Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

 These slow-cooker chicken wings, cooked to crispy perfection and smothered in sweet and savory sticky glaze, make the ultimate appetizer for game day and summer BBQS.                     

The slow cooker is the god’s gift for our kitchens, and it makes cooking so effortless! You can cook frozen chicken wings in amazing sauce and quickly broil them to serve your guests, probably the best hot wings they’ve ever had!

My best tip for making these chicken wings is to add Dr Pepper soda to the sauce and cornstarch. Cornstarch makes the skin even crispier.

Addicted to chicken wings? I have even more amazing recipes for you that you can make in the oven, over the grill, or air fryer: Honey Chicken wings, Garlic Parmesan chicken wings, Sweet Thai Chili chicken wings, or these perfect Pellet Chicken wings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One of the best game day snacks and Super Bowl party foods that is always a crowd-pleaser.
• Much healthier wing recipe than deep frying.
• No standing in front of the hot stove or oven, no struggling with hot oil for deep frying! The slow cooker does all the hard work for you.
• Not as spicy as chicken with buffalo wing sauce, making them more kid-friendly. You can always serve it with extra buffalo sauce for guests who love spicy food or ranch dressing.
• Versatile. It pairs so well with different salads, garnishes, and sides!

Ingredients Notes

This is an overview of the recipe, you can find exact quantities and a printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Frozen chicken wings. Can buy it at any grocery store.
• Garlic. I use minced garlic, but you can use garlic powder in a pinch.
• Sauce ingredients: BBQ sauce, Dr. Pepper, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, and brown sugar. Red pepper flakes can be added to the sauce mixture for an added kick, but are totally optional. You can also use molasses instead of brown sugar.

Kitchen Equipment

• Crock pot
• Mixing bowl
• Baking sheet

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

1: Lay Chicken Wings In The Slow Cooker

1. Prep your slow cooker insert by spritzing with cooking spray or oil to keep it from sticking.
2. Place chicken wings in the cooker.

2: Make The Sauce

Whisk the brown sugar, BBQ sauce, Dr. Pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Reserve ¼ cup of the sauce in a separate bowl. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the wings.

3: Slow Cook

1. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until thoroughly cooked and tender. They can be served now, or you can continue with the optional steps.
2. If you’re out of time, cook for 2 hours on high and broil.

4: Optional, Broil Chicken Wings

Place the wings on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush wings with the reserved sauce and broil until glazed and sticky in the preheated oven. Serve immediately.

What To Serve Crockpot Chicken Wings With

You need a delicious savory dipping sauce to pair with these crispy chicken wings.

• Ranch dipping sauce is my favorite quick dip to make.
• Blue cheese dressing.
• Jalapeno Popper dip.
• Add some carrot sticks, bell peppers, broccoli florets, and celery sticks to make a nice spread of appetizers.

Storage

Leftover chicken wings can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheat in an air fryer, oven, or microwave.

You can also freeze these slow-cooker chicken wings in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Substitutions & Variations

• Buffalo wings. Use store-bought or homemade buffalo sauce to coat the frozen wings. Homemade buffalo sauce is technically just hot sauce and unsalted butter.
• Make this recipe with your favorite flavor of barbecue sauce.
• Make sauce mixture with Worcestershire sauce, Ketchup, or soy sauce, and your favorite seasoning and herbs (smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder).
• For more flavors, you can add butter, chicken broth, or beer for cooking wings. Onion powder adds some flavor, too.
• Swap brown sugar for honey! It will make the sauce stickier and add more sweetness.
• Of course, you can use fresh wings, but the cook time may differ, though. Fresh wings cook faster (about 3 hrs).
• Feel free to use chicken thighs or drumsticks, too!

Popular Questions

Can You Cook Chicken Wings In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can cook chicken wings in a slow cooker! Slow cooking allows for the meat to become tender and flavorful without much effort. Just place the wings in the slow cooker, add your favorite sauce, and let them cook slowly for a few hours. To make the skin crispy, broil the chicken wings afterwards.

Is It Ok To Put Raw Chicken In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to put raw chicken in a slow cooker. The slow cooker will cook the chicken thoroughly, as long as you follow the cooking time guidelines. The internal temperature of the cooked chicken is supposed to be around 165°F.

Is It Better To Cook Chicken On High Or Low In The Crockpot?

It depends on how much time you have and the type of chicken. Cooking chicken on low heat takes longer, usually about 4-6 hours, but it makes the meat really tender. Cooking on high heat is faster, taking about 3-4 hours, but the chicken might not be as tender. Frozen chicken wings is best cooked on high, while fresh chicken wings are better slow-cooked on low.

What Is The Best Cooking Method For Wings?

Baking, frying (air frying or deep frying), grilling, and slow cooking are all popular methods for cooking chicken wings. Baking, air frying, and slow cooking are healthier options because they use less oil. Frying makes wings crispy but adds more calories. Grilling gives a nice smoky flavor and is perfect for summer!

If you love this slow cooker recipe, you’re going to love these other recipes made in the crockpot, too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Chicken Wing Recipes

Hot Honey Chicken Wings

Pellet Grill Chicken Wings

Garlic and Honey Chicken Wings

Grilled Chicken Wings

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