Chicken wings are a classic appetizer that are always a hit at parties and gatherings. While fried chicken wings from your favorite restaurant or sports bar are hard to beat homemade slow cooker chicken wings can be just as delicious – and much easier on your waistline!
Cooking chicken wings in a crock pot results in wings that are meltingly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The low, slow cooking breaks down the collagen in the wings, making them practically fall off the bone. Not to mention, tossing the wings in your favorite sauce and letting them cook results in wings basted in finger-licking flavor.
Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to cooking tender, juicy chicken wings in a crock pot.
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
- 1⁄2 cup sauce or marinade of choice – barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc.
- 1⁄4 cup chicken broth or water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
Steps
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Prep the chicken wings: Rinse the chicken wings under cool running water and pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, separate the drumettes from the flats by cutting through the joint. Discard the wing tips or reserve them to make chicken stock.
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Make the sauce In a small bowl whisk together the sauce, chicken broth, olive oil garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
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Pour the sauce over the wings Place the chicken wings in the crock pot and pour the sauce over top tossing lightly with tongs until the wings are evenly coated.
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Cook on low: Cover the crock pot and cook the wings on the low setting for 4-6 hours. The low heat gently simmers the wings, allowing them to become very tender while staying moist.
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Uncover and cook on high: After 4-6 hours, remove the lid and turn the crock pot up to the high setting. Cook uncovered for 30-60 minutes more. This helps render out some excess fat and makes the sauce thicken and cling to the wings.
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Broil for crispy skin: Preheat your broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange the cooked wings on it in a single layer. Broil 5-7 minutes until the skin gets crispy and browned (keep a close eye so they don’t burn).
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Toss with more sauce: Once broiled, toss the wings with a bit more sauce to coat.
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Serve and enjoy! Transfer the wings to a platter and serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.
Tips
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For convenience, assemble the wings and sauce in a gallon sized freezer bag the night before. In the morning, simply dump the contents into the crock pot.
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Use chicken wing sections, drummettes, or boneless wings depending on your preference. Adjust cooking time as needed.
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Try using different sauces like sweet chili, honey mustard, or teriyaki to change up the flavors.
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Add crushed garlic, ginger, citrus zest, or chopped herbs to the sauce for extra flavor.
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For crispier skin, coat wings in a bit of baking powder before cooking. The alkaline baking powder helps dehydrate the skin.
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Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Check wings periodically and stir gently.
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Garnish cooked wings with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, or freshly grated Parmesan before serving.
FAQs
How long does it take to cook chicken wings in a crock pot?
Cooking time can vary based on the size of the wings and how crowded the crock pot is. Generally, whole chicken wings take 4-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
Should the crock pot lid be on or off?
Cook chicken wings covered for the majority of the time to allow them to slowly simmer in the sauce. Remove lid in the last 30-60 minutes to reduce sauce and crisp skin.
What temperature should chicken wings reach?
Chicken wings should reach an internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a food thermometer for food safety.
Can you cook frozen chicken wings in a crock pot?
Yes, but frozen wings will need extra time to thaw and cook through. Add 1-2 hours to the cooking time, and check temperature before serving.
How can I crisp up the skin on crock pot wings?
Broiling is the easiest way to make the skin crispy. You can also deep fry or air fry cooked crock pot wings to crisp them up.
Conclusion
Cooking chicken wings in a crock pot results in wings with juicy meat that falls right off the bone. The slow cooking gently breaks down the collagen while the sauce penetrates the meat, leaving you with wings brimming with finger-licking flavor. Follow this simple recipe for saucy, tender chicken wings, then experiment with different sauces and seasonings. With this easy method, you can enjoy restaurant-quality wings right from your crock pot!
Chicken Wings Crock Pot Recipe
- Cut the wings into three pieces – wing tips, wing flats, and drumettes. Discard the wing tips. Place the rest of the wings in a large bowl. Mix the spice mix ingredients in a separate bowl—reserve ¼ cup of the spices and set aside.
- Sprinkle the remaining spice mix over the chicken wing pieces. Mix well.
- Mix the sauce ingredients with the quarter cup of reserved spices.
- Spray the slow cooker bowl with oil, then add the seasoned chicken wings. Only pour over ¾ cup of the sauce mix (keep the rest aside).
- Toss wings in the sauce, and 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!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings: If youre on a budget and want to save a little more, buy whole chicken wings and cut them following my guide on Cutting Chicken Wings. Its really easy and worth it!
- Seasoning: This recipe uses my all-purpose chicken wings seasoning, which has sweet paprika, brown sugar, onion flakes, salt, cayenne, garlic powder, mustard powder, and ground black pepper. I recommend using sea salt or kosher salt.
- Sauce: For the sauce, use ketchup, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce. I recommend using real maple syrup.
