Thai Grilled Chicken Wings
Thai grilled chicken wings are smoky, juicy, and packed with bold, savory flavors. I’ll show you how to grill them in the oven, air fryer, or on the grill. I use a simple marinade that makes every bite taste like Thai street food.
Thai Grilled Chicken Wings Marinade
Each ingredient plays an important role in building layers of savory, herby, and slightly sweet Thai flavor:
- Chicken Wings: Best to separate the flats and drumettes. Poke the wings with a fork before marinating to help the flavor soak in faster.
- Cilantro: Use both the stems and leaves. The stems are especially fragrant and give the marinade a signature Thai aroma. In Thailand we use cilantro roots. However, you can use both leaves and stems if using a blender.
- Garlic: Pound or blend with other ingredients so it mixes evenly into the marinade and infuses the wings with deep flavor.
- Ground Pepper (black, white, or both): Adds a warm kick—use one or a mix of both for a more complex heat.
- Coconut Sugar: Gives the wings a subtle sweetness and helps with caramelization when grilled. If you use white sugar or granulated monk fruit, lower the heat to make sure the chicken cooks through before turning brown.
- Oyster Sauce: Adds umami depth and a silky texture to the marinade.
- Soy Sauce: Provides saltiness and balances the sweetness of the sugar.
- Dark or Black Soy Sauce: Adds color and a richer, slightly molasses-like flavor that sticks beautifully to the wings.
- Water: To ger the blender going and keep the chicken juicy.
How to Prepare and Marinate Thai Chicken Wings
Follow these three simple steps to get your wings ready for grilling:
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- Prep the chicken: Separate the flats and drumettes if needed. Use a fork to poke holes all over the wings to help the marinade penetrate faster.
- Make the marinade: Blend cilantro, garlic, ground pepper, coconut sugar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and water together.
- Marinate the wings: Toss the wings in the marinade until fully coated. Let them marinate for at least 40 minutes and best overnight.
How to Grill or Cook Thai Chicken Wings
Choose the method that works best for you—grill, air fryer, or oven. Each gives you juicy, flavorful wings.
- Grill (outdoor or stovetop): Use medium to low heat. Brush the grill grates with oil before grilling. Flip the wings every 5–6 minutes. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165–175°F.
- Air Fryer: Arrange the wings in a single layer with all the pieces facing the same direction for even cooking. Air fry at 370°F for 14–15 minutes until golden and cooked through. This is my absolute method!
- Oven Bake: Line a baking pan with foil and place a rack on top. Arrange the wings on the rack and bake at 400°F for 30–35 minutes until nicely browned.
Dishes that Pair Well with Thai Chicken Wings
- Nam Jim Jeaw : The wings are tasty on their own, but this dipping sauce also makes all meat tastes even better!
- Som Tum : Thai Green Papaya salad
- Long Bean salad : switch the papaya with long beans or green beans.
- Sticky Rice : See my recipe for different cooking methods.
Other Delicious BBQ recipes
- Gai Yang : Gluten Free Thai Grilled Chicken
- Weeping or Crying Tiger : Thai Grilled Steak
- Moo Ping : Thai Grilled Pork Skewers
- 45 Minutes Instant Pot Pork Ribs
- Thai Style Pork Kabob
- Sticky Asian Pork Ribs (Instant Pot)
- Asian Lollipop Chicken
Thai Grilled Chicken Wings
Thai grilled chicken wings are smoky, juicy, and packed with bold, savory flavors. I’ll show you how to grill them in the oven, air fryer, or on the grill. I use a simple marinade that makes every bite taste like Thai street food.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken wings
- 1/2 cup cilantro (small bunch or use 2-3 cilantro roots)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp ground pepper (black or white or 1/2 tsp each)
- 4 TBSP coconut sugar (or sweetener of choice. If using white sugar, make sure to use low heat so that the chicken cooks before turning brown or burn.)
- 4 TBSP oyster sauce
- 4 TBSP soy sauce
- 4 TBSP dark Soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water (to get the blender going)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken wings: Separate the flats and drumettes if needed; poke holes all over the wings with a fork so the marinade can penetrate the meat and reduce marinating time.
- Blend the marinade: Combine cilantro, garlic, ground pepper, coconut sugar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and water in a blender or food processor; blend until smooth to create a flavorful, well-balanced marinade.
- Marinate the chicken: Place wings in a large bowl or zip-top bag, pour in the marinade, and toss to coat evenly: let sit for at least 1 hour or overnight so the wings absorb all the savory Thai flavors.
- Grill the wings: Preheat grill to medium-low heat and brush the grates with oil: cook wings for about 15 minutes, flipping every 5–6 minutes, until nicely charred and the internal temperature reaches 165–175°F.
- Air fry the wings (optional method): Arrange wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket with all pieces facing the same direction: air fry at 370°F for 14–15 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
- Bake the wings (optional method): Line a baking pan with foil and place a rack on top, then arrange wings on the rack: bake at 400°F for 30–35 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce, sticky rice, or fresh herbs: these wings are perfect for parties, weeknight dinners, or game day snacks.
Video
@stickyricethaikitchen Do you prefer air fry, charcoal grill, or bake? Thai Grilled Chicken Wings Ingredients 3 lbs chicken wings 1/2 cup cilantro (small bunch or use 2-3 cilantro roots) 4 cloves garlic 1 tsp ground pepper (black or white or 1/2 tsp each) 4 TBSP coconut sugar (or sweetener of choice. If using white sugar, make sure to use low heat so that the chicken cooks before turning brown or burn.) 4 TBSP oyster sauce 4 TBSP soy sauce 4 TBSP dark Soy sauce 1/4 cup water (to get the blender going)
♬ L.o.v.e. – Muspace Lofi
Notes
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Nutrition
Serving: 2g
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