Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe (with 3 easy sauces!)

Grilled chicken wings are hands-down my favorite way to eat wings. The smoky flavor from the grill makes them irresistibly crave-worthy. As someone who has grilled countless wings in her day, I have perfected the sauces and method to make the best wings your gathering will ever see. Grab your tongs, and let’s grill!

Is there anything better than digging into a plate of deliciously messy chicken wings with a few good friends? Maybe just one thing: making those wings outside on the BBQ in the height of summer, drink in hand, and zero heat blasting your kitchen. That’s my idea of a perfect warm-weather evening. Add a fizzy lime margarita to the mix, and I’m very happy.

Grilling chicken wings gives them an irresistible smoky flavor and those crispy, charred bits that are honestly hard to beat. They’re fantastic straight off the grill, but I also love tossing them in one of my favorite wing sauces. Best of all, they’re so easy to make that they naturally find their way into our regular rotation—for casual dinners, snacks with friends, or easy appetizers that disappear fast.

What to serve with grilled wings

If I’m serving these for dinner, I like to keep the sides light. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Best Greek Salad
• Favorite Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Broccoli Kale Salad with Blueberries
• Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Avocado Pesto

How to store grilled chicken wings

First of all, I’m surprised you have leftover grilled chicken wings! You’ve done the impossible, so pat yourself on the back while you let your chicken wings cool to room temperature. Then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave, in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes.

You can also stash them in the freezer for up to three months, pop them in the fridge to thaw the day before you want to enjoy them.

As for the sauces, transfer them to separate airtight containers or jars and refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat the sauce on the stove or in the microwave before tossing your wings in it.

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Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe (with 3 easy sauces!)

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

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Grilled Chicken Wings are the best chicken wings ever! The smoky flavor from the grill is totally crave-worthy. Whether you eat them hot off the grill or dipped in one of my three favorite chicken wing sauces, you will love them.

4

Ingredients

Grilled Chicken Wings

• ▢ 3 lbs. chicken wings (drummets, wingettes, or a combination)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
• ▢ Optional garnishes: minced cilantro, chopped chives, or sesame seeds

Honey Garlic Sauce

• ▢ ⅔ cup honey
• ▢ ¼ cup soy sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• ▢ 4 large garlic cloves (very finely minced)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Buffalo Sauce

• ▢ ½ cup butter
• ▢ ½ cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s or Cholula)

BBQ Bourbon Sauce

• ▢ ¾ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (try this BBQ sauce for chicken!)
• ▢ ¼ cup bourbon

Instructions 

• Preheat your BBQ to medium-high heat and oil your grill. Or use a grill mat, if you have one.
• Place the chicken wings in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the spices over the chicken wings and toss until they are evenly coated.
  3 lbs. chicken wings, 1 tablespoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
• Put the chicken wings on the BBQ and close the lid. After 5 mintues, turn the wings over. Repeat turning over the wings 2 more times. They will cook for 20 minutes total. 
• Once they are cooked, serve them on their own or toss them in one of the 3 sauces.
  Optional garnishes: minced cilantro, chopped chives, or sesame seeds

Make the sauces

• All of the sauces are made the same way. Add the ingredients for the sauce you want to make to a small pot. Bring it to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to medium-high and continue to boil for 3 minutes. The sauces will all thicken a little as they cool.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 dinner sized portion with none of the optional sauces (¼ of the recipe), Calories: 773kcal (39%), Carbohydrates: 4g (1%), Protein: 63g (126%), Fat: 55g (85%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 22g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 262mg (87%), Sodium: 833mg (36%), Potassium: 612mg (17%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 1362IU (27%), Vitamin C: 3mg (4%), Calcium: 53mg (5%), Iron: 4mg (22%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

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