How to Make Alitas de Pollo Horneadas (Tequila Lime 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 these alitas an appetizer or serve them alongside your favorite rice or salad for a full meal. Bake, air fry, or grill them! The hardest part about this recipe is creating the marinade, which takes about 10 minutes!
⭐️ FUN FACT: Baking or grilling your wings means that they’re a healthier alternative to fried wings, without compromising on flavor. You can still achieve a crispy texture if you bake them at 400°F.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
The ingredients to make this recipe are pretty straightforward and simple: citrus fruits (I use equal parts lemons, limes, and oranges), tequila, fresh cilantro, olive oil, salt, and paprika.
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
Prepare marinade
- Extract juice from lemons, limes, and oranges.
- Chop cilantro.
- Mix citrus juices, cilantro, olive oil, tequila, salt, and paprika in a bowl.
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.
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 ALITAS
- 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, pico de gallo, 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.
- Wash everything down with a refreshing agua fresca.
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.
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT
I let my wings cool completely, then store them in an airtight (usually glass) container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. When I’m ready to reheat, I warm them in the microwave in 30-second intervals, or pop them in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes—or the air fryer for 5–8 minutes until they’re hot and crispy.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?
Here are a few of my favorite small plates and snacks:
- Jalapeño Deviled Eggs
- Chipotle Deviled Eggs
- Cebollitas Asadas (EASY Grilled Mexican Green Onions)
- Nopales Asados (Grilled Cactus Paddles)
- Chiles Toreados (Mexican Blistered Peppers)
- Marinated Chile Güerito Peppers
- Totopos Caseros (Easy Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips)
- Mexican-Style Street Corn
BEST Alitas de Pollo Horneadas (Tequila Lime Chicken Wings)
Equipment
- Serving platter
Ingredients
- 2 lemons juiced
- 2 limes juiced
- 2 oranges juiced
- 1/2 bunch cilantro stems removed and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 ounces tequila or beer
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 3 pounds chicken wings
Instructions
- Prepare marinade. Extract juice from lemons, limes, and oranges. Chop cilantro. Mix citrus juices, cilantro, olive oil, tequila, salt, and paprika in a bowl.
- 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 wings because it’s leak-proof and easy to flip every few hours ensuring that the wings are well-coated. You can also use a bowl with a lid or zip-top bag for this step.
- 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.
A Note from Lola
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.
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 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 touch of spice.
- For a garlicky kick, add minced garlic.
TO AIR FRY CHICKEN WINGS
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Arrange marinaded wings in a single layer in the basket.
- Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. Enjoy!
TO GRILL CHICKEN WINGS
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Add marinated wings to grill flipping occasionally, until cooked through and charred, about 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition
Lola Wiarco Dweck
Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.
The recipe is not just easy to follow but also a delicious treat for the whole family. I love the way the wings taste and how easy it can be to pair them with anything from vegetables to rice or just a salad.
So glad to hear it’s Martin-approved. And yes, I like pairing my wings with rice to make it a meal.
Have this on my Super Bowl menu! Can’t wait to try them.
Hope you add it to your game day menu going forward!
Made these wings as the main course for my Valentine’s Day dinner. They were a hit! The citrus and tequila marinade seeped perfectly into the wings and the product was a crisp, fresh wing! Yum!
Glad they made their way to your Valentine’s Day menu! Way to keep it romantic.:)
Made these as a semi-homemade meal with store bought pretzels and veggies and it was a hit with the family.
Made this for a big family gathering and there were no leftovers, so juicy and flavorful highly recommend.
I love making them on the grill, and they’re just as easy to prepare in the oven or air fryer.
It’s a great option if you don’t wanna fry them! I would try this using mezcal too! Do you think is a good idea?
That’s an excellent idea – especially since mezcal is naturally smokey!
Se ve muy rico, ojala pronto tenga la oportunidad de hacer esta receta , la verdad nunca he hecho ningún tipo de alitas.