Wings are such a fun appetizer or easy dinner main dish, and these Chinese Five Spice wings fit the bill. A simple Whole30 recipe that is also gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free. A great one for all to enjoy!
These Chinese Five Spice wings are marinated and glazed with a simple sauce. All you need is coconut aminos, vinegar rice, garlic powder, Chinese Five Spice powder, and salt.
What is Chinese Five Spice Powder?
Five spice is a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It is a common ingredient in Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine. It encompasses all five tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami—making it a powerful ingredient for delicious dishes.
You can make it yourself at home. Though, if the spices aren’t ones you already have in your cupboard, buying it’s probably more affordable. You can buy a Whole30 Approved version by Primal Palate here or wherever is most accessible to you. This seasoning is the cornerstone of this recipe, so we don’t recommend making this recipe without it.
What are coconut aminos?
Many new to the Whole30 have never heard of coconut aminos. Made from coconut sap, coconut aminos are a common swap for soy sauce. Read this blog to learn more about coconut aminos and why they are Whole30 compatible.
These wings can be marinated quickly for a busy night or overnight to plan ahead. They are delicious and juicy in the air fryer, our favorite way to cook wings. Additionally, they can also be cooked in the oven.
As these wings have a sauce, keep an eye on your wings during cooking. Depending on things like how far away your rack is from the broiler in the oven or the size of your air fryer, cooking times can vary and these can burn more easily. (Cook in a single layer if using the Air Fryer method.)
For ease of cooking, look for “party wings” that are already cut in sections. Buying whole wings can be more budget-friendly, so if you’re up to the task, you can do it yourself by following the instructions here.
Chinese Five Spice Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut aminos divided
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar divided
- 2 rsp garlic powder divided
- 1 tbsp Chinese five-spice powder divided
- 1/2 tsp salt divided
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 tsp arrowroot or potato starch
Optional toppings
- toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or garlic salt to taste
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer optional
Instructions
- COMBINE ½ cup coconut aminos, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoons Chinese Five Spice powder, and ¼ tsp salt in a small bowl.
- MIX wings and combined sauce in either a reusable zip-top bag or bowl. Cover or seal and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight. Discard marinade.
- COMBINE remaining ½ cup coconut aminos, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice powder, and ¼ tsp salt in another small bowl and set aside. This will be your glaze.
- AIR FRY wings by spraying a tray with cooking oil and laying a single layer of wings in basket or tray. This may need to be done in batches. Air fry at 350°F for 8 minutes. Brush with glaze, flip, and brush with glaze again. Air fry at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, until crispy.
- COOK in the oven by spraying a cooling rack with cooking oil and setting it into a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment or foil. Lay wings in a single layer. Broil on LOW for 8 minutes. Brush with glaze, flip, and brush with glaze again. Broil for an additional 5-7 minutes, until crispy.
- COMBINE remaining glaze with 1 teaspoon arrowroot or potato starch. Cook over low heat until slightly thickened. You can thin this down with additional coconut aminos if it gets too thick.
- GLAZE cooked wings and top with any desired optional toppings. Enjoy!
