Alitas de Pollo Horneadas (Tequila Lime Chicken Wings)

Chicken wings are one of the easiest appetizers to make, which is why they’re on my regular meal prep rotation. These Alitas de Pollo Horneadas are infused with a zesty citrus and tequila marinade and pack a flavorful punch. Enjoy as an appetizer or serve them alongside your favorite rice or salad for a full meal. Bake, air fry, or grill them!

WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Easy Preparation: The hardest part about this recipe is creating the marinade, which takes about 10 minutes! After marinating for a few hours (or overnight), you simply bake and enjoy.
• Bright flavor: The citrus marinade infuses these chicken wings with a vibrant, tangy flavor.
• Tender and juicy: Acidity in citrus marinades helps tenderize the chicken wings that way they stay nice and juicy (as long as they’re not overcooked).
• Healthier alternative: Baked chicken wings are a healthier alternative to traditional fried wings.

BAKED WINGS: A HEALTHIER OPTION

• Lower calories: My baked chicken wings require a minimal amount of olive oil for the marinade. This means that they’re a healthier alternative to fried wings, without compromising on flavor.
• Less mess: Since you’re not deep frying, there’s no oily splatter and minimal cleanup.
• Crispy texture: Baking can still yield crispy chicken wings if cooked at a higher temperature (about 400°F). For softer wings, you can always bake them at 375°F.

INGREDIENTS

• Citrus fruits: I use equal amounts of lemons, limes, and oranges to make the base of this tequila lime wings marinade.
• Tequila: Acidity in tequila helps break down proteins in the chicken, resulting in a tender texture, especially when combined with other acidic ingredients like limes. You can swap out tequila for beer, too. Alcohol helps retain moisture in chicken and meat! Don’t worry – if you’re abstaining from alcohol, you can’t taste it and it essentially evaporates when baked.
• Cilantro: The fresh citrus notes in cilantro complement the ingredients in this marinade. Cilantro also contains enzymes that help tenderize meat.
• Olive oil: Helps distribute the citrus and herb flavors evenly across the wings. It also prevents the wings from drying out when baked.
• Seasonings: Salt and paprika are all you need to create a flavorful seasoning for these wings.

RECOMMENDED FOR THIS RECIPE

Stasher Reusable Silicone Bag

I love marinating meats in my reusable Stasher bags because they’re leakproof. I flip them over every few hours to make sure the marinade is distributed evenly throughout my wings. VIEW PRODUCT

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

Step 1: Prepare Marinade

• Extract juice from lemons, limes, and oranges.
• Chop cilantro.
• Mix citrus juices, cilantro, olive oil, tequila, salt, and paprika in a bowl.

Step 2: Marinate Chicken Wings

• Pour marinade over wings and allow them to marinate for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• PRO TIP: I like to use a silicone Stasher bag to marinate chicken and meat because it’s leak-proof and easy to flip every few hours, ensuring that the wings are well-coated. You can also use an airtight bowl or zip-top bag for this step.

Step 3: Bake and Enjoy

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Bake wings in a single layer for 15-25 minutes, depending on how golden and crispy you like them.
• PRO TIP: Set a timer for 15 minutes, then bake in additional 5 minute intervals until they reach desired color and texture.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH ALAS DE POLLO AL HORNO

• These alitas de pollo al horno can be served alone as an appetizer alongside the classic sides. I like mine with a good salsa or ranch dressing and freshly cut celery and carrot sticks. A few of my favorite salsas include a spicy red salsa, tangy green salsa, or sweet and spicy golden salsa.
• Make it a meal and serve these tequila lime wings alongside my Mexican white rice, red rice, or arroz verde con cilantro.
• You can also serve alitas with fun dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, barbecue, or honey mustard.
• Keep it fresh and add your alitas al horno to a crudité platter with carrot sticks, celery, radishes, cucumbers, and bell pepper strips or any of your other favorite vegetables.
• Serve with coleslaw, potato salad, or a good green salad.
• Wash everything down with a refreshing agua fresca.

RECIPE VARIATIONS

• Use marinade recipe on skirt steak for the best carne asada ever.
• Swap out chicken wings for drumsticks, thighs, or chicken breasts and make it a meal. Serve chicken with my Arroz Primavera.
• If you prefer your wings soft instead of crispy, bake them at 375°F to 385°F for 20-30 minutes.
• For a sweet twist, mix in honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar.
• For a touch of spice, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper or chili flakes.
• For a garlicky kick, add minced garlic.

To Air Fry Chicken Wings

• Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
• Arrange marinated wings in a single layer in the basket.
• Cook for 15-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. Enjoy!

To Grill Chicken Wings

• Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
• Add seasoned wings to grill flipping occasionally, until cooked through and charred, about 20-25 minutes.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Be sure to coat chicken wings well with the marinade to ensure that all wings are full of flavorful.
• Two tablespoons of salt may seem like a lot, but keep in mind that most of the marinade will be drained off of the wings before they’re baked.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT

To store:

• Allow the chicken wings to cool to room temperature.
• Place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2-3 months.

PRO TIP: I like to store my wings in glass containers for easy reheating in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

To reheat:

• In the microwave: warm on medium power in 30-second intervals until heated through. You may want to place a cover or paper towel over the wings while microwaving.
• In the oven, bake chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 10-15 minutes or until heated through at 350°F.
• In the air fryer, place chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 5-8 minutes or until heated through and crispy at 350°F.

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