Learn how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill using two different indirect heat zone methods. Plus, how to add optional smoky flavor.
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I love using my gas grill on weeknights because it’s so easy to turn on and off and requires very little prep or cleanup.
Chicken wings cook differently on different types of grills. This recipe provides the best way to cook wings on a gas grill.
Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: Use whole wings or pre-cut party 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.
Setting up your gas grill for indirect heat
When you’re ready to grill your wings, you need to set your grill up with an indirect heat zone. There are two ways to setup a grill for indirect cooking.
Main Grill Grate
Turn at least one burner on and leave at least one burner off. Adjust the burner until the internal temperature of the grill reaches 350F degrees with the lid closed.
The burner setting will vary from grill to grill.
If your grill has three or more burners, keep the middle burner off and turn the side burners on. This way, you can grill the wings in the center of the grill, and they’ll get even heat on both sides.
If you only have a two-burner grill, you may need to rotate the wings as they cook for even heat.
Warming Rack
Another way to setup an indirect heat zone on a gas grill is to use the warming rack. This is an elevated grill rack in the back of the grill that usually folds up and down.
If you place the wings on the warming rack, you can turn all of the burners on. For my Weber Genesis, I turn all burners to low. For other grills, you may need a higher temperature.
This provides the most even cooking, but the rack is usually smaller and won’t hold as many wings.
Adding Smoke
With either method, you can add smoky flavor by using a wood chip foil pouch or a pellet smoker tube. Place the foil pouch or smoker tube on the grill grate over the burner that is turned on.
The wood chips or pellets will smoke as the wings cook, enhancing their flavor.
How to grill chicken wings on a gas grill
- STEP ONE: Place wings on a cookie sheet or baking sheet. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels.
- STEP TWO: Sprinkle dry rub evenly all over the wings. Plan on 1 tablespoon of rub for every 1 pound of chicken wings.
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.
- STEP THREE: Place the seasoned wings in a single layer on the preheated grill on an upper rack (if you have one). If you don’t have an upper rack, place them on the grill grate over the area where the burner is off.
- STEP FOUR: Close the lid. Grill the wings for 30-45 minutes. They’re done when the internal temperature of the wings reaches between 195-205F degrees and when you have golden brown crispy chicken skin.
PRO TIP: Technically, chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. But they'll taste best if you cook them to 195-205F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to test the temperature.
How to serve gas-grilled chicken wings
Use tongs to remove the grilled 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.
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 30-45 minutes
- Add sauce after the wings are grilled
Frequently Asked Questions
Every gas grill is a little bit different. I recommend setting the grill to 350F degrees with an indirect heat zone. For some grills, this will be low. For other gas grills, the burner(s) may need to be set to medium heat or medium-high heat.
Check your temperature with either the built-in grill thermometer or an external thermometer like a Thermoworks Smoke.
I recommend grilling chicken wings on a gas grill at 350F degrees over indirect heat. At this temperature, it will take 30-45 minutes to grill chicken wings.
Yes. It’s best to close the grill lid when cooking wings on a gas grill. This way you will have even cooking.
More chicken wings recipes + tips
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How to grill chicken wings on a gas grill
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken wings
- 1 tbsp chicken wing rub, or your favorite rub
- 1/2 cup sauce, optional
Instructions
- Heat Grill: Heat your grill to 350F degrees with an indirect heat zone. See post above for details.
- Season: Place wings on a baking sheet and pat dry with a paper towel. Season all sides with the rub.
- Grill: Place the wings on the grill over indirect heat. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 195-205F degrees. This will take 30-45 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
