Smoked Chicken Wings

By Becky Hardin

Published May 24, 2023

A Southern-inspired appetizer that always impresses the crowd, Smoked Chicken Wings is always a big winner when it comes to taste, flavor, and popularity. These BBQ smoked wings, cooked slowly in a smoker box on the grill before hitting the grill directly, develop a deep smoky flavor and crispy char that perfectly complements the juicy and tender meat.

overhead view of smoked chicken wings on a black serving plate with barbecue sauce. - 5

What’s in Smoked Wings?

While it may take a bit of extra time to smoke chicken wings, the tasty results are always worth it. Plus, you’ll get the satisfaction of feeling like a true pit master as you serve up these mouthwatering wings to your happy family and friends.

Chicken Wings: One of the great things about chicken wings is their relatively low cost, which makes them an affordable choice for feeding a crowd or stretching your food budget.
Oil: For this chicken wing recipe, heart-healthy and flavorful olive oil is the best choice.
Spices: Chili powder, garlic, onion, and paprika, along with salt, are all the basic spices you need for the perfect flavor on your smoked chicken, but feel free to get creative and use your favorite pantry spices.
Barbecue Sauce : Everyone has their favorite BBQ sauce, but feel free to try my “Homemade” BBQ Sauce Recipe (Best Brisket Sauce) for brushing over the wings while grilling.

Variations on Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

There are so many ways to customize these smoked chicken wings! An easy way to change up the flavor is to swap the spices for a seasoning blend, like taco seasoning , chicken seasoning , Italian seasoning , Creole seasoning , or blackened seasoning .

You could also change up the type of sauce you toss them in. Try Buffalo sauce , sweet and sour sauce , balsamic glaze , or even apple cider sauce .

seasoned raw chicken wings in a glass bowl next to a smoker box filled with wood chips. - 6

I typically recommend using apple, cherry, pecan, or maple wood for their subtle and sweet flavors. Hickory also works, but it will impart a much more intense smoky flavor. If you choose to use hickory, you may want to cut down on the smoking time!

Nope! I used a gas grill, but you can smoke wings in a charcoal grill, electric smoker, or pellet smoker. You’ll just need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for an electric or pellet smoker.

Smoked wings are healthier than fried wings because they are not cooked in high amounts of oil. They are lower in overall fat and calories!

Nope! If the chicken wings are not properly thawed, the smoke will not be able to penetrate them, so they will not absorb all of that wonderful smoky flavor. I always recommend thawing the wings overnight in the refrigerator before cooking them!

Once you’ve smoked the wings, it’s important to increase the heat in order to crisp up the skin. That’s why we turn the grill up to 400°F in step 7!

You should smoke your wings until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, which should take about 90 minutes.

Chicken wings can become rubbery if the heat is too low or if they are overcooked. Make sure your grill temperature is at least 225°F, but preferably 250°F, throughout the smoking time. Start checking the internal temperature of the wings at around 1 hour, and only continue cooking them if they have not yet reached 165°F.

I personally love barbecue sauce , but you could also keep them plain and dip them in ranch or Buffalo sauce !

How to Store and Reheat the Best Smoked Chicken Wings

Store leftover smoked chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven on a wire rack set in a baking sheet for 15 minutes, or until heated through.

How to Freeze Crispy Smoked Wings

Freeze smoked chicken wings in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with BBQ Smoked Wings

No plate of wings, whether smoked or fried, is complete without fun dipping sauces. Serve with more of my homemade BBQ sauce , Homemade Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce or Dressing , or Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe .

a smoked chicken wing dipped in barbecue sauce. - 7

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken wings thawed if frozen (about 16-20 wings)
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
▢ 2 teaspoons chili powder
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
▢ 1 cup barbecue sauce optional, for serving

Instructions

Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.
Fill the smoker box with wood chips. Place the smoker box on the grill. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Pat the wings dry with paper towels. 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken wings
Combine the oil, salt, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small dish. Rub the oil and spices over the chicken pieces coating them completely. 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Turn the grill heat down to low between 225-250°F.
Grill the wings over indirect heat (by turning off half of the burners on the grill and placing the wings over the unlit burners) for about 90 minutes with the cover closed, flipping them once halfway through.
Increase the grill temp to medium-high heat about 400°F.
Brush the barbecue sauce over the wings if desired. 1 cup barbecue sauce
Transfer the wings over to the lit burner and grill for another 10 minutes.

Equipment

Smoker Box
Grill

Becky’s Tips

Look for wings labeled “party wings” or “split wings”, as the drumette and wings will already be detached.
You can also crisp up the skin under a broiler in the oven instead of on the grill.
Keep the wings warm by laying pieces on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet with space between them and placing them in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Chicken Wing Recipes We Love

Fried Chicken Wings
Baked Chicken Wings
Grilled Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Crockpot Chicken Wings
Instant Pot Chicken Wings
BBQ Chicken Wings

Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe

Equipment

Smoker Box
Grill

Ingredients

4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken wings thawed if frozen (about 16-20 wings)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 cup barbecue sauce optional, for serving

Instructions

Soak the wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.
Fill the smoker box with wood chips. Place the smoker box on the grill. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Pat the wings dry with paper towels. 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken wings
Combine the oil, salt, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small dish. Rub the oil and spices over the chicken pieces coating them completely. 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Turn the grill heat down to low between 225-250°F.
Grill the wings over indirect heat (by turning off half of the burners on the grill and placing the wings over the unlit burners) for about 90 minutes with the cover closed, flipping them once halfway through.
Increase the grill temp to medium-high heat about 400°F.
Brush the barbecue sauce over the wings if desired. 1 cup barbecue sauce
Transfer the wings over to the lit burner and grill for another 10 minutes.

Notes

Look for wings labeled “party wings” or “split wings”, as the drumette and wings will already be detached.
You can also crisp up the skin under a broiler in the oven instead of on the grill.
Keep the wings warm by laying pieces on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet with space between them and placing them in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!