If you love to grill and if you love wings, you are going to flip for this recipe.
We love wings, especially classic buffalo wings, but there is something extra special about this version when cooked on the grill. The homemade blue cheese puts them over the top. And they are so easy to throw together when unexpected guests knock on the door!
How To Make Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
Besides the amazing taste of these wings is how easy they are to prepare.
You can let the wings marinate in the seasoning for an hour or so, or, you can throw them immediately on the grill. No matter what, they will be delicious and a big hit with friends and family.
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The Ingredients and Tools You Will Need
With regards to your grill, we recommend using the 2-zone heat technique. More on that in a moment.
This means you’ll need a gas, charcoal, or electric grill that will allow you to crank up the heat on one side of the grill and then leave the other side with no heat. A lid to your grill is important as you will essentially be baking your wings on the grill, at first.
The Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken wings: Flats and drummettes (sometimes they are called ‘party wings’ in the supermarket meat area.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
- Chili powder
- Salt and pepper
- Hot sauce (we love Frank’s)
- Unsalted butter
- Homemade blue cheese dressing (this dipping sauce is perfect for the wings and a must-have).
EXPERT TIP: To allow the rub to really sink, we recommend allowing the seasoned wings to chill, covered, in the fridge for an hour to overnight. But, in a pinch, you can skip letting them rest in the fridge, and take them directly to the grill.
Other Methods for Cooking Chicken Wings
As mentioned, we think grilling the buffalo wings adds a crispiness to the wings that are just incredible. They even get a little smokey, too. All making a uniquely delicious chicken wing.
But here are other ways of preparing wings:
Air Fry: Use the same seasoning, and then cook them in your air fryer at 380° for 20 minutes. Coat them with the sauce and serve hot!
Deep Fry: Season the wings with the same seasoning, and then toss them in flour. Drop them into hot oil (350°) for about 15 to 20 minutes, until crispy and cooked through. Toss them with the buffalo sauce.
Baked in the Oven: Toss them with the seasoning, and then bake them at 350° for 20 minutes, until crispy and cooked through. Toss them with the sauce and serve at once.
Smoker: Wings will take on a strong smoke taste if you leave them in your smoker for too long. We use a small handful of hickory chips and smoke them for about 5 minutes, and then finish them up on the grill and then toss them in the sauce.
But, did we mention how amazing they are on the grill? Oh, boy, are they ever.
Tips For Making Grilled Chicken Wings
Will this recipe work for any chicken piece? Yes! Buffalo chicken is delicious! We love to make this recipe with whole chicken wings, as well as chicken legs. Use the in-direct method and ensure the chicken is cooked to a temperature of 160°F. Move the chicken to direct heat and cook until lightly charred and fully cooked through. Toss in the wing sauce.
Can they be made in advance? These wings are definitely best served fresh off the grill. They are still tasty the next day, but they will lose their crispiness. You can season them up to 12 hours in advance, but don’t grill them until just before serving.
What are buffalo wings’ calories? Grilled wings are not only delicious, but they are a much healthier option than the deep-fried variety. Now, of course, we can’t call them 100% healthy since they are coated with a buttery Buffalo sauce. But in moderation, they are fantastic. One serving (about 4 wings per person) is 207 calories.
EXPERT TIP: It only takes a matter of minutes to bring the sauce together. Once the butter has melted, let it simmer for about 5 minutes. The sauce can be made an hour or so in advance, simply reheat before adding to the grilled wings.
How To Serve Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
These wings are truly wonderful by themselves. But folks, to really put them over the top, you need a dipping sauce.
If you can make the blue cheese dressing from scratch, you won’t believe how perfect it goes with the wings.
The blue cheese dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance, and actually gets even as it chills in the fridge.
Freshly cut celery stalks are always a classic addition to the wings and the dressing.
Other wonderful dipping sauces are Homemade Ranch Dressing or Easy BBQ Sauce.
Other Chicken Wings Recipes To Try
If you love wings as much as we do, then you will absolutely love these amazing wings:
- Classic Buffalo Wings
- Parmesan and Garlic Chicken Wings
- Best-Ever Baked Hot Wings
- Grilled Bourbon Maple Wings
- Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- Italian-Style Chicken Wings
In the meantime, wait until you plunge into these grilled chicken wings!
Ready to make the best wings in town? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of them, post it on Instagram, and tag @howToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Easy Grilled Chicken Wings With Buffalo Sauce
Video
Equipment
- Gas, charcoal, or electric grill with lid
Ingredients
For the Rub
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
For the Wings
- 2 lbs chicken wings flats and drumettes
- ⅓ cup hot sauce i.e., Frank's
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Homemade blue cheese dressing for serving
- cut celery for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the rub ingredients and set aside.
- Add the chicken wings to a large bowl and stir in the rub. Toss with two large wooden spoons until the wings are evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge while you make the blue cheese dressing.
- Set up your grill for 2-zone grilling (one side direct heat and the other side no heat).
- Place the wings on the indirect heat side of the grill and cover the grill. Let cook for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping once.
- Transfer the wings to the direct heat side of the grill and cook until lightly charred and fully cooked, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the hot sauce, butter, pepper, and garlic powder in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, stir occasionally and let simmer on low for 5 minutes.
- Take the wings off of the grill and place in a large bowl. Pour the sauce over them and toss with two wooden spoons until fully coated.
- Serve at once with cut celery sticks and the homemade blue cheese dressing on the side.
Matt says
Buffalo wings are my FAVORITE and I love that these are grilled and not fried. Can I give this recipe 10 stars? In the rotation!
Kris Longwell says
10 stars!!!! We’ll take it!! Thank you so much!!
Mark Lawton says
Have I EVER given you guys less than 5 stars? Don’t believe so, and for good reason! These wings were just crazy good! CRAZY GOOD!!! My wife and I are both big wings fans, and these were just amazing. As she said, “you’ll be making these again … and again!”
I was lazy and just grabbed a jar of bleu cheese dressing at the market. The home made recipe is most intriguing! I’m a big bleu cheese dressing fan and next time will definitely go with your homemade bleu cheese dressing recipe!
As always, thanks my friends. You guys rock, and I love the videos! Keep up the great work!!!
Kris Longwell says
MARK!!!!!! You and your wife make us so happy!!!!!! We are always through-the-roof thrilled when you guys have such great success with one of our recipes! And when you can, give that blue cheese dressing a try…it really is the bomb!!! Thank you so much for always letting us and for the amazing support! We love y’all!!!!! Kris & Wesley
carmen Stone says
The taste IS FABULOUS! Best wings I ever made! I did the air fryer method and then broiled for 5 minutes on high for the crispy skin.
Thank you for sharing your recipe and methods of cooking.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Carmen!! Woo hoo! We are so so thrilled you’ve already made the winds and you loved them so much! And that’s awesome that you did them in the air fryer and then broiled them. Brilliant! Thank you so so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Kris Longwell says
The grilled wings are so easy and truly amazingly delicious. The homemade blue cheese puts them over the top!