Smoked Chicken Wings Rub

Chicken wings in white bowl next to small jar of wing dry rub.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 5

Servings: people

Calories: 311kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

This is the best smoked chicken wing rub! A handful of simple spices work their magic to infuse savory, smoky, and spicy flavors into chicken wings before they’re smoked to crispy perfection. The easiest way to make flavor-packed chicken wings!

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Equipment

Smoker

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken wings
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Make the dry rub by mixing the sugar, baking powder, and spices together in a bowl or jar. Use it right away or store it for later.
To make dry rub chicken wings, add the dried wings and drumettes to a large ziplock bag. Add the spice rub, seal the bag closed, then toss to coat. You can use your hands to massage all of the spices onto the meat as well.
Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees.
Arrange the chicken wings on the smoker grate, close the lid and let cook for 50-70 minutes (until the internal temperature reaches 160-162 degrees.
Remove the wings from the smoker and increase the temperature to it's highest temperature. Once hot, return the chicken wings the the grate and sear for about one minute per side, until crispy.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Storing

The dry rub will last for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container in your pantry or on your spice rack.

Tips and tricks

You can make this recipe with both fresh and frozen chicken wings. Make sure to thaw the wings beforehand, then pat them dry with paper towels.
Cook the wings as soon as they’re coated in the dry rub or let them rest overnight to give those gorgeous flavors time to soak into the meat.
Serve the wings with blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, or any of these 25+ sauces for wings for dipping.

Flavor variations

You can mix and match the spices in this recipe when you want to play with the flavor balance, spice level, and more. Use the ideas below to play around with the flavors and find your perfect blend:

Dried herbs: Oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, or basil.
Savory: Mustard powder, paprika, turmeric, or cumin.
Spicy: Cayenne, ancho chili powder, or red pepper flakes.

Nutrition