Copycat Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings (Air Fryer or Oven)

These copycat Pizza Hut sweet chili wings are crispy chicken wings tossed in a sticky, sweet and slightly spicy chili glaze. You can make them in the air fryer or the oven, and both methods give you crackly skin without deep frying.

The secret to crispy wings is a light coating of baking powder and salt before cooking. It dries out the skin so it crisps up and holds onto every drop of that glossy sauce.

The sauce takes 5 minutes. Start with a bottle of Thai sweet chili sauce and add honey, lime, garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes, or make it from scratch with the recipe below.

What Are Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings?

Pizza Hut sweet chili wings are bone-in chicken wings cooked until crispy and tossed in a sweet chili sauce. The flavor is sweet first, with garlic and a gentle chili heat that builds as you eat.

It’s one of Pizza Hut’s milder sauced flavors, so it’s a great pick for kids or anyone who wants big flavor without a lot of spice. You can also toss copycat Pizza Hut boneless wings in the same sauce.

Ingredients for Copycat Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings

For the wings

• Chicken wings: split into flats and drumettes, tips removed. Buy party wings to skip the cutting.
• Baking powder: use aluminum-free. It’s the trick for crispy skin without frying. Don’t swap in baking soda.
• Salt, garlic powder, and black pepper: a simple seasoning that lets the sauce shine.

For the sauce

• Thai sweet chili sauce: the base of the glaze, found in the Asian foods aisle.
• Honey: adds extra stickiness so the sauce clings.
• Lime juice: brightens the sweetness.
• Soy sauce: a little savory depth.
• Garlic: fresh minced garlic gives the best flavor.
• Red pepper flakes: optional, for more heat.
• Garnish: sliced green onions and sesame seeds (optional).

How to Make the Sweet Chili Sauce

Quick version (5 minutes): In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Simmer over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until glossy and slightly thickened.

From scratch (10 minutes): Simmer 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup rice vinegar, 1/3 cup water, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 to 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce or sambal oelek, and 1/2 teaspoon salt for 3 minutes. Stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water, and simmer 1 to 2 minutes more until thick. Finish with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon lime juice.

The sauce thickens as it cools. Thin it with a splash of water if it gets too sticky to toss.

How to Make Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings in the Air Fryer

Air fryer wings take about 22 minutes and come out with shatteringly crisp skin.

Step 1: Dry the wings. Pat the wings very dry with paper towels. Dry skin is crispy skin.

Step 2: Season. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper until evenly coated.

Step 3: Air fry low. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380°F for 12 minutes, then flip.

Step 4: Air fry high. Increase to 400°F and cook 8 to 10 minutes more, until golden, crispy, and 175°F to 180°F inside.

Step 5: Make the sauce. While the wings cook, simmer the sweet chili sauce.

Step 6: Toss and serve. Toss the hot wings in the warm sauce and top with green onions and sesame seeds.

Wings are safe at 165°F, but cooking them to 175°F or higher renders more fat and gives you more tender meat and crispier skin.

How to Make Pizza Hut Sweet Chili Wings in the Oven

Baking is perfect for a big batch, and a wire rack gets the wings crispy on all sides.

1. Preheat. Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil and set a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
2. Dry and season. Pat the wings dry and toss with the baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
3. Arrange. Place the wings on the rack in a single layer, skin side up, with space between each one.
4. Bake. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway, until deep golden and crispy.
5. Toss and serve. Toss in the warm sweet chili sauce and garnish.

For extra crispy oven wings, leave the seasoned wings uncovered on the rack in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before baking.

Variations and Serving Ideas

• Boneless: use this sauce on copycat Pizza Hut boneless wings instead of bone-in.
• Spicier: double the red pepper flakes or add a teaspoon of sriracha.
• Sweeter: add another tablespoon of honey.
• Sampler platter: split the batch and toss half in sweet chili and half in buffalo or garlic parmesan.

Serve sweet chili wings with ranch, celery, and carrot sticks. For a full Pizza Hut night at home, add air fryer copycat Pizza Hut pan pizza, Pizza Hut breadsticks, and cinnamon sticks for dessert.

Storing and Reheating

• Store: refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: freeze cooked, unsauced wings for up to 3 months. Freeze the sauce separately.
• Reheat in the air fryer: 375°F for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping once.
• Reheat in the oven: 375°F on a wire rack for 10 to 12 minutes.

The sugar in the sauce can scorch, so keep an eye on sauced wings as they reheat. More tips in How to Reheat Pizza Hut in the Air Fryer.

More Copycat Pizza Hut Recipes

Recreate the whole Pizza Hut menu at home with these Fork To Spoon copycats:

• Copycat Pizza Hut Boneless Wings (Air Fryer or Oven)
• Copycat Pizza Hut Pizza Sauce
• Copycat Pizza Hut Pizza Dough (Pan Crust)
• Air Fryer Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza
• Pizza Hut Cheese Sticks
• Air Fryer Pizza Hut Bread Sticks
• Air Fryer Copycat Pizza Hut Cinnamon Sticks
• Copycat Pizza Hut Chicken Alfredo (Tuscani Pasta)
• How to Reheat Pizza Hut in the Air Fryer

FAQ

Are Pizza Hut sweet chili wings spicy? They’re mostly sweet with a mild chili kick. Add more red pepper flakes or sriracha if you want more heat.

Are Pizza Hut wings breaded? Pizza Hut’s traditional bone-in wings are unbreaded, while its boneless wings are breaded. This recipe makes crispy unbreaded wings, just like the bone-in version.

Why baking powder? Baking powder raises the skin’s pH and draws out moisture, so the skin crisps and browns without frying. It doesn’t add any flavor.

Can I use frozen wings? Thaw them first and pat them very dry. Frozen wings release water and won’t get as crispy.

Can I make the sauce ahead? Yes. Refrigerate it for up to 1 week and warm it before tossing.