Description
An approachable, hands-off way to deliver crowd-pleasing party food with deep smoky barbecue flavors and a glossy, sweet-and-tangy exterior.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pounds split chicken wings (flats and drumettes, patted dry)
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
- 1.5 cups barbecue sauce (divided: 1/3 cup for crockpot, remainder for glaze)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 scallions thinly sliced (optional garnish)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Pat chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and chili powder. Toss wings with the seasoning blend in a large bowl until evenly coated.
- Lightly coat a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray. Arrange seasoned wings inside, drizzle with 1/3 cup barbecue sauce, and toss gently to coat the top layer.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours (or HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours) until tender and an instant-read thermometer registers at least 165°F (74°C), ideally 175°F to 185°F (79°C to 85°C).
- Preheat oven broiler to HIGH with an oven rack set 5 to 6 inches below the heat source. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set an oven-safe wire rack on top; grease the rack lightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining barbecue sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
- Using tongs, remove wings from slow cooker, shaking off excess liquid, and arrange in a single layer on the prepared wire rack. Brush tops generously with half of the honey-barbecue glaze.
- Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until glaze is bubbling and lightly charred at edges. Flip wings, brush with remaining glaze, and broil an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
- Rest 5 minutes to allow glaze to set, garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds if desired, and serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 70
Keywords: Thaw frozen wings completely in refrigerator before cooking. Do not skip broiling on an elevated wire rack, as slow cooker steam softens skin and requires high-heat caramelization to turn sticky. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; reheat in a 375°F (190°C) oven on a wire rack for best texture.