Have you ever wanted to prepare smoked chicken wings and surprise your entire family? Well, let us tell you that this meal is absolutely delicious. Although this is not a traditional food like fried or baked meat, it is most certainly fabulous.
Here’s the deal: The primary key to cooking any meat is ‘’slow and low’’. Since it isn’t thick, you need to be extra careful because you don’t want the chicken to dry out. With the high-quality electric smoker, the food will be juicy and tender, and it will keep its natural flavor.
Do you want to know the best part?
Wings are very easy to prepare. But, before you start smoking it, you need to do a few simple things. You can add or remove some of the ingredients or spices.
The possibilities are endless, and it all depends on your personal preferences. In this article, we wrote about a perfect recipe for smoked chicken wings. If you want to impress your family and friends with an excellent barbecue, you need to try it out.
‘’Chicken wings hit the financial news headlines recently when McDonald’s announced their plan to introduce them to their American menu. It’s expected that the worldwide demand for chicken wings will increase by about 250 million in the next three months, or an anticipated 11% increase in the Chicken Wing Index. (Oh, yes, there is a Chicken Wing Index. Who knew?)’’ according to writer Sheena Lambert.
If you want to know more about this delightful meal, all you have to do is read on.
The Ingredients
For the wings:
- Four pounds chicken wings without tips, drumettes, and flats separated
- Three tbsp. Paprika
- One tbsp. Chili powder
- Four tsp Kosher salt
- One tbsp. Onion powder
- One tbsp. Garlic powder
- One tsp Mustard powder
- One tsp Chipotle Chile powder
For the Barbecue Sauce
- 100 grams Barbecue sauce (bought in the store)
- Two tbsp. Butter (unsalted)
- One tbsp. Mild-Flavored molasses
- 100 grams Texas Pete hot sauce (or some other)
- Kosher salt
Preparation
Chicken Wings
The first thing you need to do is preheat your smoker until temperature reaches 225 F degrees. Make sure to maintain the heat. In the meantime, combine mustard powder, chipotle chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and paprika in a small bowl. Take the meat and arrange them on a large baking sheet. Use half of the rub and sprinkle it over the top.
Turn them on the other side and repeat this action. Make sure that they are equally covered. You can also put the meat and rub in some airtight plastic bag, and nicely shake it. This way the food will be entirely covered. Let the meat sit at the room temperature. You can leave it for about 15 to 20 minutes so it can absorb all the flavors. Or you can wait until the smoker is ready.
The next step is to place the chicken on the unit over indirect heat. The best way to arrange them is to leave some space between each piece. This way, you will allow smoke to circulate and to cook all the wings equally. The meat is ready when it is brown. It usually takes about two hours to be prepared. But it is best to check with the thermometer.
Place it into the thickest part of the wings and let the temperature reach 160 F degrees. You shouldn’t need to turn them if the smoke is circulating well. There is also another way to tell if your meat is ready. Poke the chicken deeply with a knife; if the juices are not pink but clear your meal is done.
Barbecue Sauce
Put the butter in a saucepan and melt it over medium heat. Add the molasses, hot sauce and barbecue sauce to it, stir until it is cooked through. You can season it with some salt, and try out to check it if you need to add something. When they are done, you can eat your chicken wings dry, or you can put them in this barbecue sauce.
Note: When you are smoking the wings the cooking time can vary. That depends on the smoker heat, outdoor weather conditions, and meat size. So, we mentioned that you would need about two hours, but you need to know that this time is just a guideline.
The best way to be sure that your meal is done is to use a digital probe thermometer. With it, you can be sure that the chicken has reached the right temperature and that it is ready.
Nutritional Value of Chicken Wings
“On a positive note, chicken wings contain some nutrients that you want to add into your diet. One wing has 20 percent daily value of protein. In terms of micronutrients, a wing contains 13 percent DV niacin, 7 percent DV vitamin B6, 6 percent DV phosphorus and small amounts of a number of other vitamins and minerals. The FDA considers less than 5 percent low and over 20 percent high when calculating nutrients you want at a high level in your diet, such as vitamins and minerals.’” according to Jillian Michaels.
The Conclusion
Not only smoked chicken wings are delicious they are also a healthier choice of food. You can go to the restaurant and order them, or you can always make them at home and let your family and friends enjoy this special meal too. They are a great addition to your party, especially if it is a big one.
If you have a few extra hours, don’t lose an opportunity to heat up your smoker and make this fabulous food. The ”slow and low” method is the best way to prepare the meat because it ensures that the food will remain extra juicy and tender. Not to mention the delicious heavily seasoned melded skin that you will surely love.
You can also make any variation of this recipe if you don’t like or want to add some other spices. The primary key is to know which ingredients you can mix.