If you're looking for the best chicken wings you've ever made at home, you're in the right place. These are Tim's go-to buffalo wings, smoked low and slow for flavor, then finished in the air fryer to create that crackly, crispy skin and golden brown finish everyone loves.
This method is one of the best ways to get that irresistible crunch without deep frying, without a pot of oil, and without dealing with splatter or cleanup. And yes....they're better wings than most restaurants.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Smoky + Crispy in one recipe - smoke flavor with that air-fryer crunch.
- Crispy skin without deep frying - no messy pot of oil, no splatter, no stress
- Perfect for game day - easy to batch, easy to serve and everyone loves buffalo wings.
- Simple buffalo sauce - just melted butter + hot sauce, but it tastes restaurant-level.
- Lower calorie than deep frying - you get crispy wings without soaking them in oil.
- Cleaner + Lighter - No greasy mess, and it's lower calorie because the wings aren't soaking in oil.
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Why this method works for Chicken Wings
- Crisp skin without deep frying - Most people think fried chicken wings are the only way to get that crunch bite, but this method proves otherwise.
- Smoke adds real flavor - Smoking the wings builds incredible depth you just can get from an air fryer alone.
- Air fryer locks in texture - finishing at a higher temperature creates that golden brown exterior and truly crispy skin.
- Best of both worlds - It's like combining the best parts of smoking and frying without deep frying and without wasting a pot of oil
- You'll make them again - You'll want to make them a second time, and you'll probably say, "Why didn't I do this sooner?"
- Next time you'll double the batch - Once everyone tries them, next time you'll need more. It's guaranteed!
Ingredients
Ingredients you'll need for Smoking Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings - The star of the show!
- Butter - The rich, silky base for wing sauce.
- Hot Sauce - Optional, but suggested! It's the spicy backbone that brings the flavor!
- BBQ Rub - Use your favorite to create the base seasoning flavor foundation.
Pro Tip: For next-level flavor, I used Que That Rub and Seasoning from Flat Top King, which adds the perfect smoky, savory kick.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Make Crispy Chicken Wings
Here you'll learn how to make the best smoked chicken wings! They'll be finished in the air fryer for crispy skin and tossed in a classic buttery buffalo sauce.
- Dry the wings - Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Prepare your wings by patting them dry and then tossing them in 3 tablespoons of BBQ rub. Place wings in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Smoke the Wings (1 Hour) - Preheat your smoker to 225°F and smoke the wings for 1 hour.
Pro Tip: Let the seasoned wings rest (preferably overnight) so the seasoning has time to soak in and the flavor goes all the way through the meat, not just the outside.
- Air Fry to Crisp (Finish at a higher heat) - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, spray the basket with cooking spray, and air fry the wings until golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway. This will be approximately 12 minutes or until wings reach 195-200°F using a meat thermometer.
- Make the Wing Sauce - Melt 1 stick salted butter and whisk in 1 cup hot sauce to create a classic buffalo sauce.
- Toss and Serve - Toss the wings in the sauce and serve hot with blue cheese or ranch dressing (and celery if you want the full wing experience).
Pro Tip: Don't overcrowd the wings in the air fryer to promote even cooking.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Equipment and Supplies
This recipe is easy to make with just the right tools!
- Smoker (Pit Boss) - This is the flavor maker!
- Long tongs - Your wing wrangler, perfect for flipping and keeping your hands from the heat.
- Large bowl - The sauce magic happens here! Tossing those wings in the buffalo sauce.
- Air Fryer - The crisp finisher.
- Meat Thermometer - For checking the chicken wing internal temperature in the air fryer. This one is affordable and reads quickly!
Serving Ideas
Different Ways to Serve Chicken Wings
- Classic Serving - These are tried and true pairings that make wings feel like a full experience.
- Buffalo Wings and Homemade Buttermilk Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing (Classic for a reason)
- Celery and carrot sticks for crunch and balance.
- Serve with fries, air fryer sweet potato wedges, or Crispy Air Fryer Red potatoes
- Add a simple side salad for a lighter spread.
- Make it a full game day platter - Wings + chips + dip + Bacon and Blue Sliders
ProTip: Keep some plain wings on the side for kids or anyone who doesn't want sauce. Then everyone can dip their favorite.
- Fun and Creative Serving Ideas
- Wings plus Mac & Cheese - Spicy wings on the side of Creamy Mac & Cheese is unbeatable.
- Wing Bar Night - Set out multiple sauces and let everyone mix & match.
Possible Swaps
These are easy ways to switch it up so you're not making the same wings every time. Perfect for next time when you double the batch.
- Spice Swaps (Dry Seasoning Options)
- Use the same method, but swap the flavor profile.
- Lemon Pepper - garlic powder, black pepper, and lemon pepper blend.
- Cajun- cajun seasoning, onion powders, and a touch of brown sugar.
- BBQ Rub - smoky rub plus paprika and garlic powder.
- Garlic Parmesan Dry - garlic powder, parmesan, and black pepper.
- Spicy Kick - Add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or chipotle powder.
- Use the same method, but swap the flavor profile.
- Saucy Swaps
- Keep your base wing sauce idea and make it your own.
- Classic Buffalo - melted butter and hot sauce
- Garlic Buffalo - Classic buffalo sauce plus extra garlic powder.
- BBQ Buffalo - ½ cup buffalo sauce and ½ cup BBQ sauce
- Honey Buffalo - buffalo sauce and a drizzle of honey, making a sweet heat.
- Parmesan Buffalo - Toss wings in buffalo sauce and then finish with grated parmesan.
- Keep your base wing sauce idea and make it your own.
The best chicken wings Spice Level Guide (So everyone's Happy)
- Mild - More melted butter, less hot sauce.
- Medium - Classic is 1 stick of butter plus 1 cup of hot sauce.
- Hot - Use hotter hot sauce or add cayenne.
- Extra Hot - add chili flakes and a few dashes of super-hot sauce.
ProTip: If you're serving a crowd, make three bowls. Make a mild, classic, and spicy sauce, along with a small batch of plain wings.
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerating chicken wings
- Let wings cool to room temperature first, and then store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
ProTip: If you can, store wings unsauced and add buffalo sauce when reheating. It helps keep the crispy skin.
Freezing Chicken Wings
- These wings freeze really well (best before saucing).
- Let wings cool completely. You can place them on a baking sheet in a single layer (leave a bit of space) and freeze until firm, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Freeze for up to 2-3 months for the best texture and flavor.
How to reheat (best ways to keep them crispy)
- Air fryer (best method) - Preheat the air fryer to 375-400°F and reheat wings for 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Oven - Preheat oven to 400°F and place wings on a cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes, flipping once.
- Microwave (not ideal) - This can work in a pinch, but it will soften the skin. Microwave 30-60 seconds to heat through.
More Recipes From the Smoker
Video of Recipe
Recipe
Chicken Wings (Smoked and Air Fried)
Equipment
- Smoker
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 12 Chicken Wings
- 1 Stick Butter
- 1 Cup Hot Sauce
- 3 tablespoon BBQ Rub
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Prepare your wings by patting them dry and then tossing them in 3 tablespoons of BBQ rub. Place wings in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F and smoke the wings for 1 hour.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, spray the basket with cooking spray, and air fry the wings until golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway. This will be approximately 12 minutes or until wings reach 195-200°F using a meat thermometer.
- Make the Wing Sauce - Melt 1 stick salted butter and whisk in 1 cup hot sauce to create a classic buffalo sauce.
- Toss the wings in the sauce and serve hot with blue cheese or ranch dressing (and celery if you want the full wing experience).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, I often season the wings (letting them sit overnight) and go ahead and smoke them, saving them to cook in the air fryer right before serving.
Yes, you can air fry only. But remember, smoking is part of what makes these stand out.
Yes, you can, but it will take longer and will not be as crispy. I would bake them at 425°F for 35-45 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Tim Clowers says
Love how crispy the wings get.