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These Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are juicy, savory, and glazed with just the right sticky-sweet finish. Marinated with garlic, fish sauce, and Thai sweet chili sauce, they’re grilled until golden and served with lime wedges for the ultimate crowd-pleasing wings.
Table of Contents
- Easy Thai Sweet Chili Chicken Wings Recipe
- Add These Wings To Your Grilling Rotation
- The Secret Ingredient: Cilantro Stems
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Make Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
- Other Ways To Cook These Wings
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What To Serve With These Thai Chicken Wings
- Other Recipes You Might Like
- Sweet Chili Chicken Wings Recipe
Easy Thai Sweet Chili Chicken Wings Recipe
It’s summer, and if you haven’t had crazy delicious, sticky sweet and savory BBQ chicken wings yet, you’ve got to try my sweet Thai chicken wings recipe. They’re some of the easiest and most flavorful wings I’ve ever made—and I honestly can’t stop eating them.
Just look at the pictures—these wings come out perfectly caramelized with a glistening golden brown hue. Finish them with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a little extra Thai sweet chili sauce on the side. They’re perfect for backyard BBQs, game day, or whenever you’re craving wings with bold, addictive flavor. Be sure to check out my tips and alternate cooking methods below to get them just right every time.
For more Asian-style chicken wings, check out my Five Spice Grilled Chicken Wings and Vietnamese Chicken Wings recipes too!
Add These Wings To Your Grilling Rotation
These Thai-style wings are bold, easy, and full of flavor. Here’s why they deserve a spot in your rotation:
- Sweet, savory, and garlicky. The mix of sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic, and cilantro gives these wings that bold, sweet-and-savory punch with a hint of umami. Every bite is packed with flavor.
- Perfectly caramelized on the grill. Grilling the wings over fire adds that irresistible charred finish—just the right amount of smoky edges with juicy meat inside.
- Easy to prep and crowd-friendly. You only need a few ingredients and a quick marinade. Great for backyard BBQs, game day, or anytime you need a reliable, no-fuss crowd-pleaser.
The Secret Ingredient: Cilantro Stems
Traditionally, Thai recipes use cilantro roots to build deep, savory flavor—especially in grilled dishes like these chicken wings. But unless you’re pulling them fresh from your garden, cilantro with roots isn’t easy to find.
So I go with the next best thing: cilantro stems. They’re super flavorful and way too underrated. Just chop them up and mix into the marinade—they add that same earthy, herbaceous punch that makes these wings taste extra special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken wings – If you’re not a wing person, boneless chicken thighs work too.
- Cilantro stems
- Fish sauce – I recommend Red Boat or Three Crabs.
- Thai sweet chili sauce – I recommend Mae Ploy or any Thai brand with real chili and garlic.
Check out the recipe card below for the full amounts and details.
Pro Tip #1: Why I Use Garlic And Cilantro Stems
I rub the wings with minced garlic and cilantro stems before marinating to really build in that base layer of flavor. Cilantro stems are super underrated—they’re packed with way more flavor than the leaves and hold up better on the grill too.
Pro Tip #2: Fish Sauce = Deep Umami Flavor
Fish sauce is the key to that classic Thai taste. It doesn’t just season the wings—it acts like a brine, keeping the meat juicy while giving it that savory depth you can’t get from soy sauce alone.
Pro Tip #3: Sweet Chili Sauce For The Sticky-Sweet Kick
Thai sweet chili sauce does double duty—it adds just the right amount of sweetness and a little heat, plus it caramelizes beautifully when grilled so you get those slightly sticky, charred bits that everyone loves.
How To Make Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Start by rubbing the chicken wings with the minced garlic and chopped cilantro stems—this step really helps the flavor get into the meat. Then pour in the fish sauce, sweet chili sauce, and a bit of black pepper.
Mix everything together until the wings are well coated. Let them marinate for at least 2 to 4 hours, but if you’ve got the time, overnight in the fridge is even better. The longer they sit, the more flavorful and juicy they’ll be when grilled.
Fire up your grill and let it preheat until it’s nice and hot. Once it’s ready, place the wings on in a single layer—don’t overcrowd—and cook them in batches. Flip them every few minutes until both sides are golden and a little charred around the edges. That caramelized glaze is what makes them so irresistible!
Serve the wings hot off the grill with some lime wedges and a side of Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Other Ways To Cook These Wings
Here’s how you can cook these chicken wings in sweet chili sauce if you don’t feel like firing up the grill. Whether you’re baking or air frying, they still come out sticky, savory, and full of flavor.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (207°C). Arrange the marinated wings on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. They’ll turn beautifully golden with slightly crisp edges.
- Air Fry: Place the marinated wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket and spoon any leftover marinade over the top. Air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 8 minutes. Flip the wings, brush on a little oil, and cook for another 4 minutes until they’re lightly charred and cooked through.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s up to you. I usually leave them on because they get nice and crispy when grilled. But if you prefer a cleaner look or want easier handling, you can trim them off before marinating.
Yes, you can freeze the raw, marinated wings for up to 2 months. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge before cooking. I don’t recommend freezing cooked wings, they tend to lose their texture and can turn out dry or soggy when reheated.
You’ll want to thaw them first for best results. Cooking from frozen can make the marinade slide off, and the wings won’t cook evenly.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to crisp them up again. Just avoid the microwave, which can make them soggy.
This recipe is only 322 calories per serving.
What To Serve With These Thai Chicken Wings
These wings are best served as an appetizer. They are also great as a main dish for dinner with a bowl of steamed rice. For an easy, wholesome Thai weeknight dinner, I recommend these recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro stems, without leaves
- 5 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Rub the chicken wings with garlic and cilantro, then add fish sauce, sweet chili sauce, and ground black pepper. Marinate for two to four hours, or preferably overnight.
- Preheat an outdoor grill and cook the chicken wings in batches until both sides are golden brown. Serve immediately with lime wedges and Thai sweet chili sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I added a teaspoon of Ginger Powder for an Extra Zest. YUMMO! It was a Hit!!!! Been wanting to make these for awhile and looks like It’s going to be on my list for my upcoming BBQ. I baked this batch but will BBQ the next on a BBQ Grill! Easy Peasy Recipe!
Is sweet chili sauce the similar to Mae Ploy spring roll sauce?
Yes.
Hi, I am planning on making these this weekend. Have you tried them baked? If so, what temp and time did you use? Thank you!
These wings can be baked at 375F for 30 minutes or so until both sides are golden brown.
These are so delicious! I made them tonight and loved every bite. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Awesome!
Will these be good eaten room temperature? Was thinking of taking to a party.
Should be fine. You should try!
For this recipe – can I used chicken breasts? Family not
crazy about chicken wings.
Sure!
Hi! I love cilantro stems (and roots which you can’t ever find! This is probably dopey, but do you chop them?
Thanks! Love your recipes!
Yes chop. :)
I made this last night, substituting cilantro leaves with fresh parley leaves coz I didn’t have cilantro leaves, everything else I followed your recipe. The chicken wings turned out to be finger-licking good! Thanks for the great recipe!
Awesome thanks!
What can I use to replace fish sauce ?
Oyster sauce.
I’ve made these several times, and they are delicious! I’ve added ginger and orange juice today, and I think it will be good too.
Bee
Great idea.