Category: Wings

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 4 Ways

I love smoked and fried Buffalo wings. The flavor and the crunch just cannot be beat. I had a dream of making a ‘wing flight’ the other night. Yep, that’s the kind of stuff I dream of. Kind of like a beer flight but with smoked and fried Buffalo wings 4 ways. Like Cincinnati chili even. You can get it 1 way, 2 ways… 4 ways… even more ways! It’s like wing heaven!

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 4 Ways

Smoked Just Right

I start out smoking a big batch of wings. Nothing fancy here. Just some Buffalo seasoning. Then onto my smoker for 2 hours. I’m not aiming for crunchy skin here. I won’t get that at the low temperature I smoke at. I’m not looking for completely-cooked wings either. Just get them to 140 F or a little more. I still have a little work to do before I can enjoy my smoked and fried Buffalo wings 4 ways, but it’s worth it!

What’s Next?

I can fry them after they are smoked. But I always make sure I make enough to freeze for another day. I vacuum pack them for maximum flavor and freshness. Nothing beats the ease and flavor of taking a pack of smoked wings out the freezer, thawing them, and deep-frying them.

Smoked Buffalo Wings

This Is The Way. Or Ways.

After the wings are smoked it’s time to heat up the deep-fryer. The wings are fried ‘naked’ or ‘coated’. The ‘naked’ ones are just that. No coating. Nothing. Just into the hot oil until the skin is crispy and the wings done. It doesn’t take long. The ‘coated’ ones just get tossed in a simple flour/seasoning mix. I could go crazy and make a complicated mix for them. But I don’t this isn’t the time for that. These aren’t those wings.

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Finally it’s time to sauce the wings. Or not. I end up with 4 different styles (or ways) of wings:

1 fried naked, un-sauced
2 coated, fried and un-sauced
3 coated, fried, tossed or brushed in sauce
4 coated, fried then double-dipped in sauce

I could’ve squeezed in a 5th way: fried naked and sauced. I’ll have to save that for the next dream!

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 4 Ways

Also try my twice-fried air fryer wings and some of the best smoked and fried wings around!

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 4 Ways
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 4 Ways

A tasty flight of smoked and fried Buffalo wings!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: deep-fried, smoked, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 570kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the smoked wings

For the wing coating

Instructions

For the smoked wings

  • Fire up your smoker for 225 F. Use any wood you like. I used Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel chunks because I wanted a good, noticeable smoke flavor. Use a lighter wood if you want your wings to be a little less smoky.
  • Toss the wings with plenty of the Buffalo wing seasoning. When you think you've added enough, add more. This is not the time to be shy.
  • Place the wings onto the smoker and smoke for 2 hours. No need to rotate or flip them.
  • When done, remove from the smoker. You can deep fry them immediately or freeze them for thawing and frying later.
  • To fry, heat canola oil to 350 F. Fry the wings based on whether you are making them 1 or 2-4 ways, below.

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 1 Way

  • Working in batches, add the wings and fry for 1-2 minutes or until they are the desired color.
  • Remove from oil and let drain and cool on a wire rack.
  • Serve wings naked, without sauce.

Smoked and Fried Buffalo Wings 2-4 Ways

  • Combine the wing coating ingredients in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
  • Lightly toss the wings in the mixture.
  • Working in batches, add the wings and fry for 1-2 minutes or until they are the desired color.
  • Remove from oil and let drain and cool on a wire rack.
  • If serving 2 ways, serve the wing naked, without any sauce.
  • If serving the wings 3 ways, toss the wings in your favorite Buffalo sauce.
  • If serving the wings 4 ways, toss the wings in your favorite Buffalo sauce. Pour some more sauce into a small glass and dunk the wings, coating well.
  • Serve hot!

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Beer-Battered Fried Smoked Wings

Was this necessary? Did I have to make beer-battered fried smoked wings? What??? We don’t ask silly questions like that here at For the Wing. Of course I had to make these! Are you kidding me? Look at them! Heck yeah it was a crazy idea. A crazy good one! Super-tasty lightly-smoky wings coated in a wonderful beer batter then fried up lightly crunchy and yummy! The question isn’t should I make these beer-battered fried smoked wings. The question is… how often should I make them!

Don’t make that face. These really are great!

Beer-Battered Fried Smoked Wings

A Total Taste Experience

Although these beer-battered fried smoked wings are not difficult to make, the taste and bite are amazing. You’d think that there’s a lot more going on than there is. The batter is wonderful. It’d be great on fish. Chicken planks. Broccoli. Anything. The wings have a wonderful smoky flavor while the meat is still moist and tender. These are great wings. And a real ‘wow’ moment when you serve them, too! I know they seem outlandish. But they’re outlandishly amazing!

Smoke, Baby!

I use my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker to smoke my wings. I have an 18″ model which is large enough to cook a ton of wings. It’s really easy to set up and maintain the temperature I need. And I cook a ton of dishes on it too, besides wings!

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Fry, Baby!

I love deep-fried wings. But it’s usually just me I’m cooking for. So there’s no reason for me to drag out my big deep-fryer that could easily cook for a crowd. No, this calls for my Fry Daddy. Perfect for one-to-four people’s-worth of wings. And it doesn’t use a lot of oil, that’s a major plus. It gets to temperature quickly and maintains it even when I add cold wings. It’s priced right too and lasts forever!

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These wings are fantastic. You might also want to try my non-battered smoked-and-fried version.

Beer-Battered Fried Smoked Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Beer-Battered Fried Smoked Wings

Totally different and totally amazing.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: deep-fried, smoked
Servings: 6
Calories: 638kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the smoked wings

For the beer batter

Instructions

  • Fire up your smoker for 225 F. Use any wood you like. I used Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel chunks because I wanted a good, noticeable smoke flavor. Use a lighter wood if you want your wings to be a little less smoky.
  • Toss the wings with plenty of the Buffalo wing seasoning. When you think you’ve added enough, add more. This is not the time to be shy.
  • Place the wings onto the smoker and smoke for 2 hours. No need to rotate or flip them.
  • When done, remove from the smoker. You can deep fry them immediately or freeze them for thawing and frying later.
  • To fry, heat oil to 350 F.
  • In a small bowl or shallow plate, place the remaining 1/2 cup of flour.
  • Lightly toss the wings in the flour and shake off any excess.
  • Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the beer along with the salt and smoked paprika in a large bowl.
  • Working in batches, dip in the batter.
  • Fry until crisp and golden, about 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

If you want a thicker batter on the wings, add a little less than the 1 1/2 cups of beer to begin with. Stir. If the batter is too thick add more beer. 

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 553mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 498IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Deep-Fried Lemon Pepper Sweet Wings

I’ve made my share of deep-fried wings. But I don’t think I’ve had anything like these deep-fried lemon pepper sweet wings. Like the name says, they’re kinda sweet. Not super-sweet, but you’ll notice. Lemon pepper, well, that’s common on wings and a flavor I love. The combination of the sweetness, the citrus and the crunchy breading made for a different, enjoyable wing experience. I liked these. They were new to me and a pleasant change from my ‘usual’ deep-fried wings.

Deep-Fried Lemon Pepper Sweet Wings

Crunchy Yummy

The breading on these deep-fried lemon pepper sweet wings is nice and crunchy. I like my wings crunchy. Deep-fried or not. I like that crunch. The breading is packed with flavor too. It’s not just flour and salt and pepper. It brings more of that lemon pepper flavor to the party. It’s not crazy citrusy, but you get the flavor.

To offset the sweetness of these wings I served a little spicy Buffalo wing sauce on the side in place of my usual blue cheese dressing. I didn’t go crazy dunking my wings into it, but every once in a while I’d sneak a piece over and get some heat on it. I serve my side sauces in condiment cups. They’re the perfect size for dunking wings. I could put a different sauce in each cup so I can enjoy a wing ‘flight’ with my deep-fried wings!

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Fry, Baby!

I love deep-fried wings. But it’s usually just me I’m cooking for. So there’s no reason for me to drag out my big deep-fryer that could easily cook for a crowd. No, this calls for my Fry Daddy. Perfect for one-to-four people’s-worth of wings. And it doesn’t use a lot of oil, that’s a major plus. It gets to temperature quickly and maintains it even when I add cold wings. It’s priced right too and lasts forever!

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Also try my copycat of Wingstop’s lemon pepper wings.

Deep-Fried Lemon Pepper Sweet Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Deep-Fried Lemon Pepper Sweet Wings

Crunchy sweet wings with a hint of citrus!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinade time1 day
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: deep-fried, sweet
Servings: 6
Calories: 732kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the wings

For the breading

For the seasoning

For the frying

Instructions

For the wings

  • Place wings in a large bowl or resealable container.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the remaining wing ingredients. Pour over the wings and toss or stir to coat well.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1-12 hours.

For the breading

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or shallow plate, such as a pie plate.

For the seasoning

  • Combine all ingredients.

For the frying

  • Heat 2-3" of oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 350 F.
  • Working in batches as needed, remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and add to the breading mixture.
  • Coat each piece completely then fry 8-12 minutes or until the wings are golden brown and at 165 F internally. Remove to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain as you cook the remaining wings.
  • Sprinkle the chicken liberally with the seasoning and serve.

Notes

Serve with warmed Buffalo wing sauce on the side for dipping, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 1412mg | Potassium: 477mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 614IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Air Fryer Blackened Wings

I love a good air-fried dry wing. The air fryer does a great job crisping up the skin while leaving the meat moist and tender. Although these air fryer blackened wings don’t have sauce, they definitely do not lack flavor. Blackening seasoning adds a nice spicy, herbal kick to wings. To me its like roasted chicken, only elevated. A lot. These are great wings. And beyond easy to make.

Air Fryer Blackened Wings

Double-Seasoned Deliciousness

I like to season my air fryer blackened wings twice. Once, before cooking. I can do that with these seasoning without fear of the seasoning burning because it doesn’t contain any sugar. The seasoning will get nice and toasted while the wings cook. And it imparts a great flavor to the skin and meat.

I season my wings again hot out of the air fryer. While the wings are still a little ‘wet’ from the fat cooking. Yep. Fat. Well, that’s what that is. And it helps seasoning still well. So I load up. No boring bites for me. Nothing but flavor in each and every one.

Got Seasonings?

You have to take care of your dry seasonings. In return, they’ll take care of you by always being ready the next time you need them! Protect seasonings from the four main enemies of flavor: heat, light, air, and moisture. Never store them above the stove or oven, where steam and temperature swings cause caking and quick degradation. If you have a problem with high humidity causing your dry seasonings to cake, try adding a silica gel packet to the containers to remove moisture.

My Trusty Companion

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!

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Also try some air fryer Thousand Island wings.

Air Fryer Blackened Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Blackened Wings

Delicious flavor and crispy skin!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: wings
Servings: 4
Calories: 503kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the wings

  • 2 pounds  chicken wings flats and drumettes separated, tips saved to make stock
  • Blackening seasoning from below or use store-bought

For the blackening seasoning

Instructions

For the blackening seasoning

  • Combine all ingredients. If your ingredients are lumpy you may want to grind the mix using a mortar and pestle or pulse them a few times in a blender.

For the wings

  • Season the wings with the seasoning mix.
  • Preheat your air fryer to 350 F.
  • Working in batches if needed, air fry the wings for 12 minutes.
  • Flip the wings and air fry another 12 minutes.
  • Turn the air fryer temperature to 400 F and fry another 6 minutes or until the wings are golden brown.
  • Remove the wings and toss in more seasoning.

Notes

 The ingredients for the blackening seasoning make more than you’ll need. Store unused seasoning in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 354mg | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Old School Backyard BBQ Wings

One of my favorite childhood memories is of the backyard BBQs our neighborhood would have. A charcoal grill, chicken, and BBQ sauce. Oh sure there were things like potato salad and chips, too, but even as a kid I was all about that BBQ chicken. Well, nothing has changed really since then. Except now, instead of legs or chicken quarters, I lean towards grilling chicken wings. And lots of them. There’s still nothing fancy going on here. Prep time is minimal. Cook time is fairly short. But these old school backyard BBQ wings hit the spot just like the chicken off the grill oh so many years ago!

Old School Backyard BBQ Wings

Don’t Over-Think It.

Like I said, there’s nothing fancy going on with these old school backyard BBQ wings. There’s no need to some $10/bottle wing seasoning. Or a high-fallutin’ BBQ sauce. Get that cheap stuff that’s been around for decades. There’s a reason it’s lasted that long. Get that. I went with Kraft BBQ sauce because that’s what there was when I was a kid. And it’s still around now. Why? Because it’s good. A sauce isn’t going to stay around that long unless it’s good. It’s the right price, too. Grab some. Grab a lot!

Get That Char

I really like to put my sauced wings directly over the hot coals just before removing them. I like to ‘set’ the sauce and get a little char on the wings. A little crunch. Not too much, I don’t want to burn them and get that burned taste. But a little char is good. It adds a bit of crunch. It adds a bit of caramelization.

I think that char thing kinda comes from the backyard BBQ days. Seems like there might have beers involved by the grownups then. And I think sometimes the already-sauced chicken spent a little extra time on the grill. Maybe a little more than expected. Well, I happen to like that so I still do it today! Yeah, the beer part too!

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If you’re looking for extra-crispy wings from your charcoal grill, I can’t recommend using a Vortex BBQ enough!

Also try my delicious chili crisp wings made on the Vortex!

Old School Backyard BBQ Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Old School Backyard BBQ Wings

Crispy spicy deliciousness!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grilled wings
Servings: 2
Calories: 1229kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Sprinkle the seasoning over the wings. Using your hands, toss the wings to coat.
  • Load up the charcoal chimney about 3/4ths of the way with charcoal and light. Once the charcoal is all lit and lightly covered in ash, dump the coals into the grill along one side. This will create two zones: a hot direct heat zone over the coals and a cooler indirect heat zone for the wings.
  • Add the charcoal grate and close the grill. Oven the top and bottoms vents all the way. Let the grill preheat for 5.
  • Place the wings on the indirect heat side of the grill. Close the lid and turn so that the vent is above the wings.
  • Cook until the wings are lightly browned and crispy, usually 45 minutes.
  • Brush the tops of the wings with BBQ sauce the last 10 minutes of cooking. Close the lid and cook another 5 minutes.
  • Flip the wings and brush with more sauce. Close the lid and cook another 5 minutes.
  • If desired, place the wings directly over the coals to get a little char on them for 1-2 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 1229kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 84g | Fat: 96g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 35g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 410mg | Sodium: 1083mg | Potassium: 852mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2860IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 430mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Buff-a-cue Wings

Sometimes it’s the easy, simple things that taste the best. These Buff-a-cue wings came out fantastic. The sauce takes literally no time at all to make. And it’s totally up to you how to ‘make it your own’. Use a spicy BBQ sauce. Or a smoky one. Or a bourbon-flavored one. Whichever you prefer. Change it up from day-to-day. Ditto the Buffalo sauce. Mild one day. Crazy hot the next. Do you. You can’t go wrong with these wings.

Buff-a-cue Wings

Wing Bar

These Buff-a-cue wings would be great for a crowd. You can set up a variety of wing stations, each with a different flavor. Without breaking the bank or spending a lot of time making sauces. It’s an easy way to satisfy those like have a sweet tooth. And those that like it spicy. So grab a few bottles of BBQ sauce and a few bottles of Buffalo sauce next time you’re at the store, and get to making some great wings!

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What Are You Waiting For?

Go make some wings! It’s not that hard to do! My go-to method is to air-fry them. A little seasoning first. Air-fried to perfection. Fantastic aroma as they cook. Crispy skin. Juicy meat. Tender. Ready for a sauce. Air-fried wings can hold up to being tossed with sauce, so that’s what I do. If they were deep-fried with a batter I wouldn’t abuse them like that. I’d gently brush the sauce on. Or serve it on the side, for dipping.

See my guides for cooking your wings and for saucing them! I’ve got you covered!

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!

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Also try my oven-baked Buffalo wings. They’re great for a crowd, too!

Buff-a-cue Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Buff-a-cue Wings

These Buff-a-cue wings would be great for a crowd.
Inspired by a recipe from Sweet Baby Rays
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: BBQ, Buffalo wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 631kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the wings

  • 3-4 pounds chicken wings flats and drumettes separated, tips saved to make stock

For the sauce

Instructions

For the sauce

  • Place all ingredients into a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce heat to a simmer and continue simmering and stirring for 2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat while making the wings.

For the wings

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 631kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 359IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Dry Buffalo Wings using the Vortex

I love cooking chicken wings on my charcoal grill using the Vortex. I always get crispy, moist, tender wings using the Vortex. The wonderful chicken dark meat has a slight smokiness to it. The wings have a great grilled flavor that I don’t want to hide with a bunch of sauce or seasoning. But a little added flavor is a good thing. That’s why I love my dry Buffalo wings using the Vortex. I have total control on how much seasoning I add.

These wings are not served covered in sauce. Instead they are served dry. Just seasoned. That’s it. That’s all they need!

Dry Buffalo Wings using the Vortex

Crispy Skin. Still.

One of the great things about dry Buffalo wings using the Vortex is that the skin stays crispy. Crazy crispy, in fact. You don’t always get that with sauced wings. I think dry wings are a great thing. They’re always a welcome change from sauced wings.

No Sugar Zone

I recommend not using any kind of seasoning containing sugar. The high heat of the Vortex may cause it to burn. If you really want that sweetness, add the seasoning only after the wings have cooked. You can just use salt and pepper for seasoning during cooking.

Want More Smoke?

If you want your wings to have a bit more smokiness to them, and not just what you get from the charcoal, add a chunk of wood over the center of the Vortex. Do it early on, not long after you’ve lit the charcoal, to give the wood time to catch on and start generating smoke. If you think you’re getting more smoke than you want, just remove the wood chunk. Make sure you put it somewhere non-combustible as it will smolder for a long time!

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Also try my duck fat chicken wings using the Vortex.

Dry Buffalo Wings using the Vortex
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Dry Buffalo Wings using the Vortex

Perfect wings every time.
Prep Time3 hours
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grilled wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 80kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the wings into a large resealable container or baggie.
  • Add the oil and half of the seasoning. Seal and shake to coat well.
  • Refrigerate for 3 hours.
  • Place the Vortex into the center of your grill. Open the bottom vents on your grill by 1/3, while keeping the top vent open completely.
  • Light a charcoal chimney full of charcoal. Alternatively, you can fill your Vortex with charcoal and light them inside the unit.
  • Let the charcoal get fully ashed over then add to the Vortex.
  • Add the chicken. For the flats have the skin side up, and for the drumettes keep the meaty part away from the fire.
  • Close the grill and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Rotate the lid 90 degrees and cook for another 15 minutes.
  • Flip the wings. Rotate the lid another 90 degrees and cook 15 more minutes.
  • Check if the wings are as crispy as you like. If not, rotate the lid another 90 degrees and cook another 15 minutes.
  • Transfer wings to a bowl and toss with more of the seasoning.

Notes

I’ve not found that rotating the grill has any effect on how great this wings turn out. So don’t sweat it if you forget to do it.

Nutrition

Calories: 80kcal | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Iron: 0.002mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Cool Ranch Doritos Wings

I did it. I made Cool Ranch Doritos wings. Darn right I marked this day on my calendar. Because it was a glorious day. I used the same font size that I use to mark our yearly wedding anniversary and my wife’s birthday. Why? It’s a day of wing greatness. Crunchy. A touch of Cool Ranch seasoning. These double-cooked wings came out fantastic. And different. You can’t ignore the ‘wow’ factor when these goodies come out of the fryer! And you’ll definitely say ‘wow’ when you take that first bite!

Cool Ranch Doritos Wings

Double-Cooked Greatness

Unlike normal breaded wings, these Cool Ranch Doritos wings are double-cooked. First they are cooked ‘naked’. No batter. Doesn’t matter how they are cooked as long as they are done. Oven. Air fryer. Grill. Whatever. However. Doesn’t matter. Then you batter them in Dorito greatness and deep-fry them just long enough to warm up the wings and get the coating nice and golden brown delicious. You don’t want to over-deep-fry them, though. You don’t want the wonderful chip coating to burn. Or get dark brown. Golden brown and delicious (GBD) is what you’re after here. So keep an eye on them as they bask in the oil. You can always cook them longer. You can’t un-cook them!

Choose Your Dorito

I went with Cool Ranch Doritos because they are tied for being my favorite. Tied with taco. And nacho. You can use any Dorito flavor you want. Or do some of each. Make a Dorito-coated wing flight! Score!

Blender Time

When it’s time to make your Doritos coating, you’re aiming for a nice texture to the chips. Not a fine powder. We aren’t making cornstarch here. More like a breadcrumb texture is what you’re after. So don’t over-do it. Like with cooking the wings, you can always pulse them a few more times in the blender, but you can’t un-pulse them!

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Also try Grippo’s-crusted wings!

Cool Ranch Doritos Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cool Ranch Doritos Wings

Crunchy Dorito greatness!
Prep Time1 day 15 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: deep-fried, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 746kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook the wings the day ahead. You don't want to cook them naked, or just lightly seasoned. I recommend grilling, smoking, deep-frying, baking or air-frying. Do not use any batter or coating. You can season them but don't over-do it as you don't want to drown out the Ranch Doritos coating. When the wings are done, place in an air-tight container and refrigerate overnight.
  • Heat 2-3" of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven. While the oil is heating set the wings out at room temperature.
  • Working in batches, place the chips into a blender and process until they have a breadcrumb-like consistency.
  • In a large bowl, combine the processed chips, flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
  • In a small bowl or pie plate, whisk together the eggs.
  • Working in batches as needed, dip the wings in the eggs. Shake off any excess.
  • Dip wings in breading and coat evenly. Shake off any excess.
  • Again dip the wings in the eggs. Shake off any excess.
  • One more time into the breading. Shake off any excess.
  • Deep-fry the wings for 3 minutes. You're just getting the coating nice and crunchy and golden brown and heating the wings.
  • Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 240mg | Sodium: 848mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan...
Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan…
  • MIld Sauces
  • Made for wings and more
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Crispy Wings using a Griddle

Wowsa. I really wasn’t expecting that these crispy wings using a griddle would be so tasty, so moist, and so tender. Really, I’m not sure what I expected. Not wing greatness, that’s for sure. But I really enjoyed them. This was my first time using my outdoor griddle for wings, and I can definitely say it won’t be the last. Not even close. What a great way to make fantastic wings, with minimal fuss, and great results.

Crispy Wings using a Griddle

Any Griddle Will Do

I decided to make these crispy wings using a griddle using a griddle insert on my large gas grill. I could’ve used one on a charcoal grill. Or a dedicated griddle such as a Blackstone or Weber Slate. Or even a cast iron pan on the grill would work. Heck, any place where you can heat up a bit of oil and fry some wings will produce the same great results. I’m sure I’ll try these on my griddle inside, too. The only downside to making them indoors is that they will splatter a bit. I mean, they splatter outdoors too, of course. And you’ll get some on you, too. But that’s just part of the experience, right?!

Crispy Wings from the Griddle

An All-Around Great Approach

The overnight dry brine of the wings is what gives them that crunchy skin. And it also imparts a lot of flavor. Don’t cut corners on it. You can use the same dry brining for cooking wings in a variety of ways, too. Not just on a griddle. These are great baked in an oven, grilled, or in an air-fryer. It’s a solid approach that won’t let you down.

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Got a gas grill? Read here how to make fantastic crispy wings on it, too! Or, a Char-Broil Big Easy (aka the best poultry cooker around)? Read here how to make great wings on it!

Crispy Wings from the Griddle
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Crispy Wings using a Griddle

You can't go wrong with these wings.
Prep Time12 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 568kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pat the wings dry and place in a large bowl.
  • Sprinkle the wings with salt, baking powder and garlic powder. Toss to coat.
  • Place in the fridge (uncovered!) overnight.
  • Heat your griddle over medium heat.
  • Drizzle the wings with 1 tablespoon of the oil and toss to coat.
  • Add the wings to the griddle, being careful of the oil splattering.
  • Cook the wings 20-30 minutes, flipping often, until the skin starts to darken. If the wings get too dry add a bit more oil, again watching out for splatter.
  • You want to cook the wings to at least 165 F. For the best results, though, and the crunchiest skin, cook them to 195 F or even a bit higher.
  • Remove wings and toss with your favorite seasoning add back to the griddle, turning once, for 3 minutes total.
  • Toss wings with sauce before serving. Click here for our guide on how to sauce your wings.

Notes

If you’re saucing your wings with a refrigerated sauce, make sure you bring it to room temperature first or warm it over medium heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 568kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 1541mg | Potassium: 366mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

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Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan...
Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan…
  • MIld Sauces
  • Made for wings and more
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Catalina Wings

Creamy, yummy, great. With a hint of soy sauce. These Catalina wings more than hit the spot. I was amazed by how much I loved the flavor combination. Kinda like an Asian-inspired BBQ sauce. Easy as heck to make, too. If you’re looking for a simple wing sauce recipe that can be made from ingredients you already have in your fridge and pantry, this is it. It’s the only one you’ll need!

Catalina Wings

Make More

The sauce on these Catalina wings is great for more than wings. Slather it on grilled chicken breasts. On fried chicken sandwiches. Dip your nuggets in it. Brush it on ribs. It’s a great all-around sauce that has great flavor and the perfect consistency for just about any application.

You can make a spicy version of the sauce by simply stirring in some hot sauce or cayenne pepper. For a somewhat fancier version, try spicy soy sauce instead. It can be a little hard to find. Try your local Asian market or online if you can’t find it in your usual grocery store.

If you’re having trouble getting the onion powder to dissolve when stirring, just use a whisk. In a minute or two it’ll disappear into the sauce and you’re good-to-go!

No Fru-Fru Catalina Required

This recipe calls for Catalina salad dressing. You can make your own or buy it, like I did. There’s no reason to break the bank with it either. Just grab a bottle of Catalina. Name-brand, generic, store-brand, doesn’t matter.

Brrrrrr

If you have leftover sauce, just store it in a covered container in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it let it set out on the countertop for a good 30 minutes ahead of time. You do not want to put a cold sauce on hot wings. Ever!

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Also try my fiery Catalina wings.

Catalina Wings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Catalina Wings

The sauce on these Catalina wings is great for more than wings
Inspired by a recipe from Bake At Midnite
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy, wing sauce
Servings: 6
Calories: 631kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the wings

  • 3-4 pounds chicken wings flats and drumettes separated, tips saved to make stock

For the sauce

Instructions

For the sauce

  • Place all ingredients into a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce heat to a simmer and continue simmering and stirring for 2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat while making the wings.

For the wings

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 631kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 359IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.

Sale
Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan...
Buffalo Wild Wings Milder Variety Bundle: Parmesan…
  • MIld Sauces
  • Made for wings and more
$22.00
Buy on Amazon