Guava BBQ Wings

Sweet and savory these wing recipes are perfect for gatherings!

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Cuban, Latin, Puerto Rican

Keyword: BBQ sauce, game night wings, guava, wings

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

With Marinating: 1

Total Time: 1 40

Servings: servings

Calories: 476kcal

Author: Neyssa

Cost: 15

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

For Cleaning and Bringing the Wings

2 pounds chicken wings drummettes and flats
4 cups cold water to cover chicken
¼ cup white vinegar
1 large lemon or 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice

For Seasoning

1 tablespoon adobo seasoning
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
½ tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Guava BBQ Sauce

6 oz guava paste cubed
¼ cup water
1 cup BBQ sauce I used Sweet Baby Ray's Original
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ lime juice

Optional: For Crispy Wings

neutral oil spray

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Clean & Brine the Wings

Soak wings in water, vinegar, and lemon juice for 10 minutes.
Drain, rinse, and pat dry.

Trim & Season

Trim excess fat, skin, or feathers.
Toss wings with cornstarch, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and adobo.
Optional: Let marinate for 1 hour.

Cook in the Air Fryer

Preheat air fryer to 390°F and spray basket with oil.
Place wings in a single layer, spray the tops.
Cook for 10 minutes, flip, then cook another 8–12 minutes until crispy and cooked through.

Make the Guava BBQ Sauce

In a small pot, melt guava paste with water over medium heat.
Reduce the heat and stir in BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, lime juice, and lime zest.
Simmer until smooth and sticky.

Optional: Crisp & Glaze

Return wings to the air fryer for 2–3 minutes for extra crunch.
Optional: Brush wings with sauce and crisp for 1 more minute.

Toss & Serve

Place wings in a bowl and toss with the guava BBQ sauce.
Serve hot with extra lime zest or your favorite dipping sides.

Notes

Alternative Cooking Methods for Guava BBQ Wings

Oven-Baked Wings (Crispy Style)

Prep as usual: Clean, brine, dry, season.
Bake at 425°F on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes, flip, then bake another 15–20 minutes until crispy and golden.
Optional: Broil for the last 2–3 minutes to get that perfect crunch.
Toss in guava BBQ sauce while hot.

Tip: Use a wire rack for better air circulation = crispier wings!

Deep Fried Guava BBQ Wings (Ultra Crispy Method)

If you're going all-in for that golden, crispy bite, deep frying is the way to go. Just be sure to sauce them after frying so they stay crunchy!

How to Deep Fry Wings:

Prep the wings: Clean, brine, rinse, pat dry, and season as usual.
Optional for extra crisp: Toss seasoned wings in 1–2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour right before frying.
Heat oil to 350°F in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot (at least 2 inches of oil).
Fry in batches for 8–10 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
Toss immediately in warm guava BBQ sauce while still hot.

Tips:

Use a neutral high-heat oil like peanut, vegetable, or canola.
Don’t overcrowd the pot—fry in batches so the oil temp stays consistent.
You can even double fry for extra crunch: fry once at 325°F until pale, rest, then fry again at 375°F to crisp.

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