10 tailgate foods (and recipes) 49ers fans should try and will love

49ers tailgate food you’ll love: Sriracha chicken wings

I love making food that reflects the team San Francisco is playing, or at least the region where that team is from. And while the 49ers don’t exactly square off against the Buffalo Bills very often, buffalo wings are about as vital a tailgate food there is.

Yes, naked wings (breaded or unbreaded) are fine by themselves with some dipping sauce. Dry rubs are great, too, and there’s nothing wrong with adding your favorite hot sauce to those wings either.

But, have you tried Sriracha on your wings? Do it.

Granted, this adds a good deal of heat. Yet you can control how much spicy versus sweet you’ll want by the amount of Sriracha you add or what kind of barbecue sauce you use, and you can give it some sweet flavor to offset with some honey or brown sugar.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 lb. bag of frozen chicken wings
• 4 cups barbecue sauce (pick your favorite, but each kind can change the flavor)
• 1 cup Sriracha (or more if you’re feeling bold)
• 1/2 cup honey (optional)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Before the game, mix the barbecue sauce, Sriracha and honey/brown sugar (if you want it) in a large mixing bowl
• Add the wings, ensuring each is well coated in the mixture
• Once coated, try marinating the wings in a resealable bag or container with the remaining mixture for at least one hour before tossing them on the grill
• When you’re at Levi’s Stadium, oil the grates on your grill before placing the wings directly over medium heat (about 350 degrees) for about 10 minutes, rotating periodically so they don’t burn
• After 10 minutes, move the wings away from direct heat for about 10-15 more minutes so they can continue cooking but won’t burn on the outside