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Maple Bourbon Bacon Chicken Wings

Please read recipe post for more recipe details and photos. Chicken wings can be prepared in different ways: fried-baked-air fried, dredged in flour or not. Visit this write up on different ways to prepare chicken wings. This recipe shows a baked technique, but you can certainly fry them or air fry them if you like for extra crispy-ness.
If you don't want to use bourbon, apple juice is a great substitute.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 406kcal

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup (120 g) ketchup
  • 1/2 cup (160 g) maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup (60 g) bourbon
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce (use Tamari for gluten free)
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) brown sugar
  • 6 slices bacon , cut into ½ - inch pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced

For the chicken wings:

  • 2 pounds (907 g) chicken wings , split
  • oil , to coat wings
  • salt , to taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper , to taste

Instructions 

Make the Sauce:

  • In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, maple syrup, bourbon, Worcestershire or soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Set aside.
    Stirring sauce in a bowl
  • Heat a saucepan over medium heat and cook the bacon until nearly crisp. If desired, drain or ladle out excess bacon fat (leave some to help cook garlic and for flavor). Add the garlic and cook for until the garlic is lightly browned, 1-2 minutes.
    Bacon and garlic cooking in pan
  • Whisk in the sauce, reduce heat to low, then simmer for about 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Set aside.
    Sauce simmering in pan

Make the Wings:

  • Pre-heat oven to 425°F/220°C.
    Oven knobs
  • Pat dry chicken wings. If desired, cut wings into wingettes and drumette pieces. Lightly coat chicken with oil and then season with salt and pepper. Put wings on baking sheet pan in a single, even layer.
    Raw chicken wings on a baking sheet pan
  • Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Flip halfway through cooking, or after about 25 minutes of cooking.
    Baked chicken wings on a baking sheet pan
  • Warm the maple-bourbon sauce, toss the wings in the sauce and serve. Optional - if you like the sauce a little more set into the wings. Place the sauced wings back on the baking sheet pan and bake for another 5 minutes and then serve.
    Tossing wings with sauce in the pan

Notes

Crispy Wing Alternate Cooking Methods

Traditional Fry in Oil (uses about 1/2-3/4 cup of cornstarch to coat wings).
Toss the wings in cornstarch to coat, shaking off excess cornstarch.
Heat about 1-inch of oil in a large pot or skillet to 350-375°F (175-190°C). Fry in batches for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through. Make sure to turn the wings while cooking so they cook evenly. Season with salt & pepper. Toss with the sauce.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings 
Season wings with salt & pepper. (No Oil Needed). Place in air fryer basket/tray. (Don't overcrowd the air fryer - cook in batches if needed.)
Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 20 minutes. Flip the wings and air fry for another 5-10 minutes or until cooked through and to your liking.
Toss with a little sauce, and then air fry for another 2-4 minutes. Toss with additional sauce if desired after air frying. Different models and sizes of air fryers cook quicker than others. Adjust times accordingly.
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 446mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 223IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg