The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
Ingredients
For the Wings
3 lbs chicken wings (cut in half, tips on or removed)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Olive oil and garlic salt (for oven method only)For the Daytona Sauce
3/4 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce
1/4 cup Frank’s RedHot sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional, for extra heat)
When Hooter’s introduced their Daytona style wing, they created something truly special that combines the best elements of grilled chicken with a memorable glaze. This copycat recipe helps food enthusiasts recreate these restaurant-style wings at home without the need to visit the beach. While many restaurants are known for other appetizers like cold crab dip, these wings stand in a category of their own.
The unique aspect of this wing preparation is how it offers a grilled approach with both hot sauce and BBQ sauce working together. Unlike regular hot wings that rely solely on spice, or even dry rub wings that skip the sauce entirely, these wings have more personality and sass. The glaze creates a beautiful coating that sets them apart from ordinary chicken preparations.
What Makes Hooters Daytona Wings Different?
Daytona wings are grilled chicken wings coated with a sweet and spicy glaze made from BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and honey. They’re first dusted with seasoned flour, then grilled at 375°F for 30 minutes until crispy and golden brown. After coating with the signature sauce, they go back on a 425°F grill briefly to caramelize. The result is a sticky, flavorful wing that balances sweetness, heat, and smokiness perfectly.
Ingredients
For the Wings
Starting with quality chicken is essential. Home cooks can choose between 3 lbs of Chicken Wings cut in half with tips left on, or grab 1 family pack of chicken wings with tips and excess fat removed. The coating requires 1/2 Cup of AP Flour, 1 TBS of Paprika, 1 tsp of Black Pepper, and 1 tsp of Salt. For those using the oven method, Olive oil and Garlic Salt are also necessary.
For the Daytona Sauce
The sauce brings everything together beautifully. Measuring out 3/4 Cup of Sweet Baby Rays Original BBQ Sauce creates the base. Add 1/4 Cup of Franks Red Hot Sauce for that signature kick, followed by 1/4 Cup of Honey to balance the heat. Include 2 TBS of Brown Sugar for depth, 1 TBS of Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder for savory notes, and 1 TBS of Soy Sauce for umami. Finally, 1/4 tsp of Crushed Red Pepper is optional for those who want extra spice. For those working with different measurement systems, a Recipe Converter can be helpful to adjust quantities accurately.
Directions
Method 1: Grilled Wings
First, you’ll want to get the flour mixture ready. Mix the flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a second bowl. Dip each wing piece in the flour to coat evenly, and then place on a plate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
While the wings are chilling in the fridge, set out your sauce ingredients. Put everything in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it boil and then reduce the heat immediately, simmer for 5 minutes until it has thickened slightly.
Preheat the grill to 375 degrees and prepare for indirect cooking. Cook the wings for 30 minutes total, turning them over midway through cooking to cook them evenly. When the wings are nice and golden brown and crispy, take them off of the grill for a few minutes.
Raise the temperature on your grill to 425°F for completion. Place the fried wings into the sauce, and mix until all are well coated. Return these sauced wings to the grill and let them cook for a few minutes, with an eye on them as the sauce will start to caramelize, giving you that nice kind of sticky finish.
Method 2: Oven and Grill Combination
For this method, preheat the oven to 400 degrees as you get the wings ready. In a large bowl, drizzle the chicken wings with olive oil, and season with garlic salt and pepper, tossing to coat well.
Line cookie sheets with foil and set a rack on each sheet. Spread the chicken wings on the racks, making sure not to overcrowd them. This distance is important so that they brown and don’t just steam.
Set the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake from 30 minutes or until skin star browning nicely. Leave the stove vent on as it gets pretty smoky.
Complete the chicken wings on an outdoor grill. While grilling at the end, brush them multiple times with Daytona sauce until wings are well covered and get that awesome stickiness to it.
Tips
When preparing wings at home, cooks don’t need to separate the drummette from the wing section before cooking. They separate easily during or after the cooking process, which actually prevents losing smaller pieces down the grill grate while grilling.
Make sure the wings aren’t crowded on the baking rack during the oven phase for better browning results. Proper spacing allows heat to circulate and creates that desired crispy exterior.
The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for convenience. This advance preparation makes the actual cooking day much smoother and less stressful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Daytona Style Wings at Hooters?
Daytona wings are grilled like chicken with a sweet and sour glaze of BBQ sauce and hot sauce. While most recipes for good old-fashioned buffalo wings are deep fried and then tossed in more hot sauce, the method here is to grill first so that you can add plenty of smoky flavor before coating them with a honey-sweetened sauce that caramelizes on the surface. You get a sweet, spicy, smoky balance of flavor and chewy supple exterior.
Can I Make Hooters Daytona Wings in An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can air fry Daytona wings. Season wings with the flour and spices, then air fry at 380°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way. Once crisp, combine with Daytona sauce and air fry again for 2-3 minutes at 400°F to caramelize the glaze. It will save time and a little oil and the chicken comes out crispy, juicy and flavorful.
How Long Does Daytona Wing Sauce Last In The Fridge?
Daytona sauce from scratch may be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Be sure that the sauce is totally cool before you put it away. When ready to use, just gently reheat it in a small pot or in the microwave until runny. This is convenient when prepping meals, as the sauce can be made ahead of time.