Vietnamese-Style Chicken Wings

These Vietnamese-style chicken wings are a mouthwatering balance of sweet, salty, and tangy, with layers of flavor that build from an overnight marinade. Infused with fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, lemongrass, and ginger, the wings emerge from the oven with a glossy, caramelized coating and irresistible aroma. A final squeeze of fresh lime and sprinkle of cilantro brighten each bite, while an optional dipping sauce—packed with chili heat and umami depth—brings even more complexity to the table. Perfect for game day, dinner parties, or casual snacking, these wings deliver bold Southeast Asian flavor with minimal fuss.

What Makes Something Vietnamese-Style?

When you see Vietnamese-style on a recipe, think bold, aromatic, and balanced. It usually signals a dish built around the signature flavors of Vietnamese cooking—salty fish sauce, sweet caramelized sugar, bright citrus (like lime), fresh herbs, and a little heat from chili. It’s not just about one note, but the interplay between them: savory meets sweet, spicy meets sour. Techniques like marinating meat with lemongrass, garlic, and ginger, then roasting or grilling to lock in flavor, are also hallmarks.

Vietnamese Chicken Wings

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Print Recipe

Description

Sticky, Savory, and Full of Zing

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Ingredients

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• 2 pounds small to medium chicken wings
• 2 whole limes quartered for marinade and serving
• ½ cup fish sauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 ½ tsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp finely chopped lemongrass
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro for serving

Dipping Sauce (optional)

• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Thai pepper or other small pepper
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 cup water
• 2 spring onions chopped
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

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Instructions

1. Combine fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, juice from one lime, and lemongrass in a bowl. Add chicken wings and evenly coat marinade over all the wings. Cover and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Reserve some marinade for basting during cooking.
2. Preheat the oven to 400F and place chicken wings and on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 40 minutes. Town and baste midway with marinade.
3. Add fresh lime juice and cilantro before serving warm.

Dipping Sauce (optional)

1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan. Reduce liquid until slightly thickened (five minutes) Serve.

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