Copy Cat Thai Chicken Wings From Houlihan’s

If you’ve been to Houlihan’s, then you know they have the BEST Thai Chicken Wings. This copycat recipe fills that same desire. Now you can make them at home!

Copy Cat Thai Chicken Wings From Houlihan’s

*Published 2014 – updated 2020. 

Have you been to Houlihan’s? They have a really good chicken wing entree. Their Thai Wings is what I order almost every time I go to this restaurant. At the end of 2019, the Houlihan’s restaurant in my city closed down, and I was devastated. Thankfully, I can rely on this delicious chicken wing recipe recreated by Derrick to get my Thai wings fix! 

These wings are always a huge hit at every dinner party, picnic, BBQ,  and game day party, so why don’t you try them for the upcoming Super Bowl party? Let me know if you try them. I guarantee you that it will be a BIG hit at your party! There are several ingredients for this recipe, but you may be surprised that you already have many of these staple ingredients in your pantry!

Other Chicken Wings Recipes To Try:

• the best recipe for Potato Chip Buffalo Wings
• Easy recipe for Air Fryer Indian Spiced Chicken Wings
• Grilled Chicken Full-Sized Wings

Which part of chicken wings is the best?

You will find that whom you speak to about this, the answer varies. While the drumsticks have more meat, some love the ratio of meat to sauce on the flats. 

I recommend using both and see which cut of chicken you prefer. The flats offer a nice presentation value. This spicy Thai chicken wings recipe is truly finger-licking good. 

Essential Tips For Making Chicken Wings 

Use the right oil | Peanut oil is a must for us, and you will find it works great at perfecting the perfect wing every single time. Other oils can’t fully compete with peanut oil. 

Marinate| Make sure you take the time to marinate the chicken wings. This Thai chicken wing will lack flavor if you skip this step. Two hours work great, but you can prep these and let them marinate overnight. 

No Frying | A good chicken wing does not have to be deep-fried. This recipe right here is proof of that. You will be talking for weeks about the sweet, sticky, saucy flavor these wings leave you with. Trust me; a good wing can be baked! 

Storing Leftover Thai Chicken Wings 

If you happen to have some wings leftover, store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can then heat them in the microwave for a quick reheat. If you try to heat in a skillet, be cautious as the sauce will burn very quickly. 

How many wings do I need per person?

If you are serving up wings with other items like appetizers to go along with the wings, you can expect 4-6 per person. If you are serving chicken wings more as a meal, 8-10 can be what you might need for adults. If you are serving up a lot of extra food to go along, 2-3 wings is a great range as well. 

It all depends on how much food goes along with the wings. Just remember wings don’t have a ton of meat on them, so it is very easy for people to eat quite a few. 

The best recipe for Thai Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of chicken wings
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger divided or two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger root
• 2  teaspoons dried crushed red pepper
• 1 cup of rice vinegar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon chili­ garlic sauce

Directions on making Copycat Thai Chicken Wings from Houlihan’s:

1. Rinse, trim excess fat and skin, and pat dry the chicken wings.
2. Cut each chicken wing at the middle joint and cut and discard the tip of the chicken wing.
3. Mix oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cilantro, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake into a large bowl mix well. Add chicken wings, then toss until the chicken wings are evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 2 hours or for a deeper flavor, overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F.  
5. Arrange the chicken wings onto a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and brush with the marinade, discard any remaining marinade.
6. Place the sheet pan on the center rack of a 400 degree preheated oven and bake until the chicken wings are cooked through and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
7. While the chicken wings are baking, combine vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, sugars, coconut milk, chili ­garlic sauce, and remaining garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes into a medium saucepan. 
8. Bring to boil; then reduce heat and simmer until glaze mixture thickens to syrup consistency, about 15­-20 minutes.
9. When the chicken wings have finished baking, brush the chicken wings with the Thai glaze. 
10. Finish the wings with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds.
11. Serve.

As we get ready for the big game on Sunday, why don’t you whip up a batch of these wings? Here’s the thing, you can make it in the Instant Pot or your Air Fryer if you want to save time. We recently started using both small kitchen appliances to make our chicken wing recipes, and it’s been a game-changer. Plus, if you’re looking to put together a big spread for game day, be sure to check out how we put together a game day chicken wing grazing board! 

You can find more Appetizers to try below:

• 15 Mouth-Watering CrockPot Appetizers Recipes
• 10 Easy Game Day Appetizers
• 17+ Game Day Appetizers
• Sweet Potato, Green Lentil, and Roasted Red Pepper Dip
• 20+ Incredible Chicken Wing Recipes For Game Day

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Copy Cat Thai Chicken Wings From Houlihan's

Yield: 18-20

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds of chicken wings
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger divided or two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger root
• 2  teaspoons dried crushed red pepper
• 1 cup of rice vinegar
• 1 ½ teaspoon of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon chili­ garlic sauce

Instructions

1. Rinse, trim excess fat and skin, and pat dry the chicken wings.
2. Cut each chicken wing at the middle joint and cut and discard the tip of the chicken wing.
3. Mix oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cilantro, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake into a large bowl mix well. Add chicken wings, then toss until the chicken wings are evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 2 hours or for a deeper flavor, overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F.  
5. Arrange the chicken wings onto a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and brush with the marinade, discard any remaining marinade.
6. Place the sheet pan on the center rack of a 400 degree preheated oven and bake until the chicken wings are cooked through and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
7. While the chicken wings are baking, combine vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, sugars, coconut milk, chili ­garlic sauce, and remaining garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes into a medium saucepan. 
8. Bring to boil; then reduce heat and simmer until glaze mixture thickens to syrup consistency, about 15­-20 minutes.
9. When the chicken wings have finished baking, brush the chicken wings with the Thai glaze. 
10. Finish the wings with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds.
11. Serve.

Adapted from Epicurious.com