Smoked BBQ Chicken Wings

Preparation

Note: You’ll need a smoker for this recipe.

Start by seasoning your wings with the spice rub. Massage it all over the chicken, then place in a plastic bag, seal it and let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

The following day, get your smoker ready. Cover the cherry wood chunks with water, and let them soak for a good hour or so. Drain off the water before adding them into the smoker.

Prepare your smoker however you do that (according to manufacturer’s instructions). Once the coals are heated up, top them with a handful of the soaked cherry wood. I added a couple of dry chunks as well. Then assemble the rest of the smoker and lay the marinated chicken wings onto the grill grate. Cover the smoker and walk away. Or, stay there and begin to smell how amazing that smoke smells, then walk away.

Smoke the chicken wings for about one hour, then carefully flip them over, and let them smoke for another hour. Then remove them from the smoker and onto a rimmed baking sheet. Once you remove them, let them rest for a few minutes while you heat your oven to 275 F. Then brush the wings with your favorite barbecue sauce. Place the baking sheet in the preheated 275 F oven to finish cooking for about 20 minutes. The sauce will get nice and caramelized, almost sticky, and very delicious.

Remove pan from the oven, plate the wings and serve. The result are truly great smoked BBQ chicken wings. They were nicely glazed, and the meat had that great pink color and flavor from the smoking process. This pink was through and through but the smoke flavor wasn’t overwhelming. Let’s just say my kids loved them and so did I. If you have time and want to go low and slow on the smoker, give these a shot.