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Home » Smoker » Smoked Chicken Wings

Published: April 16, 2019 Last Modified: April 16, 2019 By Sara 21 Comments

Smoked Chicken Wings

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Smoked Chicken Wings | Barbecue Chicken Wings | BBQ Chicken Wings #chicken #wings #bbq #barbecue #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo

These smoked chicken wings are coated in a sweet and savory spice rub then smoked until tender. Add a coating of barbecue sauce and you’ve got an amazing appetizer or meal option with very little effort.

I used my electric smoker to make these chicken wings for a party, and everyone devoured them! These wings couldn’t be any easier to make – all it takes is about 5 minutes of prep time, then the smoker does the rest of the work.

Smoked Chicken Wings | Barbecue Chicken Wings | BBQ Chicken Wings #chicken #wings #bbq #barbecue #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo Smoked Chicken Wings | Barbecue Chicken Wings | BBQ Chicken Wings #chicken #wings #bbq #barbecue #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Smoked chicken wings brushed with homemade BBQ sauce on a serving plate.

We’ve been using our new smoker every week, and this time we made some smoked chicken wings. These wings are so packed full of flavor, we couldn’t stop eating them! I’m definitely serving these chicken wings at our next game day party.

How do you smoke chicken wings?

This is a simple yet satisfying recipe. Chicken wings are coated in a homemade sweet spice rub, then smoked until cooked through. After your wings are ready, brush on some BBQ sauce and you’re ready to eat!

Raw chicken wings coated in homemade spice rub on a sheet pan.

This recipe calls for my homemade spice rub and BBQ sauce. It really is worth the extra effort to make these yourself rather than using store bought condiments. That being said, if you’re in a pinch, you can use a store bought rub and barbecue sauce and still get good results.

What temperature do you smoke chicken wings at?

I smoke my chicken wings at 250 degrees F in an electric smoker. You can also try smoking your wings at 225 degrees F, but be aware the cook time will likely change.

How long does it take to smoke chicken wings?

It takes approximately 2 hours to smoke chicken wings at 250 degrees F. It’s always best to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken to make sure it’s done. Chicken is done when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165 degrees F.

Smoked chicken wings coated in spice rub on a sheet pan.

What type of wood is best for smoking chicken?

I typically use apple wood for my smoked chicken. It’s readily available and adds a bit of sweetness to the meat. Other great choices are hickory, cherry wood or maple wood.

BBQ sauce brushed onto a sheet pan of smoked chicken wings.

Tips for smoked chicken wings

  • Be sure to buy the party style chicken wings, which are already cut into segments. If you can’t find party wings, you can buy full sized wings and cut them into pieces yourself.
  • Generally speaking, smoked chicken does not have crispy skin because it’s cooked at such a low temperature. I prefer crispy skin, so I place my pan of chicken wings under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.
  • I think these smoked chicken wings are fabulous as-is, but if you want to serve them with a dip, free free! Ranch would be a great choice.

A pile of smoked chicken wings with a hand reaching out for one.

Whether you’re a seasoned smoker cook or just starting out, these chicken wings are a great choice. They’re low on prep time, but huge on flavor!

More chicken wing recipes

  • Baked Buffalo Wings
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
  • Baked Barbecue Chicken Wings
  • Lemon Chicken Wings
Smoked chicken wings brushed with homemade BBQ sauce on a serving plate.
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5 from 14 votes

Smoked Chicken Wings

These smoked chicken wings are coated in a sweet and savory spice rub then smoked until tender. Add a coating of barbecue sauce and you've got an amazing appetizer or meal option with very little effort.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 353kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs chicken wings party style
  • 3 tablespoons homemade BBQ spice rub or your favorite store bought rub
  • 1 cup homemade BBQ sauce or your favorite store bought BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees F. Load the smoker with apple wood, cherry wood or hickory chips.
  • Coat the chicken wings with the spice rub and place in the smoker.
  • Cook for 2 hours, refilling wood as needed, or until the internal temperature of the chicken wings registers 165 degrees F with a thermometer.
  • Transfer the chicken wings to a sheet pan.
  • Optional: Preheat the broiler. Place the sheet pan of wings under the broiler and cook for 3-4 minutes or until skin is crispy.
  • Brush the wings with the BBQ sauce and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 578mg | Potassium: 301mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1.5mg
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Dinner, Smoker

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    Comments

    1. Nick D says

      November 22, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      Did you thaw the wings before placing in smoker or were the wings frozen?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 28, 2022 at 9:51 am

        This recipe is meant to be used with thawed wings!

        Reply
    2. Vanessa says

      September 16, 2021 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe. The rub is perfect. We make these smoked wings often at home. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Mari says

      July 19, 2021 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      OMG did this recipe come out delicious! Thank you

      Reply
    4. Raybo says

      December 27, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Great recipe. Kids loved them and have made them several times since. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Krista says

        April 17, 2021 at 10:34 pm

        Tried this recipe for the first time in hickory. They were amazing. They were just the right amount of spice. Nice heat to them with the cayenne. Drizzled store bought bbq sauce over them. I literally couldn’t stop eating them They were that good. I will be making this recipe again and highly recommend it.

        Reply
    5. Joshua Mistler says

      May 17, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      So great, thanks for this. Made a ton to feed in-laws and extended family and delivered tonight. Everyone loved them. Did on electric smoker with cherry wood and my own rub, but similar to what was linked.

      Reply
    6. Debbie says

      June 8, 2019 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a great appetizer! Served them with ranch dressing and tons of napkins!

      Reply
    7. Heather says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      These chicken wings are so good!! We love making them in the smoker!

      Reply
    8. Beth Pierce says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      What a fun appetizer! Your BBQ Spice Rub recipe sounds delicious; I am excited to try it this weekend!

      Reply
    9. Aimee Shugarman says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      Delicious. There are no other words to describe these wings 🙂

      Reply
    10. Tanya Schroeder says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      These wings look incredible, I hope to make them this weekend!

      Reply
    11. Allyson Reed Zea says

      April 24, 2019 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      I love cajun on EVERYTHING so I know these will be a win for me!

      Reply
    12. Jessica Formicola says

      April 17, 2019 at 12:58 pm

      5 stars
      I made these for dinner last night and OMG they were amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    13. Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme says

      April 17, 2019 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      So flavorful, I love that it’s getting warmer and all these good smoker and grilling recipes are everywhere! These wings are seriously so good!

      Reply
    14. Bee says

      April 17, 2019 at 10:57 am

      5 stars
      I love trying new chicken dishes! Cannot wait to try it!

      Reply
    15. Neli Howard | Delicious Meets Healthy says

      April 17, 2019 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      Yes! It’s great! These wings look AMAZING! I cant wait to try them! Great article!

      Reply
    16. krissy says

      April 17, 2019 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      im not usually a fan of chicken wings. but my family had been begging me to make some. so i tried this recipe. and im so glad i did! delicious! 5 stars!

      Reply
    17. Andrea Metlika says

      April 17, 2019 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      These look so delicious! I can’t wait to taste these.

      Reply
      • BuffaloWing says

        May 17, 2020 at 2:55 pm

        These wings are delicious5 Stars!! Just one sore point though. Being from Buffalo it important that everyone knows chicken wings AKA (Buffalo Wings) are dipped in blue cheese dressing not ranch. Theyre sooo much netter in Blue Cheese too!

        Reply
        • Pj says

          May 25, 2020 at 4:07 pm

          FYI, these are not buffalo wings.

          Reply

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