Candy on chicken wings? A reviewer says they're 'ridiculously good'

A chicken wing chain has done something nobody asked for. It has put candy on the chicken.

The Halloween flavor was announced on Tuesday, October 13, and went nationwide on Tuesday, October 27.

"Candy on wings? We know exactly what you're thinking," the chain's boss said. "But no, seriously, it has no business being this good."

The chain is Wingstop, the boss is president and CEO Michael Skipworth, and the candy is Sour Patch Kids.

The flavor, Sour Patch Kids Wicked Punch, is a sweet-and-sour redberry glaze finished with Sour Patch Kids Bitz, finely chopped pieces of the candy, Fox Business reports.

'Candy wasn't enough'

It's a team-up with Mondelēz International, which owns Sour Patch Kids, Nation's Restaurant News reports. The flavor comes on everything: bone-in wings, boneless wings, tenders and chicken sandwiches.

Club Wingstop members got early access on October 23. Everyone else can order it in restaurants, on the app or online until November 5, or while supplies last.

"This year, the Sour Patch Kids brand decided candy wasn't enough," said Lauryn McDonough, senior director of candy at Mondelēz.

She called the flavor "exactly the kind of unexpected mischief our fans love," and said it's the first taste of a "13 Days of Mischief" campaign in the run-up to Halloween, according to NRN.

'I'd rather starve'

The internet was not convinced.

"Sour patch kids wings? I'd rather starve I think," one user wrote, according to Fox Business. Another posted: "Sour Patch chicken? Bold move, Wingstop."

Others couldn't make up their minds. "I can't decide if this is genius or completely wrong," one wrote.

And at least one fan was sold: "I am switching to Wingstop for the sour patch kids wicked punch wings."

'Shouldn't be this good'

So does it work? The Takeout's Dani Zoeller tried it, and it won her over.

"Yes, these are ridiculously good," she wrote, adding that they "shouldn't be this good."

The glaze is deep red, sweet, fruity and tart, and not spicy at all. She compared it to orange chicken with berry in place of citrus, and said the chicken stayed crunchy under the sauce.

The candy dust on top looked like bits of glass at first, she wrote, but it didn't overwhelm the chicken. Even the crew who served her called the flavor good but weird.

Wingstop has reason to keep taking risks. Its Sweet Heat Chamoy flavor, made with Tajín, drove "measurable increases in repeat business," Skipworth told NRN.

The chain has more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide and made over $5 billion in systemwide sales in fiscal 2025, according to Fox Business. The candy wings are gone after November 5.