Mexican Chicken Wings (Taco Wings)
Move over, buffalo chicken! Mexican Chicken Wings (Taco Wings) is the new tailgating favorite as it combines everyone’s love for Mexican food with their love for baked chicken wings, all thanks to a homemade taco sauce that is finger lickin’ good.
I’ve been craving Mexican food lately, which is weird because I NEVER crave Mexican food. Ever.
If you ask me about where to eat dinner based on my mood, I may say Indian, Middle Eastern, Greek, American, but never Mexican.
It’s not that I hate it – far from it, actually.
I mean, we are talking cheese, salsa, jalapenos, cilantro, meat, tortillas. I just never crave it.
The other day I checked out a Tex Mex cookbook from the library and have been wanting tacos ever since. Tacos tacos tacos.
A few days later, I started thinking about football season and tailgating recipes. I love meat, and tailgating is always about the meat. Let’s not talk about how many chicken wings I tend to eat (hint – a lot).
Then I started thinking about tacos (again), but they are not a very tailgating-friendly food. Then I started thinking about taco dip because that IS a tailgating-friendly food.
Then I started thinking about wings and ended up craving those.
Tacos, wings, taco wings.
And that is how Mexican Chicken Wings (Taco Wings) were born, all because I checked out a book at the library with pictures of tacos.
Serve them for dinner or as Super Bowl food for two.
The most important thing about cooking meat, especially chicken, is you need to make sure it’s cooked to the proper temperature.
I’ve heard of taco wings before, but most are just wings tossed with taco seasoning.
No, no. I want them SAUCY. Lots of sauce. Finger lickin’ good sauce.
I’ve made taco sauce before for tacos, so I baked the wings until done then tossed with my homemade taco sauce.
I even put cheese in the sauce!
I thought about sprinkling cheese on top of the wings but changed my mind and just melted it into the sauce.
The dipping sauce you see is just sour cream mixed with some fajita seasoning. Easy peasy.
I think I love these more than my baked buffalo chicken wings.
They may even edge out my sweet chili wings, but I think it would depend on whether I wanted tacos that day.
And to answer your question, despite eating a dozen of these taco wings, yes I’m still craving tacos.
More Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Looking for more easy wing recipes? Check out these oven baked wing recipes:
Saucy Taco Baked Chicken Wings
Saucy Taco Baked Chicken Wings is the new tailgating favorite as it combines everyone's love for Mexican food with their love for chicken wings.
Ingredients
- 12 chicken wing pieces, thawed and patted dry
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon fajita seasoning (homemade or store bought)
- Chopped green onion, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line the bottom of a roasting pan or cookie sheet with foil. Place a roasting or cooling rack on top.
- In a large bowl, toss together the wings and oil. Place wings onto rack in the pan and bake 50-55 minutes until the internal temperature is at least 165F. Verify doneness by using a 165° Cook’d Right™ Sensor.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a large saucepan, combine the tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted.
- In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and fajita seasoning.
- Once the wings are cooked to doneness, toss with the taco sauce. Top with green onion. Serve with dipping sauce.
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Carla, these wings sound amaaaazing! I love that you put cheese right into the taco sauce. YUM!
Can’t have taco wings without cheese!
Oh yes! Everyone needs a meat thermometer. This Cook’d Right Sensor sounds great. And so do the wings! PINNED.
Yes, everyone does! I’ve already used several more Cook’d Right sensors since these wings. Life changing.
Well, great, now I’M craving Mexican flavors! Ha. What a nice little cooking tool. I’m forever ruining my digital thermometers by leaving them in the sink and getting water in them. This is pretty much made for me!
Uh oh! Digital and water definitely don’t mix! With these sensors, if you happen to get water on them, they won’t break ;)
Yum! great job
Thanks!
Those sensors sound like the best thing since sliced bread! That is just awesome! And these wings are totally right up my alley!
Yes, the sensors are a great tool for the kitchen, especially when making wings!
you just made my day!! I have been craving Mexican food AND wings!! You are right! This is the perfect for football season. I don’t think you could have made anything better!! Sounds and looks amazing! I am so glad you informed us of those nifty thermometers too! I need those!!
Sounds like these wings fit the bill for your Mexican craving ;)
I don’t think I’ve ever had taco seasoning on wings, and I’m loving that you seasoned AND sauced them – I must make a big batch! And those little sensors are pretty cool – definitely something that would be fun to test out.
Taco wings will change your life ;)
Oh those sensors are cool! That’s a perfect gift for a beginner cool. Also I wouldn’t mind a big plate of these wings, because wings for dinner is completely acceptable in my book.
Oh great idea! Beginner cooks with meat would love these sensors. And wings are always acceptable for dinner.
We can never have too many wing recipes around our rowdy bunch!
Wing ideas are endless!
I’m drooling. It’s 8 am and I’m drooling. Pinning!!
Wings are totally acceptable for breakfast ;)
I seriously need to make these!
Yes you do :)
Definitely could devour many of these chicken wings right now, they look seriously incredible and jam packed full of delicious flavour. I must recreate the recipe, thanks for sharing it!
Oh yes – with homemade taco sauce, there is lots of flavor indeed!
I love baked wings! These look super delicious!
Thanks, Karissa!
Your wings look delicious, Carla! Those sensors are very handy, love the idea!
Thanks, Cindy!
I need the sensors! Never know when something is done!!!!
Yes, no more cutting into meat to check doneness :)
I’m one of those weird people that is not a huge fan of buffalo wings. Saucy taco wings are much more my style!
I’ll eat your buffalo wings and you can have these taco wings ;)
You combined two of my favorite things here! These will be perfect for game day!
Thanks, Rachel!
We just had Taco Week on Food Fanatic for National Taco Day, and I have been craving tacos nonstop every since, so I get you. But then, being from South Texas, Mexican food is probably the food I crave MOST. I read the first paragraph of your post and thought, “I wonder what that’s like!”. Hah. I can totally get down on some taco wings, too. What a great idea!
Ha up here in PA, we are the land of pierogies and cabbage, not tacos :) Although there are plenty of Mexican restaurants and even a taco truck.
What a great way to make sure your meat is cooked enough!! And these wings look amazing!
And no cutting into the meat either!
Form filled out and ohmigawd! Taco Wings! <3
Yay taco wings :D
How cool are those?!!!! And lets not forget yum, I am going to eat all of the wings!
Very cool ;)
The wings look delicious! And those Sensors are super cool!
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Thanks, Liz!
What a fun take on wings.
Perfect for game day!!!
These wings were fantastic! Great flavors, easy to make, and they’re going on my menu for our Superbowl party!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your success.
These would be perfect for the Super Bowl. I am making these for sure!
Let me know how it goes!
These chicken wings are finger-licking good! My husband is addicted to them and always asks me to make them again and again! We love this recipe because it makes just the right amount for him to enjoy!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!