Description
These Pineapple Cowboy Candy Chicken Wings feature a sweet and spicy marinade with pineapple juice, brown sugar, and jalapeños, baked to golden, crispy perfection. This flavorful recipe combines smoky paprika and savory soy sauce, making for a delicious appetizer or game day snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade and Wings
- 1.5 lbs chicken wings
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 jalapeños, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for greasing)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare wings: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Rinse the chicken wings under cold water and pat them dry thoroughly using paper towels. Place the wings in a large mixing bowl to prepare for marinating.
- Make the marinade: In a separate bowl, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, finely chopped jalapeños, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, soy sauce, and black pepper. Whisk the mixture vigorously until the brown sugar dissolves completely and the ingredients are evenly mixed for a balanced flavor.
- Marinate the wings: Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken wings in the mixing bowl. Toss the wings to coat them evenly with the marinade. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to 2 hours for deeper flavor infusion.
- Prepare baking setup: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly grease the wire rack with olive oil to prevent the wings from sticking and promote crisping during baking.
- Arrange wings for baking: Remove the wings from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, and arrange them in a single layer on the greased wire rack. Reserve the leftover marinade for basting during cooking.
- Bake the wings: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the wings for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Halfway through cooking, brush the wings with some of the reserved marinade to enhance flavor and moisture.
- Optional broil for extra crispiness: For an extra crispy finish, switch the oven to broil mode during the last 3-5 minutes of cooking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Rest and serve: Remove the wings from the oven and let them rest a few minutes. Serve warm, optionally garnished with additional chopped jalapeños for an added spicy touch.
Notes
- Marinating for longer than 2 hours is not recommended as the acidity from pineapple juice can start to break down the texture of the chicken.
- Use a wire rack for baking to ensure the wings crisp up evenly and excess fats drip away for a healthier result.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce the number of jalapeños or remove the seeds before chopping.
- Broiling is optional but highly recommended for an extra crispy skin finish.
- Leftover wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Pineapple chicken wings, cowboy candy wings, baked chicken wings, sweet and spicy wings, jalapeño chicken wings
