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.
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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
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.
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.
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 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].
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!
Expert Tips & FAQs
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.
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].
It takes about 20 minutes to grill wings, turning them every 5 minutes.
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Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wings
Equipment
- Barbecue Grill
Ingredients
- 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
Nutrition
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.
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Recipe Updated August 25, 2021 (Originally published July 29, 2014)
Pech says
Pretty much I'm just going to make that blue cheese dip and just eat it with bread and veggies!
Renée ♥ says
It's really delicious on veggies, Pech!
Kels @ Blonder Side of LIfe says
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!
Jenni says
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!
Erin says
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!
Adventures in Dressmaking says
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!
Catherine says
I would never think to use cola in a wings sauce. Crazy!