Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (2024)

Pair a bag of frozen chicken wings with some Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and one secret ingredient and you have the best every BBQ Chicken wings recipe.

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My 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings recipe is our go-to for an easy scrumptious party or game day food any time of the year!

I can’t even tell you how many times I have made this easy recipe for my own family and they still enjoy them. It is one of our favorite recipes for any time of the year, especially game-day food.

Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (1)

This recipe has been shared more than 200 thousand times by our readers.

We like just a tiny bit of char on our Chicken Wings. The secret to making delicious Crockpot BBQ Wings is in the final step.

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  • Large Crockpot, (shop Crockpots at Walmart)
  • Large Colander
  • A large slotted spoon to scoop out the wings
  • Disposable Crockpot Liners (optional)

Ingredient List for Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

  1. Coca Cola
  2. Frozen Chicken wings
  3. BBQ Sauce, I like this brand

The Wings I Cook

  • Bone in
  • Skin on
  • Store brand Chicken Wing Drummettes They come in 2 1/2 lb. bags and I usually cook two for my family. These small chicken drumettes are perfect.

The Crockpot I use

I use a 6-quart Crockpot like this one for this recipe with 5 to 10 lbs. of wings and they fit comfortably.

How To Cook Good Wings

No need to thaw the chicken wings. Wings are thin meat so they thaw and cook at the same time. I always rinse my chicken first. We are going to cook them frozen and they may have a few ice crystals to be rinsed off.

Step 1

Place the chicken wings in a big colander in the sink and rinse with slow-running water to remove any ice crystals which may be on them from the freezer. This colander (affiliate) looks exactly like mine which is large enough to hold 5 lbs. of wings at one time.

Use low water pressure, and don’t turn the water on full force, so you won’t splash chicken water all over the place. But just to be safe please wash the sink and counters around it any time you have rinsed chicken in your kitchen sink.

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Do Not Thaw

Do not thaw the wings prior to cooking! They thaw, cook, and soak up flavor all at one time in just 2 or 3 hours!

Step 2

Add your frozen wings to the Crockpot.

Cover with cola. When we have co*ke on hand that is what I use but the store brand and even diet cola work just fine also. Folks have contacted me to say they even used Sprite and it worked well too. Do not use water for this recipe.

The wings are going to create their own juice while cooking so you only want to barely cover them with cola. The combination of the chicken juices and the cola will create a tender juicy deliciousness in your BBQ Wings!

Step 3 Drain the wings

While your wings are draining, preheat the oven to 350°.

Drain the cooked wings well in the colander before adding the BBQ sauce. Carefully remove the wings from the slow cooker. I use a large slotted spoon like this one

Do not use tongs to remove these slow cooker chicken wings from the crockpot. They are very tender and will fall apart easily. A slotted spoon is best because it allows the juice to drip back into the pot.

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Step 4 Ready for the oven

Line a large baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray. Now, it is time to learn how to barbeque chicken wings into a deliciousness you can’t resist.

Place chicken wings out in rows, in a single layer on your prepared sheet pan. Brush with your favorite barbeque sauce. We like Sweet Baby Rays which you can find on Amazon right here.

Now let’s bake that yummy sauce onto those wings.

Step 5 Finish your Crockpot BBQ Wings

Place the baking pan into the oven, preheated to 350°. Bake the wings for 10-12 minutes then turn on the broiler to get a little char on the skin of your wings. Don’t walk away, char happens quickly. The end result is finger-licking delicious chicken wings!

Also, See how to make these intoLemon Pepper Wings

Scroll down for a complete printable/downloadable recipe.

BBQ Wings are great game-day food. Make this crowd-pleaser for the super bowl, a family dinner, or even as an appetizer. Crockpot BBQ chicken wings with co*ke will be one of your family favorites.

Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (9)

Print Pin

4.41 from 134 votes

3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

Easy recipe for BBQ Chicken Wings. Only 3 Ingredients and best of all it is a Crockpot recipe!

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword wings

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 19 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 443kcal

Ingredients

  • 12-16 chicken wings do not thaw
  • 1 can co*ke
  • 1 Cup BBQ Sauce we use Sweet Baby Ray’s

Instructions

  • Turn Crockpot on low. (I like this Crockpot with great ratings)

  • Pour the can of co*ke into the crockpot.

  • Place all of the chicken wings into the co*ke.

  • Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

  • Remove wings from Crockpot onto a baking pan covered with foil.

  • Brush wings generously with BBQ sauce

  • Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes, just until the BBQ is heated. Then turn on the broiler to get a little char on the skin of your wings. Don't walk away, char happens quickly.

  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1o | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 842mg | Potassium: 391mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 372IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg

The Secret To The Success of Crockpot BBQ Wings Recipe

The secret to perfectly cooked Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken Wings is placing them in the oven for a few minutes after removing them from the crockpot. The oven sets the BBQ sauce and keeps the wings from being too wet from cooking in the liquid.

Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (10)

Kitchen Tips

When we have a big crowd and I cook a lot of wings I serve them from disposable aluminum pans like these for easy clean-up. Just sit the tongs by the pan and step out of the way! Everyone loves these slow-cooker wings!

Use Slow cooker liners for easy clean-up. I l-o-v-e them and don’t dare ever run out of them.

Side Dishes to Serve with BBQ Chicken Wings

  • Creamy Homemade Cole Slaw,
  • Best Ever BBQ Baked Beans
  • Homestyle Oven Baked Fries,
  • Southern Style BBQ Baked Beans,
  • Southern Potato Salad (made from scratch!)
  • Fresh Green Bean Salad
  • Baked Potatoes (20 Baked Potato Toppings)

More Weeknight Dinners for Family

  • Oven Baked Smothered Cube Steak, the ultimate comfort food
  • Baked Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas, easy recipe for a kid-friendly dinner
  • Air Fryer Catfish Nuggets taste deep fried but they are not
  • Oven Baked Glazed Spam, an easy recipe with few ingredients
  • , shared over 153 thousand times. Yes, it is good.
  • Easy Classic Lasagna recipe and the leftovers are delicious for lunch the next day
Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (11)
Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (12)

Updated 1/5/2021

Best Ever BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make barbecue sauce stick to chicken wings? ›

Best Barbecue Wings: The Method

Mix all of the sauce ingredients together. I like to make sure it is simmering before I even prep the chicken, or while everything preheats and the chicken begins to cook. It should get nice and thick and sticky. By the time you brush it over the chicken it will coat & cling to it.

Do you put barbecue sauce on wings before or after cooking? ›

Most oven-baked chicken wings are tossed in sauce after they have been cooked, which means that the skin needs to be perfectly crisp to soak up all the sauce. Thoroughly pat the wings dry with paper towels before seasoning them with salt and placing them on a baking sheet.

What is the secret to grilling wings? ›

There are 2 secrets to grilling chicken wings perfectly: soaking them in a flavorful brine and grilling with 2 zones of heat. These grilled wings stay juicy and tender thanks to a simple beer brine, and they get delicious charred and crispy using a 2-zone grilling technique.

Should I pre cook chicken wings before BBQ? ›

If the wings have not been marinated but will be sauced as they are grilled, you can use the oven method or you can steam them in a steamer basket set over boiling water for 12 minutes. With all three methods, finishing the wings on a medium-hot grill should follow immediately after the precooking.

Should you boil chicken wings before BBQ? ›

This is an easy way to make some great buffalo wings. By boiling the chicken first, you keep the chicken moist before it hits the grill to finish off.

Should you season chicken before barbecue sauce? ›

Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt and pepper before putting it on the grill. This will lock in the moisture and add a ton of flavor to your chicken. Once the chicken starts to cook, you can brush each piece with your favorite barbecue sauce.

How long does it take to barbecue chicken wings? ›

Add the chicken wings to the grill grates and grill for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170-175 degrees F. Flip every 3-5 minutes. Enjoy. Remove the grilled wings and serve with the dipping sauce.

Is it better to fry or bake chicken wings? ›

Removing the skin and baking also reduces the fat content which is extremely healthy for seniors and children. Baking keeps the nutrient content of the meat intact making it an utterly healthy cooking process.

Should I flip my wings in the oven? ›

Bake the wings at 350 degrees for 1 hour, turning them over halfway through. This helps the skin crisp relatively quickly without drying out the inside.

How does wild wings cook their wings? ›

BWW uses seed oils, but they generally fry their wings in beef tallow.

What are the secrets to crispy chicken wings that are not fried? ›

Crispy Hack #1: Baking Powder

This was the easiest of the hacks: Just toss the wings in a teaspoon each of salt and baking powder before baking.

How to get flavor into chicken wings? ›

Butter: Dot the baking sheet with pats of butter–it melts while the wings are in the oven, and helps to add moisture, flavor, and it crisps up the skin. Seasoning Blend: The dry rub is what makes these baked wings so irresistible! It's a simple mix of paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper, and it tastes amazing.

How do I get my sauce to stick to my wings? ›

Tossing your wings in flour before frying will give them a slight crust that will absorb sauce more readily. If not using flour, try using a thicker sauce, I've seen Franks Red Hot came out with a thick sauce. If you're using regular hot sauce, add melted butter to the sauce and let sit at room temp.

How do you get barbeque sauce to stick to chicken? ›

The best method for getting BBQ sauce to stick on meats. Is to apply the sauce after the meat has been mostly cooked. This ensures the surface is going to be done releasing moisture and has enough texture for the sauceto hold onto. Add the BBQ sauce before the last 10 – 20 minutes of cooking.

How do you get sauce to stay on chicken wings? ›

To Make Sure The Sauce Really Sticks, Coat Chicken Wings In Flour First.

How do I get my sauce to stick to my chicken? ›

Slow down your sauce with fat

Not only is butter a fat (a long, tangly molecule), it's a fat that's solid at room temperature. As the chicken and sauce cool, the sauce will slow even more, clinging to the chicken and coating its skin.

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