Description
Succulent smoked chicken wings bring delicious Southern barbecue flavors right to your plate. Perfectly seasoned and slow-smoked, these wings deliver irresistible taste you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, tightly packed
Spice Blend:
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
Additional Ingredients:
- Extra virgin olive oil, for brushing the wings
- Cherry wood chips for gas grill or chunks for smoker or charcoal grill
Instructions
- Prepare the smoking setup by configuring your grill or smoker for indirect low heat between 225ºF to 275ºF. For gas grills, activate one burner and place wood chips in a smoker box over the lit section. For charcoal grills, arrange unlit and lit coals on opposite sides, strategically positioning wood chunks for smoke generation.
- Craft a robust dry rub by thoroughly blending salt, garlic powder, brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, and ancho chili powder in a mixing container until completely integrated.
- Deconstruct chicken wings by carefully removing wingtips and separating flat and drumette segments. Use a sharp knife to slice through joint connections, preserving wingtips for future stock preparation.
- Enhance wing surfaces by applying a light coating of extra virgin olive oil, then generously massaging the prepared dry rub across every wing surface, ensuring comprehensive and uniform seasoning.
- Position seasoned wings on the grill’s cooler section, maintaining consistent indirect heat. Monitor smoking process for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, verifying doneness through internal temperature reaching 165ºF using a meat thermometer.
- Once fully cooked, transfer wings from heat source and allow brief resting period. Plate immediately to preserve optimal temperature and smoky flavor profile, presenting a delectable culinary experience.
Notes
- Master your smoky flavor by using any grill type, transforming ordinary chicken wings into extraordinary smoked delicacies without specialized equipment.
- Optimize wood chip selection for enhanced taste profiles, with cherry wood pellets delivering a subtle, sweet smokiness that complements chicken perfectly.
- Precision matters when preparing wings, separating joints cleanly and removing wingtips creates uniform cooking and professional-looking presentation.
- Ensure maximum flavor absorption by generously coating wings with olive oil before applying the homemade dry rub, allowing spices to penetrate deeply.
- Monitor internal temperature carefully, reaching 165ºF guarantees food safety while maintaining juicy, tender meat that falls deliciously off the bone.
- Embrace resting time after smoking, allowing wing juices to redistribute, which results in more succulent and flavorful final bites.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 427
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1250mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 120mg