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Smoking Chicken Wings- Need advice

Posted on 6/30/25 at 5:28 pm
Posted by BIGJLAW
Member since Mar 2013
8867 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 5:28 pm
Hey guys, this is the first time that I am going to smoke some Chicken Wings for the fourth and I have no idea of what to do, how long, temp, etc.
I plan on smoking them while I do my ribs, help me out with what I need to do.
TIA.
Posted by TigerBalsagna
tRedStick
Member since Jan 2015
907 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 5:50 pm to
Pellet smoker?
Posted by Bigryno7
Nashville
Member since Jun 2009
1514 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:09 pm to
What type of smoker?

I always find hot and fast makes chickens wings tastes the best. I do mine in the Kamado with deflectors as hot as I can get it. Other option I do is Weber kettle at about 500° indirect. Gets the Smokey charcoal flavor and crispiness.

I always make sure I pat my wings dry, then season with desired seasoning and toss in a little olive or avocado oil. Add corn starch for extra crispiness

Posted by xXLSUXx
New Orleans, LA
Member since Oct 2010
10574 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:42 pm to
Smoked wings will always result in a not quite crispy skin. So you'll want to help it out as much as possible. Consider patting completely dry and seasoning with your rub of choice and some cornstarch the night before. Let sit out on a rack to air dry in the fridge overnight. Spritz with oil right before throwing them in the smoker and run it as hot as you can get it. Pull when internal temp is between 190F and 200F.
Posted by Btrtigerfan
Disgruntled employee
Member since Dec 2007
23456 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 8:29 pm to
You're gonna need a good lighter and suck real hard, but they will fuuuck you up.
Posted by Athis
I AM Charlie Kirk....
Member since Aug 2016
15694 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 9:06 pm to
quote:

Smoked wings will always result in a not quite crispy skin. So you'll want to help it out as much as possible. Consider patting completely dry and seasoning with your rub of choice and some cornstarch the night before. Let sit out on a rack to air dry in the fridge overnight. Spritz with oil right before throwing them in the smoker and run it as hot as you can get it. Pull when internal temp is between 190F and 200F.


All of this but I use baking soda instead of cornstarch ... Don't know if it makes a difference... After smoking I dip the wings in sauce and put them in the oven for a bit so the sauce can get real sticky...
Posted by Pandy Fackler
Member since Jun 2018
21114 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 9:08 pm to
quote:

What type of smoker?

I always find hot and fast makes chickens wings tastes the best. I do mine in the Kamado with deflectors as hot as I can get it. Other option I do is Weber kettle at about 500° indirect. Gets the Smokey charcoal flavor and crispiness.

I always make sure I pat my wings dry, then season with desired seasoning and toss in a little olive or avocado oil. Add corn starch for extra crispiness



Listen to this guy.

Now I don't cook mine that high, but his overall point is correct. I cook mine at 400 to 415 or so over heat deflected charcoal with just a couple of pieces of wood for a light smoke flavor. Chicken tends to absorb smoke like a sponge.

Oh and another thing. Make sure any sauce you put on them is simmering hot. It'll help maintain the skin texture better.

This post was edited on 6/30/25 at 9:12 pm
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
9838 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 9:18 pm to
Invest in one of these and know the hot and cool spots of your grill / pit

Posted by HebertFest08
The Coast
Member since Aug 2008
6460 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 9:53 pm to
Brine them first for at least a few hours, if not 6-8.

Salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, garlic cloves, hot sauce and white wine vinegar. Dissolve the salt and brown sugar in warm water. I like to do half and half of water and unsweetened tea.

Then make sure they’re good and dry before seasoning them.
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
20069 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 11:32 pm to
Smoke to 165F internal.

I assume you'll be smoking concurrently with your ribs, so the ribs will dictate the smoker temp. Which is fine IMO. If you want to crisp up the skin and have a gas grill available you could finish 'em on there for say 5 minutes.

When I've smoked wings (BGE) by themselves I don't worry too much about what temp I'm smoking at. And the skin crisps up just fine.

I use pecan for poultry. 50:50 post oak & pecan for pork. Just my preference.
Posted by BilJ
Member since Sep 2003
161953 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 6:58 am to
Had great results using a vortex last week
Posted by TigerFanatic99
South Bend, Indiana
Member since Jan 2007
34527 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:09 am to
When I do them in the weber kettle I will dump in a full chimney in the slow 'n' sear, put them on, and open all the vents so it burns full tilt. Flip them at 30 minutes and watch them from there. Pull them when they look done.

Pellet smoker I will put them all on and then turn it on and set it to 400 and close the lid. usually takes about 15 minutes to get to 400. I'll flip them at the 30 minute mark and then just watch them from there. You gotta be careful because the drippings will ignite and they will all turn to charcoal pretty quick.

like others have said, pat them dry and season lightly, add a little baking powder or corn starch to the seasoning and it'll help them crisp.

Lots of room for forgiveness in them as long as you don't let the drippings turn your grill into an inferno.
Posted by bluebarracuda
Member since Oct 2011
19129 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:29 am to
Don't low and slow them like you traditionally would with ribs. They'll get plenty of smoke flavor at 325-350F and have far better skin than smoking 250-275F
Posted by Mr Sausage
Cat Spring, Texas
Member since Oct 2011
15444 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:33 am to
its chicken wings, man. Brine them. When they are done, if you dont like the skin texture, you can always finish on a grill and sauce them. Have a good time with it!
Posted by RedHawk
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2007
9516 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:55 am to
Let your wings dry out uncovered in the fridge for a day or two before cooking or coat them in corn starch before cooking. Or do both.

Smoke them at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Coat them in your favorite sauce or dry rub and serve.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
8383 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 1:41 pm to
Here's my technique. It's adapted from Serious Eats The Best Oven-Fried Chicken Wings..

Ingredients
2lbs chicken wings
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1-2 TBS of your favorite rub depending on salt content.)

Directions
Carefully dry chicken wings with paper towels. In a large bowl, combine wings with baking powder and salt and toss until thoroughly and evenly coated. Place on a wire rack, leaving a slight space between each wing. Using a wire rack makes it easier to add and remove wings from the smoker.

Place baking sheet with wings in refrigerator and allow to rest, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Preheat smoker to 450°F and add chicken wings. Cook for 20 minutes, flip wings, and continue to cook until crisp and golden brown. I remove the rack and close the lid to flip thecwings, off the heat. This helps retain heat in the smoker and gives me time to rotate the wings on the rack so they cook evenly. Final internal temperature should be between 185-195°F. I like the bones to pull free, so I shoot for closer to 195.

You can enjoy them as is or toss in your favorite bbq sauce. I prefer Morgan County White Sauce.

I haven't tried this method for glazed wings, but I would toss them in the glaze during the flipping step to allow it to set and tack up a bit. I would probably do this 2-3 times to get a good coating of glaze.
Posted by The Rouxgaroux
Member since Apr 2022
17 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:32 pm to
I do wings on my Traeger all the time. I smoke them for an hour at 185 and then crank it up to 375 to finish them off.
Posted by Bigryno7
Nashville
Member since Jun 2009
1514 posts
Posted on 7/2/25 at 9:03 pm to
This is where I disagree. I smoke my wings to 190-200 always. At 165 they are chewy IMO.

To each his own I guess
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