These grilled BBQ Chicken wings are sweet and smoky! Made with a 4-ingredient homemade barbecue sauce, these appetizer is quick, easy, and downright delicious.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
BBQ Chicken Wings are known to be the ultimate party food and it’s one of my favorites. There are so many variations to love, but this one is so tasty. It’s a simple, fuss-free recipe perfect for any summer party, like graduation parties and barbecues.
- TASTE: These wings are sweet and smoky with a hint of garlic. They’re marinated before grilling to really lock in their flavor.
- TEXTURE: These BBQ wings are juicy with a crisp outside that’s smothered in thick barbecue sauce.
- TIME: After 2 hours of prep time while they marinate, the wings only take 15 minutes to cook.
- EASE: Simple and easy, this recipe uses a 4-ingredient barbecue sauce and other simple ingredients.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken wings– You can use wings or drumettes.
- Garlic cloves- Minced fresh cloves add the most pungent flavor.
- Seasonings- Kosher salt and Black pepper.
- Barbecue sauce– Homemade or store-bought is fine. I like this homemade recipe.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make a different marinade- You can soak the wings in buttermilk for a tangy flavor and tender meat. Or use melted unsalted butter for extra richness.
- Substitute different spices- Add a teaspoon chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, or onion powder for added flavor in the marinade. Spice it up with hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
- Add apple cider vinegar to the marinade- Some people like to add apple cider vinegar to the marinade to make it more tender. This can also help make the meat juicier.
- Make it sweet- Add honey to your barbecue sauce for a sweeter smoky sauce.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Wings
- Make the marinade. Toss the chicken wings with minced garlic and a teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Marinate the chicken wings. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Grill them. Grill the wings over high heat until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side.
- Cover them with BBQ sauce. Glaze barbecue sauce on each side of the wings. Then grill them for another 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and glaze extra barbecue sauce over the wings.
Pro Tip: Spray some vegetable oil on the grill grates to avoid the chicken wings sticking as they cook.
Recipe Tips
- Marinate the wings for at least 2 hours- Don’t skimp on the marinating time because this will infuse the chicken with all that delicious garlicky flavor.
- Cook them over high heat- Using high heat on your grill helps the meat pull away from the bone, making these tasty BBQ chicken wings easier to eat.
- Check for doneness- Wings take about 10-12 minutes to fully cook, but you can also check them with an instant read thermometer to be sure. A safe temperature for chicken wings is 165°F.
- Bake them- If you want to bake them, place the marinated wings in a single layer on a baking sheet with a wire rack, covered with cooking spray, and cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes.
FAQs
Well, you could make my easy 4 ingredients barbecue sauce for these Easy BBQ Chicken Wings, or try other popular varieties:
Kansas City BBQ Sauce – A sweeter flavor
Carolina BBQ Sauce – Tangy with vinegar
Memphis BBQ Sauce – Smoky with some heat
You can put the sauce on before or after. Doing it before will caramelize the sauce and infuse the flavor in the meat, but will thicken the sauce into a paste. If you want a saucier wing, then add it after cooking.
Serving Suggestions
This easy BBQ Chicken Wings recipe tastes great with pretty much everything, including ranch and blue cheese. But they’re especially good when served with other grilled meats, fresh salads, sides, and yummy desserts.
- Meats: Serve these wings with other grill favorites, like Hot Dogs, Barbecue Pork Ribs, Hamburgers, and Garlic Chicken Kebabs.
- Salads: Try Pasta Salad, Easy Antipasto Salad (low carb), Salmon Potato Salad, or Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
- Sides: Wings go great with Fries, Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, Roasted Veggies, and Scalloped Potatoes.
- Dessert: Finish the meal with something sweet, like these Nutella Brownies, Vanilla Cake Pops, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, or Strawberry Bundt Cake.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: To save time, you can bake these wings, then store them in the fridge. When you are ready to grill, allow them to come to room temperature before cooking.
Storing: Once the BBQ chicken wings are cooled, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat them on the grill, in the oven, or in the microwave.
Freeze: Place the cooled wings in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator, then place them in a 375˚F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through.
This BBQ wings recipe was featured on Buzzfeed, find the article HERE
More Delicious BBQ!
Full Recipe Instructions
BBQ Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 20 chicken wings
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Homemade barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Combine chicken wings, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Grill the wings on high heat, 5-6 minutes per side.
- Glaze barbecue sauce on each side of the wings and grill for another 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and glaze extra barbecue sauce over the wings.
Notes
- Add-ins and substitutes
- How to make ahead of time
- Storing and freezing instructions
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted May 17, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.
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greg says
easy to make and taste great
Dina says
Thank you for the feedback Greg!
Mary says
Mary Michelle allen juice
bbquing says
Hi, Dina, I made some BBQ wings recipes and they turned out great. I appreciate your easy instructions.
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you for your kind recipe review 🙂 I am glad that you enjoyed the bbq chicken wings!
Andy says
Easy to follow bbq wings recipe and they came out delicious. Thank you for the easy recipe.
simplyhomecooked says
You are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed this chicken wings recipe 🙂 Thank you for your feedback!