Savory Wing Sauces

Whether you’re baking or frying wings, you get to toss drumettes (chicken leg shaped wings), wingettes (the flat wing) or a mix of both in your sauce or sauces of choice. Remember that it’s hospitable to offer a less spicy choice to go along with the requisite Buffalo wings and don’t forget to slice up some crispy celery and carrot sticks to carry that cool cheesy dip to pepper-stung lips.

Try these four wing sauces for the Big Game and let us know what you think using #CookingWithHeinens on social media:

Super Buffalo Wing Sauce with Cool Dip
Honey Hoisin Wing Sauce
Citrus Pepper Sauce
Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce

Super Buffalo Wing Sauce with Cool Dip

Start to finish: 20 minutes
Hands on time: 20 minutes

Buffalo wings are the epic, classic wing. I love how this recipe has a nice tart edge to it thanks to the cider vinegar. The dip is my favorite blend of mayo, yogurt and of course the blue cheese. It’s super simple and super good.

It’s that easy: Frank’s hot sauce is only mildly spicy, so if you want more heat, try adding a teaspoon or so of red chile flake or experiment with some of the hotter sauces available at grocery and specialty stores.

Ingredients 

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Greek-style plain yogurt or sour cream
• 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
• Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ribs celery
• 3 carrots
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup Frank’s hot sauce or other hot sauce (see It’s that easy tip)
• Cayenne pepper to taste, optional
• 1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Method 

1. While the chicken cooks, combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, blue cheese, salt and pepper in a medium bowl, mashing it up with a fork and keep refrigerated.
2. Cut the celery and carrots into short, two-bite sized sticks and immerse them in ice water to keep really crisp.
3. Just before the chicken is cooked, combine the butter, hot sauce, vinegar and cayenne if using in a microwave safe measuring cup and heat on high until melted and hot, about 1 minute. Set aside and keep warm. Toss the sauce with the wings as directed.

Honey Hoisin Wing Sauce

Start to finish: 5 minutes
Hands on time: 5 minutes

Hoisin is Chinese barbecue sauce. It’s rich and earthy, sticky and a little sweet so mixing it up with some honey, salty soy and spicy garlic sauce makes the perfect Asian-style sauce for wings.

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
• 2 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds as garnish

Method 

1. Combine honey, water, hoisin, soy, chili garlic sauce and scallions in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium and boil for 1 minute or until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool for a minute so that it thickens a little before pouring over the wings.
3. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the scallions and sesame seeds over the top and serve hot.

Citrus Pepper Sauce

Start to finish: 10 minutes
Hands on time: 10 minutes

It’s a little minimalist, but this combo is terrific when you want to serve a couple different kinds of wings at one time. The flavor goes with everything and these wings are a great option for those who don’t enjoy spicy foods.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
• Zest and juice of one lemon
• Zest and juice of one orange
• 1/2 teaspoon Lawry Seasoned Salt
• 1 teaspoon coarsely cracked black pepper
• Pinch of red chile flake

Method 

1. Combine butter, olive oil, garlic and rosemary in a small saucepan and sauté the garlic over medium high heat until it all smells fragrant, about 2 minutes.
2. Add zest, juice, salt, pepper and red chile flake and continue to cook until the liquid reduces slightly, about 2 minutes.
3. Set aside and keep warm. Toss the sauce with the wings as directed.

Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce

Start to finish: 10 minutes
Hands on time: 10 minutes

Garlicky and cheesy, these wings are perfect served with garlic bread and marinara on the side.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Lawry Seasoned Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese from a can
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup bottled marinara sauce, heated
• Garlic bread sticks, optional

Method

1. Combine olive oil, butter and garlic in a small saucepan and sauté the garlic over medium high heat until they smell fragrant, about 2 minutes.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the salt, cayenne, pepper and about 1/3 cup of the cheese.
3. Set aside and keep warm. Toss the sauce with the wings as directed. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese and basil over and serve hot with marinara for dipping and garlic bread on the side.