Are you looking for a sticky-sweet wing recipe that comes together fast? Check out my BBQ Chicken Wings! These wings cook hot and fast on the Weber Kettle Grill, giving them the ultimate BBQ flair. This recipe features a custom spice blend with my secret hack to creating the crispiest wings in the nation.
These wings would be a welcome addition to any tailgating party, picnic, or backyard BBQ. Don’t just take my word for it. Give this recipe a try, and let me know what you think!
I love taking simple recipes to the next level. I elevated these basic BBQ Chicken Wings by creating a custom spice blend and homemade glaze. These steps don’t take much time but make all the difference.
The glaze is made with two tasty BBQ sauces and a little butter, giving your wings that perfect kiss of char. You can use this glaze on pork, steak, to dress salads! The possibilities are endless.
The Ingredients
This recipe uses less than 10 ingredients, keeping it simple and sane. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping list. Keep in mind that you’ll have extra sauce and rubs for the next delicious recipe.
- Heath Riles BBQ Competition BBQ Rub. This tasty rub contains a proprietary blend of spices that have won me a lot of money! This ingredient helped me win 1st place ribs in the 2022 Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. I know it’ll make you feel like a winner, too. Use it on beef, chicken, or pork.
- Heath Riles BBQ Chicken Rub. I created this delicious rub to enhance the natural flavors of chicken without overpowering it. It contains a mouth-watering blend of herbs, salt, and pepper. Chicken has never tasted better!
- Corn starch. I added a tablespoon of cornstarch to my custom seasoning blend. This soaked up the extra liquid, giving the wings crispy skin. Trust me; corn starch is a game-changer.
- Whole chicken wings. I prefer using whole chicken wings because there’s more “bite” to them. They’re a budget-friendly option that gives you a lot of bang for your buck!
- Checkered Pig Competition Sauce. This tasty BBQ sauce comes from a good buddy of mine. I love adding a dash to ribs, pulled pork, quesadillas, or pizza. It’s just that good!
- Heath Riles BBQ Sweet BBQ Sauce. If you like ketchup-based sauces, you’ll adore this one. It features a blend of brown sugar, Worcestershire, and mustard. Use it alone or mix it with Heath Riles BBQ Tangy BBQ Sauce.
The Smoker Setup
Here’s the main equipment I used for this recipe. More of my grilling favorites can be found in the Equipment and Tools section.
- Kettle Grill. I cooked these BBQ Chicken Wings on the Weber Kettle Grill. Beginners love this pit because there are only a few bells or whistles to mess with. Weber produces high-quality pits that last for ages. This model is easy to store, making it perfect for small spaces. There are also a lot of fun accessories you can purchase, like the Vortex, a must for two-zone fires.
- Charcoal. I stoked the pit with Royal Oak Charcoal. I used Royal’s new super-size charcoal and was so impressed. This charcoal doesn’t use any fillers and produces pure, clean smoke. I use them just about every time with fabulous results. I also added a few Royal Oak Tumbleweeds for good measure.
The Process for Making BBQ Chicken Wings
You’ll see this recipe's visual demonstration in the video and recipe card. Here’s a quick rundown of how these BBQ Chicken Wings came together.
- Fire up the pit. I stoked the Weber Kettle Grill with Royal’s Oak’s All Natural Charcoal Briquets and Royal Oak Tumbleweeds, using my custom-made charcoal chimney from Cotton Gin Smokers. I let the pit heat up to about 410℉, just right for cooking hot and fast.
- Create a custom rub. Every so often, it’s fun to switch things up. I created a new rub by combining 3 tablespoons of Heath Riles BBQ Competition BBQ Rub, Heath Riles BBQ Chicken Rub, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
- Season the chicken. I placed the chicken wings in an aluminum pan and patted them dry. I sprayed the meat with avocado oil, then dusted them on both sides with my seasoning blend.
- Cook the BBQ Chicken Wings. I laid the BBQ Chicken Wings directly on the Weber Kettle Grill’s cool side, pointing the thickest end towards the fire. I let the wings go for 20 minutes before flipping them.
- Make the BBQ glaze. To make the BBQ glaze, I added 1 pat of unsalted butter, 3-4 tablespoons Checkered Pig Competition Sauce, and ¼ bottle Heath Riles BBQ Sweet BBQ Sauce to a cast iron pan.
- Sauce the wings. After I flipped the wings, I warmed the BBQ glaze on the Weber Kettle Grill. Once the wings had been on for 45 minutes, I brushed them on all sides with my BBQ glaze. I let the sauced wings tack up for about 5-6 minutes.
- Add char. My BBQ Chicken Wings cooked for a total of 55 minutes. I prefer my wings with a little char, so I flipped them over the grill’s hot zone. Be careful; this step only takes a few seconds! I took the wings off the pit and let them cool before digging in.
The Results
My BBQ Chicken Wings were so tender they were falling off the bone! Each bite was filled with a sticky-sweet flavor enhanced by rich charcoal smoke. This is a great, classic chicken wing that’s sure to please anyone!
Storing Leftovers
You can store leftover BBQ Chicken Wings in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Equipment and Tools
Weber Kettle Grill, Royal Oak Super-Size Charcoal Briquets, Royal Oak Tumbleweeds, disposable cutting board, ThermoWorks Thermapen One, tongs, aluminum pan, Vortex chimney, ThermoWorks Hi-Temp Silicone Brush, cast iron pan, shaker bottle.
