Flamin’ Hot Nashville Chicken Wings

These Flamin’ Hot Nashville Chicken Wings combine two great flavors on one spicy wing. The chicken is breaded with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and baked to crunchy goodness. They’re then glazed with a sweet, hot honey glaze for a taste that will be requested over and over by your friends and family.

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Top view of a white bowl of Flamin' Hot Nashville Chicken Wings and garnished with pickle slices.

Whenever I make these wings, I am always asked for the recipe. They’re addictive – especially since they’re baked instead of fried and then drenched in the hot honey glaze. Think about making a double batch because they always go quickly.

I make them for game day parties, tailgating, picnics, potlucks, or a random Saturday night. They are a flavor explosion! The Flamin’ Hot Cheetos add a layer of heat and a cheesy depth of flavor that is savory and unexpected. The Nashville glaze is sweet, buttery, and spicy. The two combine for layers of heat, and a savory flavor, with a hint of crave-worthy sweetness!

Ingredients Needed

Raw chicken wingettes and drumettes on a black tray.
  • Chicken wings
  • Buttermilk – the buttermilk helps to tenderize the wings.
  • Hot sauce – I used Frank’s, but use your favorite brand.
  • Pickle juice – adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat. You can save the pickle brine from your empty pickle jars or purchase the packaged pickle juice that you can find in the pickle aisle.
  • Cayenne pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and chili powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • All-purpose flour
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Honey
  • Brown sugar
  • Flamin’ Hot Cheetos,

How To Cut The Wings Into Sections

Illustration showing a whole chicken wing and then the three sections - the wingette, the drumette, and the wing tip.

A wing is comprised of three parts:

  • Drumette – looks like a small drumstick and is the meaty section of the wing. It’s dark meat and is the part attached to the chicken’s body.
  • Wingette – also called the flat. This is the middle part of the wing and has two small bones running the length of it. This is usually the preferred section of the wing because it crisps up the best – except for my family, who like the drumettes.
  • Wing tip – end of the wing. There isn’t any meat, but it is full of cartilage, making it great for stock.

You can purchase sectioned wings from your grocery store or butcher, but it’s much cheaper to cut them yourself and save the wing tips for a pot of chicken stock.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Use a VERY sharp knife and a plastic or rubber cutting board – not wood. Wood will hold onto the bacteria from the chicken.
  2. Dry the wing very well with paper towels.
  3. Flip the wing over so it’s skin side down and locate the joints between each section. The joints are mostly cartilage and easier to cut through. It will feel knobby and rounded. Try to avoid cutting through the bone. You will feel a ridge and a crevice between each section.
  4. Place your knife beside the ridge and in the crevice. Cut through the joint. Your knife should slice with little resistance.
  5. Next, place the knife along the ridge between the wing tip and the wingette. Slice through the cartilage.

Confused? No worries. Here is a link to a great ‘how-to’ video:  https://youtu.be/gy5fNJTIq4g

Steps To Make This Recipe

Overhead view of a white bowl of Flamin' Hot Nashville Chicken Wings and garnished with pickle slices.
  1. Brine the chicken by mixing all the brine ingredients in a zip-top bag and add the chicken wings. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 4 hours.
  2. Make the dredge by stirring the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in one bowl. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce in a second bowl. In a third bowl, pour in the crushed Flamin’ Cheetos crumbs.
  3. Bread the chicken wing pieces.
  4. Spray the breaded chicken with cooking spray and bake until crunchy.
  5. Boil together the glaze ingredients.
  6. When the wings are done baking, brush them generously on all sides with the glaze.
  7. Serve hot.
Top view of a white bowl of Flamin' Hot Nashville Chicken Wings and garnished with pickle slices.

More Chicken Recipes To Consider

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Top view of a white bowl of Flamin' Hot Nashville Chicken Wings and garnished with pickle slices.

Flamin’ Hot Nashville Chicken Wings


  • Author: Millie Brinkley
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

These Flamin’ Hot Nashville Chicken Wings combine two great flavors on one spicy wing. The chicken is breaded with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and baked to crunchy goodness. They’re then glazed with a sweet, hot honey glaze for a taste that will be requested over and over by your friends and family.


Ingredients

Scale

For the brine:

  • 2 pounds of chicken wings, cut into drums and flats
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • ¼ cup pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the wings:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon season salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 8.5 ounce package Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, finely crushed

For the Nashville glaze:

  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
  • 6 large garlic cloves, finely minced
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

Brine the wings.

In a large zip-top bag, combine all the brine ingredients, including the wings. 

Zip the top tightly, place in the refrigerator, and marinate for 4 hours or overnight.

Make the wings.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Remove the wings from the marinade and discard the marinade.

Use a paper towel to dry the wings. Set aside.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.

Make a dredging station by combining the flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder in a shallow bowl.

Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce in another shallow bowl.

In a third bowl, pour in the Cheetos crumbs.

Dredge each wing section in flour, then the egg mixture, and finally, roll it in the Cheetos crumbs. Press the crumbs onto the wing section.

Place it on a wire cooling rack while you bread the remaining wings.

When all of the wings are breaded, place them on the baking sheet.

Lightly spray the wings with cooking spray.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the outsides are crisp. Turn the wings halfway through the baking process.

Make the Nashville glaze.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter and garlic together. Allow the garlic to cook for a minute or two or until fragrant.

Stir in the honey, brown sugar, cayenne, hot sauce, chili powder, paprika, and onion powder.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the brown sugar has dissolved and the sauce is well combined.

Remove from the heat.

When the wings are done, remove them from the oven.

Brush all sides of the wings with the glaze and cool for 5 minutes.

Brush the wings again before serving.

  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Brining Time: 4 hours
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish – Chicken
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Flamin’ Hot Nashville Chicken Wings, wing recipes, chicken wing recipes, spicy food, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, baked chicken wngs, game day recipes, Father’s Day recipes

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