• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Kitchen Bucket List
  • Air Fryer
  • Baking
  • BBQ
  • Blackstone
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air Fryer
  • Baking
  • BBQ
  • Blackstone
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • BBQ
    • Blackstone
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » BBQ

    Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

    Published: Jul 4, 2022 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by The Kitchen Bucket List

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Bringing crispy, tender, and smoked chicken wings home tonight. And it’s right from your grill or smoker. These wings are simple and easy. One bite will have you making this recipe again and again.

    close up of crispy chicken wings on paper in metal basket this recipe
    sauced chicken wing dipped in ranch sauce with carrots and celery

    Smoked Wings

    They are so quick and simple to cook. I prefer mesquite wood for its strong flavors, honestly, any smoking wood will work. The mesquite’s intense aromatics are perfect for the quick smoke at the beginning of the cook. Once you increase the temperature for crisping, the mesquite is ideal because it burns fast and hot.
    Smoking these wings with our savory onion and paprika dry rub allows all the flavors to combine. The best is you can enjoy them dry or wet. Eat them right off the grill dry or simply pick your favorite sauce for another WOW FACTOR!. We used Stubb’s Hickory Bourbon BBQ Sauce. It’s one of our favorites.

    smoked crispy chicken wings on BBQ grill

    How long to smoke chicken wings

    This is a fast smoke, only 30-minutes. So, if you are using a charcoal grill, make sure you have a good smoke coming off the wood before cooking. The wings will pick up the smoky flavor before you increase the heat to 400 degrees F to get them crispy.

    Chicken wings dry rub

    The dry rub for this recipe is simple and easy: onion salt and smoked paprika with cornstarch. What does cornstarch have to do with anything?

    Well, that’s one of the secrets to crisping the wings. Keep in mind a little will goes a long way. Onion salt brings nice sweetness. Smoked paprika heightens the smoky flavor of the wood and adds a subtle spice. The rub is not overpowering and it lets the chicken flavor be the star with the smoking wood as the costar.

    Equipment you will need for Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

    • BBQ Grill or Smoker
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Instant read thermometer

    Ingredients to make Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

    • Chicken Wings – Frozen or fresh
    • Cornstarch
    • Onion Salt
    • Smoked Paprika

    See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

    raw wings with dry rub
    raw wings coated with dry rub in bowl
    chicken wings on BBQ grill
    chicken wings on BBQ grill

    Crispy Smoked Wings recipe

    1. Prep – Prepare your chicken wings, make sure they are thawed completely, dry, and ready to cook. Preheat your BBQ grill (indirect cooking) or smoker to 250 degrees F. Add your smoking wood.
    2. Season the chicken wings – Mix together your seasonings in a small bowl. In a large bowl place your wings and coat them completely.
    3. Smoke – Place your wings on the preheated grill grate and smoke for 30-minutes with the lid closed. Then, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F with the wings still on the grill.
    4. Crisping – Cook an additional 15 – 20 minutes, lid closed, until a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I recommend a minimum of 180 degrees F to get the wings into the crisp and tender zone. After doing this recipe many times, we have found that 190 – 195 degrees F gives the wings the perfect crisp and tenderness.
    5. Dry or Wet – Okay you got this! Big decision time, but don’t worry either way they are delicious.
      • Dry – Serve and Enjoy!
      • Wet – Give the wings 5-minutes to let the skin cool. It will help maintain the crispiness once you add the sauce. Place your cooled wings into a large mixing bowl and add your favorite BBQ/Hot sauce. Mix well. Serve and Enjoy!

    This step-by-step guide will give you the highlights of how to make this recipe, find the full instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

    Storage

    Leftover chicken wings will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 – 4 days, per USDA. If you made a bunch you can freeze them for up to 4 months, per USDA.

    smoked chicken wings on tray next to BBQ
    sauced chicken wings on white plate

    FAQs

    I don’t care for smoked food. Can I still make this recipe?

    Absolutely! Just don’t add the wood and follow the rest of the recipe.

    I see you made them dry and wet. Was that the same cook?

    Yes. That is why I love this recipe so much. We had 15 wings, so why not have the best of both worlds. The dry is perfectly moist and crispy with a hint of the smoke flavor. The wet get all the above with the addition of your favorite BBQ sauce or Buffalo sauce for some hot wings.

    You use onion salt in the dry rub. Can I use garlic salt?

    Oh Yeah! That is a great substitute.

    Isn’t 165 degrees F the safe temperature to eat chicken? Why 195 degrees F for your serving temperature?

    Yes, 165 degrees F is recommended, per USDA. What I have found with chicken wings is you can take them to a higher temperature to break down the connective tissue. The fat level will keep them nice and tender without drying out.

    Other recipes you will love

    • Air Fryer Pizza
    • Burnt Ends
    • Cheesy Garlic Bread
    • Focaccia
    • Chocolate Chip Cookies

    We had fun making this recipe. Did you? Let us know.

    crispy chicken wings in metal basket with white paper

    Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

    The Kitchen Bucket List is excited to share our crispy smoked wings recipe.
    You can make these on the BBQ grill or Smoker.
    Simple, Easy, and Tasty!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine American, BBQ
    Servings 4 People

    Equipment

    • Smoker or BBQ Grill
    • Wood for Smoking
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Instant read thermometer
    • BBQ spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 lbs. chicken wings about 15 pieses

    Dry Rub

    • 3 teaspoons cornstarch
    • 2 teaspoons onion salt
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

    Sauce (Optional for Wet Wings)

    • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce: Stubb's Hickory Bourbon BBQ Sauce coats 8 wings

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Prepare the wings. Ensure they are thawed if frozen. Dry the wings with paper towels
    • Preheat smoker or BBQ grill to 250 degrees F. Add smoking wood

    Season the chicken wings

    • Mix together the cornstarch, onion salt, and smoked paprika in a small bowl
    • Coat wings in a large bowl with dry rub

    Smoke

    • Put wings on the preheated grill grate and smoke for 30-minutes, lid closed

    Crisping

    • After 30-minutes of smoking, increase the smoker or BBQ grill to 400 degrees F, lid closed with wings on the grill grate
    • Cook for 15 – 20 minutes, until internal temperature is 190 – 195 degrees F
    • Pull the wings

    Dry Wings

    • Serve and Enjoy!

    Wet Wings

    • Rest wings 5-minutes
    • Place wings in a mixing bowl and coat with sauce.
    • Serve and Enjoy
    Keyword chicken, chicken wings, crispy wings, dry wings, Smoked, wet wings

    More BBQ

    • Honey Mustard Chicken breasts on the kamado BBQ are perfectly tender. Our homemade marinade and rub make every bite sweet and delectable. You will be amazed at how easy this BBQ recipe is. Just a few hours in the marinade and just over 10 minutes on the kamado-style BBQ.
      Honey Mustard Chicken
    • Flank Steak grilled on the Blackstone is a great way for a fun and savory meal done all outdoors. Our marinade is easy to make and brings out the natural flavor of the steak. The whole recipe, including the sides, is done on the griddle. Best of all, each of the steps flows into the next. The only time you need to watch the clock is for grilling the flank steak.
      Blackstone Flank Steak
    • Potato Bites grilled on the BBQ are flavorful and tender thanks to the foil packet. They are cooked in 30 minutes and each packet can be uniquely flavored ahead of time.
      Potato Bites
    • Seared perfectly, these Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs are tender and flavorful. Our chicken marinade brings the right balance of sweet and savory in every bite. The marinade is easy to make and best of all you can have the thighs marinate overnight to just a few hours before grilling. I bet you have the brown sugar and soy sauce in the house right now. Let's get grilling.
      Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
    FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

    Filed Under: 4th July, Appetizers, BBQ, Chicken, Recipes

    Vist our Instagram for Tips & Tricks...and more Mouth Watering Pictures
    Click Here

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Karina,

    After years of cooking and baking with my girls, where even dad shows up from time to time, especially for BBQ. The Kitchen Bucket List was created.
    I hope you enjoy these Simple, Easy, and Tasty Recipes with your friends and family.

    More about me →

    Recent Recipes

    • Tender and juicy, with just the right heat, Spicy Chicken Nuggets are ready in no time. Even better, the heat level is adjustable. These nuggets are done in the air fryer in minutes. They were truly enjoyed at our last gathering and can't wait to make them when we have our next BBQ with friends.
      Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer Chicken Bites are perfect for any occasion. Quick and easy to make in the air fryer, they can be enjoyed by all. You can serve them as an appetizer, at kids' parties, simply served on a salad, over rice, or with pasta. The flavor combinations are endless.
      Air Fryer Chicken Bites
    • Breakfast meat on the Blackstone has been a game changer. Everything is done in one place, i.e. "one pan", more flavor, fewer dishes. Our favorites are by far bacon, sausage links, and sausage patties. Oh by the way, clean-up is a breeze.
      Blackstone Breakfast Meat
    • It is so easy to do Scrambled Eggs on the Blackstone. The best is you can make a bunch and each to order, from meat lovers to veggie. You get a wonderful texture and I find using "LOW" to one mark above lets me be able to cook various styles of eggs. It also makes it easier to add additional toppings to the scrambled eggs on the Blackstone. You are going to love the simplicity of being able to cook a full breakfast you thought only possible at a restaurant.
      Scrambled Eggs on the Blackstone

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    Air Fryer Recipes

    Baking Recipes

    Blackstone

    BBQ

    Love The Content?

    Don't miss a beat and have our newest recipes and printables deliver directly to your inbox.




    About

    About
    The Kitchen Bucket List

    Contact

    Modern footer. Welcome to The Kitchen Bucket List's Recipes & About footer. My name is Karina and I am very excited to share with you our Simple, Easy, and Tasty recipes. After years of cooking and baking with my girls, where even dad shows up from time to time, especially for the BBQ, The Kitchen Bucket List was created in the Spring of 2020.

    Privacy Policy - Disclaimer - Terms and Conditions - Website Accessibility Statement

    Copyright © 2023 | The Kitchen Bucket List