Sauce matters for honey BBQ chicken wings
I’ve made honey BBQ chicken wings with both bottled sauce and homemade versions, and I can honestly say the choice makes a noticeable difference. A sauce isn’t just a glaze, it’s what gives wings their sticky shine, smoky undertone, and balanced sweetness. While a good shop-bought sauce can be convenient, homemade lets you tailor the flavour to your taste. The right choice often depends on how much time you’ve got and what flavour profile you want.
When I’m in a rush, I’ll grab a reliable bottled sauce and doctor it up with honey, garlic, or a splash of vinegar. But if I’m planning ahead, I go homemade for control over sweetness and depth. For step-by-step instructions, I’ve shared my method in how to make homemade honey BBQ sauce. And if you’d like to see how I use both in practice, they appear across my honey roast chicken wing recipe roundup.
Pros and cons of shop-bought vs. homemade
Shop-bought honey BBQ sauces are consistent, quick, and often smoky with a long shelf life. But they can also be overly sweet, with added corn syrup and preservatives that overpower rather than enhance wings. Homemade, on the other hand, takes about 20 minutes to simmer but rewards you with a balanced sauce where you control the spice, tang, and sweetness.
If you want a sticky, glossy finish that caramelises beautifully in the oven, homemade has the edge. But bottled sauces shine when you’re grilling outdoors or serving a crowd — they’re ready to use straight from the jar. To help you decide, my baking hacks for sticky honey BBQ wings also explain how each type of sauce behaves when baked.
Best store-bought honey BBQ sauces I’ve tested
I’ve tried a fair few, and the ones that stand out are those that balance smoke, sweet, and tang without going syrupy. Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue is widely available and reliable, with a good balance of tang and sweetness. Bull’s-Eye Honey BBQ is a bit smokier, which works well on grilled wings. For a slightly spicier kick, Stubbs Sticky Sweet BBQ Sauce is a nice compromise.
These bottles are handy for weeknights or when I want a consistent flavour base. I often add a spoon of extra honey and a pinch of smoked paprika to personalise them. If you’re interested in adjusting bottled sauces further, my sweet vs. spicy honey BBQ variations guide has some ideas for quick tweaks.
When homemade is worth the effort
Homemade sauce is best when wings are the star of the show, at gatherings, weekends, or when you want a balanced flavour without additives. It’s especially good for recipes where the glaze is central, like my extra sticky garlic butter honey BBQ wings. The richness of honey and the freedom to adjust vinegar, smoke, and spice make it taste fresher and more natural.
Making sauce at home also gives you flexibility with dietary needs, gluten-free, vegan, or lower-sugar versions are all possible with swaps like tamari or maple syrup.
Tips for choosing between homemade and store-bought
If you’ve got less than 30 minutes, bottled is easier. If flavour and freshness are priorities, homemade wins. You can even do a hybrid: start with a bottled sauce and add honey, vinegar, or spices to customise. For parties, I’ll often make a homemade batch and keep a bottled backup, just in case the wings disappear too fast.
Storage notes
Bottled sauces keep for months in the cupboard, while opened bottles last several weeks in the fridge. Homemade sauce should be used within 7–10 days, or frozen in small batches for future wing nights.
Nutrition comparison (per 2 tablespoons)
Store-bought (average):
- Calories: 70
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
Homemade (based on my recipe):
- Calories: 68
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
The differences aren’t huge, but homemade often has fewer additives and no high-fructose corn syrup.
Ingredient notes and alternatives
For homemade versions, honey is the backbone, but you can swap in maple syrup for a different depth or agave for a vegan option. Bottled sauces vary widely, so always check the label, some “honey BBQ” versions contain very little honey. Adding your own spoonful of runny honey can make a big difference.