If you haven’t tried grilled chicken wings, this is the recipe to get you started! Coated with a super easy honey pomegranate sauce, these grilled chicken wings will be your new favorite meal prep or party appetizer!
In our house, if we get chicken wings, it’s usually from a local restaurant that is known for their wings. They have perfected the art of chicken and coat them in a delicious secret sauce. Recently though, I really wanted to try making them at home to save money and use one of my favorite seasonal fruits – pomegranates! I tested out a few different cooking methods and grilled chicken wings definitely won out over their broiled and baked counterparts. Something about that smoky flavor gets me every time!
6 reasons you HAVE to try these grilled chicken wings!
- You will no longer want to throw your lunch out for takeout (seriously!)
- You will be the talk of the next party…and not in a behind your back kind of way ;)
- They are sooooo easy to make and way cheaper than ordering out.
- They boil in a brine first to make them super tender and juicy on the inside before searing on the grill for the best little crispy outside. You guys, I can’t even – sooo good!
- You get to coat them in a super delicious, sugar-free pomegranate sauce. Try explaining that one to the takeout restaurants with their love of high fructose corn syrup. Seriously you guys, there is more sugar in those sauces than southern sweet tea. Post lunch sugar crash anyone? No thank you.
- Chicken wings can be high in calories (on average 40-45 calories per raw wing, and upward of 120 calories if fried), but are also a great source of protein at 9 grams per wing. The light glaze adds flavor without adding tons of extra calories so you can modify a typically high-calorie meal into something much more moderate and reasonable for your daily meal prep.
What’s this pomegranate glaze?
You’ll want to smother your grilled chicken wings in this awesome pomegranate glaze and then have more for dipping because, trust me, it is gold. Well, it’s brownish-red, but you get the point I’m trying to make here. I used pre-squeezed pomegranate juice as for convenience, but you can get fresh pomegranate juice by pulsing the seeds in a blender a few times and then draining them through a fine-mesh sieve. You’ll need approximately 1 -2 LARGE POMEGRANATES to make enough juice for this recipe. Check out this TUTORIAL for more detailed instructions. If you need more info on how to remove seeds or arils from the pomegranate, click HERE for my walkthrough tutorial.
What’s so great about Pomegranates anyway?
They are packed with Vitamins C, D, E as well as folic acid. Containing 3 times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea in one fruit, they are so great at increasing blood circulation and helping clean out the body – and skin! Physicians will actually recommend eating them when recovering from an illness to help the body heal faster. How cool is that! Check out 7 Amazing Benefits of Pomegranates for more fun facts ;)
I’m always looking for ideas to keep my lunch fresh and fun. Check out this SPINACH POMEGRANATE SALAD WITH KOMBUCHA DRESSING or ROASTED CABBAGE STEAKS WITH APPLE SAUSAGE CHUTNEY and say goodbye to boring lunch!
Here’s how to make Grilled Chicken Wings with Pomegranate Glaze:
1)Bring a large stockpot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tbsp salt and 3 pounds of chicken wings. Boil for 30 minutes.
2) While chicken is boiling in brine, make pomegranate glaze. Add pomegranate juice, honey and soy sauce to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch in 4 tbsp water. Add to pomegranate glaze and boil for another 2 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat and let cool.
3) Heat grill. Drain chicken wings and grill on one side for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 min. Coat with pomegranate glaze and cook for another 3 minutes or until sauce glazes wings nicely. Serve warm with remaining sauce on the side.
These are sooooo great with a side of fresh veggies and ranch dressing, a small orange and some dark chocolate chips/ cashews for a complete adult lunchable. If you want a fancier side, pair it with this Super Easy Kale Salad with Goat Cheese and Cranberries.
WHAT ARE YOU HAVING FOR LUNCH THIS WEEK? LEAVE YOUR RESPONSE IN THE COMMENTS!
with much love from my table to yours,
xoxo,
Tiffany
PIN THIS TO MAKE FOR LUNCH LATER!
Grilled Chicken Wings with Pomegranate Glaze
Ingredients
Instructions
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Bring a large stockpot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tbsp salt and 3 pounds of chicken wings. Boil for 30 minutes.
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While chicken is boiling in brine, make pomegranate glaze. Add pomegranate juice, honey and soy sauce to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch in 4 tbsp water. Add to pomegranate glaze and boil for another 2 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat and let cool.
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Heat grill. Drain chicken wings and grill on one side for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 min. Coat with pomegranate glaze and cook for another 3 minutes or until sauce glazes wings nicely. Serve warm with remaining sauce on the side.
Recipe Notes
If you don't have a grill - no problem! These can easily be broiled on high after boiling for 2-3 minutes on each side or until brown and crispy. Then coat in sauce and enjoy!
The nutritional value is of the pomegranate sauce only and is approximately per serving for 10 servings. Since the sauce may not all be used, it is difficult to put the entire nutritional value together. Chicken wings are approximately 45 calories, with 9 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat each.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
I LOVE pomegranate. Will try and put it on anything I can but have never thought of doing it with chicken wings. Fab idea. Also love that these are grilled – so much better fo your than the fried kind!
Tiffany says
Thanks Emma! I do too!! I loved the idea of using the juice as a sauce base instead of tons of sugar. It really works out great!
Katherine Hachworthy says
This recipe is so amazing! It looks delicious and it’s easy to make! The flavor of pomegranate and honey complement well with each other!
Tiffany says
Thank Katherine! I totally agree!!!
Tiffany says
Thanks Katherine! I totally agree!!!
Sues says
Oh yum!! I am all about pomegranate everything, so that glaze sounds just awesome!!
Tiffany says
Thanks Sues! I know I’ve been totally obsessed with pomegranate too!
Teri Stephens says
This pomegranate glaze looks heavenly. I bet it would be good on wings and so many things. Great post!
Tiffany says
Aww thanks Teri! I bet it would be great on other things too!!
Emily says
This pomegranate glaze looks so amazing! What a great recipe.
Tiffany says
Thanks so much Emily!!
pink says
aside from the carrots, what are the other veggies ?
thanks-
Tiffany says
I used fresh carrots, sliced parsnips and okra. I love the crunch for my side veggies but don’t always want to go with celery like they typically serve with chicken wings ;)