I’m a pretty frugal guy. That’s why any time I make corned beef from a package I save the little packet of pickling spice that comes with it. I knew exactly what I was going to do with all of that pickling spice: make some brine for some chicken wings. And boy, was the wait ever worth it. These pickling spice wings way, way, way exceeded my expectations and then some.
Moist, tasty, tender, and still crunchy skin (sometimes hard to do when using a brine), they had a very subtle pickling spice flavor that was not overpowering or harsh. There was also a little sweetness. They were different from any other wings I’ve made or had and were absolutely fantastic.
Flavor All The Way Through
Don’t ever throw away those little pickling spice packets. This same brine can be used on other cuts of chicken. Perfect on the grill, in the smoker or on a Char-Broil Big Easy (my hands-down favorite tool for cooking poultry).
It really doesn’t matter how or what you use to cook your wings. I prefer to use my air fryer out of convenience and because it does a really great job. The skin is always crunchy.
Beer Me
This recipe calls for adding a beer. Don’t be getting all fancy with it. Or at least, you don’t need to. I went with a Budweiser. The classic. I don’t think you need any fancy amber ales or lemon something or other beers. Just classic is fine.
- CLASSIC, TANGY TASTE: McCormick Culinary Pickling…
- AUTHENTIC PICKLE FLAVOR: Contains a blend of…
My Trusty Wingman
My air fryer isn’t fancy. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles. Well, ok, it does have a bell when the timer goes off but that’s it. I don’t even use the timer actually. I use a timer on my phone that has two countdowns: one for 12 minutes and one for 6 minutes. That’s all I ever need to get perfect wings each and every time!
- Consistent Cooking Every Time: The Dash Deluxe Air…
- Simple Operation, Tasty Results: This compact…
Also try my pickle-brined wings!
Check out my always-growing list of over 100 homemade wing recipes, including sauces and seasonings!
Pickling Spice Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
For the wings
- 3-4 pounds chicken wings flats and drumettes separated, tips saved to make stock
For the brine
- ½ gallon water
- ½ cup Kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons pickling spice
- 12 ounces beer
Instructions
- Combine all of the brine ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir until the salt has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Transfer the brine to a large resealable container and add the wings. Seal and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to cook, shake off any excess brine and pat the wings dry.
- These wings require no further sauce or seasoning. Just devour as-is!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.
