Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe

These grilled chicken wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with smoky BBQ flavor. The wings are coated in a simple dry rub, cooked directly on the grill until the skin is crisp, then brushed with barbecue sauce during the final few minutes.

If you're wondering how to grill chicken wings, how long chicken wings take on the grill, or what temperature to cook them at, this easy recipe walks you through everything you need to make perfectly grilled wings at home.

They're perfect for summer cookouts, backyard BBQs, game day, parties, or an easy family dinner.

Why You'll Love These Grilled Chicken Wings

Crispy skin without frying

Juicy, tender chicken

Easy homemade dry rub

Smoky BBQ flavor

Ready in about 30 minutes

Easy to make with or without BBQ sauce

Perfect for cookouts and game day

Ingredients

For the Chicken Wings

3 pounds chicken wings

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon chili powder

For BBQ Chicken Wings

1 cup barbecue sauce

You can leave the wings dry-rubbed or add your favorite barbecue sauce at the end for grilled BBQ chicken wings.

How to Grill Chicken Wings

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Wings

Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the skin get crisp on the grill.

Place the wings in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil.

Add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Toss until every wing is evenly coated with seasoning.

Step 2: Preheat the Grill

Preheat your grill to medium to medium-high heat, about 375°F to 400°F.

Clean and lightly oil the grill grates to help prevent the chicken wings from sticking.

Step 3: Grill the Chicken Wings

Place the seasoned chicken wings on the grill.

Grill for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, turning the wings every 5 minutes so they cook and brown evenly.

The exact cooking time can vary depending on the size of the wings and temperature of your grill.

Step 4: Check the Internal Temperature

Chicken is considered safely cooked when it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest portion.

Use an instant-read meat thermometer and avoid touching the bone when checking the temperature.

For wings, you can continue cooking a little longer if needed to achieve crispier skin and your preferred texture without burning the exterior.

Step 5: Add BBQ Sauce

For BBQ grilled chicken wings, brush the wings generously with barbecue sauce during the final 2 to 3 minutes of grilling.

Turn and brush the opposite side.

Don't add the BBQ sauce too early. The sugar in barbecue sauce can burn over the heat before the chicken finishes cooking.

Step 6: Serve

Remove the grilled wings from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes.

Serve hot with ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, extra BBQ sauce, or your favorite wing dipping sauce.

How Long Do You Grill Chicken Wings?

Chicken wings generally take about 20 to 25 minutes to grill at 375°F to 400°F.

Turn the wings approximately every 5 minutes for even browning and crispy skin.

Larger wings may need additional cooking time, so use the internal temperature rather than time alone to determine when the chicken is done.

What Temperature Should You Grill Chicken Wings?

A grill temperature of approximately 375°F to 400°F works well for chicken wings.

This temperature is hot enough to crisp and brown the skin while allowing the chicken to cook through without burning too quickly.

How Do You Know When Chicken Wings Are Done?

Grilled chicken wings should reach at least 165°F internally.

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone.

The outside should be browned and crisp, and the juices should run clear.

How to Make Crispy Chicken Wings on the Grill

The most important step is starting with dry chicken wings.

Pat the wings thoroughly with paper towels before adding the oil and seasonings. Excess surface moisture makes it harder for the skin to crisp.

Also avoid overcrowding the grill. Leave a little room between each wing so heat can circulate around the chicken.

Turning the wings frequently helps create even browning without allowing one side to burn.

Grilled Chicken Wing Dry Rub

This simple chicken wing seasoning combines:

Smoked paprika

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Chili powder

Salt

Black pepper

Smoked paprika gives the wings additional smoky flavor that works especially well when grilling.

If you prefer spicy grilled chicken wings, add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the seasoning.

How to Make Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings

You don't need a separate recipe to turn these into BBQ chicken wings.

Prepare and grill the wings according to the recipe, but leave off the barbecue sauce until they're almost finished cooking.

During the last 2 to 3 minutes, brush each side with BBQ sauce and allow it to caramelize briefly over the grill.

Serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side.

Can You Grill Frozen Chicken Wings?

For the best results, thaw chicken wings before grilling.

Thawed wings cook more evenly and are easier to season and crisp. Frozen chicken can release additional moisture as it cooks, making it more difficult to achieve crispy grilled skin.

Thaw frozen wings safely in the refrigerator before preparing the recipe.

Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill Chicken Wings

You can make this recipe on either a gas or charcoal grill.

A gas grill makes it easier to maintain a consistent temperature around 375°F to 400°F.

A charcoal grill adds even more smoky flavor. Arrange the charcoal so you have both direct and indirect heat available. If the wings begin browning too quickly, move them to the cooler side of the grill to finish cooking.

Tips for the Best Grilled Chicken Wings

Dry the wings thoroughly. Moisture is the enemy of crispy chicken skin.

Preheat the grill. Don't place the wings on cold grill grates.

Turn them frequently. Turning every few minutes promotes even cooking and prevents burning.

Watch for flare-ups. Chicken fat can cause flames. Move the wings temporarily to indirect heat if necessary.

Don't sauce too early. BBQ sauce contains sugar and can burn quickly.

Use a meat thermometer. Don't rely solely on appearance or cooking time.

What to Serve With Grilled Chicken Wings

Turn these wings into a complete BBQ meal with:

Grilled corn on the cob

Mac and cheese

Potato salad

Baked beans

Coleslaw

French fries

Cornbread

Pasta salad

Fresh vegetables

They're also perfect served as an appetizer with ranch, blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrots.

How to Store Leftover Chicken Wings

Allow leftover grilled chicken wings to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.

Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

How to Reheat Grilled Chicken Wings

For crispy leftovers, reheat the wings in an air fryer or oven rather than the microwave.

Heat until the wings are hot throughout. If you're reheating BBQ wings, you can brush them with a little additional barbecue sauce before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grill chicken wings?

Most chicken wings take approximately 20 to 25 minutes at 375°F to 400°F, although larger wings can take longer.

What temperature are grilled chicken wings done?

Chicken wings should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the meat.

Should I put BBQ sauce on chicken wings before grilling?

It's better to add BBQ sauce near the end. Brush it onto the wings during the final 2 to 3 minutes so the sauce can caramelize without burning.

Should I oil chicken wings before grilling?

A small amount of oil helps the seasoning adhere to the chicken and promotes browning. This recipe uses 2 tablespoons of olive oil for 3 pounds of wings.

How do you keep chicken wings from sticking to the grill?

Start with clean, preheated grill grates and lightly oil them before adding the chicken.

Can you grill chicken wings without BBQ sauce?

Absolutely. The dry rub provides plenty of flavor on its own. Serve the wings dry or toss them in another wing sauce after grilling.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to grill chicken wings is easy once you get the temperature and timing right. Keep the grill around 375°F to 400°F, turn the wings regularly, and cook until they reach a safe internal temperature.

Whether you serve them with the smoky dry rub or turn them into grilled BBQ chicken wings, they're an easy crowd-pleasing recipe for summer cookouts, game day, parties, and weeknight dinners.

More Chicken Recipes You'll Love

If you love these grilled chicken wings, try these recipes next:

Grilled BBQ Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

BBQ Pulled Chicken

Easy BBQ Chicken Legs

Baked Ranch Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Legs with Gravy