Mama's Wings Seven (Now Eight) Ways -- Spicy, Mild, BBQ, Vegan, & more (Recipe)

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

The coolest thing about hot wings is that there are so many different ways to make them. This can come in handy on Super Bowl Sunday but really works any time of the year. It's especially handy when you have a ton of people coming over because you can make sure there's something for everyone. Here's Mama's Wings (my wings) with different sauces from mild to fiery hot and even a vegan version, since we have a mix of meat-eaters and vegans. This is one of my specialty recipes and is often requested. I hope you enjoy these wings as much as everyone else who has had a chance to try them. Scroll to the bottom of the wing sauce recipes for the vegan version.

Ingredients for Mama's Wings:

5 lbs uncooked organic, free range chicken wings or cauliflower (for vegans)
Frank's Red Hot (gallon size)
Frank's Red Hot Xtra Hot (optional substitute for original)
Crushed Red Pepper (1 bag or jar)
Habanero Sauce (any brand, small jar)
2 sticks of organic salted butter (or Earth's Best vegan, non-gmo)
Bill's Best Organic BBQ Sauce
Y.S. Organic Honey or your favorite Agave Nectar
Salt (optional)
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Ranch or other favorite dipping sauce (optional)

Directions for Mama's Wings:

No matter which flavor you choose, the basic directions for making Mama's Wings are the same. Preheat the oven to 400F. Clean the wings and place them on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Cook them at 400F for about 30 minutes. Take them out and spread on the sauce of your choice. Put them back in for about 30 more minutes. Take the wings out and spread more sauce over the top. Then, serve with ranch dressing, carrot sticks, and celery.

Mama's Mild Wing Sauce:
Melt 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan. Turn the heat off. Stir in about 16 oz of Frank's Red Hot. Add garlic powder and salt (optional) to taste.

Mama's Medium Wing Sauce:
Prepare this the same as mild sauce, except add in about ¼ cup of crushed red peppers.

Mama's Hot Wing Sauce:
Prepare this the same as mild sauce, except add in ½ cup crushed red peppers and use Frank's Xtra Hot, instead of the original.

Mama's Fiery Hot Wing Sauce:
Prepare this the same as hot wing sauce, except in addition to the red peppers, add ¼ cup of habanero sauce.

Mama's BBQ Wing Sauce:
Use Bill's Best BBQ Sauce (original or spicy), thinned out with just a little bit of water mixed in. For extra flavor, add onion powder and garlic powder to taste.

Mama's Honey BBQ Wing Sauce:
Prepare this the same as BBQ wing sauce, except also add 1/2 cup of honey.

Mama's Spicy BBQ Wing Sauce:
Mix Bill's Best BBQ sauce (spicy) with an equal amount of Frank's Red Hot. For extra flavor, add onion powder and garlic powder to taste.

Vegan Wing Instructions:
To make vegan wings, simply boil 5 pounds of cauliflower heads until soft. Then, break up into pieces about 1" x 3". The size doesn't need to be exact. Spread your favorite wing sauce on the bottom of a cookie sheet,m about 1 inch thick. Then, pour over the top and cook for about 15 minutes or until browned. Pour more heated sauce over the top and serve with your favorite vegan dipping sauce.

Serves: 10 (or less if they eat large portions) -- can be doubled, tripled, etc.

Try one or more of these dishes along with Mama's Wings for more flair:

- Boiled Cabbage
- Southern Potato Salad
- Cornbread
- Mashed Potatoes
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Green Beans & Potatoes
- Southern-Style Greens
- Texas Style Smoked BBQ Ribs
- Mama's Spicy Gucamole Dip