14 Amazing Wing Recipes For Tailgate Time

As you prepare for tailgating season, keep in mind that traditionally, the best wings comprise four key characteristics: bone-in; deep-fried plain (no breading or marinades); tossed in a hot sauce; and served with a cooling side of blue cheese sauce and an accouterment combo of celery and carrots.

But deep-frying while tailgating in a parking lot for the big game is maybe not the best idea. (Let's keep that activity indoors in a controlled environment far away from all the boozing.) Lucky for you, this collection of wing recipes has options to not only fry the wings, but also grill, slow-cook, and bake them to suit your location, time frame, and preference; the only important thing is that you serve up some big-time flavor.

In addition to the traditional recipe for Buffalo wings, this roundup includes a few bad-ass flavor combos and techniques that may surprise you. 

These chicken wings are deep-fried until golden and crispy then tossed in a smooth and creamy chipotle sauce with avocado and cilantro. For this recipe, click here.

These are marinated in a sweet-and-spicy sauce that is later boiled down to make a delectable glaze for the crispy, tender wings. You can marinate them anywhere from two hours to a day, or just bake them with olive oil and make the glaze to finish. Click here for the recipe.

These Buffalo wings are tossed in a hot and tangy glaze made with horseradish and Worcestershire sauce; it's a safe bet that you won't be able to eat just one. Check out the recipe here.

These cheesy wings are baked in the oven until cooked through, then broiled for an extra crispy finish. For this recipe, click here.

In this recipe, tender wings are coated in a combination of garlic, miso, soy sauce, and mirin. Check out the recipe here.

Get the party started with these hot and spicy habanero wings; the use of panko breadcrumbs give them a satisfying crunch. For this recipe, click here.

The flavor on these guys comes from the marinade rather than a drippy sauce that gets all over your fingers and face. For this recipe, click here.

Chef Randy Clemens, the author of The Sriracha Cookbook, recommends you pair these wings with a hoppy IPA beer; the honey in the wings gives a perfect sweetness that foils the bitterness of the hops beautifully. Check out the recipe here.

Straight out of Chrissy Teigen's best-selling cookbook, Cravings, these crispy, finger-licking wings boast stand-out flavor thanks to using seasoned salt in both the brine and the breading. For John Legend's favorite wings, click here.

Executive chef Andy Choi of Cherry in New York City puts his own spin on chicken wings by creating a spicy sauce made with red pepper paste and bacon fat drippings. To check out his recipe, click here.

Keep your tailgating crowd satiated and happy with these maple- and chipotle-flavored wings. For this recipe, click here.

Put your slow-cooker to work and gently braise your wings to perfection. When you're ready to eat, place your wings under the broiler to crisp up the edges.  For this recipe, click here.  

Grilled chicken wings are a great treat for the whole family. Cooking them directly over the fire gets the skin crispy without deep-frying. For this recipe, click here.

From Brother Jimmy's cookbook, Brother Jimmy's BBQ, this recipe adds a bit of Southwestern flair to make the wings tangy and citrusy. Check out the recipe here.