Sweet and Spicy Smoked Wings

I was a picky eater growing up. However, I LOVED me some BBQ. There was a local bbq shack that my family ate at pretty frequently. It was a stereotypical joint with all the kitschy signs and decorations. It only had a few tables so most of the time it was carryout. The place is still in business today but I don’t eat there very often. It’s a pretty long haul from where I live now. On special occasions, I do make the drive out to the shack to get one particular item. They have amazing Sweet and Spicy Smoked Wings. I’ve tinkered with a copycat recipe for years. It’s taken a good long while but I’ve managed to get pretty close. Below is my take on those incredible wings.

The restaurant in question requests a three hour pre-order if you want the wings. It’s not an item that you can just walk up and order. The good news is my recipe does NOT take three hours. I also think I improved on the original. I don’t mean to toot my own horn but beep beep.

The wings in question are a sweet, sticky, spicy, smokey, succulent force of nature. I know that’s a lot of praise and alliteration but they are pretty damn good. It’s heavy on the brown sugar and black pepper heat. If you haven’t already check out my Classic BBQ Rub recipe.  It’s perfect for these wings.

The big secret to this recipe is the two-part cook. I smoke first for the flavor and then to make sure to get that crispy skin I dunk them in hot oil for a few minutes. Getting crispy skin as good as a fried wing is REALLY hard if not impossible with just a smoker. The two-stage cook also allows for some flexibility.

Many times I’ll smoke a huge batch of wings and refrigerate or even freeze the smoked wings for later use. Having pre-smoked wings on hand is like having a personal easy button. Drop them in some hot oil for a few minutes and toss them in your sauce of choice for a quick snack or appetizer. It’s a choose your own adventure meal. After you try these Sweet and Spicy Smoked Wings you’ll be hooked. I’m always excited to hear how people make my recipes their own so hit me up on social media @ilovemeatdotcom and show me a pic of your own creations. Cheers!

5 from 1 vote

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Sweet and Spicy Smoked Wings

These Sweet and Spicy Smoked Wings are the perfect storm of flavors. I'll show you how to get that amazing smokey flavor AND a super crispy skin.

Prep Time 12 minutes

Cook Time 48 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Chicken Wings
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Classic BBQ Rub
• 2 TBS Red Pepper Jelly
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 2 TBS water

Instructions

1. Season chicken wings with kosher salt. We just want kosher salt for now because adding bbq rub will burn later when we fry.

2. Smoke at 275F for 45mins or until the wings reach 165 internal temp

3. Heat a medium-sized skillet or saucepan on low. Combine water, brown sugar, bbq rub, and pepper jelly. Stir until dissolved.

4. Keep glaze warm with a burner barely simmering.

5. In a dutch oven or deep fryer cook wings @ 350F for 2-3 minutes. They will take less time if they are straight off the smoker as opposed to coming out of the fridge or freezer.

6. Drain wings of oil and pat dry.

7. In a large mixing bowl combine hot wings and warm bbq glaze. Toss until evenly coated.

8. Get a large pile of wet naps and enjoy.

Andrew Armstrong