Pineapple chicken wings with jalapeno peppers, dried mint & paprika, contains instructions for baking, air frying and cooking on the BBQ.
Tinned pineapple forms the base for the sweet and spicy glaze on these wings that are as easy to cook for 2 as they are for 12.
Fruity Spicy Chicken Wings
Yes, fried chicken wings are absolutely magical, but to be honest, looking after a deep fat fryer is a pain.
As a result, they are a real rarity in our house, that does not mean that we don’t eat wings though!
I have a bit of an obsession with wings in a fruity and spicy glaze and I cook them all of the time.
These pineapple chicken wings are given a bit of spice courtesy of fresh jalapeno pepper. They join other iterations like my mango and habanero wings, gochujang Korean chicken wings and date and harissa chicken wings.
Like both of those dishes, I have three sets of instructions for cooking these delicious nibbles. Air fryer, baked and grilled on the BBQ, knock yourself out all three are delicious and work perfectly.
Baking them takes longer at around an hour, both the air fryer and BBQ methods take around 35 minutes to cook.
If you are looking for other wing variations, check out my lemon pepper wings, South African inspired peri peri chicken wings and my Thai influenced chicken wings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cook wings?
If we are talking pure taste then the BBQ is best as far as I am concerned. But as obsessed with food as I am, I don’t fire up the grill every time I want wings!
Then we have the choice between the air fryer and oven-baked. The air fryer does a marginally better job and it cooks the wings quicker, but I cannot stand cleaning the thing when I am done!
So I usually oven-bake my wings. But all three methods are superb and just work!
How do I prepare chicken wings?
You just need a sharp knife and a little bit of knowledge, once you have the technique it takes no time at all.
- Place a wing skin side down on a chopping board with the wing forming a V shape with the point of the V towards you.
- Use your fingertips to locate the joint between the winglet and drumette. It will be really knobbly and easy to locate.
- Cut through the gap in this knobbly section with the knife cutting right through the V shape. It should slide through with little resistance, we are not cutting through bone!
- Repeat the process with the wing tip if it is there. Do not throw them away, freeze them, they make a great stock.
What does the baking powder do?
The bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in the baking powder makes the chicken more alkaline.
By some process that I do not understand, this helps crisp up the skin of the wings wonderfully. You can use neat bicarb if you like, but I find that can leave a lingering “metallic” flavour that I am not keen on.
Serving Suggestions.
I’ve said it before, when it comes to wings I am heading in for a meat feast.
I usually have a big bowl and serve them with something like rocket (arugula) or watercress. The heat from the wings wilts the greens and some of the glaze transfers to it and makes it really quite delicious.
However, these pineapple and jalapeno chicken wings are particularly good with a side of wedges, chips or fries.
Potato wedges cooked in an air fryer are particularly good and superbly simple, you can also match the seasoning to the wings. In this instance, I would add just a little smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
But don’t get tunnel-visioned on spuds, these sweet potato fries or even these carrot and parsnip fries would work superbly.
If you are planning ahead then give cheesy polenta fries a whirl, they are spectacularly good!
Equipment Used
I only mention brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to a recipe. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Air Fryer, Oven or BBQ depending on how you want to cook the wings.
- Baking tray and foil if you are cooking them in the oven.
- Mini blender.
- Weighing scales and or measuring spoons.
- Kitchen knife.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen tongs.
Pineapple and Jalapeno Chicken Wings Recipe
Pineapple and jalapeno glazed chicken wings, a simple and delicious spicy way to change up your wing game.
Ingredients
- 16-18 Chicken Wings
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- ½ Tsp Salt
- ½ Tsp Baking Powder
For the Glaze:
- 3 Jalapeño Peppers
- 225g (8oz) Tin of Pineapple Chunks in Juice
- 40g (2 Tbsp) Honey
- 1 Tsp Dried Mint
- ½ Tsp Salt
- ¼ Tsp White Pepper
Instructions
- Remove the stem and roughly chop jalapeño peppers, then place them in a mini blender.
- Add the pineapple from the tin and 2 tablespoons of the juice to the blender and blitz to a smooth paste.
- Add the pineapple puree to a small (15cm or 6") pan.
- Throw in the dried mint, salt and white pepper and stir to combine.
- Cook over a medium-low heat for 12-15 minutes stirring regularly.
- Prepare the wings by cutting into winglets and drumettes.
- Season the wings with salt, baking powder and paprika and toss to coat well.
To Bake (1 Hour):
- Place the chicken wings skin-side down on a baking rack placed on top of a baking tray, lining the tray with foil reduces the washing up!
- Place the wings in a preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes at 130ºC or 250ºF.
- Remove the chicken wings from the oven and turn up the temperature to 200ºC or 400ºF.
- Flip the wings over on the rack and return them to the oven for another 20 minutes.
- Remove the wings, place them in a bowl, pour over the glaze and toss to coat well.
- Return the wings to the baking rack and return them to the oven for a final 5-7 minutes.
To Air Fry (35 Minutes):
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil and add the seasoned chicken wings.
- Cook for 20 minutes at 160°C or 320°F, shake them halfway through.
- Turn up the heat to 200°C or 400°F and cook for a further 10 minutes.
- Transfer the wings to a bowl pour over the glaze and toss to coat.
- Return to the air fryer and cook for another 5 minutes at 200°C or 400°F.
To BBQ (35 Minutes):
- Set up the grill with a direct and indirect heating section and heat to a temperature of around 250°C or 485°F.
- Place the wings over the indirect heat section of the grill, presentation side up, close the lid and cook for 25-30 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 70°C or 158°F, cook for longer if required.
- Remove the chicken and place it in a bowl.
- Pour over the pineapple glaze and toss to coat.
- Return the wings to the direct heat side of the grill and give them a minute or two on each side to go sticky and caramelise.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 894Total Fat: 52gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 2081mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 4gSugar: 43gProtein: 37g
Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.
Mayuri Patel
Friday 24th of May 2019
A great way to enjoy fried chicken without frying it in loads of oil. The air fried chicken looks really crispy. Good tip about moving the pieces several times to get an even colour.
Brian Jones
Friday 24th of May 2019
Giving the chicken a wee jiggle really does help.
Julie
Thursday 23rd of May 2019
I need to get an air fryer! What a great way to cook chicken wings.
Brian Jones
Friday 24th of May 2019
It is a remarkably good gadget.
Beth Neels
Tuesday 21st of May 2019
Whoa! I love cooking wings in the air fryer! But this sauce!!! I'm in love and must try this ASAP! There is nothing better in my mind than sweet and spicy together! Heading to out to buy some wings!! :)
Brian Jones
Wednesday 22nd of May 2019
Thanks Beth... Enjoy!
Adrianne
Monday 20th of May 2019
That is so cool that these are done in the air fryer! It also helps that they look delicious and sound tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Brian Jones
Tuesday 21st of May 2019
Thank you