Well, in this guide, we will be looking into how long to smoke chicken wings. And, as you know, smoked chicken wings are delicious. The smoky yet moist and succulent meat is just great.
Remember that the secret to restaurant-quality smoked wings is smoking them for the correct amount of time at the right temperature, which brings about the question, “How long to smoke chicken wings?”
You can smoke chicken wings at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours, but let’s get deeper into this.
How Long To Smoke Chicken Wings
With your smoker running at a consistent temperature, it takes less than an hour to smoke chicken wings.
For this recipe, you can even smoke the chicken wings for 30 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
After that, proceed to increase the heat to 425 degrees F until the internal temp of the wings reads 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, ensure that you use a thermometer to check for doneness. In my opinion, wings are best cooked to 175 degrees F, rather than the normally recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit for chicken.
Keep in mind that the higher temperature breaks down some of the tight connective tissues in the wings and makes them fall off the bone. In addition, the wings are fatty enough to remain nice and juicy.
The Best Sauce for Smoked Chicken Wings
I always suggest that you use flavors and sauces that you like best, that way when it comes to saucing up these wings, you can never go wrong with anything you choose.
I will say I’m a huge fan of buffalo sauce on my wings. Now, if you intend to make great buffalo sauce for your wings, then follow these steps:
First, you are to heat 1 cup of buffalo sauce and 2 tablespoons of butter. Then, warm the sauce and butter over medium heat and stir until they are well combined.
After that, make sure you don’t bring the sauce to a boil, or the butter will separate from the sauce.
Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings
Well, I always ask, Why not make the best crispy smoked chicken wings ever, particularly if you are in the mood for smoked chicken wings?
These wings combine the best of both worlds. You will get all of that delicious smoke-house flavor along with extra crispy skin.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 ½ tablespoons of baking powder
Laid-Out Instructions
- First, you are to dry your chicken wings thoroughly on all sides using a paper towel, then proceed to place them in a zip-top bag.
- After that, add the baking powder and salt to the wings, close the bag, and toss to coat evenly.
- That being done, preheat your smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit using your favorite wood. Then place the wings directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and smoke for 30 minutes.
- Now, increase the heat in your smoker to 425 degrees until the internal temp of the wing reaches 175 degrees F. You are free to rotate or flip the wings as required to maintain even cooking and also avoid any hot spots on the grill.
- Afterward, remove the wing from the grill and serve. You have the option of serving it plain or tossing it in your favorite BBQ seasoning, or hot sauce.
How to Serve the Wings
You can either toss the wings with sauce or serve them with sauce on the side for dipping after you’ve smoked them and crisped up the skin.
You can add the wings to a large bowl if you want to toss them in your favorite wing sauce, like buffalo sauce, then pour it in the sauce and use tongs to toss the wings until they are fully coated in the sauce.
I suggest you opt for ¼ cup of sauce for 1 pound of wings. Just ensure that the sauce is room temperature or warm.
However, remember that if you toss the cooked wings in cold sauce, it will cool down the wings.
You can just serve them with blue cheese or ranch dressing as a dipping sauce, or you can go for something else and try dipping them in roasted garlic dip, which happens to be my favorite dipping sauce, or avocado ranch dressing.
Keep in mind that carrots and celery sticks are always a welcome side to serve with wings, or you can make them part of an exceptional game day spread, and you can do that by serving them with any of the recipes below.
- 7 Layer Dip
- Taco Crescent Rolls
- Jalapeno Poppers
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
- Slow Cooker Queso Blanco
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Southwestern Egg Rolls
Storage
I know you might want to ask what to do with leftovers when you have some.
Well, you can store leftover smoked chicken wings in the fridge, and this will make them last for up to 3 days.
And, when you are ready to consume them, just reheat them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 4 minutes.
I suggest that you toss the reheated wings in buffalo sauce, as this will give them maximum juicy, saucy flavor.
How Long To Smoke Chicken Wings At 225?
Note that the cooking time of smoked chicken wings is determined by the size of the chicken wings.
In addition, it is also based on the smoker. For instance, it will be harder for your smoker to maintain a stable temperature if it is windy.
It can be said that chicken wings will require 3 hours to cook at 225 degrees.
But I recommend you check the chicken wing’s temp after 1 to 1 ½ hours to adjust the cooking time if necessary.
How Much Chicken Wings Per Person?
I’m sure you will agree that to plan accordingly, you must know how much meat per person.
Well, each person can eat up to 10 wings, and yes, you might say that’s a lot of wings, and you won’t be wrong given that some people have such big appetites.
In addition, you can also serve ½ to ¾ pounds of wings for each person. This works if you have other sides like mac and cheese and BBQ-baked beans.
That being said, if the smoked chicken wings are the main course, you can plan 1 pound of chicken for 4 people.
How to Tell When Smoked Wings Are Done?
When your chicken wings have an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, then you know that they are done cooking.
As you are aware, chicken wings are small. It is wise to use an instant-read thermometer when you are measuring the chicken wing’s temp.
You can just point it at the wings rather than inserting the probe into the wings.
What Type of Wood Is Best for Smoking Chicken?
Normally, when it comes to smoked chicken, I use apple wood, given that it is readily available and adds a bit of sweetness to the meat.
Even so, there are still some other great choices, and they include cherry wood, maple wood, hickory, and so on.
Conclusion
As a precaution, make sure that the wings are not touching. This is so because if the wings are too close to the smoker, they won’t cook evenly.
Well, as you now know, smoked chicken wings are so mouth-watering. And now you are also aware of how long to smoke chicken wings, which brings us to the end of this guide.
How Long To Smoke Chicken Wings?
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of chicken wings flats and drumettes
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 ½ tablespoons of baking powder
Instructions
- Begin by thoroughly drying the chicken wings on all sides using a paper towel. Then, place them into a zip-top bag.
- Add the baking powder and salt to the wings inside the bag. Seal the bag securely and toss the wings to ensure they are evenly coated.
- Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, using your preferred wood for smoking.
- Once the smoker reaches the desired temperature, place the wings directly onto the grill grates. Close the lid and allow the wings to smoke for approximately 30 minutes.
- Next, increase the heat in your smoker to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the wings reaches 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Rotate or flip the wings as needed to promote even cooking and prevent hot spots on the grill.
- Once the wings are fully cooked, remove them from the grill.
- Serve the smoked chicken wings plain or toss them in your favorite BBQ seasoning or hot sauce, according to your preference. Enjoy your delicious smoked chicken wings!
