Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings

5 from 5 votes

The best crispy smoked chicken wings can come off your pellet grill, without baking powder or a deep fryer! This smoked crispy chicken wings recipe will teach you how to make the best crispy wings on the grill by adjusting your temperatures, so you get the best of both worlds - nice smoky flavor and crispy skin!

Prep Time5

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 35

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crispy smoked chicken wings, crispy wings on the pellet smoker, smoked crispy chicken wings, smoked wings on the pellet grill

Servings: people

Ingredients

6 lbs chicken wings (cut into flats and drumettes with wing tips removed)
3 tablespoons high-heat cooking oil like avocado oil
seasoning of your choice *See notes for recommendations.
sauces of your choice

Instructions

Dry the chicken wings thoroughly. You have two options: 1) Pat the wings dry thoroughly with paper towels or 2) Place the wings in a single layer on a wire cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet. Then refrigerate the wings uncovered for about 12-16 hours.
Preheat the grill or smoker. Add your favorite wood pellets, and heat grill to about 225℉. Mild fruitwoods are recommended.
Smoke the chicken wings at 225℉. Place the wings on the grill about ½" apart with the fat side up. Close the grill lid and smoke for about 45 minutes.
Toss the wings in oil and turn up the grill temp. After 45 minutes, transfer the smoked wings to a large bowl (if needed divide the wings into two batches). Turn up the grill temperature to about 400°F. While grill is heating up, add high-heat cooking oil to the bowl with the wings. Toss so that the wings are evenly coated in a thin layer of oil.
Season the wings. Sprinkle your choice of seasoning over the oiled wings. Toss the wings in the bowl so they are evenly seasoned.
"Fry" the seasoned wings on the grill. Place the wings back on the grill at 400℉ with the skin side up. Close the grill lid and cook the wings until the internal temperature of the wings is about 185℉. *This took about 45 minutes to 1 hour on our specific pellet grill. However, different grills maintain temps differently, so cook the wings to proper internal temp not a specific time.
Toss the smoked crispy wings in sauce and serve. Remove the smoked wings from the grill. Place the wings in a large bowl and toss with your favorite wing sauce, or serve the wings plain.

Video

Notes

For our buffalo wings, we seasoned with Shake That All-Purpose Seasoning (a perfect all-purpose blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, butter flavor, and a hint of citrus). Then, when the wings are done cooking, toss with your favorite buffalo sauce.
For our barbecue wings, we seasoned with ‘Que That Barbecue Seasoning (a nice blend of sweet and smoky flavors with a hint of brown sugar).
*NOTE - Different grills maintain heat differently, and the grill temperature can vary drastically (by 50 degrees or more) from where your grill's thermometer is versus where you place the wings on the grill grates - top or bottom grate, middle or end of the grill, etc. The times in the recipe are a guide only. You should always cook your meats to the proper internal temperature, not to a specific time.

Nutrition