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Here’s the surefire way to cook chicken wings on a pellet grill. You’ll have super juicy meat and crisp skin every time.

plate of chicken wings with carrots and celery.

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Chicken wings cook differently on different types of smokers. This recipe provides the best way to cook wings on a pellet grill like a Traeger Grill, Pit Boss, Recteq, Green Mountain Grill or Oklahoma Joes.

Ingredients

  • Chicken Wings: Use whole wings or party-cut wings.
  • Oil: This is optional, but if you want, you can toss your wings in a little olive oil or canola oil before adding the rub.
  • Dry Rub Seasoning: Try my signature chicken wing dry rub, your favorite poultry seasoning or a dry rub that complements the final flavor profile you want for your wings.
  • Sauce: If you like your wings naked, you won’t need any sauce. But if you like saucy wings, choose your favorite hot wings sauce, BBQ sauce or your favorite sauce flavor.

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.


How to grill chicken wings on a pellet smoker

When you’re ready to smoke your wings, fill your pellet grill hopper with wood pellets. Apple wood, hickory wood, pecan wood and cherry wood pellets are great choices for chicken wings. Set the temperature to 350F degrees.

  1. STEP ONE: Place wings on a cookie sheet or baking sheet. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels.
patting a chicken wing dry with a paper towel.
OPTION: If you'd like, you can coat your wings with a little bit of olive oil or canola oil before adding the rub. Personally, I think the chicken skins provide enough natural fat so I rarely use oil. If you want that extra fat and flavor, go for it. 
  1. STEP TWO: Sprinkle dry rub evenly all over the wings. Plan on 1 tablespoon of rub for every 1 pound of chicken wings.
Raw chicken wings rubbed with chicken wing dry rub in white bowl.
PRO TIP: For added flavor, place the wings on a baking sheet over a rimmed sheet pan. Season wings and let them rest in the refrigerator overnight uncovered. This will help flavor the meat and remove moisture from the chicken skin so you get crispy skin. 
  1. STEP THREE: Place the seasoned wings on the preheated smoker on an upper rack (if you have one). If you don’t have an upper rack, place them on the grill grate.
chicken wings grilling on a pellet grill.
PRO TIP: Pellet grills have a diffuser plate, which means the food is cooking over indirect heat. However, the area of the grill grates that is directly over the fire pot can run a little hotter. If you don't have an upper grill grate, place the food to the sides of this area. 
  1. STEP FOUR: Smoke the wings for 1 hour. They’re done when the internal temperature of the wings reaches between 195-205F degrees and when you have crispy chicken skin.
Using a meat thermometer to measure the temperature of a grilled chicken wing.
PRO TIP: Technically, chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. But they'll taste best if you cook them to 195-205. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to test the temperature. 

How to serve pellet grill chicken wings

Remove the smoked wings from the grill. You can either serve them dry or toss them in sauce.

To sauce, place the cooked wings in a large bowl. Toss in buffalo sauce for buffalo wings, hot sauce for spicy wings or barbecue sauce for bbq chicken wings.

plate of chicken wings with carrots and celery.

Serve on a platter with carrot sticks, celery and a selection of dipping sauces like ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing. If you sauced the wings, add a side of that sauce for people who want more.

Storage

Chicken wings are best enjoyed right away because over time the skin will lose crispiness. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Reheat them in the microwave or an air fryer. You can also freeze cooked chicken wings for up to 4 months, but they won’t be as tasty reheated.

GCG Pro Pitmaster Tips

  • Pat chicken wings dry to remove excess moisture
  • Use 1 tablespoon of dry rub per 1 pound of wings
  • Smoke at 350F for about 1 hour
  • Add sauce after the wings are smoked

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature do you smoke wings on a pellet grill?

I find the best wings are cooked at a temperature between 350-375F degrees. If you cook the wings at a lower temperature, the chicken skin won’t fully render and it will have a tug to it.

At this higher temperature, the skin will turn out nice and crispy. If you want more smoke flavor, use the extra smoke setting (if your grill has it) or add a pellet tube in the grill or wood chips in a foil pouch.

How long do you cook chicken wings on a pellet grill?

For the best wings with juicy meat and crispy skin, smoke your chicken wings at 350F degrees for about 1 hour.

Do you flip wings when smoking?

There is no need to flip chicken wings when cooking them on a pellet grill. The grill’s inner fan will circulate the heat around the top and bottom of the wings to cook them evenly.

Chicken Wings Guide. how to cook wings on different types of grills. proper internal temp for the perfect wing. secrets for crispy skin without frying.

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5 from 1 vote

Chicken Wings on a Pellet Grill

Here's the surefire way to cook chicken wings on a pellet grill. You'll have super juicy meat and crisp skin every time.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb chicken wings
  • 1 tbsp chicken wing rub, or your favorite rub
  • 1/2 cup sauce, optional

Instructions 

  • Heat Grill: Heat your pellet grill to 350F degrees. See above for wood pellet suggestions.
  • Season: Place wings on a cookie sheet and pat dry with a paper towel. Season all sides with the rub.
  • Grill: Place the wings on the grill. Place them on the upper rack, if you have one. Grill for one hour or until the internal temperature reaches 195-205F degrees.

Notes

You can double, triple or quadruple this recipe. 
See the post above for added pro tips to help you create the best wings on a pellet grill. 
Nutritional value will vary, depending on the rub and sauce you use. 

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 12gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 267mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.03gVitamin A: 116IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Did you try this recipe?Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @girlscangrill
christie vanover standing against wood wall.

Hey BBQ Family

I’m Christie, the head cook and award-winning competitive pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill. I have won multiple grand championships and top 10 category finishes. I’m an expert grill reviewer for BBQ Guys, and I have appeared on the Food Network and Ninja Woodfire Grill infomercials. I established this website in 2015 to share my BBQ tips and recipes.

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