These Crispy Chicken Wings are easy to make in the Crock Pot and make a perfect party snack and appetizer! They’re so tender and juicy on the inside that they slide right off the bone. Finish them off in the oven or air fryer for extra crispy results. Prepare these with my homemade Buffalo Sauce or use your favorite BBQ Sauce for an easy shortcut!

A plate with Buffalo Chicken Wings with a cup of blue cheese with celery and carrot sticks.

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings

Nothing beats classic, crispy chicken wings. The secret to extra tender, juicy, almost fall-off-the-bone wings is to let the Crock Pot do the cooking, and let the oven or air fryer do the crisping.

I’ve included a homemade Buffalo sauce recipe, but this would also work with your favorite BBQ sauce!

You’ll love the aroma that fills your house while these cook in the Crock Pot. (And as much as I love fried wings, I don’t always love the deep-fried smell that lingers afterwards.)

There are some keys to success here and simple things that I want to make sure we cover, so let’s get to it:

How to Make Them

Pat the chicken wings completely dry and place them in the Crock Pot. Combine sauce ingredients. Set 1/2 cup aside and pour the rest over the chicken. Stir to combine.

Uncooked chicken wings in a Crock Pot with Buffalo Sauce being poured on top.

Cover and cook for 2 hours on high, or 3-4 hours on low. They are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. 

Use kitchen tongs to carefully remove them and place them on foil-lined baking sheets. Brush with the reserved buffalo sauce.

Pro Tip: Place cooling racks on top of the baking sheet and place the wings on top. The extra air flow will make the wings crispier.

Chicken wings in the Crock Pot after being cooked and being brushed with more Buffalo Sauce.

Preheat oven to a low broil, 450 degrees. Add the wings and cook for 5 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.

Remove from the oven and brush with more Buffalo sauce. Broil for 5 more minutes, or until crisped and slightly browned.

Remove and serve with blue cheese and celery/carrot sticks.

Crock Pot Chicken Wings being brushed with Buffalo Sauce and served with blue cheese.

To Crisp Them in an Air Fryer:

Space them out on the air fryer basket and brush with buffalo sauce. (Set a drip tray underneath) Air fry at 400° for 3-5 minutes. Remove and brush with more buffalo sauce. Air fry at 400° for 3-5 more minutes, or until crispy.

How to Cut Whole Chicken Wings

I like to buy what’s called “party wings” at my local grocery story because it includes separated drumettes and wingettes. (See below for a visual.)

If you only have “whole wings” available to you, you can easily cut them to separate these pieces from one another, which is how you typically see them served at restaurants.

This is what a whole chicken wing looks like:

A whole chicken wing on a white surface before being separated into party wings.

To separate the different parts, take a good chef’s knife and align it where you see the separations below. Try to find a ridge where it naturally separates and carefully make a clean slice. If you slice through a bit of chicken bone, it’s okay. (But watch your fingers!)

Tip: This is an affordable knife that I got on Amazon that works really well.

A whole chicken wing that has been cut and separated into a drumette, wingette, and tip.

Place the tips in a labeled freezer bag and save them to make chicken stock.

A quart sized freezer bag with chicken tips for making chicken stock.

Pro Tips

  • Don’t cook the chicken for too long. Stick to the indicated timeframe, otherwise the chicken can become too tender and fall apart in the sauce.
  • I don’t recommend using frozen wings as those have a layer of ice glaze over each one to prevent them from sticking together. This will melt and water down the sauce. If you do cook from frozen, cook on high for 3 hours on high, or 4-5 on low.
  • If given the choice between an oven or air fryer, I do prefer to use the air fryer as they get a bit crispier that way in a shorter amount of time.
  • I use Frank’s Hot Sauce for this recipe.
  • Blue Cheese Dressing– Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing is my brand of choice.

Storage

  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

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A plate of Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese, Celery, and Carrot Sticks.

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A plate with Crock Pot Chicken Wings next to a cup of blue cheese with celery and carrot sticks.

Crock Pot Chicken Wings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
5 from 6 ratings
Servings: 6 people
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The secret to CRISPY chicken wings that are fall-off-the-bone tender, is to let the Crock Pot do the cooking and the oven or air fryer do the crisping! Make these with homemade Buffalo Sauce or your favorite BBQ Sauce.

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. chicken wings

Buffalo Sauce

  • 1 ½ Sticks salted butter, (12 TBS)
  • 12 oz. Frank’s Hot Sauce, (1.5 Cups)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

For Serving

  • Celery Sticks
  • Carrots Sticks
  • Blue Cheese Dressing, see notes

Instructions

  • Pat the buffalo wings completely dry and add them to the Crock Pot.
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan and remove from heat. Whisk in hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and garlic powder. Set ½ cup aside and add the rest to the slow cooker. Stir to combine with the chicken wings.
  • Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4. Don’t cook longer or they will begin to fall apart. They are done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
  • Note: The sauce will thin out as the chicken cooks. We’ll be brushing the wings with reserved sauce which will be nice and thick.
  • Crisp them in the Oven: (See notes for air fryer method)
  • Use kitchen tongs to remove the wings and set them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with buffalo sauce. Pro Tip: Place cooling racks on top of the baking sheet and place the wings on top. The extra air flow will make the wings crispier.
  • Preheat oven to a low broil, 450 degrees. Add the wings and cook for 5 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.
  • Remove from the oven and brush with more Buffalo sauce. Broil for 5 more minutes or until crisped and slightly browned.
  • Serve with blue cheese dressing, carrot sticks, and celery!

Notes

You can also use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. Save 1/2 cup for brushing the chicken wings after they cook and add about 1.5 cups to the slow cooker.
I highly recommend using Marie’s Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing for serving, it’s usually found in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle with the other refrigerated salad dressings. It's the closest you'll get to a nice restaurant-style.
I don’t recommend using frozen wings as they water down the sauce as they thaw out. If you do cook from frozen, cook on high for 3 hours on high, or 4-5 on low.
To crisp them in an air fryer: Space them out on the air fryer basket and brush with buffalo sauce. (Set a drip tray underneath) Air fry at 400° for 3-5 minutes. Remove and brush with more buffalo sauce. Air fry for 3-5 more minutes, or until crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 725kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 56g, Fat: 54g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 248mg, Sodium: 887mg, Potassium: 472mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 622IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 3mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Stephanie