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There’s nothing quite like the finger-licking goodness of Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings. Whether you’re hosting a football party, craving a flavorful snack, or wanting to make these for family dinner, these promise to be a crowd-pleaser, combining convenience and flavor in every bite.
Put together the perfect game-day combo with these chicken wings, my Slow Cooker Baked Beans and Little Smokies, and Slow Cooker Taco Dip.
Why You Should Try This Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Recipe
Perfect for a crowd, these slow-cooked wings offer an easy and stress-free approach to preparing a classic favorite. Using either fresh or frozen chicken wings (check my notes at the bottom of the post if using frozen wings), you can effortlessly create a versatile appetizer.
The slow cooker does all the work, allowing you to enjoy the game or mingle with guests without worrying about constant attention in the kitchen. These mouthwatering crock pot chicken wings that will have everyone asking for your secret recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: I use about 4 pounds of fresh chicken wings, fully thawed.
- Barbecue sauce: The highlight of these wings is the sauce. I like Sweet Baby Rays, but you can use your favorite bbq sauce.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, onion powder, brown sugar, smoke paprika, parsley, honey, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke enhance the barbecue flavor of the wings and help create a homemade sauce.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a small bowl, add the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and parsley. Using a fork or spoon, stir to combine and set aside.
Step Two – Place chicken wings into the crock pot. Drizzle the olive oil over top of the wings and then using a wooden spoon or spatula stir so the wings are coated with the oil.
Step Three – Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken wings. Using a wooden spoon or spatula stir to combine so the chicken wings are evenly coated with the spice mixture.
Step Four – Add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke over the top of the wings.
Step Five – Using your wooden spoon or spatula, stir to fully combine the ingredients together so the wings are well coated.
Step Six – Cover and cook chicken wings on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or until the chicken wings are fully cooked). Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve
- Serve them straight from the slow cooker. Place a variety of dipping sauces like tangy blue cheese dressing or zesty ranch on the side for an extra flavor kick.
- Create a stunning platter with a mix of BBQ chicken wings, carrot sticks, celery, and your favorite dipping sauces.
- Toss the slow-cooked wings in a spicy buffalo hot sauce for a fiery kick. Serve with a cooling blue cheese dressing to balance the heat. For a sweet and savory option, brush them with a honey BBQ glaze before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken wings in the crockpot?
I used fully thawed chicken wings in this recipe. If your wings are frozen then you’ll want to make sure they’re fully thawed for the correct cooking time.
How do I easily change the seasoning of the BBQ sauce?
If you are not a fan of heat or like a milder sauce, you can use ¼ tsp of the red pepper flakes or keep the red pepper flakes out completely. If you enjoy a more heat, use ½ tsp or up to 1 tsp. You can also add in some cayenne.
How to store?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be reheated in the oven or microwave for a quick and delicious snack.
Can I use this recipe for other chicken cuts?
Of course! You can use the same store bought bbq sauce and seasonings with chicken thighs and/or chicken drumsticks.
More Slow Cooker Game Day Recipes
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Wings
- Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Wings
- Pressure Cooker Barbecue Buffalo Hot Wings
- Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings
These homemade BBQ chicken wings are cooked in the slow cooker with a few classic ingredients for a flavorful appetizer.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours hours
Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 571kcal
Author: Sarah Olson
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- ¼-½ tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp. dried parsley
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 lbs. chicken wings thawed
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp. liquid smoke
Instructions:
Wash, pat dry, and separate the wings so the tip is removed and the flats and drumettes are separated into 2 pieces then place them in the bowl of your slow cooker and set aside.
In a small bowl, add the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and parsley. Using a fork or spoon, stir to combine and set aside.
Drizzle the olive oil over top of the wings and then using a wooden spoon or spatula stir so the wings are coated with the oil.
Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken wings. Using a wooden spoon or spatula stir to combine so the chicken wings are evenly coated with the spice mixture.
Next add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke over the top of the wings.
Using your wooden spoon or spatula, stir to fully combine the ingredients together so the wings are well coated.
Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 4 hours or until the chicken wings are fully cooked and the internal temperature of the wings hits at least 165 degrees F (or 74 degrees C). You can set the slow cooker to low and cook the chicken wings for 5-6 hours, just make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (or 74 degrees C).
Sarah’s Notes:
- I used fully thawed chicken wings in this recipe. If your wings are frozen then you’ll want to make sure they’re fully thawed for the correct cooking time.
- If you are not a fan of heat or like a milder sauce, you can use ¼ tsp of the red pepper flakes or keep the red pepper flakes out completely. If you enjoy a more heat, use ½ tsp or up to 1 tsp. You can also add in some cayenne.
- For this recipe, use your favorite brand and type of BBQ sauce. Sweet Baby’s Ray’s Original BBQ sauce was used in this recipe.
- If you like a less sweet sauce, omit the honey. I don’t recommend leaving out the brown sugar too. You’ll want some sweet to balance out the savoriness and the spices used.
- I used smoked paprika for this recipe to help boost the smokey flavor of the wings. If you do not have smoked paprika or you like a deeper smokey flavor you can increase the liquid smoke to ¾ of a tsp.
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 571kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1006mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 707IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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