The Best Wing Dipping Sauces

These are my favorite chicken wing dipping sauces. From the cool to the creamy to the spicy, they’re all the perfect go-to with any wings!

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The Best Wing Dipping Sauces

Don’t Forget To Dip

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from countless game days, family cookouts, and late-night cravings, it’s that wings are never just about the wings. The chicken might be crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, but the dip is what makes people hover around the platter and fight over the last flat or drumette. A great dipping sauce can cool things down, add richness, or turn up the heat. This list has a little bit of everything for every kind of wing lover.

Blue Cheese and Ranch

There’s the cool and refreshing side of the spectrum. My go-to classic ranch is anything but boring — made with fresh dill, chives, parsley, buttermilk, and a whisper of roasted garlic, it’s creamy, herby, and tastes like the real deal, not the bottled stuff. I know a lot of people roll their eyes at ranch but hey, it’s what I like and I make a few really great variations on it! But for the purists there’s also the ultimate steakhouse-style blue cheese dip, chunky with real crumbles, tangy with sour cream and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It’s bold enough to stand up to traditional Buffalo wings and cool enough to make even super-hot wings totally enjoyable.

And More

Next up are the creamy, crave-worthy favorites. These are the dips that cling to every nook and cranny of the wing and make every bite feel more indulgent. Garlic Parmesan aioli is rich, nutty, and loaded with roasted garlic and freshly grated parmesan — it’s absolutely perfect for lemon pepper or plain fried wings. My smoky chipotle mayo brings a little campfire smokiness with a slow-building warmth, while my honey mustard strikes that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy that pairs ridiculously well with BBQ, honey-glazed, or sweet chili wings.

Kick It Up!

And for those who live for the burn, the spicy lineup does not disappoint. There’s sriracha lime crema, bright, zesty, and fiery with a citrus kick, a creamy ghost pepper ranch that brings serious heat but is so flavorful you can’t stop dipping, and my personal obsession — hot honey butter dip. It’s sweet, spicy, buttery, and downright addictive.

Whether you’re serving a big platter for the Super Bowl, a small batch for movie night, or just treating yourself on a Wednesday (wing day!), these sauces make any wings better. Set out a few bowls, let everyone mix and match, and get ready for the compliments.

The List

1
Copycat Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing
Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Dressing (Copycat Recipe)
This instantly became my favorite wing dipping sauce.
Check out this recipe
2
Ranch Blue Cheese Dressing
Ranch Blue Cheese Dressing
This dressing is absolutely fantastic on a garden salad, too.
Check out this recipe
3
Creamy Asian Wing Dipping Sauce
Creamy Asian Wing Dipping Sauce
I was a bit burned out on the Ranch, the Blue Cheese. I wanted something creamy, smooth, but with a slight kick to it.
Check out this recipe
4
Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
Creamy and delicious with just enough blue cheese flavor.
Check out this recipe
5
Creamy Cool Blue Cheese Wing Dipping Sauce
Creamy Cool Blue Cheese Wing Dipping Sauce
The perfect wing dipping sauce with a great blue cheese flavor.
Check out this recipe
6
Copycat Wingstop Ranch Dressing
Wingstop Ranch Dressing (Copycat Recipe)
I wouldn't change a thing about this copycat Wingstop Ranch dressing. It has the perfect taste and the perfect consistency.
Check out this recipe
7
Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
This jalapeno Ranch dressing combines a few ingredients with bottled dressing and in no time, boom! Upscale Ranch dressing with a nice mild kick.
Check out this recipe
8
Creamy Parmesan Dipping Sauce
Creamy Parmesan Dipping Sauce
A great change from the usual Ranch or blue cheese dressings!
Check out this recipe
9
Pimento Cheese Ranch Dressing
Pimento Cheese Ranch Dressing
This was a welcome change from my 'usual' ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Check out this recipe
10
Copycat Wingstop Blue Cheese Dressing
Wingstop Blue Cheese Dressing (Copycat Recipe)
A nice tangy blue cheese dipping sauce.
Check out this recipe
11
Tangy Wing Dipping Sauce
Tangy Wing Dipping Sauce
I was a bit burned out on the Ranch, the Blue Cheese. I wanted something still smooth, but with a tang.
Check out this recipe
12
Garlic Ranch Dipping Sauce
Garlic Ranch Dipping Sauce
Great on salads, too!
Check out this recipe

Traeger Grills ‘Que BBQ Sauce Wings

A delicious BBQ sauce makes for some really great wings. These Traeger Grills ‘Que BBQ sauce wings have that perfect traditional BBQ sauce flavor. Elevated. It’s a little sweet but not too much so. And it’s a little smoky. But not overpoweringly so. The seasoning is perfect. I’d put this sauce on anything. And I’d dip anything in it. But mostly, I want it on my wings!

Traeger Grills Texas Classic BBQ Sauce Wings

Don’t Hide The Sauce

You can make your wings however you prefer. I decided to air fry mine. No matter which way you go, I suggest you don’t over-season your wings. Go light. Maybe just salt and pepper. At most. You don’t want something that’ll fight the BBQ sauce. These Traeger Grills ‘Que BBQ sauce wings are more about the sauce than the wing. That doesn’t mean that your wings have to be blah. Just don’t go crazy with them. Some crazy hot wing seasoning is going to conflict if you’re not careful.

Traeger Grills Traeger ‘Que BBQ Sauce
  • Classic BBQ sauce with sweet, savory, and smoky…
  • Pairs well with chicken, pork, and salmon

For a kicked-up BBQ sauce wing, try some Hoosier Daddy Ghost Roast BBQ sauce wings!

Traeger Grills 'Que BBQ Sauce Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Traeger Grills ‘Que BBQ Sauce Wings

Lightly sweet and smoky, these BBQ sauced-wings are fantastic!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: barbecue, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

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

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.

Sweet and Sour Spicy Wings

A friend of mine sent me this recipe for sweet and sour spicy wings. The recipe has been in his family for years and years and is always a big hit. You know it’s good if you end up making it over and over. This is one great wing sauce. And truthfully, it’d make for a great BBQ sauce too. It’s a bit sweet. It’s a bit sour. And it’s a bit spicy. All in perfect balance. This is a great, finger-licking good sauce that you’ll want to make again and again.

Sweet and Sour Spicy Wings

Flavor Perfection

A lot of my favorite flavors are in this sauce. Including celery salt. Anything with celery salt in it is going to make me happy. But it’s not overpowering. Like the other seasonings, it’s there and you taste it. It contributes to the overall flavor. It’s just one of the things that make these sweet and sour spicy wings so great.

Bring The Heat. Or Don’t.

You can decide how this sauce ends up being. Just adjust the hot sauce amount. If you’re not a fan of spicy start with 2 tablespoons first. Don’t worry, it won’t be crazy hot. Taste it. Add more if you want more of a kick.

Frank’s RedHot Original Buffalo Wings Sauce, 1 gal…
  • AUTHENTIC BUFFALO FLAVOR: Frank’s RedHot Original…
  • HIGH QUALITY BLEND: A proprietary processing…

Just remember, you can’t take it back out once you add it.

Also try my extra-crunchy honey chipotle wings.

Sweet and Sour Spicy Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Sweet and Sour Spicy Wings

A wonderful flavor combination.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sour, sweet, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 64kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 572mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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

Kinder’s Spicy Teriyaki Sauce Wings

Well, I’m up to 4 days in a row now devouring some Kinder’s Spicy Teriyaki sauce wings for lunch. Yeah, you’re probably not supposed to eat wings 4 days in a row. I promise to eat a salad tomorrow (maybe). But I can’t stop myself. I absolutely love the sauce on these wings. I already knew Kinder’s makes a great teriyaki sauce, but now they went and added spicy red jalapeno and ginger and taken this sauce to a place I could only dream of. This is what teriyaki sauce should be.

I absolutely love this sauce.

Kinder's Spicy Teriyaki Wings

Just Make Some Wings

It really doesn’t matter what wings you put this sauce on. Fresh-cooked. Frozen. Doesn’t make a difference. Well, it kinda does. Don’t use anything that’s already heavily seasoned. You don’t want anything to fight with this delicious sauce. I made simple air-fryer Kinder’s Spicy Teriyaki sauce wings and I went light on any seasoning I used. I could not get enough of the sauce. And I wanted more. And more.

Kinder’s Marinades, BBQ, Dipping & Wing Sauces…
  • ONE 15.5oz bottle of black cherry chipotle BBQ…
  • ONE 14.2oz bottle of buttery buffalo wing sauce

Also try some delicious Kinder’s Thai BBQ sauce wings.

Kinder's Spicy Teriyaki Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Kinder’s Spicy Teriyaki Sauce Wings

Fantastic flavor with a nice little kick.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Asian wings, wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

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

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.

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.

Lawry’s Zesty Lemon & Pepper Wings Seasoning Mix…
  • TANGY AND SAVORY FLAVOR: Lawry’s Zesty Lemon and…
  • PREMIUM SEASONING MIX: Create unique recipes with…

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

Deep-Fried Lemon Pepper Sweet Wings
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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

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.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Buttermilk Southwestern Wings

Yep. I did it. I stepped right over that line between ‘fried chicken wings’ and ‘grandma’s fried chicken’. It’s a gray line. You can barely see it. Heck, I’m not sure it even exists. It doesn’t matter really. Because I enjoyed these buttermilk southwestern wings no matter what you call them. Tender, juicy meat that is packed with flavor. Crunchy, delicious coating. What’s not to like?

Buttermilk Southwestern Wings

Sauce On The Side?

You’ll probably want a sauce to go on these buttermilk southwestern wings. Oh, it’s not required really. But to keep from calling these ‘grandma’s fried chicken wings’, you’ll probably want a sauce. Heck, the wing police might come calling if you don’t.

But don’t go drizzling the wings in sauce then tossing them around in a bowl. You’ll lose all of that delicious crunchy coating. Instead, either drizzle the wings with the sauce or (my recommendation!) serve the sauce on the side, for dipping. The nice thing about having a bowl of sauce on the side is you (and your guests) can dunk a little or a lot. You go to pre-drizzling the wings and someone is gonna say they didn’t get enough sauce. Or they got too much. Sauce on the side solves that problem!

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Also try my baked buttermilk wings.

Buttermilk Southwestern Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Buttermilk Southwestern Wings

Incredibly tender, moist, flavorful wings with a delightfully crunchy crust!
Inspired by a recipe from The Nutmeg Nanny
Prep Time12 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time12 hours 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: deep-fried, wings
Servings: 4
Calories: 258kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the marinade

For the coating

For the wings

Instructions

For the marinade

  • In a large resealable container add the buttermilk, cilantro, lime zest and juice, garlic and chipotle chili powder. Seal and shake to combine.
  • Add the wings to the container and seal. Shake to coat. Seal and refrigerate overnight.

For the coating

  • Combine the flour, paprika and salt in a large bowl.
  • Working in batches if needed, remove the wings from the marinade. Shake off any excess then transfer to the flour mixture. Toss or roll to coat well. Transfer to a plate.

For the wings

  • Heat a few inches of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Working in batches if needed, fry the wings 8-10 minutes or until golden brown, crunchy and done.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to drain and cool for a few minutes.
  • Serve!

Notes

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

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 571mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1608IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 3mg

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

Country Bob’s Hot Honey Buffalo Wings

This is not that sauce that was too spicy. And it’s not that sauce that was too sweet. This sauce is spot-on in both the heat and sweet departments. I love it. A lot. My Country Bob’s Hot Honey Buffalo wing made me happy. Super happy, in fact. There’s nothing I didn’t like about this sauce. Except that I didn’t buy enough of it.

Country Bob's Hot Honey Buffalo Wings

The Bees Knees

Sometimes I run across a wing sauce that contains honey that doesn’t really do it for me. I dunno exactly what it is, but there’ll be something, a little flavor thing, with the honey that throws me off. Not with these Country Bob’s Hot Honey Buffalo wings. The flavor of honey was perfect for me. Not too strong. But noticeable. In a very good way.

So just make yourself some wings and sauce them up. No need to get fancy here, unless you want to. The wings can be as simple as salt and pepper and 20ish minutes in an air fryer. Or a little more, like battered and deep-fried until golden brown. Whatever works for you. Just get some sauce and get to eatin’!

Country Bob’s – Wing Sauce Variety Pack – 18 oz…
  • Hot Honey Buffalo Wing Sauce: Enjoy a traditional…
  • Chili Lime Wing Sauce: Experience zesty and spicy…

Also try some Fire and Smoke Society Honey Garlic dry wings!

Country Bob's Hot Honey Buffalo Wing Sauce Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Country Bob’s Hot Honey Buffalo Wings

A wonderfully enjoyable sauce with just the right amount of heat and sweet.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

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

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.

Ott’s Original Wings

I love opening a bottle of wing sauce that I’ve never tried. There’s that moment of anticipation. Will I be wowed? Will I be un-wowed? Well, welcome to ‘wowed’ and then some. These Ott’s Original wings were crazy great. As soon as I opened the bottle I noticed the aroma of one of my favorite spices: celery seed. I use it often in slaws and salad dressings. But I don’t think I’ve ever found it (at least not noticeably) in a Buffalo wing sauce. This is one wonderful take on a classic sauce. Oh did I mention it has a bit of a spicy kick too? Yep, it does. Not too hot but it brings a little heat for sure. I’d call it ‘spot on’ heat.

Ott's Original Wings

Make Some Wings. Any Wings.

You can make your wings however you prefer. I decided to air fry mine. No matter which way you go, I suggest you don’t over-season your wings. Go light. Maybe just salt and pepper. At most. You don’t want something that’ll fight the sauce. These Ott’s Original wings are more about the sauce than the wing. That doesn’t mean that your wings have to be blah. Just don’t go crazy with them. The spices in this sauce are amazing and you’ll want to enjoy them.

I found this sauce at a Schnucks grocery store in Bloomington, IL. We were in town to hit a few antique stores up for finds. I always make it a point to visit the local grocery stores in search of new wing sauces and I found this one. I’m so glad I did!

Also try some Jimbo’s mild wang sauce wings.

Also try some homemade baked Buffalo wings!

Ott's Original Wing Sauce Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Ott’s Original Wings

A full-flavored, nicely-spiced Buffalo-inspired wing sauce!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Buffalo wings
Servings: 6
Calories: 503kcal

Ingredients

Notes

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

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.

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.

Dash Deluxe Air Fryer – Adjustable Temperature…
  • Consistent Cooking Every Time: The Dash Deluxe Air…
  • Simple Operation, Tasty Results: This compact…

Also try some air fryer Thousand Island wings.

Air Fryer Blackened Wings
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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

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.

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!

Heavy-duty BBQ Basting Brush by HQY – Silicone…
  • Heavy-duty BBQ Basting Brush by HQY – Silicone…

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

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.