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My Crock Pot Chicken Wings are fall-off-the-bone tender, cooked low and slow, and filled with lots of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. These crockpot wings are incredibly easy to make with just 15 minutes of prep and perfect for a set-it-and-forget-it dinner or game-day gathering!
Jump to:
- Chicken Wings in the Crock Pot
- Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Crock Pot Wings Sauce Ingredients
- How to Make Chicken Wings in the Slow Cooker
- Crock Pot Wings Recipe Tips
- How to Portion Chicken Wings
- How to Store Cooked Chicken Wings
- Crock Pot Chicken Wings FAQs
- Can I freeze cooked BBQ chicken wings?
- Best Chicken Wing Sauces
- Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- 📌 Pin it for later!
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Reviews
Chicken Wings in the Crock Pot
The first time I made chicken wings in the slow cooker, I was amazed at how juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked they turned out! If you’re worried about whether the wings will be crispy or not, don’t be!
After the wings are done cooking, I transfer them to a wire rack and broil them for just a few minutes, giving them the crispy exterior every chicken wing needs. It’s so easy.
When I make chicken wings at home, I like to change up the flavors, but my family’s favorite has got to be my spicy barbecue recipe. It pairs so well with a simple serving of sour cream on the side. There is nothing better!
There is nothing easier than making these chicken wings for an easy Sunday Supper to enjoy during the big game. Crockpot chicken wings are also a great appetizer dish to bring to a family gathering or dinner party. Keep some napkins on hand, you’ll need them! 🙂
These are our new game day favorite! I love how easy they are to prepare.
Tara on Pinterest
Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Ingredients
- chicken wings
- sweet paprika
- brown sugar
- onion flakes
- salt
- cayenne
- garlic powder
- mustard powder
- ground black pepper
Crock Pot Wings Sauce Ingredients
- ketchup
- maple syrup
- apple cider vinegar
- soy sauce
How to Make Chicken Wings in the Slow Cooker
- Cut the wings into 3 pieces – wing tips, wing flats, and drumettes – following the instructions above. Discard the wing tips. Place the rest in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the spice mix ingredients. Reserve ¼ cup of the spices and tip the rest over the chicken wing pieces. Mix well.
- To the quarter cup of reserved spices, add the sauce ingredients and mix well. Spray the slow cooker bowl with oil then add the wing pieces. Pour over ¾ cup of the sauce mix (keep the rest aside), then cook on low for 4-5 hours until cooked through and tender.
- Turn the broiler to high. Cover a large baking sheet in aluminum foil, then place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with oil then sit the chicken wings in a single layer on the rack. Cook under the broiler for 5 minutes, then turn them over then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Brush liberally with the remaining sauce mix, broil for 2 minutes and repeat. Finally, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream and vegetable strips. Enjoy!
Crock Pot Wings Recipe Tips
- You can cook frozen wings in a slow cooker by using a high setting. Cook them for around 3-4 hours.
- Buying pre-cut chicken wings will save so much time in the kitchen, especially if you are not confident with your knife skills (nobody’s judging you here!).
- Though it comes together in just minutes, my BBQ sauce is an excellent sauce to keep on hand for other recipes or as a quick dipping sauce!
- If you want to skip the broiling, no worries! This will add a nice crispy texture to the wings, but simply adding the BBQ to the slow cooker is perfectly fine as well.
How to Portion Chicken Wings
This is a totally optional step and you can put chicken wings into the slow cooker whole, but they are easier to eat when cut into pieces. You will need a sharp knife, as the goal is to separate the wing into its 3 distinct parts: the wingtips, wing flats, and drumettes.
- Flip the whole chicken wing over so it is skin-side down and you can easily see the joints. Use your fingers to locate the first ridge between the drumette and the wingette portions.
- Place a sharp knife just beside this ridge and also parallel to the long axis of the drumette. Cut all of the way through it, your knife should slide right through with very little resistance.
- Next, locate the second ridge between the wingette and the tip portions.
- Cut all of the ways through this joint to separate the two pieces
How to Store Cooked Chicken Wings
Cooked crock pot chicken wings can be wrapped or sealed in an airtight container for up to four days in the fridge.
Slow cooker wings can be reheated in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, rotating halfway through on a lined baking sheet, with an air fryer, or by placing back into the slow cooker on low.
Crock Pot Chicken Wings FAQs
Frozen chicken wings can be put in a slow cooker. However, you will need to turn the crockpot on the high setting for frozen wings and cook them for around 3-4 hours.
Follow the recipe for the recommended cook time, but once the wings are cooked they can stay on the warm setting on your slow cooker for up to 3 more hours.
A dry rub is a mixture of herbs and spices, typically dry ingredients which are rubbed onto the surface of food (most often meat) to add flavor. The dry rub also creates a crust on the surface of food that is grilled or broiled. For this recipe, the rub adds a spicy touch.
Can I freeze cooked BBQ chicken wings?
Cool cooked chicken wings to room temperature, then place them in a Ziplock freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. This is a great time saver for quick meals or entertaining ideas!
To reheat frozen chicken wings, allow them to thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating.
Best Chicken Wing Sauces
- A classic is my Homemade Buffalo Sauce. Don’t forget to serve them with delicious Blue Cheese Dressing on the side!
- The sauce from my Dragon Chicken is fabulous when used on chicken wings!
- Chili Maple, Honey Orange, or one of my favorites, Teriyaki, also work well.
Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Mississippi Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chuck Roast
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Awesome Crock-Pot Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings
For the spice mix
- 3 Tablespoons sweet paprika
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons onion flakes
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons cayenne
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- â…“ cup maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
To serve
- ½ cup blue cheese dressing optional
- 1 Tablespoon finely chopped cilantro optional
- Strips of cucumber and peppers optional
Instructions
- Cut the wings into 3 pieces – wing tips, wing flats and drumettes – following the instructions above. Discard the wing tips. Place the rest in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the spice mix ingredients. Reserve ¼ cup of the spices and tip the rest over the chicken wing pieces. Mix well.
- To the quarter cup of reserved spices, add the sauce ingredients and mix well. Spray the slow cooker bowl with oil then add the wing pieces. Pour over ¾ cup of the sauce mix (keep the rest aside), then cook on low for 4-5 hours until cooked through and tender.
- Turn the broiler to high. Cover a large baking sheet in aluminum foil, then place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with oil then sit the chicken wings in a single layer on the rack. Cook under the broiler for 5 minutes, then turn them over then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Brush liberally with the remaining sauce mix, broil for 2 minutes and repeat. Finally, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream and vegetable strips. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can cook frozen wings in a slow cooker by using the high setting. Cook them for around 3-4 hours.
- Buying pre-cut chicken wings will save so much time in the kitchen, especially if you are not confident with your knife skills (nobody’s judging you here!).
- Though it comes together in just minutes, my BBQ sauce is an excellent sauce to keep on hand for other recipes or as a quick dipping sauce!
- If you want to skip the broiling, no worries! This will add a nice crispy texture to the wings, but simply adding the BBQ to the slow cooker is perfectly fine as well.
Nutrition
Photos by Marie Roffey.
Danielle says
Looks like the perfect wings recipe for the Super Bowl tomorrow!!! Thanks for sharing!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Danielle! We hope you loved them!
Shanika @ Orchids + Sweet Tea says
These Wings look so amazing! I’m loving the sound of that Spicy BBQ sauce!
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Shanika! A good BBQ sauce is just the best… especially the spicy kind!
Alisha Rodrigues says
I’m drooling over that image. So tender and so full of flavor. That spice powder and sauce recipe is going to be my savior for many meals
Em Beitel says
Thank you, Alisha! The spicy BBQ is really so good. I’ve definitely used it for other recipes too.
Andrea Metlika says
I really like the rub and sauce on these wings. I can’t wait to make these.
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Andrea! We hope you love them.
Beth says
Making these in the slow cooker was such a great idea! Love the flavor too!
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Beth! Slow cooker makes everything easier!
ann says
I’ve been making Buffalo wings since the early 80s. Actually earlier than that but that was before “Buffalo” was a thing, just plain with some type of dipping sauce and they were cooked whole. I grill them, slow-cook them, roast them, etc. They are so versatile. My sister and I always liked the wingtips growing up. To this day, they don’t get discarded. They crisp up really well. But if someone doesn’t want to eat or cook them, please don’t toss them. Save them for the next time you make chicken stock!
Just wanted to add that the very first time I had to cut the wings up, no one showed me but I tended to be quite handy in the kitchen at a young age, watching my mother cook homemade meals practically every single day! After the first couple, I figured it out. So will those of you who are new to this. It’s a skill worth knowing and will apply to breaking down a whole chicken later.
Thanks so much!
Em Beitel says
Hi Ann! So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for your comment and for sharing your memories with us. The tip to save the wing tips is a great one!