This wing recipe is perfect for game day, family gathering, or your next weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Before I discovered the magic of air fryer chicken wings, I thought I could only get good wings at a restaurant, deep fried, slathered in sauce! During football season, these AIR FRYER wings are an easier and less expensive alternative to ordering out!
As a Maryland girl, Old Bay seasoning has a special place in my heart, reminiscent of crab feasts, the salty Atlantic beach air, and warm summers. This easy chicken wing recipe is perfectly paired with a honey Old Bay sauce, bringing a taste of Maryland to your table.
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Originally, I made this recipe with a honey Old Bay sauce made with honey, old bay, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce.
I would first cook the wings, then coat them in the sauce. However, I’ve since changed my favorite Honey Old Bay Wings recipe because I prefer this as a dry rub recipe!
For the new method, you rub your seasonings on the wings before cooking. Then, once they are cooked, you finish the wings off with a drizzle of your favorite honey.
Chicken Wings
Avocado Oil
Old Bay
Salt and Black Pepper
Honey
Step By Step How To Make Honey Old Bay Wings Recipe
Prep the Wings:
Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
In a large bowl, add avocado oil, old bay, salt, and pepper and rub it into the chicken until evenly coated.
Cook the Wings in the Air Fryer:
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes.
Place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Air fry the wings at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the wings are crispy, golden brown, and cooked through.
Drizzle Honey Over Wings:
Once the wings are done, transfer them your serving platter and drizzle the honey over the wings.
Serve and Enjoy:
Serve these party wings with carrot or celery sticks, ranch, or blue cheese, and enjoy!
Serving Size and Time for This Crispy Chicken Wings Recipe
This recipe makes approximately 4 servings.
Estimated Total Time:
Prep Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 to 20 minutes
Glaze Preparation: 5 minutes (to be completed during the cook time)
Total Time: 23 to 30 minutes
My Favorite Sauces to Make From Scratch for Air-Fryer Wings
As convenient as store-bought sauces can be, it’s surprisingly easy (and fun) to make your sauces from scratch! Additionally, you can go beyond the classic buffalo and BBQ sauces.
Try out some of my favorite sauces with incredible flavors.
You preheat an oven, same goes for the air fryer. 400°F for about 5 minutes should do the trick!
Tip #2: Arrange Wings in a SINGLE Layer.
For extra crispy air fryer wings, the wings need space to ensure even cooking. Overcrowing the basket can lead to unevenly cooked wings.
This means, if you are making a large amount of wings, you will need to cooking them in batches.
Tip #3: For extra crispy wings, serve sauce on the side.
This might be my personal preference, but eversince I started ordering my wings with sauce on the side, I’ve never gone back!
They stay super crispy and I can add as much sauce as I would like for dunking or drizzling!
Tip #4: For easy speedy cleanup use a liner.
For easy speedy clean up use an airfryer liner or tin foil. Be sure to clean the basket after each use, the liner might not get everything, but it will make cleanup easier.
You can purchase these on Amazon, Walmart, or Target.
Enjoy This Recipe? Check Out These Other Chicken Recipes!
This Southwest Marinade for chicken pairs bold flavors of typical of Southwest cuisine, with the acidity from the lime and apple cider vinegar to help tenderize the chicken, ensuring it’s juicy and flavorful. This marinade is perfect for grilling during the warmer months and baking when the weather is chilly.
Why You Need To Make This Southwest Chicken Marinade Recipe
This recipe is easy to whip together and makes a healthy delicious roast or grilled chicken. However, the fact that this recipe is super easy isn’t the only reason you need to make this recipe.
This recipe is also:
Versatile: Make this with roasted pork, grilled veggies, or grilled or baked tofu steaks.
Healthy: This recipe is a great addition to healthy flexitarian eating. A homemade marinade allows you to control the ingredients.
Cost-Effective: This recipe is economical to make and more cost-effective than buying pre-made marinades.
Totally Customizable: Making marinade from scratch allows you to adjust spices and ingredients to suit your taste preference and accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have.
Southwest Chicken Bowl – Sliced Chicken
Ingredients In Southwest Chicken Marinade
These simple marinade ingredients combined are perfect for your next southwest chicken dish.
Olive Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar
Limes – I use fresh lime juice and lime zest
Oregano
Chili Powder
Ground Cumin
Garlic Powder
Optional: onion powder (for more oniony flavors), smoked paprika (for a touch of smokiness), brown sugar (for a touch of sweetness), sea salt, and black pepper.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, oregano, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder, lime juice, and lime zest until well blended.
Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
If using to marinate chicken…
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated.
Refrigerate: Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours for deeper flavor.
Cook: Remove the chicken from the marinade and cook as desired, whether grilling, roasting, or pan-frying.
Serving Suggestions
Let’s review some ideas for serving this marinade! I can guide you to creating a complete and healthy meal.
Use this marinade on skinless chicken breasts for delicious grilled southwest chicken breasts. Marinate the raw chicken pieces in airtight containers or ziplock bag overnight or for 24hrs. Then grill your chicken until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Serve the grilled chicken in a delicious meal, such as :
Plain along side some simple cooked and seasoned black beans and rice.
The protein topper for burrito bowls with grilled green bell peppers and red onions, and fresh corn salsa.
Served over a simple green salad with fresh herbs, such as fresh cilantro.
Try this recipe as meal prep for the week! Make enough for a week of lunches with burrito bowls, salads, and wraps.
This marinade pairs well with the bold flavors typical of Southwest cuisine, and the acidity from the lime and apple cider vinegar helps tenderize the chicken, ensuring it's juicy and flavorful.
In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and garlic powder until well blended.
Bagels can be a satisfying and delicious addition to your healthy lunches and breakfasts.
I try to keep my bagel breakfast balanced with the addition of fruit, veggies, and protein.
Light cream cheese is great, but one of my favorite combinations is a bagel topped with my homemade Healthy Honey Almond Cream Cheese, which includes cottage cheese as a secret ingredient. It is terrific on English muffins, spooned over Croffles (one of my favorite Korean Recipes), or spread over top of a plain bagel from your local bagel shop.
My favorite is this spread on a blueberry bagel, especially Dave’s Killer Bread cinnamon raisin Bagels.
Ingredients and Tips
Cottage Cheese – I prefer a full-fat cottage cheese for the most flavor.
Honey – In a pinch, you can swap for maple syrup.
Almonds – I prefer to use toasted almonds. It will give the spread more flavor. If you have food allergies to almonds, you can use sunflower seeds.
Vanilla Extract – You could swap for almond extract
Salt – I use flakey sea salt or kosher salt
Step-By-Step Instructions
In a food processor, blend the cottage cheese until smooth.
Add the chopped almonds, honey, vanilla, and salt to the food processor. Blend well.
Taste the mixture and adjust the honey to your liking.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Enjoy your homemade honey almond cream cheese spread on bagels, toast, or as a dip for fruit.
Creating a Balanced Breakfast
You may have heard breakfast is “the most important meal of the day” for many, and this is true. Numerous studies have found eating a balanced breakfast regularly is associated with a range of health benefits including reducing the risk of obesity, type II diabetes, and better school performance in children and adolescents.
A balanced breakfast includes a variety of nutrients in appropriate proportions to provide energy while promoting satiety.
I like to start my day with a balanced breakfast because it kickstarts my healthy eating for the rest of the day. You might be thinking, but Sarah, bagels are NOT healthy. Au contraire, my friend.
Bagels have carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. But most of all, I love the taste! I especially love bagels because I engage in regular exercise. Bagels are a convenient and tasty way to fuel my workouts.
Tips On Creating a Balanced Breakfast
Here are some tips for creating a balanced breakfast.
The Cinnamon Raisin Remix and Boomin’ Berry Bagels pair oh so well with this recipe. It’s important not to get too hung up on the numbers but here are a couple of reasons why I love to include Dave’s Killer Bread Organic Bagels in my diet.
With 11 to 12g of protein and 12 to 14g of whole grains, these bagels are baked to keep you fuller longer. Pair The Cinnamon Raisin Remix Bagel with a heaping 1/4 cup of my Honey Almond Cream Cheese and you are eating 18g of protein.
Pair that combo with a piece of fruit and you’ve got yourself a balanced breakfast or healthy lunch any dietitian would be proud of! Fruit adds additional fiber, vitamins, and minerals making it a smart addition to a balanced breakfast.
More Healthy Recipes
Enjoy these other breakfast recipes that are vibrant, nutritious, and tasty.
This Honey Almond Cream Cheese is sweet, creamy, and delicious. Compared to Panera's Honey Walnut Cream Cheese, this recipe is a awesome alternative because it contains higher levels of protein and lower amounts of both fat and sugar. Enjoy your homemade "cream" cheese on bagels, toast, or as a dip for fruit.
I love to make Habanero Peach Salsa Recipes in the summertime when peaches are in season and the produce is abundant!
The spicy-sweet blend of ingredients is so delicious spooned over tacos or served alongside tortilla chips.
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Ingredients for Habanero Peach Salsa Recipe
Below are the ingredients for this fruity salsa!
Peach: For the ultimate peachy flavor, I believe nothing beats locally sourced, fresh peaches, if available in your area. You could also use canned peaches in this recipe!
Peaches canned locally or store-bought are bothfine, but I like using fresh!
Keep the skin on, the colors are so beautiful!
Tomato – I used tomatoes I grew in my backyard. If you see yellow tomatoes at the farmers market those would look beautiful in this dish.
Minced Habanero – For a spicier salsa, use more, for a milder salsa use less.
I recommend starting with a small amount of minced habaneros and adding more from there based on your flavor preferences for the right amount of heat.
A little goes a long way with habaneros bold spicy flavor.
Fresh Cilantro – If you dislike cilantro, I recommend fresh Italian parsley.
Fresh Lime Juice – In a pinch, lemon juice or white vinegar could also work.
Onion – I love to use white onion in this dish but red, sweet, or yellow onions work well too
Optional Ingredients for Habanero Peach Salsa Recipe
Lime Zest – You already got those limes, this adds more lime flavor!
Mint – I used orange mint in this recipe!
Red Bell Pepper – for bright red contrasting colors!
How to Make Habanero Peach Salsa Recipe (3 ways!)
There are several ways in which you can make peach salsa. Here are a few ways you can go about this salsa creation.
Choose to do it the way I did and, roughly dice and/or mince the ingredients and add them to a food processor. I pulsed about 10 times and was careful not to over-pulse.
Another method is dicing or mincing all by hand. Choose your desired size and keep each ingredient small and uniform. I prefer this method for chunky salsa.
The third option is to use a salsa-making gadget! I’ve seen these sold online at various stores. Some are crank food processors while others are hand chopping gizmos.
Why You Will Love Making This Recipe
There are many reasons you will love this recipe. Some of these include:
Lots of Veggies
I love that this recipe involves so many different vegetables. It is fresh, nutritious, and delish!
In Season Produce
Indulge in this recipe when peach season hits its peak, and the local farmers’ market bursts with juicy peaches!
Summertime is the time when habanero peppers and sweet peaches are in season. Pick up some other yummy fresh flavors from your market, such as red onion, herbs (fresh cilantro!), and red bell peppers. These farm-fresh ingredients make the perfect combination for a farm-fresh salsa.
Versatility
Adjust the ingredients or level of heat easily! You can use less habanero or omit the spicy flavors of habanero and include jalapenos for a milder version of this homemade salsa recipe.
Turn this into a mango salsa by swapping the peaches for mangos or make a Peach Mango Habanero Salsa by doing half mango half peach!
How To Use This Recipe in Cooking
This salsa recipe has so many applications in all sorts of dishes! Some of my favorite ways to use this homemade salsa include:
Chips and salsa – a classic. Get super fancy and make homemade tortilla chips or use my favorite – Juanita’s Tortilla Chips.
Spooned over fish tacos
Served with some breakfast burritos.
A topper for big summer salads
Mixed into a grain bowl
Tips for Cooking with Hot peppers for Your Habanero Peach Salsa Recipes
Below are a few tips for cooking with hot peppers.
Handle with Care: I highly recommend using disposable gloves when handling habanero peppers. The oils on peppers can irritate your skin and eyes. So also, avoid touching your eyes.
Controlling and Adjusting Heat: For adjusting the heat in salsa, remove the seeds and membranes to reduce the heat. Additionally, start small and taste as you go.
Balance: Hot peppers can overwhelm other flavors in a dish. Balance the heat by adding acidic and sweet flavors.
Pulse 5 times, then using a rubber spatula scrape down the sides, and pulse again 5 times.
Serve with chips, tacos, fajitas, over a salad, the possibilities are endless!
Notes
This recipe is vegan and vegetarian as well as gluten, dairy, egg, and nut free!Tomatoes, I recommend if you are using small tomatoes to add about 2 cups worth.
If you are a pickle fan, you will love this recipe! These easy Balsamic Pickled Onions feature thinly sliced red onions quickly pickled in a balsamic vinegar brine.
Infused with a tangy-sweet essence, the onions absorb the flavorful liquid, transforming into a versatile condiment. Quick to prepare, they effortlessly elevate your culinary creations, adding depth and complexity to your dishes.
Why You Will Love These Balsamic Pickled Onions
Add this Balsamic Picked Onions recipe to your refrigerator condiment repertoire! With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can enjoy these delicious picked onions with a variety of dishes.
While this recipe offers quick pickling, allowing the flavors to meld for about an hour, the true magic happens overnight. For optimal taste, exercise patience and indulge in these delectable onions the following day.
Ingredients in Quick Pickle Balsamic Onions
Below are the ingredients for this easy quick-pickled onion.
Red onions (or white onions)
Balsamic Vinegar & White Vinegar
Honey or Maple Syrup/brown sugar
Pickling Salt
Mustard Seeds
Optional: while garlic cloves red pepper flakes, Italian herbs, cinnamon stick
Step – By – Step Instructions for Making Easy Pickled Red Onions
Slice Onions: With a sharp knife, peel and thinly slice the red onions. Then, place the sliced onions in a clean jar.
Prepare Pickling Liquid: In a saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, honey, salt, mustard seeds, and garlic. Simmer over medium heat until sugar and salt dissolve.
Pickle Onions: Pour the balsamic vinegar brine over the onions in the jar. Let cool to room temperature.
Seal and Refrigerate: Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
Serving Suggestions: Bring dishes to the next level by using these homemade pickled red onions as a topping for salads, sandwiches, burgers, or grilled meats.
These tangy onions add a burst of flavor and a lot of savory notes to your favorite dishes. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How To Use Balsamic Pickled Onions
These balsamic onions are the perfect topping in many applications. Some of my favorite ways to use them include:
Charcuterie Board (one of my favorite appetizers)
Spooned over Avocado Toast
Tossed in a salad
As a side dish for baked fish or chicken
Incorporated into your favorite grain bowls
A topping for fish tacos
However, my ultimate favorite way to savor Balsamic Pickled Onions is nestled within a hearty, veggie-packed sandwich!
FAQ about Easy Pickled Red Onions (Ask A Dietitian!)
Can I use balsamic vinegar for pickling?
Yes, balsamic vinegar is a great option for pickling. To balance cost and flavor, I often blend it with more affordable distilled white vinegar. This combination offers a rich depth of taste without overwhelming the vegetables being pickled.
Are picked onions good or bad for you?
Pickled onions are a flavorful addition to your diet and offer some health benefits! Low in calories yet bursting with flavor, they serve as a versatile addition to your meals. Rich in antioxidants, they support overall health, and if fermented, they provide probiotics, promoting gut health and digestion!
Do you have to cook onions before pickling?
No, you do not need to cook onions before pickling. I prefer to slice them raw and add them directly to the jar. Then, I pour the hot pickling brine overtop before sealing.
While some recipes may call for blanching the onions in boiling water before picking, I prefer crunchy pickled onions. So, it’s entirely up to your taste and crunch preference.
If you are a pickle fan, you will love this recipe! These easy Balsamic Pickled Onions feature thinly sliced red onions quickly pickled in a balsamic vinegar brine.
This Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip is perfect for any time of year. But, I especially love this dip during fall and football season! Plus, I love making and eating all the football appetizers and noms!
Additionally, when I think of football food and snacks, I think of buffalo wing sauce, chicken wings, and blue cheese dressing. Buffalo Chicken Dip is all of those things rolled into one giant baking pan slathered in cheezy goodness.
Buffalo Chicken Dip is everything I love about Buffalo Chicken Wings without the mess. Not only that, but this Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip is perfect for gatherings and sitting around a TV watching the big game.
Ingredients in Buffalo Chicken Dip
Chicken: I prefer chicken thighs over chicken breasts. This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen) from author Lauren Allen on the Food Blog Tastes Better From Scratch is super informative and only takes 30 minutes.
Franks Red Hot Sauce: I love to use the OG Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce in my buffalo chicken dips. However, I have another brand that I love and that’s The New Primal. They have 3 levels of heat for their Buffalo Sauce, Mild, Medium, and Hot! Perfect for individualizing recipes.
Ranch
Cheese – Cream Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Blue Cheese
Green Topping: A little garnish to finish off the bubbling Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip. I love to add some green for contrasting colors. Green onion or chives add a crisp and fresh element to finish off this dish. Some other topping ideas are garlic scapes, parsley, or cilantro.
How to make this Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
You can make this recipe in an air fryer or slow cooker. In these directions, I’ll review how to make this in a quart baking dish and in the oven!
Cook the Chicken: If you haven’t already, cook the chicken. You can boil, bake, or grill chicken breasts until they’re fully cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Then shred or dice them. Alternatively, you can use rotisserie chicken for convenience.
Note – This step can be done 1-2 days in advance.
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large pot, sautee diced onion and celery with 1 tbsp butterfor 5 minutes.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture: Once the veggies finish sauteeing, combine the cream cheese, ranch dressing, and buffalo sauce. Stir until well combined and smooth.
Add the Chicken: Add the cooked chicken to the bowl and mix until the chicken is evenly coated with the cream cheese mixture.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Sprinkle with Cheese: Sprinkle the cheddar and blue cheese on top of the dip.
Bake the Dip: Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden brown.
Let It Cool: Once done, remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Garnish (Optional): If desired, garnish with chopped green onions, more blue cheese crumbles, or a drizzle of ranch dressing before serving.
Serve: Serve the buffalo chicken dip warm with tortilla chips, celery sticks, or carrot sticks for dipping. Enjoy!
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Three tips for cutting the perfect veggie dipper
Wash your veggies. I like to use a dedicated scrubber brush for my veggie washing.
Prep. Did you know, you can prep veggie dippers a day in advance?! Just cut your veggies and wrap them in a damp paper towel. Store in an airtight container or storage bag in the refrigerator.
Aesthetic. When choosing the veggies to pair with the dip think about what will look the most pleasing to the eye, such as the shape in which you cut your veggie dipper and the color combinations of the veggies.
Examples
Carrots: Whole carrots can have crackly and dirty-looking skin even when scrubbed really well. Peeling the outer layer transforms the carrot into a bright orange visual beauty. Then, think about the size you want the carrot to hold up the sauce or dip you have prepared. Be sure to allow for a good surface area to do so. Last, cut the carrot into 3” long and 0.5inch wide sticks. Not into all the prep? Baby carrots for the win.
Celery: Celery requires little prep work. Just wash, and slice. Celery naturally has a lovely spoon-like shape, perfect for dipping! Plus celery and carrots look beautiful paired together.
Like This Recipe? Check Out These Other Favorites!
This Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe is hot, creamy, and spicy. Enjoy it with chips, carrots and celery sticks. This is the perfect dip to enjoy during any sporting event.
If you haven't already, cook the chicken. You can boil, bake, or grill chicken breasts until they're fully cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Then shred or dice them. Alternatively, you can use rotisserie chicken for convenience.
Note - This step can be done 1-2 days in advance.
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large pot, sauté diced onion and celery with 1tbsp butter for 5 minutes.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture
Once the veggies finish sautéing, combine the cream cheese, ranch dressing, and buffalo sauce. Stir until well combined and smooth.
Add the Chicken
Add the cooked chicken to the bowl and mix until the chicken is evenly coated with the cream cheese mixture.
Transfer to a Baking Dish
Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Sprinkle Cheese
Sprinkle the cheddar and blue cheese on top of the dip.
Bake and Cool
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden brown.Once done, remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Garnish and Serve
If desired, garnish with chopped green onions, more blue cheese crumbles, or a drizzle of ranch dressing before serving.
Serve the buffalo chicken dip warm with tortilla chips, celery sticks, or carrot sticks for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
Serve with carrot and celery sticks, tortilla chips, and/or crackers.
