My Tequila Lime Drunken Chicken Wings are not only incredibly delicious, they’re also quick and easy to make.
So if you’re looking for a delicious snack for your next get-together or a monotony breaker for a fun family dinner give this recipe a try!
Updated from original post January 30, 2015
I love buffalo wings and my recipe is the standard I judge all others by. But man (and woman) cannot live by Buffalo Wings alone so I’m always thinking of new and delicious ways to serve them.
What Ingredients do I need to make Drunken Chicken Wings?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Drunken Chicken Wings. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Do I have to use Tequila to make these wings?
No, you do not. You can leave it out altogether or replace it with Vodka, Rum or Gin.
How do I make Drunken Chicken Wings?
Start by combining all the ingredients to make the marinade in a small bowl, mixing well.
Place the chicken wing sections in a large bowl or large ziplock bag, then the marinade. Mix the wings in the marinade so they all get coated.
Cover the bowl or seal the ziplock bag and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. You can marinate the wings overnight if needed. (bone-in and skin-on chicken is okay to marinate overnight)
Preheat the oven to 400. Line a baking pan with foil and arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the pan. Pour the marinade evenly over all the wings.
Bake until meat is well browned and pulling away from the bone, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
These wings get that lovely caramelization from the sugar in the marinade and the lime and tequila give it that margarita flavor that you love. But don’t worry all the alcohol burns off when you cook the wings. If you’d rather not use the tequila that’s not a problem, you can substitute your favorite lemon-lime soda.
My drunken chicken wings go great with sriracha or your favorite hot sauce for your friends that want to bring the heat. Just make sure to print out a few extra copies of the recipe if you serve it to your friends because they’re going to be begging for the recipe!
Where Does Chef Dennis Shop for Meats?
I have been buying my meats online for quite some time now and have tried many different suppliers. I have found that Crowd Cow has the best prices and selection for chicken and Farm Foods has Heritage Pork and other meats that I regularly use. They both offer much better meats than you can buy at the supermarket, and both offer free delivery to the US. Crowd Cow also includes free bacon with each order!
Click on my affiliate links and get started today.
More Chicken Wing Recipes You’ll Love!
- The Most Ah-Mazing Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Garlic Ginger Chicken Wings
- Chinese Sticky Wings
- Honey Lime Buffalo Wings
Drunken Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds chicken wings tips trimmed off saved for soup.
- ⅔ cup tequila
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or hotter if you like
Instructions
- Start by combining all the ingredients to make the marinade in a small bowl, mixing well.
- Place the chicken wing sections in a large bowl or large ziplock bag, then the marinade. Mix the wings in the marinade so they all get coated.
- Cover the bowl or seal the ziplock bag and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. You can marinate the wings overnight if needed. (bone-in and skin-on chicken is okay to marinate overnight)
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Line a baking pan with foil.
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer in the pan, and pour the marinade evenly over all the wings
- Bake until meat is well browned and pulling away from the bone, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Any marinade that is on the tray with the fully cooked chicken wings is safe to use since its been a subjected to a high temperature.
Nutrition
Jessica Formicola
I am a sucker for a good chicken wing! And tequila and lime sounds like an amazing flavor combo! I will be making these for dinner this week!
Sondra
This sounds perfect for a party!
Nora
This looks great! Have to try it out soon!
Raquel
These sound fantastic! Going to make this for the basketball final four games this weekend!
Angela
The tequila lime combination is so amazing on these chicken wings. They are so addicting!
Nayomi
Great recipe, I love chicken wings
Luke Ratford
A superb chicken wing recipe, the family loved it 🙂
Emily Flint
Well, I just found my new favorite way to serve wings…delicious!!!
Debra
Excellent recipe…we loved the marinade….I’ll definitely be making these for cinco de mayo this year.
Sunrita
Such a fantastic recipe. Love it.
Ramona
Made these for dinner today and they were absolutely delicious. Kids want me to make them again tomorrow and I will! Delicious recipe! Thank you soo much for sharing!
Ellen
My family said they are the best wings they have ever had! Wow.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thats what I like to hear! Thanks for the great review and I hope you find more recipes to try !
Lorie
I have made these several times absolutely love this recipe!! Any tips on grilling these??
Chef Dennis Littley
I would marinate the wings longer, possibly overnight. Place a piece of foil on the grill and lay the wings on the foil to cook. Brush the remaining marinade on the wings and repeat as you turn them. If you want a good char, place them directly on the grates for a minute or so at the end of the cooking process. They should come out pretty tasty that way.
Michelle
These were delicious! I’m going to make these for our next tailgate party to share with my friends
Jo
oh my God these chicken wings were so crispy and delicious! That marinade with tequila, lime and chili flakes is mind blowing. I can’t wait to give this a try. Saving it.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
OMG these chicken wings looks so delicious and crispy. I love how easy it is to make. Can’t wait to try it!
Jamie
I made these last night and they made such a good appetizer! The lime and tequila really gave these wings a lot of flavor!
Amanda
Great recipe! I love baking them as it’s less messy.
Jenni LeBaron
These Drunken Chicken Wings were delicious! I love the mix of tequila and lime juice in the marinade. Next time I’m going to enjoy these with a side of chips and guac and a margarita for a fun meal!
Patti@PattyCakesPantry
You’re right about how chicken wings status in the meat department has changed. In my local grocer, they frequently cost more per pound than boneless skinless chicken breasts. It’s shocking. I love all of the flavors going on in this recipe, and I can’t wait to try these Tequila Lime Drunken Chicken Wings. I think we will be serving these at our New Year’s Eve Party. YUM!!
Shelley
Haha – you’re so right – man (and woman) definitely cannot live by Buffalo wings alone! So I was really excited you posted this … perfect timing! I’m hosting an early Thanksgiving this weekend, specifically to include my kids’ boyfriend and girlfriend, whom we won’t be able to include later in the week. We’re going totally off-script and not doing turkey and stuffing, since everyone will have the traditional things in a few days. And – no kidding – I was planning to make wings for an appetizer the boys can enjoy during the Browns game before our “big meal” (my daughter’s sweet boyfriend is a huge carnivore and LOVES wings). How perfect to find a unique alternative to the same-old, same-old version! Thank you – and Happy Thanksgiving!
Analida Braeger
Wings are a family favorite in my house and I love lime flavor with chicken for a tangy kick! Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Anna
What a great and unique use for Tequila! Your chicken wings look utterly delicious and it would be such a perfect appetiser to serve at any gathering with friends or family, especially in the upcoming holidays!
Lynndee
Oh, my! It has tequila in it? I must try this recipe because it’s been a while since the hubs and I had tequila. LOL. Bet those chickens are yummy!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Hmm yum! I am drooling right now! This Tequila Lime Drunken Chicken Wings look sooo appetizing. I can’t stop myself from craving.
HilLesha
This sounds like something that my husband would enjoy. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Catalina
Oh my goodness! I am drooling over these chicken wings! My new favorite recipe for sure!
Whitney Kutch
These sound so good! I love chicken wings and am always excited to try new flavors.
Kathy
These look amazing! It’s been so long since I’ve had chicken wings. I really want to give these a try. They look like they’d be delicious.
Terri Steffes
These look really good. I love this combination. I use a similar recipe on chicken thighs. I read a comment in your recipe that I am curious about: chicken wings with bone in and skin on are ok to marinate overnight. This says to me that boneless, skinless chicken is not ok to marinate overnight. Am I correct?
Chef Dennis Littley
no you can marinate either style of chicken.
Agnes
Looks like a good recipe to try this weekend. Thanks for sharing the dish with us.Agnes
Denay DeGuzman
Chef Dennis, these chicken wings look amazing! This is the PERFECT appetizer recipe for Thanksgiving. I’m so excited to make these for my family.
Lisa Favre
These chicken wings are sheer perfection! I love the fact that they’re called Drunken Chicken Wings – my husband will get a real kick out of that one!
Pam Wattenbarger
I just received a bottle of tequila. These wings look fab. I can’t wait to try them out.
Sarah Bailey
There is something about chicken and this sounds like it would taste absolutely delicious. It always amazes me all the different things you can do with chicken.
Tasheena
OMG! These chicken wings look so yummy. I can’t wait to make this recipe for my family.
Barb Webb
I’ll take two platefuls, please! My goodness these look ridiculously-delicious!!
Rena
This sounds amazing! I get so tired of regular buffalo wings and this seems like a huge step up!
cait
im always on the hunt to look for new chicken recipes bc we tend to eat a lot of it during the week- this looks super tasty
robin rue
These chicken wings sound wicked good. I am so excited to try your recipe.
melissa chapman
Your wings look amazing and if they taste half that good, then wow. I never heard of cooking with tequila but I am ready to learn from the best.
Amber Myers
We do love chicken wings! I’ll have to try these out. They sound like an amazing flavor.
Tom Lamb
Chef Dennis, these are the best tequila lime wings I’ve ever had!! After an hour there was no liquid left, but turned and let them go another 10 minutes. Perfect!!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks for the great review Tom and I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the wings!
Christine Gutierrez
Wings are delicious! But I feel they are missing something. I followed recipe exact. Not sure if there’s a better Tequila to use than others for cooking. I ended up draining the pan to brown the wings and had to add more salt and pepper. I wasn’t sure if the juice was supposed to be watery or thicker like a glaze. It’s kind of runny. But overall the flavor is good.
ROSIE JENSEN
WHERE AND WHAT BRAND OF CHICKEN WINGS DO YOU BUY?
Chef Dennis Littley
I always buy fresh wings and look for pasture-raised whenever possible.
Stephanie D Scheid
Come on people….looks delicious, sounds delicious, can’t wait to try. People reading the reviews want to hear from those who have actually made this recipe. Exactly 2 people have actually made this and one changed the recipe so much it can’t possibly taste the same. So now I have to just try it to see if it’s any good and risk wasting the ingredients. I’m giving it 5 stars just so I could vent without being unfair to the author. When I actually make it I’ll come back and do a real review.
David Kenniston
You are too funny, I was thinking the exact same thing. I made these per recipe and put them in the fridge. Sat down to read reviews and almost all haven’t even tried them… darn crazy… what are they writing a review for if they just read the thing…. maybe they like their name in lights…. will review tomorrow after I eat these.
Anna
Hello!
So I love love love your tequila lime recipe I have made these wings 4 times already! on my fifth right now! However I just have a question, everytime I make them the bottoms of the wings get stuck to my pan, weather I align it with foil or not, what can I do to stop this? should I spritz oil on the pan?
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m really happy to hear you’ve been enjoying my wing recipe, Anna! I would try a little pan spray on the foil or pan first, that will help them from sticking. The other trick is to use a spatula to loosen them and move them around after about 5 minutes
Anna
Ok, sounds good, will give it a try 😀
Becky Harris
Looks delicious..I added 6 large garlic cloves grated with microplane..used Agave nectar instead of sugar..& added onion salt..The last 15 minutes I finished on a “HOT” cast iron grill. Used marinade as a sauce…Making for a party tonight!
Shea @ Dixie Chik Cooks
Beautiful wings!! I’m trying them out this weekend 🙂
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Shea, I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!!
Best Foodies
I have missed visiting your site. I am passing along this chicken recipe to my daughter. She just returned from Mexico with a beautiful bottle of the best smelling tequila! I can’t really have the drink but sure would love to try the chicken!!!!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m so glad you stopped back Karen, I haven’t been blogging as much as I should have since we moved, but I’m finally get back to it. Stay tuned for more deliciousness!!
RavieNomNoms
This looks so very tasty!!! You can’t go wrong with tequila and lime!
Chef Dennis Littley
that was my thinking Raven, its a good thing I made them live on my show or I may have been drinking the Tequila!
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction
Chef Dennis,
Your wings look delicious. My hubby would love these.
Annamaria
Chef Dennis Littley
They were delicious Annamaria and a nice change from buffalo wings
GERRY SJODIN
I’m a chicken lover, and will definitely give this a shot.
Chef Dennis Littley
they’re delicious and easy to make Gerry, I hope you enjoy them!
Larry
These sound delicious Dennis and your buffalo wings recipe is the one we use and the ones I judge others by as well
Chef Dennis Littley
thank you Larry! These were a tasty change and next time I’m going to grill them!
Liz
These look delicious Chef. Thank you for the recipe.
Chef Dennis Littley
you’re welcome Liz, I hope you enjoy the recipe!
anna@icyvioletskitchen
these look so good! but no one but me likes wings in my family…:( eh i will just make them for myself!
Chef Dennis Littley
sometimes its good to make something special for yourself Anna!
KimberlyNewman
You can use skinless boneless chicken thighs, they turned out great
Candace @ Cabot
I adore Chicken Wings. If they’re drunk, so much the better! Can’t wait to give these a try.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Candace! Hope all is well in Snowy Maine