Finger licking sticky chicken wings. Oven baked with an American style maple syrup and bourbon sauce. An easy recipe resulting in delicious, caramelized, fall off the bone, baked chicken wings.
What I love about these sticky chicken wings is how easy they are to make. Easy with the best results possible. Juicy and tender chicken wings with a flavour packed and delicious barbecue style glaze.
The maple syrup and bourbon are given a depth of flavour with the addition of brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce (ketchup). Perfect sweet and savoury stickiness.
Along with my Japanese style teriyaki chicken wings these wings are completely moorish and addictive.
Sara xxx
What's in this post
What to eat with Baked Chicken Wings
The wings are great as a snack with drinks, or as part of a game day feast when watching the end of season playoffs. They are also fantastic as part of a larger spread of food when entertaining.
These wings are mild and if you want to spice things up I would serve them with a couple of hot sauces on the side.
As far as being part of a buffet or larger spread of food, they work well with the following.
- Crispy Oven Baked Polenta Chips
- Baby Sushi, Hosomaki
- Vege Crudité Platter
- Cheeseburger Spring Rolls
- Mini Teriyaki Chicken Burgers
- Pork, Bacon, and Cheese Sausage Rolls
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Ingredients
A full printable recipe card can be found at the end of this post with recipe ingredient measurements and method.
- Chicken Wings: To make life easier buy chicken wingettes. These are chicken wings that have been broken down into mid wing and mini drumette pieces. If buying whole chicken wings, remove and discard the tips and use the two meatier sections, mid wing and drumette.
- Maple Syrup: If you can use pure maple syrup it makes all the difference to the consistency of the sauce and taste.
- Bourbon: You could use whisky as well. It can be omitted if avoiding alcohol. Orange juice makes a nice alternative for flavour.
- Tomato Sauce: Also known as ketchup, the thick sweet tomato sauce you put on burgers (or some of us do).
- Worcestershire Sauce: It adds a nice punch to the maple glaze.
- Tobasco Sauce: For a little added mild heat.
- Brown Sugar: It ramps up the caramelized factor of the sticky chicken wings.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: White wine vinegar could be used as an alternative.
How to Make Sticky Chicken Wings
Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable version of this recipe.
- Preheat oven 200°C/395°F.
- In a saucepan place sauce ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Line a large baking dish with baking paper (I do this to make cleaning up easier). Place chicken wings in the baking dish and pour the maple bourbon sauce over them. Mix and coat wings well in the sauce.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for 40 minutes. Make sure to stir and turn the wings a couple of times.
- After 40 minutes turn the oven temperature up to 250°C/480°F. Cook for a further 30-40 minutes, turning wings every so often, minutes until wings are golden brown.
- Serve immediately with eager fingers and lots of napkins.
Sara's Top Recipe Tips
The important thing to remember when getting a sauce to stick to wings in the oven is that it has to be a thick sauce to start with. The sauce needs to coat the chicken wings well in the first place.
Remember that wings will release juices as they cook as well.
Even oven baked chicken wings aren't the healthiest part of the chicken. Most of the wing is skin and bone with minimal meat. The wing is then generally covered in a sticky and sugary sauce. But they are healthier for you than deep fried chicken wings.
Should I cover my chicken wings when baking?
No, generally you shouldn't cover chicken wings when baking. When baking the chicken wings release juices and create steam. If you want the sauce surrounding the chicken wings to be thick and sticky, then the steam needs to escape.
The only time you should cover your wings is if they look like they are going to burn or become too caramelized.
Printable Recipe

Ultimate Baked Sticky Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) chicken wings | mid wing and drumettes
- 125 ml (½ cup) maple syrup
- 85 ml (? cup) bourbon
- 60 ml (¼ cup) ketchup | tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven 200°C/395°F.
- In a saucepan place all ingredients except the chicken wings. Bring to the boil, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Line a large baking dish with baking paper. (I do this to make cleaning up easier). Place chicken wings in the baking dish and pour the maple bourbon sauce over them. Mix and coat wings well in the sauce.
- Place baking dish in the oven and cook for 40 minutes. Make sure to stir and turn the wings a couple of times.
- After 40 minutes turn the oven temperature up to 250°C/480°F. Cook for a further 30-40 minutes, turning wings every so often, minutes until wings are golden brown.
- Serve immediately with eager fingers and lots of napkins.
Oven Temperatures
All oven temperatures are fan forced.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
Recipe Notes
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Raindrop
We loved these wings. The sauce was sooo delicious!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Sara, my husband has just decided he's off dark meat chicken and only wants boneless skinless chicken breast. So I'm going to use this wonderful recipe for that chicken. He's going to love it!
Helen | Grab Your Fork
I can almost taste their sticky deliciousness! Will def have to bookmark this one for picnics and potlucks!
Sara
They would be prefect for a pot luck, they are so stickily delicious.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
Someone was telling me the other day about her great recipe for crispy chicken wings and all I could think of was, "Where's the sauce??" Inside I rolled my eyes and outside I nodded my head. I love the sticky, gooey bits best. These look wonderful!
Sara
I do love a crunchy chicken wing too, but yes, sauce!
Amanda@ChewTown
They look lipsmackingly wonderful!
Sara
They were both finger lick'n and lip smacking. A complete work out :p
Lizzy (Good Things)
Yummy! So [cheep!] and cheerful! : )
Sara
Oh I love cheap and cheerful, and these guys are.
john | heneedsfood
Yum, what sticky deliciousness! Was thinking about what I should make for dinner and then this comes along. And it's a cinch!
Sara
Glad to be of inspiration 🙂
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer
Oh my lord that looks AMAZING. I need to take some tips from you with what to do with my chicken wings! 😀
Sara
Thanks Chanel, these are super simple.