The Best Hennessy Chicken Wings Recipe

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Are you ready for the most delicious Hennessy chicken wings?  You will be surprised how orange and Henny go well together, just like bacon and eggs or pasta and tomatoes. This is a delicious combination that’s fantastically tasty.

The combination is a match made in heaven for the most impressive and delicious BBQ sauce. It’s so versatile that it can be used on just about anything! You can use it on steaks, chicken thighs, fish and pork ribs, and vegetables. This one is a must-try, people. It’s amazing.

Also, if you’re preparing your chicken wings using a Blackstone griddle, you can just use this Hennessy BBQ sauce recipe.

This sauce was used on wings. It doesn’t really matter how you cook your chicken; you can fry them, bake them or even air fry them. This is all about the sauce. However, I am going to include the fried chicken wings version as well as the baked one. 

This is the second recipe I’m making with Hennessy; my previous one, the Strawberry Hennessy cocktail, went viral and was an instant success. I highly recommend you check it out!

The Best Hennessy Chicken Wings Recipe

Let’s get to the recipe. I’ve added some onions to this to make them beautifully caramelized and jammy. They go wonderfully with your chicken wings. It is vital to include orange marmalade in this recipe. It is essential to use it.

It provides the BBQ sauce with the best orange flavor and the texture it needs to thicken the sauce. Another important ingredient for this sauce is Heinz Chili Sauce. Heinz Chili sauce isn’t hard to find; you can find it almost anywhere you buy ketchup and other sauces. However, if you don’t have Chili Sauce or cannot find it, simply use hot ketchup sauce or homemade if you prefer.

This recipe requires no unique ingredients except for the chili sauce/ketchup and orange marmalade. Of course, you will be using some essential spices, also.  This can be left out or added to the recipe, and it will still taste great. The best thing is you don’t have to follow the recipe strictly; you are free to experiment or make these Hennessy chicken wings according to your liking.

It is crucial to add the last drop of Hennessy at the end. This is because the alcohol is cooked off, leaving you with a delicious cognac flavor. However, it’s worth adding fresh liquor to spice it up just a tiny bit.

Ingredients

Chicken Wings

• 4 to 5 lbs chicken wings, split at the joints, tips removed

• 3 Tbsp baking powder

• 1 Tbsp salt

• 1 tsp sweet paprika

• ½–1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 Tbsp granulated onion

• 1 Tbsp granulated garlic

• Vegetable oil (for frying, if frying wings)

Hennessy Orange Sauce

• ¾ cup Hennessy cognac, plus extra for finishing

• 12 oz bottle Heinz chili sauce (or ketchup)

• 2–3 Tbsp Dijon or yellow mustard

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ cup sweet onion, finely chopped

• ½ cup orange juice

• ½ cup orange marmalade

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

• 4 Tbsp honey

• 4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 2 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• Liquid smoke, to taste (optional)

• 1–2 tsp granulated garlic (to taste)

• 1–2 tsp granulated onion (to taste)

• Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prep the Wings

For Extra-Crispy Baked Wings:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack on top. Lightly oil the rack.

2. In a large bowl, mix together baking powder, salt, both paprikas, cayenne, black pepper, granulated onion, and granulated garlic.

3. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Toss wings in the seasoning mixture until well coated (you might not need all the mix—just coat each wing thoroughly).

4. Arrange wings in a single layer on the rack.

5. Bake for 20 minutes, flip, then bake for another 20 minutes. Flip once more and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until golden and crispy.

For Fried Wings:

1. Mix dry seasonings as above and coat the wings evenly.

2. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large pot to 375°F (190°C).

3. Fry wings in batches, 10–12 minutes per batch, until crispy and cooked through (internal temp 165°F/74°C).

4. Drain on paper towels.

2. Make the Hennessy Orange Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine chili sauce (or ketchup), orange juice, orange marmalade, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, onion, garlic, both paprikas, crushed red pepper, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and black pepper.

2. Stir in ¾ cup Hennessy and a few drops of liquid smoke (if using).

3. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by about one-third, 20–25 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and stir in an extra splash (about 1 oz) of Hennessy for flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

3. Finish & Serve

1. Add hot wings to a large bowl. Pour warm Hennessy sauce over the wings and toss until thoroughly coated.

2. Serve immediately, with napkins handy!

Tips:

• Sauce can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to a week—reheat gently before using.

• For extra citrus punch, add a bit of fresh orange zest to the sauce.

• These wings are also great with a sprinkle of fresh green onion or cilantro.

Share the image below on your Pinterest board if you like these Hennessy Chicken Wings!

FAQs

Can I use another Cognac if I don’t have Hennessy?

Yes, you can use another cognac for this BBQ Chicken. However, I would always go for Hennessy because of its unique flavor, crafted for centuries. The company, Maison Hennessy, has strict standards for making excellent products. 

Can I use something else instead of Cognac?

This recipe is based on cognac as one of its main ingredients; however, you are free to experiment with other drinks. For example, you can use bourbon for this Chicken Wings BBQ sauce. 

Share the image below on your Pinterest board if you like these Hennessy Chicken Wings!

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