Smoked chicken wings are deliciously addicting. They are moist, tasty, and filled with a delicious smoky flavor.
However, to get the perfect smoked chicken wings, you must know how long to smoke them. If they are not smoked properly, you could end up with over or undercooked chicken wings.
Smoke chicken thighs at 300°F for 45 minutes, and you will have the best smoked wings you’ve ever tasted.
Contents
Can You Smoke Wings At 300?
Yes, you can smoke chicken thighs at 300°F. Smoking the chicken wings at a higher temperature helps them cook faster. It also increases the chances that the wings will have crispy skin.
Some people recommend against smoking chicken wings at 300°F. They think it gives the chicken wings a dry texture. But as long as you smoke the chicken wings for the correct amount of time and to the correct temperature, they will not dry out.
How Do You Get Crispy Skin On Smoked Wings
There are several techniques you can use to get crispy skin on chicken wings.
The first is to use baking powder. The baking powder strips the chicken skin of moisture so the wings will have a crisp texture.
Do not use baking soda. Baking soda will give the wings a salty unpleasant taste.
You can also dry brine the chicken wings with salt or other spices in the refrigerator overnight to remove some moisture. The salt will help the moisture rise to the surface of the wings; then, it will be reabsorbed back into the wings.
The cold air from the fridge will dehydrate chicken skin and help it crisp up in the smoker.
Make sure the smoker maintains a consistent temperature of 300°F. Since 300°F is pretty high, the chicken skin will crisp up as long as the smoker maintains a constant ambient temperature.
You can remove the water pan from the smoker to decrease the moisture levels. Less moisture equals crispier skin.
Do not spritz or mop the chicken wings. This technique is used to add moisture to the meat. Adding moisture to the wings will soften the skin, leaving you with soggy chicken skin.
You can also get crispy skin by grilling the chicken wings for 2-3 minutes per side. Alternatively, you can smoke the chicken wings. Then deep fry them. This will create the crispest skin.
You can also place the chicken wings on a cooling rack and set them over a baking sheet. Then you can broil the wings for 1-2 minutes per side. This is the healthiest option if you don’t want to deep-fry the wings.
What’s The Best Wood For Smoking Wings
Fruitwoods are the best wood for smoking chicken wings. Apple, cherry, and maple woods are perfect for smoking wings. They will give the wings a subtle fruity yet sweet flavor.
You can also use hickory, mesquite, or oak wood to smoke chicken wings. They will give the chicken wings a robustly smoky flavor.
Can You Marinate Chicken Wings Before Smoking
Yes, you can marinate chicken wings before smoking them. Marinating the wings will make them even more flavorful.
Should I Brine Chicken Wings Before Smoking
The main ingredient in brine is salt. Salt is incredibly flavorful. But it also helps the meat retain moisture as it smokes.
Brines typically contain sugar. Sugar helps meat brown as it smokes.
You must soak the chicken wings in the brine for 24 hours for it to be effective. If you leave the wings in the brine for more than 24 hours, they will be overly salty.
Wings can be wet-brined or dry-brined. Dry brining involves coating the wings with salt and placing them on a wire rack. Next, the wings are placed in the refrigerator overnight until the skin is dried out.
In contrast, wet brining involves submerging the wings in a saltwater solution.
While you can wet brine chicken wings, it will increase their density. Additionally, wet brining can cause the wing’s skin to become rubbery and soft.
It’s best to dry brine the chicken wings. The salt will remove moisture from the wings while the cold air dehydrates the skin.
How Long To Smoke Chicken Wings At 300
Ultimately how long to smoke chicken wings depends on the size of the wings. Larger wings will take longer to cook than smaller wings.
Typically, it takes about 45 minutes to cook chicken wings at 300°F.
Nevertheless, monitor the internal temperature of the wings. They must have a temperature of 165°F before you remove them from the smoker.
How to Smoke Chicken Wings
Smoking chicken wings is extremely easy. All you need is seasoning, a smoker or grill, and chicken wings.
First, set your smoker up and preheat it to 300°F. Next, pat your chicken wings dry with paper towels. The paper towels will remove excess moisture from the wings.
Next, place the wing into a bowl along with baking powder and salt. The baking powder and salt will remove the moisture from the chicken skin and help give it a crispy texture. You can also dry brine the chicken wings or coat them with your favorite BBQ rub.
Next, add wood chips to the smoker. As I mentioned above, fruitwoods are best for chicken wings. However, you can also use oak, hickory, or mesquite for a bolder BBQ flavor.
Place the chicken wings into the smoker. Smoke the chicken wings for 45 minutes until they have a temperature of 165°F.
If you want to glaze the chicken wings with BBQ sauce, brush them with the sauce 15-20 minutes before you remove them from the smoker.
Remove the chicken wings from the smoker and place them onto a serving plate. Let the wings rest for a few minutes, then enjoy!
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing worse than dry, overcooked, or undercooked smoked chicken wings. Undercooked chicken wings can make you sick, and overcooked chicken is simply disgusting.
Luckily, undercooked or overcooked chicken wings won’t be an issue since you know how long to smoke them at 300°F.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.