Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe (Fall-Off-The-Bone Tender & Juicy)
If you’re a fan of garlic and juicy, flavorful chicken, you are in for a treat! These Garlic Chicken Wings are one of the most delicious things I’ve ever made at home. They’re fall-off-the-bone tender, pan-fried to perfection, and coated in a buttery garlic glaze that takes the flavor to the next level.
Whether you’re serving them for a weeknight dinner, a game day appetizer, or your next family gathering, these wings will absolutely steal the show.
Let me walk you through the step-by-step process so you can recreate them with ease!
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe:
- Loaded with aromatic garlic without being overpowering
- Fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for dinner, lunchboxes, or appetizer platters
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For Marination:
- 1.5 to 2 lbs chicken wings (whole or wing sections)
- Salt (to taste)
- White pepper powder (about 1/2 tsp)
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice wine (or cooking wine)
For Garlic Sauce:
- 1 head garlic (peeled cloves)
- 1 tbsp oil (for sautéing)
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 tbsp Japanese cooking sake (or any mild mirin)
Final Touch:
- 1 green onion (finely chopped)
How to Make Garlic Chicken Wings – Step by Step
Step 1: Prep and Marinate the Chicken
Rinse your chicken wings well and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
In a large bowl, mix the wings with:
- Salt
- White pepper powder
- Dark soy sauce
- Rice wine
Massage the wings thoroughly with the marinade, making sure every piece is well coated.
Cover and let them marinate for at least 20 minutes at room temperature (or longer in the fridge).
Step 2: Prepare the Garlic
While the wings marinate, peel one full head of garlic. Yes, a lot of garlic goes into this dish!
Pro Tip: Don’t worry – once cooked, the garlic becomes buttery, mellow, and sweet.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add all the peeled garlic cloves and stir-fry them until golden on the outside.
Remove and set aside.
Step 3: Pan-Fry the Wings
In the same pan and using the same garlic-infused oil, add the marinated chicken wings.
Spread them out in a single layer and pan-fry until the bottom turns golden brown.
Flip and pan-fry the other side until golden as well.
You don’t need to fully cook the wings here — just get a beautiful sear on both sides.
Step 4: Simmer in Sauce
Now add to the pan:
- Japanese sake (or mirin)
- Oyster sauce
- Soy sauce
- Dark soy sauce
- A little sugar
- A pinch of salt
- The sautéed garlic cloves
Gently stir everything together so the wings are coated in the sauce.
Cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Flip the wings over and simmer for another 5 minutes to ensure even cooking and flavor.
Step 5: Final Touches
Once the wings are fully cooked and beautifully glazed in the sauce, remove the lid and toss in your chopped green onion.
Stir to combine and let the wings rest for 2-3 minutes uncovered.
That’s it! Your juicy garlic chicken wings are ready to devour.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve hot with steamed rice or vegetable stir-fry.
- Pair with fried rice or garlic noodles for an Asian-style dinner.
- Perfect appetizer for game nights, potlucks, or family dinners.
- These also go wonderfully with a side of dipping sauce (chili garlic or mayo).
Pro Tips for Best Results:
- Don’t skip the garlic — it becomes sweet and buttery, not harsh!
- Pan-frying before simmering helps lock in flavor and color.
- Keep the heat low during simmering to avoid drying out the meat.
- Double the sauce ingredients if you want extra gravy to serve over rice.
Why I Keep Making These Garlic Chicken Wings Again and Again:
These wings are always a hit in my home. The smell of garlic cooking alone gets everyone in the kitchen!
The wings turn out so tender they literally fall off the bone, and the sauce is finger-licking good.
It’s the perfect quick-fix recipe when I want to serve something exciting without spending hours in the kitchen.
Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe
Ingredients
- For Marination:
- 1.5 to 2 lbs chicken wings whole or sections
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp white pepper powder
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice wine or cooking wine
- For Garlic Sauce:
- 1 head garlic peeled
- 1 tbsp oil for sautéing
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp Japanese sake or mirin
- Final Touch:
- 1 green onion chopped
Instructions
- Rinse and dry wings. Mix with salt, white pepper, soy sauce, and rice wine. Let marinate for 20 minutes.
- Peel garlic cloves. Sauté them in oil until golden. Remove and set aside.
- In the same garlic oil, pan-fry wings until both sides are golden (not fully cooked yet).
- Add sake, oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, salt, and sautéed garlic.
- Stir and cover. Simmer 5 minutes, flip wings, and simmer another 5 minutes.
- Add chopped green onion. Stir gently. Let rest uncovered for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
