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Traeger Wings

Experience chicken wings Traeger-style. Perfectly smoked, grilled, or roasted, each bite of Traeger wings achieves the ideal balance of crispy skin and moist meat. Whether you're a BBQ enthusiast or yearning for classic buffalo flavor, elevate your culinary journey with Traeger – where every wing is a celebration of taste and texture.

Chicken Wing FAQs


These chicken wings basics will help you perfect your next batch.

What Are Chicken Wings?


Chicken wings are exactly that -- the wings of a chicken. A full chicken wing has three parts: the drumette, flat, and tip.

The drumette is shaped like a little drumstick and has one bone. The flat (sometimes called the wingette) is flatter in appearance and has two bones. The tip doesn't have very much meat and is usually discarded when making wings.

Wings can be cooked whole, but you'll usually get more consistent results if you cook them in separate parts.

Packages of wings at the supermarket may contain whole wings, or may contain just the drumettes and flats.

Whole wings usually cost less per pound, but you'll need to go through the extra step of cutting the wings into parts. If you want to cut down on your prep time you can buy the pre-cut drumettes and flats. You'll probably pay a little bit more for these.

When did Chicken Wings Become Popular?


The early 1990s is when the chicken wing crossed over from regional favorite to nationwide obsession. According to the National Chicken Council, McDonald’s began selling wings at some restaurants in 1990. In 1991, Kentucky Fried Chicken followed suit. Domino's Pizza introduced their version in 1994.

Chicken wings were invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. They became very popular in Buffalo, which began celebrating Buffalo Wing Day in 1977. The word about wings spread across the Northeast US, and by the late 1980s, you could buy wings at restaurants across the country. Today, chicken wings are more popular than ever — more than 1 billion chicken wings are consumed every Super Bowl Sunday.

What Makes a Good Chicken Wing


The best grilled chicken wings have delicious seasoning, a tasty dipping sauce, moist meat, and crispy skin.

Everybody likes different flavors, of course, which is why wings are such a crowd-pleaser. Chicken wings go well with just about every type of marinade, rub, or sauce.

To get moist meat, many cooks like to brine wings before cooking. Brine, a saltwater solution, increases the salt content of the meat, which adds flavor and helps cells retain more moisture. To get skin crispy, use the temperature control on your Traeger. Start your Traeger wings low and slow, then finish with a blast of heat for crispiness.

How Many Chicken Wings per Person?


How many chicken wings per person? Per person, six chicken wing drumettes or chicken wing flats (or three whole Traeger wings) is a good portion.

Video: Chicken Wings 3 Ways


Our Chicken Wings 3 Ways video highlights the importance of seasoning wings. Approximately 30 wings are cooked exactly the same way -- tossed in cornstarch and seasoning, then roasted at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes. After the wings are cooked, they are tossed in either a buffalo-style sauce, a sriracha-based sauce, or seasoned with Traeger Chicken Rub. It's like three different meals at once.

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Top Chicken Wings Recipes

Our favorite chicken wings recipes all feature big flavor, and slightly different cooking techniques.


How to Season Chicken Wings


Let your imagination run wild when choosing a seasoning for wings. It is a perfect opportunity to try that homemade rub, a unique sauce you bought, or an inventive new flavor concept you've always wanted to try.

Chicken Wing Rub

Chicken wings take on the flavor of rubs very well. Salt is the foundation of most rubs. Spicy elements like ground peppers and chiles are good, too. When using herbs, make sure they are crushed into small pieces, so they distribute evenly on the wings.

Chicken Wing Sauce

Try some of our delicious sauces. Some of our favorites are the Traeger 'QUE BBQ SAUCE, Sweet & Heat BBQ SAUCE and many more.

Flavors That Work With Chicken Wings

The most popular sauces have strong flavors of spice (classic Buffalo sauce), sweet and sour (honey dijon), savory (teriyaki), and others.

How to Cook Chicken Wings


How to Choose Chicken Wings

Wings are sold whole, or divided into drumettes and flats. If you buy whole wings, you'll have to do the dividing yourself.

Avoid buying wings that have yellow discoloration. It is a sign the wings are old, and the meat will probably be dry. You may want to avoid wings with lots of excess skin. The extra skin can make for an unpleasant appearance to your final product.

How to Prepare Chicken Wings for Cooking

Some cooks like to brine wings overnight before cooking. Brine introduces salt to the meat, making it more moist (an optional step).

Whether you brine, marinate, or pull the wings straight out of the package, pat the skin dry before cooking. The dryer the wings are, the more likely the skin will become pleasantly crisp.

You can season with the rub of your choice, or simply a dusting of salt. Sauce can be applied before cooking or in the middle of the cook. You can also toss the wings in sauce after cooking.

How Long to Smoke or Grill Chicken Wings


Smoke chicken wings at 180 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 to 90 minutes, followed by 3 to 5 minutes at 450 degrees.

To grill chicken wings, place them on a grill heated to 375 degrees for 35 minutes, turning once halfway through.


You can experiment with other methods. The reverse sear method that works so well for steak can be used with chicken. This Smoked Mustard Wings recipe by Chef Matthew Jennings starts with oiled and seasoned wings seared at 500 degrees Fahrenheit, then smoked at 225 degrees, then glazed and roasted at 375 degrees to set the glaze.

Use a thin, quick-read thermometer to determine when the wings are cooked. NOTE: The Traeger probe seems a little wide for chicken wings which is why I'm recommending the thermometer. The safe internal temperature for chicken wings is 165 degrees, but most people prefer the texture of wings cooked to 185 or 190 degrees.

What to Do With Leftover Chicken Wings


You can easily reheat leftover chicken wings and enjoy them again. Or, you can shred the meat off the bones to use in soup, sandwiches, or tacos,

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What Goes with Chicken Wings?

The bold flavors of chicken wings call for equally bold side dishes. Fill out the meal with carb-heavy sides like fries or mac and cheese, and add a little color with some fresh greens.


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