Smoked Chicken Wings

Why Chicken Wings Are Perfect for Smoking

Wings used to be the waste part of the chicken that went into soup or broth. But ingenuity has taken that unappreciated cut into one of the most popular entrees out there. Why?

Wings provide smaller bites, making them perfect for snacking. Plus, a big plate of wings with your pick of sauces is shareable with friends and family for good times. Smoking them lets you slow-cook them for tender and juicy results. Turning up the heat for the last 30 minutes makes for crispy skin.

How to Smoke Chicken Wings

1. Prep – Cut off the wing tips (save them for broth) and separate the wingettes and the drumettes. Pat the chicken wings dry and let them air dry in the fridge if you have time. (Photo 1)
2. Season the wings with your preferred dry rub seasoning. Rub it on the wings and let it dry brine for about an hour in the fridge. (Photos 2-4)

1. Smoke – When ready to smoke, place the wings in a chicken wing rack or directly on the grill. Place the meats inside the smoker and close the lid to start the cooking process. (Photos 5-6)
2. Serve – Once it reaches the target temperature (some say it’s done at 160℉/70℃, but I prefer 175℉/80℃), take the wings out of the smoker and rest them for about ten minutes. Serve it with your favorite dip, like homemade BBQ or mustard BBQ sauce.

Which Smoker to Use

The best answer to which smoker is best is the one you have. It all depends on your preference. If you’re in the market for a smoker, here are some observations.

My Choice: Pellet Smoker

Pros

• Convenient: Load the pellet hopper, and it automatically feeds the pellets as needed. Set it and forget it until your meat or veggies are ready.
• Wood chips come in a wide variety of flavors, and they’re a more economical fuel choice.
• Cooks food more evenly.
• Cleaner: It contains the smoke for more comfortable conversation around the smoker, collects the fat and ash for you, and has a more environmentally friendly fuel source.

Con

• Bulky: It does take up some space, and it’s definitely not portable because it needs an electrical outlet.
• Initial cost: The upfront investment can be painful.
• Cooking temp: The temperature is rather low (450℉/230℃ max) for grilling because it makes it harder to get a good sear. However, for smoking, you can get the temperature perfect.

How to Use It

1. Load the pellet hopper and set the temperature. You can even get an app to control the temperature from a distance. It also lets you know when the food is ready.
2. Place the meat on the middle rack because the indirect heat source won’t create a hot spot.
3. Water pan: Add a pan with half a cup of water to the smoking chamber to prevent it from drying out.
4. Close the lid and start smoking!

Verdict: Pellet grills offer the easiest way to smoke chicken wings. It automatically feeds the pellets and circulates the heat around the chamber with no need to get dirty.

I use a Traeger pellet grill and usually get my woodchips from Traeger, but Kingsford’s woodchips are a perfect substitute.

Charcoal Grill

Pros

• Compact unit: This baby fits in my shed when not in use. And I take it out when ready to smoke.
• Portable: You can enjoy smoking even when you’re on a camping trip. No need for electricity.
• Low cost: It’s budget-friendly, costing a fraction of what a pellet grill costs.

Con

• Direct heat: The heat source is in the same chamber as your meat. That can result in roasting rather than smoking, which can burn one side of the chicken if you’re not careful.
• Cleaning is a little messy. You’ll need to clean up the fat and ash that drips down.

How to Smoke With a Charcoal Grill

1. Light the charcoal. Then, move the hot coals all the way to one side of the grill.
2. Place a tin just below the grill to catch the grease that drips off.
3. Place the chicken wings on the side of the grill furthest from the coals and put the water pan beside it.
4. Close the lid so the heat and smoke don’t escape.

Verdict: This method is ideal if you don’t have a lot of space or don’t have a dedicated grill area.

Electric Smoker

Pros

• Economical: An electric smoker is more affordable than a pellet grill.
• Easy: The perfect choice for a beginner with many convenient features: temperature control, preset timer, automatic feeder, and set it and forget it.
• Environmentally friendly: It completely contains the smoke inside the smoker for more efficient use of the rods.
• Versatile: Use it as a hot or cold smoker, dehydrator, and even an oven.

Cons

• Taste: Smoking enthusiasts aren’t usually happy with the less-than-authentic wood-smoked flavor. Electricity and rods aren’t going to give you as complex or deep flavors as traditional smoking.
• Lower maximum temperature makes searing more difficult.

How to Use an Electric Smoker

1. Pre-smoke the unit with the woodchips of your choice.
2. Attach the water pan once it reaches the desired temperature in the unit’s lowest space.
3. Place the chicken wings on the rack and close the lid or door to start cooking it.

NOTE: If you’re using an electric smoker for the first time, season it with cooking oil and smoke it once empty to burn off the manufacturer’s residue that could negatively affect your food’s flavor.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Smoking time for wings can vary based on temperature and size. That’s where an instant-read thermometer or probe comes in handy. Check the temperature, not the time.
• My target internal temperature is 175℉ (80℃) even though 165℉ (74℃) is recommended. I like crispier skin and tenderer meat. Anything in between is good as well.
• Generally, 225-250℉ (107-120℃) is the ideal smoking temperature. Depending on wing size, it should take 1½-2 hours. You can increase the temperature to 350℉ (180℃) in the last 30 minutes for crispier skin.
• Chill the wings before smoking because it takes longer to cook, allowing the smoke flavor to penetrate better.

Serving Suggestions

For Buffalo-style smoked wings, toss them in Frank’s hot sauce and melted butter, then serve them with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Other wing sauces include Creole sauce, remoulade, and homemade BBQ sauce.

More Chicken Wings Recipes to Try

• Mango Habanero Wings
• Crispy Grilled Wings
• Baked Chicken Wings
• Jerk Wings
• Honey Hot Wings