These Asian-style, ginger lime cilantro soy sauce-marinated chicken wings are packed with flavor but at the same time very easy to make. Mix the ingredients together, then use half of them as the marinade and cook the other half down into a glaze to brush on the wings. A great appetizer for parties!
For more delicious glazed wings, be sure to also check out these orange maple syrup chicken wings!
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What’s in the marinade?
Ingredient notes:
- ginger: I recommend fresh rather than dried ginger for this recipe
- lime zest: lime zest adds freshness and fragrance to the marinade
- sesame oil: be sure to use toasted sesame oil for this recipe
- honey: balances the flavors by adding a little bit of sweetness and makes the wings just a little bit sticky
- crushed red pepper flakes: these add a nice spice kick to the marinade
What’s in the glaze?
The same ingredients that are in the marinade are also in the glaze (except for cilantro). After you cook the mix for a few minutes you get a nicely thick and slightly sticky glaze.
How to marinate the wings:
See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!
Step 1. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together all marinade/glaze ingredients except for the cilantro.
Step 2. Pour half of the mix into a resealable plastic bag. Add the cilantro to the bag, then the chicken wings. Seal and place in the fridge for 45 minutes to marinate. Cover the liquid measuring cup with the remaining liquid with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge as well. (This will become the glaze.)
How to bake the wings:
Step 3. Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, set a wire rack on top and transfer the chicken wings onto the wire rack. Bake the wings for 35 minutes.
Step 4. While the wings are baking, pour the sauce into a small saucepan and simmer, stirring continuously, until it is reduced to a syrupy consistency.
Step 5. Brush the sauce on the chicken wings, then return them to the oven and bake until they are fully cooked (about another 5 minutes).
How to serve the wings:
Sprinkle fresh chopped green onion onto the wings and serve.
Recipe notes & tips:
- To make sure the wings are fully cooked, it’s best to take their internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the wing and be sure not to hit the bone. The wings are fully cooked when they register an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Note that while the wings are in the oven a bit of the marinade can sometimes drip onto the aluminum foil and burn on there. That can cause a light burned smell but don’t worry when that happens because it’s only the drippings on the foil. The chicken wings themselves will be perfectly fine.
More Asian-inspired recipes:
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating or comment! Thanks!
Full Printable Recipe
Ginger Cilantro Soy Sauce-Marinated Chicken Wings
Equipment:
- measuring cups and spoons
- knife and cutting board
- garlic press (optional)
- citrus zester (for lime and ginger)
- liquid measuring cup
- resealable plastic bag
- rimmed baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- wire rack
- saucepan
- wooden spoon
- pastry brush
- meat thermometer (recommended)
Ingredients:
- 6 whole chicken wings or about 12 wing sections (drumettes and wingettes)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced or pressed through a garlic press
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- zest from 1 lime
- ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger root
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1 finely chopped green onion, optional
Instructions:
- If you're using whole wings, separate them into their three components. Discard the wing tips and keep only the drumettes and wingettes. (Separate the wings by locating the joints and cutting through the cartilage between the bones.)
- Stir soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, honey, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, lime zest and ginger together in a liquid measuring cup.
- Pour half of the mix into a resealable plastic bag, add the cilantro to the bag, then the chicken wings. Seal and place in the fridge to marinate for 45 minutes. Cover the remaining half of the mix that's still in the liquid measuring cup and transfer to the fridge as well.
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on it. Drain the wings, discard the marinade and set the wings on the rack.
- Bake the wings for 35 minutes.*
- While the wings are in the oven, pour the remaining sauce mix into a saucepan and simmer, stirring continuously, until reduced to a glaze (about 8 minutes).
- Brush the glaze on the chicken wings, then return them to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes. Check that the internal temperature of the wings has reached 165 degrees F. to make sure the wings are fully cooked.
- Sprinkle the green onion over the wings and serve.
Notes:
Nutrition Information (Estimated):
Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.
Kevin | Keviniscooking
These look spectacular and with all those lovely spices and flavors going on, it’s right up my alley.
Hope your Thanksgiving day was spent with loved ones and this finds you well. Thanks Nicole!
Nicole B.
Thank you so much, Kevin! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well. :)
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
These are gorgeous! I love all the flavors you used. Would it be weird to eat them for breakfast?
Nicole B.
Not at all! I’m all for eating (and drinking) whatever strikes my fancy in the morning! Thanks so much for coming by, Amy. (Love your blog name, by the way :)).
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Nicole, these sound delicious! When my son Casey comes home from college for the holidays I need to have some yummy chicken wing recipes! They’re his favorite! These are on my list! Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Nicole B.
That sounds great, I hope he likes them. A wonderful Thanksgiving to you as well, Mary Ann! :)