Hooters Daytona Wings (Copycat)
Description
Crispy naked wings tossed in a sweet, smoky, spicy Daytona Beach sauce and seared on the grill for that signature sticky glaze.
Ingredients
Daytona sauce
- 1/2 cup Kansas City–style BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup cayenne hot sauce, e.g., Frank's RedHot
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Wings
- 2 lbs chicken wings, split into flats and drumettes
- 1 tbsp baking powder, not baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Neutral oil, for frying (or use air fryer/oven)
Instructions
- Pat wings completely dry, then toss with baking powder and salt until evenly coated.
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine all sauce ingredients. Simmer 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside.
- Cook wings until crisp — air fryer at 400°F for ~20 minutes (shaking halfway), fry at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, or oven at 425°F on a wire rack for ~45 minutes (flipping once).
- Toss hot wings in about two-thirds of the sauce, then sear on a hot grill or cast-iron skillet 1–2 minutes per side until the glaze caramelizes.
- Toss in the remaining sauce and serve immediately with celery, carrots, and blue cheese or ranch.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Notes
- Make the sauce a day ahead for deeper flavor.
- Don't skip the sear — it's what makes these taste like the original.
- Adjust hot sauce up or down for a hotter or milder batch.
- Serve with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing or Buffalo Ranch Dressing.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 465kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 23gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1566mgPotassium: 368mgFiber: 1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 709IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 2mg