Smoked Wings With Big Game Flavor Tips

If you are a fan of the NFL, and football in general, then you know the Super Bowl caps off the season complete with the big game, halftime show, and parties! And, those parties – wherever they may take place – often include chicken wings! That’s why this post is focused on a few simple flavor tips for your next batch of grilled, smoked, fried, baked or air fryer wings.

The Smoked Air Fryer Tip

This recipe tip is worth trying on Super Bowl Sunday. Do you love the flavor of smoked as well as the crispy crunch of fried wings? Why not have the best of both worlds. Combine the two cooking methods! First, season, marinate or rub the wings as you normally would and get them started on your smoker. Then, before they are fully cooked – but packed with smoky goodness – transfer the wings over to your air fryer! A few minutes at 380 degrees should add some crispiness to the skin. The trick here is to lightly toss the smoked wings in some baking powder – a light dusting – which will help the crispiness. Toss in the powder, finish cooking them in the air fryer turning as needed, and baste lightly with barbecue or buffalo sauce just before removing them from the heat. Serve hot!

The Beer Brine Tip with Recipe

Another thing that seems to go hand-in-hand with watching the Super Bowl for many fans is enjoying an ice-cold beer! So, it makes sense to add some beer to your chicken wing recipe. Try this beer brine tip for your next batch of wings. The great thing is that it does not matter what cooking method you are using. But, if you’re grilling your wings then make sure to use your BBQ Dragon Fire Starter Dragon Eggs to get things going! Dragon Eggs are perfect for starting your charcoal with or without a BBQ Dragon Chimney.

This tip includes beer as the main ingredient for a brine. Remember, chicken is a more delicate type of meat when compared to pork or beef. So the time the wings need to stay in this type of brine is not as long as something like a buttermilk brine. Start off with a hearty dark beer for deeper flavor or a Pale Ale for a lighter touch. Here’s all you need to do…

Kent’s Grilled Beer Brined Wings

• 1 bottle your favorite beer
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 2-3 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 – 3 pounds chicken wings
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 1/4 cup favorite barbecue sauce

Directions:

First, adjust amounts as needed depending on the number of wings you have. Next, in a large bowl, combine the beer, brown sugar, salt, and onion powder. Mix well and pour over wings or evenly coat wings using large zip-close bags. Chill in the fridge for an hour.

Remove from brine, toss in remaining spices to evenly coat. Grill as you normally would until done – use your BBQ Dragon thermometer to be sure (165°F). Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, toss in the hot sauce and barbecue sauce. Drizzle the mixture over the wings before serving!

Author Bio: Kent Whitaker, also known as “The Deck Chef,” is an award-winning culinary writer and cookbook author. He’s also penned Young Reader, NASCAR and History titles. The former winner of the Emeril Live Food Network Barbecue Contest also covers football, motorsports, and bass fishing. Kent currently lives in East Tennessee with his wife, son, and a couple of dogs that love when he fires up the smoker or grill. You can reach out to Kent at www.thedeckchef.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @thekentwhitaker.