Best Grilled Chicken Wings

The best grilled chicken wings are soaked in a flavorful marinade and then grilled to crispy, tender perfection. Serve this grilled chicken wings recipe at your next barbecue, cookout, picnic, or outdoor gathering.

Looking for more grill recipes? Try my Grilled King Crab Legs with Garlic Butter Sauce, juicy Smoked Beef Brisket, and this Bacon Jam Cheeseburger recipe next.

Grilled chicken wings have a flavorful crispy coating without flour and moist juicy meat just beneath the surface. What is the secret to the best grilled chicken wings? My grilled chicken marinade, of course!

Smoky, salty, and savory, your friends and family will gobble this chicken up so be prepared to make this recipe again and again.

Why We Love This Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe:

Perfect for Any Occasion! These are great for the summer when you are grilling outdoors for a barbecue but you can also enjoy them year-round. Serve them for a casual weeknight dinner or as a game day snack.

Super Easy to Make! These foolproof instructions could not be more simple to follow. This is ideal for people new to grilling. Marinade for an hour, grill, and then enjoy!

So Versatile! Serve them with dip as a party appetizer, slather them with your favorite sauce, or enjoy them as is.

Ingredients you need:

• Chicken wings: Clean the wings, completely dry and season them before applying the marinade. You can use frozen chicken wings, just defrost them first.
• Seasoned salt: This salty, savory blend is the perfect flavor base.

Grilled Chicken Marinade

This grilled chicken marinade recipe makes the chicken moist, tender, and flavorful.

• Green Bell pepper: Roughly chopped.
• Parsley: Fresh herb flavor.
• Garlic: For that garlicky taste.
• Red Onion: Roughly chopped.
• Sun-ripened tomatoes: Adds a tart acidity.
• Seasoning: Salt and black pepper
• Red wine vinegar: Sweet and tangy.
• Olive oil: Use more as needed.

Instructions to Make Grilled Chicken Wings:

Prep the Chicken Wings

Clean & Season

To prepare the chicken: clean the whole chicken wings and tuck the flap behind the leg. This is optional, but helps the chicken lay flat on the grill (and for presentation purposes).

Add the cleaned chicken to a large bowl and season liberally with seasoned salt. Make sure that each piece is fully coated. 

Grilled Chicken Marinade

Now pour the chicken marinade directly over the chicken, and use gloved hands or tongs to make sure that each piece is coated in the marinade.

Cover the bowl with a lid or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or overnight. 

Warm Up the Grill

When you are ready to cook the chicken, heat up your frill. If it is a charcoal grill, heat the charcoal until the grill reaches 375°F; or if you are using a gas grill, preheat it to 375°F.

Grill Chicken Wings

Once the grill is ready, place each chicken wing directly on the grill grate in one even layer, over the coals for direct heat. Cook for 20 minutes without touching the chicken, then flip it over and cook it for an additional 15 minutes. 

If you want to cook it slow, move it away from the coals so it cooks in indirect heat.

Remove the chicken from the grill and place it in a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Alternatives and Variations:

No Grill? Use an air fryer to get that same crispy texture, minus the smoky flavor. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook the chicken wings for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Cook them in the oven: you can definitely add the chicken to a broil pan and cook them in the oven at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Then lower the heat and cook an additional 10 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure you reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Dry Rub. Instead of marinating the grilled chicken, you could use a dry rub. Apply a simple rub of brown sugar, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to raw chicken. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour or grill it immediately.

Buffalo wings: you can add Frank's hot sauce and butter to a small bowl or sauce pan to make a homemade buffalo sauce. Heat the sauce over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.

Toss your wings in the sauce after you grill them to get the most delicious buffalo wings.

Pro-Tips:

• Ensure the grill is hot before adding chicken to the grill.
• Shake off any excess marinade before grilling the chicken. If the chicken is too wet, it will not char and get crispy.
• The cook time will vary depending on the size of your chicken wings and the temperature of the grill.
• Visual signs that the grilled wings are done; the juices run clear and the skin is slightly charred.
• These easy grilled chicken wings are best enjoyed immediately so do not make them until you are ready to serve.

What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Wings

• Sauce: For saucy chicken wings, coat them with hot sauce, bbq sauce, or buffalo sauce. You can also use them as a dipping sauce, like blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.
• Potatoes: Grilled chicken pairs perfectly with potatoes. Try my Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Garlic Parmesan Roasted Purple Potatoes.
• Pasta Salad: Enjoying this on a hot day? Pair it with this Creamy Italian Pasta Salad to keep cool.
• Veggies: For a super nutritious meal (and while the grill is hot) make delicious Grilled Zucchini and Squash.

Storing and Reheating:

Store leftover grilled chicken wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also place them in a Ziploc bag.

To reheat them, add them to your air fryer or oven to keep the crispy skin. You can also heat them up in the microwave in 30 second increments until they are heated through.

Serve with some Frank's hot sauce, and enjoy!

FAQ:

How long does it take to cook chicken wings on the grill?

Grilled chicken wings take about 35 minutes on a grill set to 375°F. When the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check.

Do you season wings before or after grilling?

Season chicken wings before putting them on the grill. If you are marinating the chicken, it needs at least an hour in the fridge before being grilled.

What is the best method for grilling wings?

Apply marinated chicken wings to direct heat on the grill for crispy skin.

More Chicken Recipes to Try

• Baked Chicken Legs
• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
• Smothered Chicken with Grits
• Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
• Lemon Pepper Honey Chicken Wings