These slow cooker chicken wings are simmered in the crock pot in a savory sauce, then broiled to crispy perfection. The ultimate appetizer or game day snack!
You can never have too many hearty appetizer recipes for game day. Some of my favorites include spinach dip, bacon wrapped jalapenos and crock pot chicken wings. These tender bone in wings are so good, sometimes I make them for dinner. When I do, I like to serve them with honey cornbread and black bean and corn salad.
I’m always looking for new ways to jazz up our game day snacks, and these slow cooker chicken wings definitely fit the bill. Crockpot chicken wings are incredibly easy to make and they’re perfect to eat while tailgating or watching the game at home with family and friends.
Table of Contents
Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need chicken wings, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Slow Cooker Chicken Wings?
Place your wings in a slow cooker and season them with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Pour the sauce over the chicken wings and toss the wings in the sauce. Cook on high heat for 2-3 hours, or low heat for 4-5 hours. Remove the wings from the crock pot and place them on a baking sheet. Broil until the wings are crisp. Brush the chicken with extra sauce from the slow cooker, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Wings
- Choose party style wings which have the drumette already separated from the flat. I find this style easier to eat than whole wings.
- You can make your own homemade BBQ sauce, or use your favorite store bought option.
- Slow cooker chicken wings will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the wings in the oven until they are crispy.
- This recipe works well in a 4 quart or 6 quart slow cooker.
- For the crispiest wings, place an oven proof wire rack on top of the sheet pan. This allows for air to circulate all around each chicken wing for an ultra crispy texture.
Quick Tip
Don’t have a slow cooker? You can make this recipe in the oven too. Season the wings with salt and pepper, then bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Brush the sauce over the wings, then broil for 3-4 minutes or until crispy.
Recipe FAQs
I prefer to bake or slow cook chicken wings. You can bake the wings to make them crispy, or else let them simmer in the slow cooker to tenderize the meat, then broil them in the oven to get a crispy outer coating.
The crock pot is a great method to cook chicken wings and keep them moist and tender. The chicken wings cook in a covered pot of sauce, which mean they will not get dry at all.
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Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as written, but it’s easy to customize the flavors to suit your taste.
- Protein: This recipe works with other types of protein such as meatballs, chicken thighs or little smokies. If you use meatballs or smokies, you can skip the broiling step.
- Sauce: Feel free to add more ingredients to the wing sauce! Some great options include smoked paprika, chili powder, a dash of soy sauce or hot sauce.
- Dipping Options: Serve the wings as is, or offer a dipping sauce such as homemade ranch dip, ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing.
Slow cooker chicken wings are the best way to have a hearty appetizer with minimal work involved!
More Game Day Recipes
Baked Buffalo Wings
1 hr 5 mins
Lemon Pepper Wings
35 mins
Buffalo Chicken Tacos
25 mins
Bacon Deviled Eggs
30 mins
Bacon Wrapped Pickles
25 mins
Love This Recipe?
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Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings party style
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Place the chicken wings in the slow cooker. Season then with the salt and pepper.
- Place the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken wings. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Remove the wings from the slow cooker and place them on a sheet pan coated in cooking spray.
- Preheat the broiler. Broil the sheet pan of wings for 3-4 minutes or until crispy and browned. Flip the wings and broil the other side for another 1-2 minutes.
- Brush some of the sauce from the slow cooker onto the broiled wings, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose party style wings which have the drumette already separated from the flat.
- You can make your own homemade BBQ sauce, or use your favorite store bought option.
- Slow cooker chicken wings will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the wings in the oven until they are crispy.
Sounds like a burst of delicious sauces. These chicken wings look moist and juicy. Perfect party option.
They always come out so tender and juicy, and the flavor is incredible. It’s such a convenient way to make a delicious appetizer or meal for a crowd.
This is almost making me want to get a new slow cooker to make these wings. This looks fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
I just made this and it turned out perfect! My hubby loved it! Thank you for a winner.
How would I go about making them with a mild hot sauce? Would I want to add butter?
You can use the buffalo sauce recipe here: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/buffalo-chicken-nuggets/
I have about 2 hours left and the sauce is looking kinda watery? Like it’s not sticking onto the chicken. Is there any advice?
You can remove the lid and cook on high heat for an extra 10-15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
Cornstarch & water towards end of cooking
My first time putting wings in the slow cooker and they did not disappoint. Great recipe!
Can you bake wings from frozen?
Yes you’ll want to add another hour of cooking time!
Sara this recipe turned out great, served them to a few friends and my roommate, awesome. I will do them again, thanks !!
I know what I will be making this 4th of July! These look spectacular! Yum!
These were a hit with my family!
These will be great for last minute entertaining. I love that this recipe has four ingredients and I can put them in the crockpot and walk away while I get the house ready.
These wings look so good! I love wings for dinner too (of course, so do my kids! LOL). The honey cornbread and black bean and corn salad sound amazing too!
Just four ingredients? I love it! Perfect for game nights at our house.
Thinking this would be great for poker night at my house this week
Those wings would be perfect for a party!
THINK I WOULD USE HOT SAUCE AND GUTTER
Yup!
How easy are these?! Pinning to try during football season this year.
Headed for a potluck dinner and this would be ideal! I loves sweet and tangy sauce!
This is so perfect for my busy family!