The Cozy Cookbook is here! 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!
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Place the tips in a labeled freezer bag and save them to make 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.
Try These Next
-
- Jalapeño Poppers
-
- Slow Cooker Ribs
-
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
-
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
-
- Ground Beef Pasta
-
- Beef Noodle Soup
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Crock Pot Chicken Wings
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
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.
Can these be made in the instant pot/pressure cook?
This recipe is specific to the crock pot 🙂 I don’t have tested instructions outlined for a pressure cooker.
Made these for Christmas Eve Party guest loved them thank you for the recipe
I’m so happy these were a hit Donna, nice work! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
I think I just found my new favorite way to make wings. !
Yayyy! That makes me so happy Julie, these are my favorite! Thanks so much!❤️
Can you use frozen wings?
Thanks
I would recommend that you thaw them first for an even cook. I would put them in a gallon freezer bag in a sink with some cool water, they thaw nicely that way.