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!
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
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