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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings

    August 25, 2021 • Updated: February 3, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings

    These savory, easy-to-make Buffalo Wings grill up fast, and have just the right amount of spice for a your next party or game day gathering! Perfectly charred and slightly sweet, they pack a nice little kick and big, bold flavor.

    Grilled wings and grilled corn on old baking tray, garnished with cilantro and blue cheese.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love these Wings! 
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Expert Tips & FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings

    Why You Will Love these Wings! 

    These wings are always a Total Hit! We made them awhile back to celebrate National Chicken Wings Day (yep, it's a real thing), and they were amazing! We served them up for poker night and whole crew had them stripped clean in minutes! Most recently, we served them up with grilled corn for an easy summer weeknight meal; and as always, they blew us away. SO GOOD! 

    Not only are these Buffalo Wings savory and delicious, but they are also ridiculously easy to make! You can literally throw them together in the morning in just a few minutes, and grilled them up in less than 30 minutes at the end of the day!

    What Goes into this Recipe

    Buffalo wing marinade ingredients and large whisk on an old baking tray.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    • Chicken Wings: You can buy chicken wings cut up and ready to cook at the grocery store. However, if you are on a tight budget, note that whole wings are usually less expensive, and cutting them up yourself is very easy.
    • Frank's Original Hot Sauce: Frank's is a relatively tame hot sauce, and produces a mildly spicy, crowd-pleasing sauce. If you want to heat your wings up more, use a spicier hot sauce.
    • Cola: DO NOT - under any circumstances - use diet cola! Try to use a cola made with real sugar. (You can also use Dr Pepper, but only if you have too.)
    • Paprika: I like to use a Smoked Sweet Paprika for this recipe, but any mild paprika will work.
    • Butter: Use salted butter, unsalted butter, or ghee. DO NOT use margarine.
    • Maple syrup: Agave syrup or honey will both work just as well. 

    How to Make this Recipe

    Marinate the Wings

    Whisk the Wing Sauce ingredients (i.e., everything except the chicken) together in a medium bowl.

    Wing Sauce mixed in a glass bowl, with small, empty ingredient bowls and wire whisk laying next to it.

    Pour half of the sauce into a larger bowl.

    To the sauce in the larger bowl, add the chicken wings and toss to coat evenly coat.

    Raw chicken wings marinating in buffalo sauce in a large glass bowl, with extra sauce in a bowl next to it.

    Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for at least one hour, and up to 24 hours.

    You can also marinate the chicken in a resealable plastic bag.

    Wing Sauce, Part 2

    Pour the remaining sauce into a small saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over MEDIUM-LOW. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes; until wing sauce has reduced by about one-third.

    Set reduced wing sauce aside.

    Small saucepan with reduced sauce and a wire whisk on a white countertop.

    Grill the Wings

    Preheat grill on MEDIUM; about 350°F [176°C]. Allow the grill to heat up for about 10 minutes (or until it fully up to heat) before you use it. The grating should be hot before you place the chicken to the grill.

    Using tongs, place the marinated wings on the preheated grill.

    Grill wings, turning every 3 to 5 minutes, for a total of 15-20 minutes, or until done. Cover the grill when not actively turning the wings.

    Remove wings from grill as they get done.

    How to test wings for doneness:

    Use an instant-read thermometer to test the temperature using the largest drummette. The internal temp should be at least 165°F [74°C].

    Buffalo Wings grilling on outdoor BBQ.

    In a large bowl, toss the grilled wings with about half of the sauce reduction. Save the rest to serve alongside the wings.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve wings with celery sticks, wing sauce reduction, and our Cool Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip. (Or for something different, try them with the Tzadiki sauce from Greek Turkey Burgers with Spinach, Feta & Tzadiki Sauce.)

    Grilled corn makes a perfect partner for grilled wings. Try our Mexican Street Corn (Elotes Mexicanos) Compound Butter to take your corn-on-the-cob to a new level!

    Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings, grilled corn on the cob, and blue cheese dip served on a baking tray.

    Expert Tips & FAQs

    How long can you marinate the wings?


    We don't recommend that you marinate chicken wings for any longer than 24 hours. After that, the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

    How do you know when grilled wings are done?


    The safest and easiest way to know if the wings are completely cooked is to use an instant-read thermometer. 

    If you are cooking both drumettes and wingettes, test the temperature using the largest drummette.

    Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temp of 165°F [74°C]; however, if you want the meat to fall of the bone easily, wait until the temp is about 170-175°F [77-79°C].

    How long does it take to grill wings on a gas grill?


    It takes about 20 minutes to grill wings, turning them every 5 minutes.

    Related Recipes

    • KFC Original Recipe Chicken (Copycat)
    • Potluck-Worthy Big Cuban Salad
    • Hattie B's Nashville Hot Chicken (Step-by-Step)
    • Honey Citrus Pasta Salad with Turkey

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    Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings

    Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings

    These spicy, savory Buffalo Wings grill up fast, and have just the right amount of spice for a your next party or game day gathering! Perfectly charred and slightly sweet, they pack a nice little kick and big, bold flavor.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Cook Time:20 minutes
    Marinating Time:1 hour
    Total Time:1 hour 35 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 460kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Barbecue Grill

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 3 pounds chicken wings
    Wing Sauce:
    • 1½ cups Frank's Original Hot Sauce
    • 1 cup cola DO NOT use diet cola! Try to use one with real sugar.
    • 2 teaspoons paprika
    • ½ cup butter melted
    • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey

    Instructions

    Marinate Chicken Wings

    • Mix the all Wing Sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl.
      Pour half of the sauce into a larger bowl. Set the remaining sauce aside.
    • To the sauce in the larger bowl, add the chicken wings and toss to coat evenly coat.
      Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for at least one hour, and up to 24 hours.
      You can also marinate the chicken in a resealable plastic bag.

    Wing Sauce, Part 2

    • Pour the remaining sauce into a small saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over MEDIUM-LOW.
      Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes; until wing sauce has reduced by about one-third.
      Set reduced wing sauce aside.

    Grill the Chicken Wings

    • Preheat grill on MEDIUM; about 350°F [176°C].
      Allow the grill to heat up for about 10 minutes (or until it fully up to heat) before you use it. The grating should be hot before you place the chicken to the grill.
      Using tongs, place the marinated wings on the preheated grill.
      Grill wings, turning every 3 to 5 minutes, for a total of 15-20 minutes, or until done. Cover the grill when not actively turning the wings.
      Remove wings from grill as they get done.
    • In a large bowl, toss the grilled wings with about half of the sauce reduction.
      Save the rest to serve alongside the wings.
    • Serve with celery sticks, reserved wing sauce, and Blue Cheese Dip.

    Notes

    Cooked chicken wings may be safely refrigerated and stored for up to four days. 
    How to check for doneness:
    The safest and easiest way to know if the wings are completely cooked is to use an instant-read thermometer. Test the temperature using the largest drummette.
    Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temp of 165°F [74°C]; however, if you want the meat to fall off the bone easily, wait until the temp reaches 175°F [77-79°C] before taking them off the grill.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 2067mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 981IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

    Recipe Updated August 25, 2021 (Originally published July 29, 2014)

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Pech says

      August 01, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      Pretty much I'm just going to make that blue cheese dip and just eat it with bread and veggies!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        August 01, 2014 at 6:34 pm

        It's really delicious on veggies, Pech!

        Reply
    2. Kels @ Blonder Side of LIfe says

      August 01, 2014 at 9:35 am

      I personally don't like wings like at all....However, my big man-dude LOVES them so I'm def givin this recipe a try for him and his buddies when they get together at our place. Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Jenni says

      July 30, 2014 at 1:21 pm

      I love a good chicken wing! I'm always putting a little sugar in my sauce to help get the caramelizing. But, next time I will try it with cola instead!

      Reply
    4. Erin says

      July 29, 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Looks great! I never would have thought to add cola to the marinade, or to put chicken wings on the grill (not sure why I had never thought of that before). I'll have to give this a try!

      Reply
    5. Adventures in Dressmaking says

      July 29, 2014 at 7:19 pm

      Fun holiday!! 😉 I had never had chicken wings that I remember until about a year ago, so I can't imagine making the sauce myself - but it's a great idea!

      Reply
    6. Catherine says

      July 29, 2014 at 2:31 pm

      I would never think to use cola in a wings sauce. Crazy!

      Reply

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