Sticky with Sweet Heat Glaze, these Smoker Chicken Wings are juicy, fall-off-the-bone tender, and bursting with rich, sweet notes and powerful, smoky flavor.

Sweet Heat Smoker Chicken Wings

These Sweet Heat Wings on the Smoker are a no-fuss smoker recipe you can make in just a couple hours, but nobody will believe you. These bad boys are uniquely impressive for a couple reasons. First, this recipe uses a whole chicken wing. No trimming or separating wings for you, and a one-of-a-kind wing for your fellow tailgaters.

Second, the whole process takes just over 2 hours and there’s almost no prepping involved. There’s no brines or marinades to concoct, and no tray full of liquid taking up valuable fridge space. Just 4 simple ingredients, resulting in some of the sweetest, most succulent chicken wings you’ll ever enjoy, with just a kick of heat.

The easy, two-step smoking process results in smoky, fall-off-the-bone tender, chicken with a crispy, caramelized exterior that’s an oh-so rewarding bite. With all these contrasting, but complementary things going on all at the same time, they’re sure to hit the spot for fans of just about any type of wing. Follow me as I teach you how to make whole wings on the smoker certain to make you the BBQ hero of family wing night.

Why Whole Wings?

I used whole wings for this recipe and my guests absolutely loved the way they turned out. They’re usually cheaper this way in most grocery stores, and there’s no fighting over who gets the last drumette or flat. You also get something for fans of both soft, smoky meat and crispy, caramelized skin alike. You also get these yummy, super crunchy smoked wing tips that your guests will rave about. Plus, there’s no trimming necessary, your wings ready to season as-is.

You can still make this recipe with drumettes and flats with the same instructions, just be prepared for a little higher price and the heartbreak from the lack of wing tips.

Prepping for Crispy Skin on the Smoker

Another benefit of smoking your wings whole is there’s way less prep work for you. There’s no trimming involved here, just some seasoning and right onto the smoker. Because there’s no lengthy step keeping your chicken tied up overnight, this really is a killer option when you need to deliver some serious BBQ last minute.

To season my wings, I place them in a gallon freezer bag and then add some avocado oil. You can use a different cooking oil if you have a preference. The important thing is sealing the bag, then shaking to ensure your wings are covered evenly with your oil. This helps to ensure you get crispy, golden skin in every bite. After that, I add in some of my Signature Sweet Rub, then seal the bag and coat evenly again. You can use any seasoning you like, but the brown sugar base of this rub gives an extra layer of caramelized perfection to the skin I personally love.

How Long to Smoke Chicken Wings

You’ll slow smoke your seasoned chicken at a low heat around 275 degrees F. I made these on my Camp Chef, but this recipes works with any smoker. You want to give your chicken around 2 hours at this temperature, until it reaches an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees F. This gives the meat plenty of time to become tender and juicy inside from the Sweet Rub while absorbing all that rich smoke. The skin on your wings should also start to brown a bit and be slightly crispy.

Sweet Heat Glaze for Wings

After the initial smoke, you’ll remove your wings to a baking sheet or cutting board, but don’t chow down just yet. This is where that sort of tangy, sort of spicy, totally bold Sweet Heat BBQ Glaze comes in. Use a basting brush to give your wings a generous painting of this glorious glaze, then get them back on your cranked up smoker. Give your wings 3-4 minutes on the higher heat to crisp up the skin and work its magic on the glaze. Once your chicken hits 175 degrees F internal temperature, you’re good to go.

How to Make Chicken Wings on the Smoker

Now all that’s left to do is grab your ingredients and follow these simple steps:

Serving Suggestions

Because these wings pack a little heat, I like serving them with some crisp, cool veggies on the side. You can’t go wrong with the classic combination of carrot and celery sticks with your wings. They offer a refreshing balance to the rich and spicy notes from your smoked chicken wings.

And of course, no wing night is complete without the dipping sauces. My Homemade Ranch Dressing might just be the greatest thing ever to happen to chicken wings. If you’re looking for something a little different, my Blue Cheese Crumble Dressing is also a deliciously creamy option.

More Wickedly Tasty Wing Recipes

If your family is anything like mine, then having some quick and easy recipes for chicken wings is a must. I’ve got a few different methods for grilled and smoked wings, and a ton of different flavor options. And guess what? They’re all great for whole wings, or drumettes and flats. No matter what style your guests prefer, you’re sure to find the answer in the Hey Grill Hey app. Here are few of my most popular recipes for you to make at your next family wing night:

Wings

Cajun Wings

Wings

Grilled Buffalo Hot Wings

Chicken

Smoked Then Fried Chicken Wings

Chicken

Smoked Jerk Chicken Wings

Simple Smoker Chicken Wings Recipe

Master these Sweet Heat Smoker Chicken Wings by following the recipe card below. Feel free to give it a 5-star rating if you love it, and tell me about your experience in the comments. If you want even more help mastering the art of wings, I’ve got you covered. I’ve got simple instructional videos for all my most popular wing recipes up on my YouTube channel. Use them to learn all the tips and tricks you need to make tender, juicy, flavorful wings every time.

After you enjoy your sweet and spicy wings, make sure you let us all in on the fun. Tag @heygrillhey on Instagram and Facebook with photos of your smoked chicken wings so we can all get hungry and inspired.