Sesame Chicken Wings Recipe

Sesame Chicken Wings

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Marinating Time: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 8 servings

These flavorful sesame chicken wings are made with garlic, green onions, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and other ingredients. The chicken wings should be marinated for at least 2 hours, so plan to prepare them in advance. These wings are baked in the oven and come out so delightfully delicious, sticky, and tender. Be prepared to lick your fingers and keep some napkins on hand. If you like spicier wings, add some Asian-style chili paste or sambal. Or, you can also add some Sriracha sauce.

In some grocery stores, you can find chicken wings that are already cut up into the wingette and the drumette, but if not, get whole ones and cut them up yourselves, discarding the tip part. 

Serve these chicken wings with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing and some celery sticks. They're the perfect appetizer for parties, game days, or you can turn these into a meal by serving with some rice and your favorite veggies.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken wings

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce, preferably low sodium

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

  • 4 green onions, with tops, sliced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

  • 1 dash freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 dash cayenne pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pat the chicken wings with paper towels to dry. If the wings are whole, slice off and discard the tips. Cut each whole wing at the joint to make a drumette and a "flat."

  3. In a large food storage bag, combine soy sauce, water, sugar, sesame oil, green onions, garlic, sesame seeds, and black pepper and cayenne pepper, if using. Add chicken wings; turn bag to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, turning occasionally.

  4. Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove chicken to a shallow rack in baking dish or roasting pan. Discard the marinade. Bake wings, uncovered, in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn wings and bake 25 minutes longer, or until tender.

Tip

Go ahead and make this the night before and let the chicken wings marinate overnight.

Recipe Variations

  • For less spicy wings, omit the cayenne pepper.
  • For spicier wings try adding a dash, or two, of Asian-style chili paste, sambal, or some Sriracha sauce.

How to Toast Sesame Oil

While you can purchase toasted sesame oil in most grocery stores or online, if you don't have any on hand, you can make your own. Simply heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Stir constantly or gripping the handle of the pan move the pan from side to side. It is important that the oil is moving constantly so as not to burn it. The sesame oil is toasted when it turns a golden brown color. You will also smell a rich, nutty aroma.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
635 Calories
46g Fat
25g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 635
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 46g 59%
Saturated Fat 15g 77%
Cholesterol 139mg 46%
Sodium 1546mg 67%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 66mg 5%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 394mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)