This post is a bit more like a confessional.
Yes, I have been to Hooters.
And yes, I have been there enough to find out they have a secret wing sauce that is not on the menu.
Tell me I’m not alone?
If you haven’t had the Daytona wings at Hooters you are missing out. They toss them in a sweet, sticky, spicy sauce that is completely addicting. So good these wings are kept a secret and not even on the menu.
Since I don’t really know what is in their Daytona sauce, I created this recipe experimenting with my own versions. And since I can’t keep them a secret, I put them on our menu for this past New Year’s Eve party to see if others felt the same.
You won’t have leftovers.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless chicken breasts, cleaned and cut into "bites" {About 1 1/2 inch squares}
- 3/4 cup of flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pam olive oil spray
- 3/4 cup BBQ sauce {I use Sweet Baby Ray's original}
- 1/4 cup hot sauce {I use Frank's Original or Texas Pete's}
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- a few sprinkles of crushed red pepper {if you like more heat}
- 1 teaspoon corn starch {be sure to mix this with a few drops of cold water before putting it in the sauce}
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Combine the flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a plastic bag. Put the pieces of chicken in the plastic bag and shake to coat.
Place the chicken pieces on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked.
While the chicken is in the oven, combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan on the stove. Reduce mixture on medium low heat for at least 15 minutes.
When the chicken is finished cooking, toss it in the sauce. Serve with toothpicks or LOTS of napkins.
Optional: Throw the sauce coated bites in the oven on low broil for 5 minutes to give them a nice glaze with the sauce.
Wings: Of course you can use this same recipe for wings too! You will definitely want to thrown them on the grill or in the broiler for a few minutes after being coated in the sauce to give them a good glaze.
*** in the above picture I doubled this recipe.
https://keelymarie.com/2012/01/10/boneless-baked-daytona-bites-party-hors-doeuvre-series/Ingredients you might need more information about:
I’m dying to know if anyone else has tried Hooters Daytona wings! Better yet if you have the secret recipe.
*This recipe is featured on ALLFREECOPYCATRECIPES. Head over there to find your favorite chain restaurant recipes “made over” by bloggers all over the world.
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I tried the Daytona wings at Hooters yesterday. WOW! That’s why I’m searching for the sauce today.
So good right? This is just “my attempt” at their sauce from taste, would love to hear your thoughts if you try it out!
I LOVE Daytona wings. I’m prepping my chicken wings to try you recipe tonight! I guessed the majority of the ingredients but you added a couple that seem tO be my missing link. I’ll let you know how they turn out!!
Looking forward to it!
My husband and I ALWAYS get the Hooters Daytona wings, so I had to try your recipe. It was amazing!! I’m not much of a cook, so when my husband likes/loves what I cook, then I know it’s good! He loved it, telling me this brings my cooking attempts up to 4 for 7. Haha!
I followed your recipe, but specifically used: drumsticks, Texas Pete, Kraft Thick & Spicy BBQ sauce, and omitted the brown sugar. I baked them at 375 for 30 min and after coating them, we threw them on the grill for a quick charing.
BRAVO!!
I love that you tried this with drumsticks…much more like the traditional Hooters wings that way I am sure. Thanks for letting me know you guys loved them Danyel!
I have an inside source who says it’s their 3 Mile Island sauce mixed with teriyaki sauce before grilling. My husband has a theory that they fry the breaded wings first, then sauce them and grill them. Hope this helps!
It’s actually a mix of 3 mile island sauce, bbq (if I remember correctly, they used Cattlemans), honey mustard, honey and garlic. They’re definitely “naked” wings, fried first, then tossed in the sauce and then thrown on the griddle. I’m a “retired” Hooters Girl, and these were always my favorite wings there.
Oops, sorry. It’s brown sugar, not honey. But, yeah, best wings ever.
I have been dying to hear from someone who worked there! Interesting that there is honey mustard in there. Thanks Corinne!
i absolutely loveeeeee chicken wings where my husband wont go near them, he even hates the smell of chicken but they’re my very favorite except i only like the flat part of the wing so i cut them off and then boil the drumstick part for my dogs..loveeee sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce, will make them the way you have them here and then put on grill for a few minutes..cant wait now to go shopping…will make that husband of mine peanut butter and jelly sandwiches lol
Hope you love them Joan! The sauce is great with wings or boneless. Haha PB&J for the hubby. love it! 🙂
Hooters is new to South Africa. My first visit had the Daytona Wings and ive never had anything else since. Only problem is our closest Hooters is an hour away and I crave these wings and sauce at least once a week.We don’t have Sweet Baby Rays etc but ive googled and found some recipes and alernatives. will try tonight and let you know. thanks for posting.
I was in St. Thomas and the Daytona wings were on the menu. They were with it. I am going back for more. Besides The $25.00 burger at the Shipwreck tavern is also worth the trip(next door). Go in mid September and explore, its worth every moment of it.
Tried the wings today and I used a combination of Sweet Baby Ray’s and Open Pit original and they were delicious, plus your other ingredients and used only 1/2 the Frank’s Hot sauce. It was a hit at the luncheon. Thanks so much.
Soooooooo…… All I have to say is wowzers. I Found this recipe today on #pinterest and thought I would give it a shot to make tonight for the Super Bowl . I made it with 6 boneless chicken breasts so I had to triple all of the ingredients. I was unsure how much this would taste like #Hooters Daytona Wings being that I was a die hard fan of them. I worked at hooters for 2 years and had never tried anything that even comes close to it. Well today I’ve mastered that challenge with your help! They are already a hit with my boyfriend (unofficial tester) and I can’t wait to have our family try them!!! I absolutely love this sauce and will continue to make these for any occasion!
This wing sauce is not a secret. Just depends on what hooters you frequent. I worked at a Houston Hooters back in 2008 for a year and Daytona Sauce was always on our menu. We had the original basic sauces then daytona. When I went to oceanside CA hooters to eat they didn’t have it but they had other sauces I had never heard of.
Omg these sound delicious! First time I’ve seen my daughter’s name spelled the same way!
The are worth making. I changed out a few things. For my sauce I used honey , your favorite BBQ sauce …
I use sweet chili sauce instead of hot sauce with soy sauce an garlic powder. I omit the corn starch , my was thick enough. I use chipotle powder instead of paprika in the flour mixture. Make sure you use Pam on the bottom of pan or they will stick.
End process I tossed the wings in the sauce an put them under the broiler on high. Keep tossing them around so you get a crispy wing. They are so good.
Hello Keely, can a person use a slow cooker to make these?