Slow Cooker Habañero Wings Recipe

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These slow cooker habañero wings are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy- and the best make-ahead game day recipe!

About These Habanero Wings

Football season is BAAAACK! And in Colorado, that means Denver Broncos watch parties are happening every Sunday for the next few months.

I actually went into labor with Big Sister during a Broncos playoff, and listening to the game in the womb must have worn off on her, because she NEVER wants to miss a Broncos game.

We love to pile on the couch and watch the games as a family- but I don’t love to be cooking game day food while everyone else is watching the game.

And that’s how this slow cooker habañero wings recipe was born. These wings are cooked for tenderness in the slow cooker and then broiled in the oven just before serving to make them crispy and delicious. I can make them ahead and enjoy the game, and when halftime rolls around I’m just 4 minutes from crispy wings for everyone!

Mango Habanero Chicken Wings Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 3 tbsp lime juice, fresh
• 1 stick salted butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, crushed (can substitute garlic powder)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp habanero sauce

Instructions

Melt butter. Whisk all sauce ingredients together until smooth. You can simmer them in a saucepan over medium heat, but I haven’t experienced much difference in flavor.

Place chicken wings in the slow cooker crock.

Pour about half of the sauce into the pot, and lightly stir, coating the wings. Cook on medium-high heat for 3 hours or on low heat for 4-6 hours. Place remaining sauce in the refrigerator.

When wings are cooked, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place wings on the pan. Brush with about half the remaining sauce and broil on high for 2 minutes. Repeat on the second side. Serve with ranch or blue cheese and veggies!

Substitutions

If you don’t have the habanero sauce you can buy habanero peppers and finely chop them or puree them in a blender or spice grinder.

Variations

You can make these into pineapple habanero wings by adding 1/2 cup pineapple puree to the sauce. You can do something similar with mango as well. Or use canned fruit- just drain and puree in the blender.

Some people place the wings in a large bowl with the sauce and toss to coat before broiling the wings.

You can also fry the wings in the air fryer until golden brown.

This can become a simple habanero chicken recipe by replacing the wings with chicken breasts.

Serving Suggestions

Of course, even though these slow cooker habañero wings are super delicious, they aren’t the only food on the table at game time. I love to do one centerpiece recipe and then grab fun sweets and sides that are no prep. I served my habañero wings with ranch dressing, and the prerequisite carrots and celery.

Printable Recipe

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