Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) or prepare your grill for medium-high heat.
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and position a wire rack over it. This will help the wings cook evenly and prevent sticking.
Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper according to your taste.
Arrange the wings on the wire rack and place them in the preheated oven or on the grill. Cook for about 40-45 minutes, or until the wings are crispy and golden brown, flipping them halfway through the cooking process.
For the BBQ sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all the BBQ sauce ingredients. Whisk or stir well to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved and the ingredients are combined.
Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
Take the saucepan off the heat and place it aside.
Finishing the wings: After the wings are done cooking, move them to a spacious mixing bowl.
Pour the prepared BBQ sauce over the wings and toss them until they are evenly coated. Reserve some sauce for brushing if desired.
Place the coated wings back on the wire rack and return them to the oven or grill for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the sauce caramelizes and becomes sticky.
If desired, brush the wings with the reserved BBQ sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.
Once done, remove the wings from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.