Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers
These Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers are crispy chicken fingers coated in a sweet and spicy glaze. Perfect for game days and parties!
Today, I want you to imagine sitting down at your favorite diner and digging into your favorite nostalgic comfort food. Make your favorite sticky fingers at home with this Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers using simple ingredients. Inspired by the popular local diner Winger’s, this version has been lightly adapted while still honoring their famous sticky fingers sauce recipe. This homemade sticky finger recipe is so addicting and will disappear fast! Enjoy them on their own or in a wrap (check out my Sticky Finger Wraps).
Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers
For this sticky fingers recipe, I recommend using the frozen Tyson brand chicken fingers or the hot and ready chicken fingers from your grocery store deli. With just 4 ingredients, these sticky fingers come fast in under 30 minutes, making them an easy, dependable family favorite everyone will request again and again. Serve them for a quick weeknight meal, a game-day spread, a birthday party, or anytime you’re craving classic sticky wings.
Find my expert tips on how to make Winger’s sticky fingers from scratch below! Don’t forget to tag me in all of your creations @lifeinthelofthouse on Instagram or Facebook. Let’s stay connected. ❤️
Why You’ll Love This Quick & Easy Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers Recipe:
- Ready In Under 30 Minutes: Serve these sticky chicken fingers for busy weeknights, last-minute meals, or when you need a quick appetizer.
- Better Than Takeout: This quick at-home version delivers the sweet-and-spicy flavors of Winger’s famous sticky fingers using just a few basic ingredients.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with only 4 ingredients, Frank’s Original Hot Sauce, brown sugar, water, and chicken fingers, this recipe is affordable and accessible.
- Versatile, Family-Friendly Meal: Serve these copycat Winger’s sticky fingers for lunch, dinner, game day, parties, or whenever you’re craving classic sticky wings. Dip them into ranch dressing, blue cheese, or honey mustard for the best taste.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Frank’s Original Hot Sauce
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 8 to 10 fully cooked breaded chicken fingers
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, and water. Stir and cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and let stand a couple of minutes to slightly thicken.
*If using frozen chicken fingers, bake them according to package directions while you’re making the sticky sauce.
Place the cooked, breaded chicken fingers in a large bowl or pan. Pour the warm sauce over all of the chicken fingers. Use tongs to turn chicken fingers so they get coated entirely with sauce.
Serve the sticky fingers with your favorite dressing/dipping sauce, like blue cheese ranch. We love dipping them into my Creamy Ranch Dressing.
Servings
Yields: 8-10 Winger’s sticky chicken fingers. This recipe doubles or triples easily, making it perfect for game day, holiday parties, or family gatherings.
Storage and Reheating
Allow the leftover Winger’s sticky chicken fingers to cool completely, and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Place chicken fingers on a microwave-safe plate and heat in 30-second intervals until warm. Note that this method will result in a softer coating. Best if enjoyed fresh; don’t freeze once reheated.
Holly’s Tips for The Best Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers:
- Pour The Sauce While Warm: This helps the sauce cling evenly and creates that signature sticky glaze.
- Use Tongs: Protect your hands and use tongs to turn the chicken fingers carefully so the breading stays intact while getting fully coated in sauce.
- Don’t Overcook The Sauce: Once the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils, remove it from the heat. Overcooking will make the sauce harden and you want the sauce sticky.
- Adjust Recipe As Needed: Add a tablespoon of brown sugar for a sweeter glaze or a splash of extra hot sauce for more kick.
- Serve Immediately: Sticky chicken fingers are best enjoyed fresh while the coating is warm and slightly crisp.
- Pair With Your Choice Of Dressing: Ranch is the classic dressing pairing for Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers, but blue cheese, honey mustard, or creamy garlic dressing also work well.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely, the sticky sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before tossing with the chicken.
No, but I do recommend Frank’s Original Hot Sauce for the most authentic Winger’s-style flavor. I find it provides the right balance of heat without overpowering the brown sugar.
I recommend you toss the chicken with the warm sauce just before serving. Serving immediately helps maintain the crispy texture of the breaded chicken.
To make Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers vegan or vegetarian, swap the chicken fingers for plant-based breaded tenders, crispy tofu, cauliflower florets, or seitan nuggets. Prepare and cook the substitute according to package directions or bake/air-fry until crispy, then toss with the same sticky sauce made from Frank’s Original Hot Sauce, brown sugar, and water (Frank’s Original is vegan).
To make Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers gluten-free, use certified gluten-free breaded chicken fingers or make your own by coating chicken in gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. Double-check that your hot sauce is labeled gluten-free (Frank’s Original is generally considered gluten-free, but I would check just to make sure). Prepare the chicken as directed, then toss with the sticky sauce as usual.
Similar Recipes
Craving something similar? Try my Crispy Honey Butter Chicken Tenders.
Wanting something different? Make my breaded, classic Chicken Pillows next.
Looking for more game day eats? Pair these sticky fingers with my Loaded Totchos and Jalapeño Popper Dip.
Can’t get enough of this recipe? Enjoy these sticky chicken fingers in wrap form: Sticky Chicken Fingers Wrap, and salad form: Sticky Chicken Fingers Salad.
Have you made this Copycat Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers recipe? ❤️
Leave a review, and don’t forget to tag me in your creations on Instagram and Facebook! @lifeinthelofthouse! #WingersStickyChickenFingers #CopycatRecipe #LifeInTheLofthouse
Winger’s Sticky Chicken Fingers
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Frank’s Original Hot Sauce
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 8 to 10 fully cooked breaded chicken fingers
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar and water. Stir and cook until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and let stand a couple minutes to slightly thicken.
- *If using frozen chicken fingers, bake them according to package directions while you’re making the sticky sauce.
- Place the cooked, breaded chicken fingers in a large bowl or pan. Pour the warm sauce over all of the chicken fingers. Use tongs to turn chicken fingers so they get coated entirely with sauce.
- Serve the sticky fingers with your favorite dressing/ dipping sauce. We love them with ranch dressing. 🙂
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Omg. My husband will love these!
yes yes yes!! We cant get enough of these. one of the best restarant copycat recipes out there!
Love this recipe! I really love the wrap version you posted as well. I have never made anything off of your blog that didn’t turn out well. A lot of your recipes have actually become staples in our household. I love how simple and a lot of the time kid friendly they are also! I’m making your sour cream enchiladas for dinner tonight! They are delicious!
Stacy, thank you so much for your kind comment. So glad you’re loving the recipes I share 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Have a great day! ♥
I love Winger’s and don’t live around one, so these are great when I have a craving. We love making ours into quesedillas with Pico do Gallo!
Just curious, how sweet do these come out? I love the idea of them but worry about sweetness.
Thanks!
Lauren, I don’t think these come out too sweet at all. They’re just amazing and have a hint of heat from the hot sauce. You’ll just have to try them and then report back to me to let me know what you think 🙂
I LOVE making homemade wingers, though I don’t use any water in mine – just the hot sauce and the brown sugar. I like my wings sticky 🙂
just made these for my boyfriend and he loved them. they remind me of boneless wings that all the sports bars around here serve
Made these last night. Usually we do “Buffalo” fingers, but I think these are my new fave! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I make these all the time, my daughter and I are always finding things this sauce is good on! We call it awesome sauce in my house lol!
I have made these a couple of times and everyone in my family loves them, thank you for sharing it!
Pretty good! Next time I’ll cut the sugar to 1/2 c and I cut Franks to 1/4 cup. It could use a bit more but I’d be leery of adding the entire ammount. Just personal preference. Thanks for a fun recipe. I’ll make it again.
You are genius! Love this recipe, & alot of your others as well. Thank you so much!!
tHESE STICKY WINGS REMIND ME OF AN OLD FAVORITE OF MINE-kfc HONEY bbq WINGS. i ATE THEM CONSTANTLY AND THEN kfc DISCONTINUED THEM! i’M IN THE sO cA DESERT AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF WINGERS OR FRANKS HOT SAUCE. i’LL HAVE TO FIND SOME. tHEY LOOK DELICIOUS AND THE COMMENTS MAKE THEM SOUND EVEN BETTER.
I love this sauce! We have been using your recipe for years and i figured It was about timei left you a review! thanks for a great recipe 🙂
So happy you let me know, and so happy you love the sauce. It’s a staple in my house. 🙂
Thawing a bag of frozen wings this moment and will air fry and then drizzle with this sauce. Can’t wait as this sounds perfect for those of us don’t enjoy the high heat level of buffalo wings. Thanks for this great compromise.