Chicken Wings in the slow cooker

Slow cooker chicken wings coated in sauce in a white crock pot.

These slow cooker chicken wings are simmered in the crock pot in a savory sauce, then broiled to crunchy perfection. The signature appetizer or game day snack!

You can never have too many hearty appetizer recipes for game day. Some of my favorites include spinach dip, bacon wrapped jalapenos and crock pot chicken wings. These tender bone in wings are so good, sometimes I make them for dinner. When I do, I like to serve them with honey cornbread and black bean and corn salad.

I’m always looking for new ways to jazz up our game day snacks, and these slow cooker chicken wings definitely fit the bill. Crockpot chicken wings are incredibly straightforward to make and they’re reliable to eat while tailgating or watching the game at home with family and friends.

Slow Cooker Chicken Wings Ingredients

Bowls of ingredients including BBQ sauce, spices and seasonings.

To make this recipe, you will need chicken wings, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.

How Do You Make Slow Cooker Chicken Wings?

Place your wings in a slow cooker and season them with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Pour the sauce over the chicken wings and toss the wings in the sauce. Cook on high heat for 2-3 hours, or low heat for 4-5 hours. Remove the wings from the crock pot and place them on a baking sheet. Broil until the wings are crisp. Brush the chicken with extra sauce from the slow cooker, then serve and enjoy.

Wings in a crock pot with homemade sauce poured over the top then on a sheet pan to broil.

Tips For The Reliable Wings

Choose party style wings which have the drumette already separated from the flat. I find this style easier to eat than whole wings.
You can make your own kitchen-made BBQ sauce, or use your go-to store bought option.
Slow cooker chicken wings will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the wings in the oven until they are crunchy.
This recipe works well in a 4 quart or 6 quart slow cooker.
For the crispiest wings, place an oven proof wire rack on top of the sheet pan. This allows for air to circulate all around each chicken wing for an ultra crunchy texture.

Quick Tip

Don’t have a slow cooker? You can make this recipe in the oven too. Season the wings with salt and pepper, then bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Brush the sauce over the wings, then broil for 3-4 minutes or until crunchy.

Slow cooker chicken wings on a serving platter.

Recipe FAQs

What is the finest cooking method for wings?

I prefer to bake or slow cook chicken wings. You can bake the wings to make them crunchy, or else let them simmer in the slow cooker to tenderize the meat, then broil them in the oven to get a crunchy outer coating.

How do you cook chicken wings without drying them out?

The crock pot is a great method to cook chicken wings and keep them tender and tender. The chicken wings cook in a covered pot of sauce, which mean they will not get dry at all.

FOLLOW ME

A hand reaching for a crock pot wing coated in sauce.

Flavor Variations

This recipe is tasty as written, but it’s straightforward to customize the flavors to suit your taste.

Protein: This recipe works with other types of protein such as meatballs, chicken thighs or little smokies. If you use meatballs or smokies, you can skip the broiling step.
Sauce: Feel free to add more ingredients to the wing sauce! Some great options include smoked paprika, chili powder, a dash of soy sauce or hot sauce.
Dipping Options: Serve the wings as is, or offer a dipping sauce such as kitchen-made ranch dip, ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing.

Slow cooker chicken wings are the finest way to have a hearty appetizer with minimal work involved!

More Game Day Recipes

Baked Buffalo Wings

1 hr 5 mins

Lemon Pepper Wings

35 mins

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

25 mins

Bacon Deviled Eggs

30 mins

Bacon Wrapped Pickles

25 mins

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen A slow cooker full of barbecue chicken wings.

These slow cooker chicken wings are simmered in the crock pot in a savory sauce, then broiled to crunchy perfection. The reliable party snack! Time Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time5 hours
Total Time5 hours 15 minutes

Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Serves 6

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken wings party style
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1½ cups BBQ sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
cooking spray

Instructions

Place the chicken wings in the slow cooker. Season then with the salt and pepper.
Place the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined.
Pour the sauce over the chicken wings. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
Remove the wings from the slow cooker and place them on a sheet pan coated in cooking spray.
Preheat the broiler. Broil the sheet pan of wings for 3-4 minutes or until crunchy and browned. Flip the wings and broil the other side for another 1-2 minutes.
Brush some of the sauce from the slow cooker onto the broiled wings, then serve immediately.

Notes

Choose party style wings which have the drumette already separated from the flat.
You can make your own kitchen-made BBQ sauce, or use your go-to store bought option.
Slow cooker chicken wings will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat the wings in the oven until they are crunchy.