce from heat and finish with a splash of vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to balance flavors, then set aside to cool slightly.
6. For frying method, heat peanut oil to precise temperature between 350-375°F. Carefully lower wings in small batches to maintain oil temperature.
7. Fry wings until golden brown and perfectly crisp, ensuring even cooking and maximum crunchiness. Optional second fry will elevate texture to extra crispy level.
8. Alternatively, bake wings by first warming oven to 250°F. Place wings on wire rack and initially slow-cook for 30 minutes.
9. Increase oven temperature to 425°F and continue baking until wings develop a gorgeous, crisp exterior with beautiful golden color.
10. Generously coat freshly cooked wings in warm butter chicken sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage.
11. Quickly prepare yogurt raita by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
12. Plate wings with fresh cilantro garnish and serve alongside cool, refreshing yogurt raita for a perfect flavor balance.

Notes

• Overnight marinating enhances chicken’s flavor and tenderness, allowing salt and baking powder to create incredibly crispy skin.
• Double-frying technique guarantees maximum crunchiness, creating irresistibly golden and texture-perfect wings.
• Toasting spices before adding tomato paste intensifies the butter chicken sauce’s rich, complex flavor profile.
• Maintain precise oil temperature between 350-375°F to prevent soggy or burnt wings during frying.
• Refrigerating wings uncovered helps dry out the skin, resulting in an extra-crisp exterior when cooked.
• Yogurt raita provides a cool, tangy counterpoint to the spicy, creamy hot wings, balancing the overall taste experience.

• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 70 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 690
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 1200 mg
• Fat: 50 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 180 mg