When it comes to crowd-pleasing dishes for parties, game nights, or your favourite backyard barbecues, smoked chicken wings are hard to beat. They are packed with flavor, tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside. The smoked wings offer something different from the usual fried or baked versions of chicken. The slow cooking process infuses the chicken with smoky goodness, making every bite a treat. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make the perfect smoked chicken wings, with tips and tricks based on my personal experience.
From selecting the right wings to choosing the best wood for smoking, this guide has everything you need to make your own flavorful smoked chicken wings. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just starting out, this recipe will help you create wings that your family and friends will rave about.
Table of Contents
Special Things about Smoked Chicken Wings :
- Rich and complex flavor: Smoking gives the chicken wings more flavor than baking or frying. Depending on the wood chips you choose, you get anything from a light, fruity taste to a strong, smoky flavor. Once you try, you’ll make it again and again.
- Tenderness and juiciness: Smoking is a low as well as slow method of cooking, but it’s worth it. That keeps your chicken wings tender and juicy. When you choose frying, they will easily dry out the meat, but smoking locks in moisture, and it results in your wings becoming more flavorful in every bite.
- Healthy option: Instead of frying, smoking is the best option. There’s no need for excessive oil; simply season the wings with simple spices to make your meal more delicious and smoke it.
Why do I choose smoked chicken wings instead of baked ?
Smoking gives them rich and smoky flavor, which baking can’t. And I really love the texture and crispiness of smoked chicken wings. Slow cooking also gives tender and juicy chicken while still creating a crispy skin. These smokey wings are perfect for a BBQ-style dish. The ultimate favourite food in the party. The best part is you can experiment with different woods for different flavors like sweet, savory, and many more.
Choosing the right wood for smoking :
When it comes to choosing the right wood for smoking, it depends on your flavor choices. Here are some popular choices of wood:
1) Applewood –
This is my personal choice for chicken wings. It gives a sweet and fruity flavor that complements the delicate taste of chicken without overpowering it.
2) Hickory –
This is stronger than applewood. It gives a robust, smokey flavor. If you want strong and more smokiness, then this wood is perfect for you. It goes well with spicy rub.
3) Cheery wood –
Cheery wood is considered a mild wood. Which gives sweet, pleasant smoke to the meat. And also gives a beautiful dark red color.
4) Mesquite –
Mesquite wood gives an earthy and bold flavor that is quite strong. So I used it sparingly. You can use it if you want a deep, smokey flavor.
What we need to make smoked chicken wings :
- Chicken wings: 4 pounds of fresh or thawed chicken wings. You can purchase whole wings separated into drumettes and flats.
- Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is better than olive oil. I’ve preferred this only.
- My favorite dry rub: A combination of garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper works beautifully.
- Salt: Kosher or sea salt
- Wood chips for smoking—Hickory, applewood, or cherrywood are great options.
- Sauce of your choice: BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or even a honey mustard glaze.
How to make perfect smoked chicken wings :
- Your recipe begins with preparing chicken wings. You can either buy whole wings and cut them into flats or according to your choices. Then pat the chicken wings properly with paper towels. It helps to make your wings crispier.
- Take a large bowl, place the chicken wings, and drizzle the avocado oil all over the wings. Oiling helps to stick the seasoning properly to wings. Then coat your wings with dry rub. I’ve mostly used a mix of garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Secret tip: You’ve got to refrigerate seasoned chicken wings for at least an hour to make them more flavorful. It allows to absorb more flavor in the meat more deeply.
- Now it’s time to setup your smoker. Preheat the smoker at 225°F for low and slow cooking. If you’re using wood chips, make sure to use applewood; it provides a sweet and savory smoke to your chicken wings. This is the best choice for any poultry.
- Place the chicken wings on a smoked grill grate in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd your smoker; make sure there’s plenty of space between each one. Close the lid and allow your wings to smoke for at least 2 hours at 225°F.
- But we all love to get the crispy skin, so, at the end, you’ve got to increase the temperature of the smoker to 375°F and cook for 15-30 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F. Remove from the smoker and toss them with barbecue sauce or buffalo sauce. And now your delicious crispy chicken wings are ready to serve with your favourite barbecue sauce or any other sauce that you love.
Special tips to make your smoked chicken wings more crispier and flavorful :
1) Keep an eye on the smoker’s temperature; make sure it’ll be low and steady. And internal temperature of the meat (used a meat thermometer to measure accurate temperature).
2) Choosing the right wood also plays a crucial role. For chicken wings, make sure to use fruit woods like apples and cherries. These are great choices that provide sweet and savory smoke to the wings and make it more flavorful. While hickory wood provides a more robust and bacon-like flavor.
3) Don’t forget to add your favorite sauce, like BBQ, buffalo, or honey garlic, in the last few minutes to caramelize the wings without burning the sugars.
Give me serving suggestions :
This savory and crispy smoked chicken wings goes well with
Blue cheese dressing
Coleslaw (the cool crunch of coleslaw gives refreshing contrast to the smokey wings) , Cornbread
Potato salad
This is all my favorite.
Chicken Recipe From My Kitchen !!!
Can I Store these wings for a longer period of time :
Yes, you can store the smoked chicken wings for longer period of time.
1) Allow your chicken wings to cool down at room temperature and store it in an air tight container or wrap them tightly in aluminium foil or plastic wrap. Refrigerate your wings for atleast 3-4 days.
2) If your want to store for a month’s then you’ll need to place the chicken wings in a freezer safe bag or container it will last for upto 3 months.
3) When you ready to enjoy, reheat the wings in oven or air fryer at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches to 165°F .
Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pallet Smoker
Ingredients
- 4 Pound Chicken Wings
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tsp Cumin
- 1 Tsp Mustard Powder
- 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 Cup Buffalo Sauce
- 1/2 Cup bbq Sauce
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings with a paper towel to make them completely dry.
- Take a large bowl, place chicken wings in a bowl then drizzle the Avocado oil and dry rub the chicken with your favourite spices. Refrigerate the wings for atleast 30 min or an hour.
- Preheat the smoker at 225°F and place your chicken wings in it. Close the lid and cook them for atleast 2 hrs. At low heat.
- if you want Crisp skin, then at end you'll need to increase the temperature of smoker to 375°F for atleast 15-30 minutes . Remove your chicken wings and toss them with buffalo sauce or your favourite barbecue sauce. Now your smoked chicken wings are ready to serve!
Notes
FAQs :-
1) Why are my smoked chicken wings rubbery?
Ans:- Your smoked chicken wings may be rubbery because they were cooked at too low of a temperature for too long, which can prevent the skin from crisping up. Smoking at a low
temperature, like 225°F (107°C), can result in tough, rubbery skin. To avoid this, try smoking the wings at a higher temperature, around 275°F to 300°F (135°C to 149°C), or finish them off in a hot oven or on a grill to get crispy skin. This will help render the fat and give the wings a better texture.
2) How do you smoke chicken and keep it moist?
Ans : To smoke chicken and keep it moist, Use a low temperature, around 225-250°F (107- 121°C), to slowly cook the chicken, and consider adding a water pan to your smoker to create a humid environment. Basting with a marinade or butter during cooking helps prevent drying out. Finally, remove the chicken from the smoker once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to avoid overcooking.
3) Should I dry wings before smoking?
Ans- Yes, you should dry wings before smoking them. Patting them dry with paper towels
helps remove excess moisture, allowing the skin to become crispy during the smoking
process. Dry wings absorb smoke better, enhancing the flavor and texture. This simple step makes a big difference in achieving perfectly smoked wings.
4) Do you put seasoning on wings before or after cooking?
Ans :-Seasoning should be applied to wings before cooking to allow the flavors to infuse as they cook. This helps create a flavorful crust on the wings, especially if you’re grilling, baking, or smoking them. You can also add a final layer of seasoning or sauce after cooking for extra flavor, but the initial seasoning is key to making the wings taste great throughout.
5) How far in advance should you dry rub ?
Ans :-For the best flavor, you should apply a dry rub to your meat at least 1-2 hours before
cooking. And refrigerate for an hour. For an even deeper taste, you can apply the dry rub up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate the meat. Just be sure to cover it to keep it fresh.
Conclusion :-
Smoking chicken wings has become a tradition for me. Whether I’m hosting a backyard barbecue or just looking for a fun weekend cooking project, smoked wings are always at the top of my list. The process is rewarding, and the end result is always worth the time and effort. If you’ve never tried smoking chicken wings, I encourage you to give it a shot. Don’t be intimidated by the smoker. it’s easier than you think! Once you master the technique, you’ll have a go-to recipe that’s guaranteed to impress family and friends.
Smoked chicken wings are more than just a dish—they’re an experience. So fire up that smoker, grab some wings, and get ready to enjoy some of the best chicken you’ve ever tasted !
