Are you having trouble figuring out how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill so they’re juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside? Those bite-sized morsels of goodness can be tough to conquer, but you’ve come to the right place.
Properly prepared and cooked, grilled wings can easily rival their deep-fried counterparts—in both flavor and crispiness. The problem is that grillers usually end up burning their bird in search of that elusive crisp. We’re here to help.
Getting grilled wings crispy without drying out the inside is quite literally a science. Don’t worry if you prefer an apron over a lab coat. Our method lets you grill chicken wings on a gas grill with ease.
Stop winging it—grill your wings like a pro! Here’s how.
The Secret Ingredient
Ready to discover the key that unlocks the crispiest grilled wings you’ve ever tried? Baking powder. That’s right. Reaching for the baking powder probably isn’t your first instinct when grilling, but it works.
When you break down the science and chemistry behind it, this secret ingredient makes sense. Baking powder raises the chicken skin’s pH levels so the proteins break down faster, naturally leading to a crispier exterior.
Additionally, when you apply baking powder before grilling chicken wings on a gas grill, a reaction occurs that causes the formation of microscopic bubbles of carbon dioxide. Those bubbles enter the skin and get stuck there. When you apply heat, they expand.
Of course, there’s more to learning how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill than just covering them in baking powder! There are other ingredients and preparations that help the crisping process along. Follow these steps.
1. Dry Brine Your Wings
While it’s customary to marinate chicken breasts, chicken thighs, and other grilled meats before grilling them, wings should be dry-brined. The goal is to remove moisture, not add more. If you prefer your wings saucy, you shake ‘em in the sauce after you grill chicken wings on a gas grill.
Here’s a very simple but effective dry brining method:
- Mix two teaspoons of baking powder and two teaspoons of kosher salt for every pound of wings.
- In a large bowl, toss the wings in the dry brine.
- Line a baking pan with aluminum foil.
- Place a wire rack inside the pan.
- Put your wings on the rack, leaving an inch or two of space between them.
- Rest them in the fridge uncovered for at least eight hours.
This dry brine won’t add any flavor to your wings, which is preferable if you’re planning to coat them in sauce later or simply enjoy tasting the natural meat.
If you don’t plan to add sauce after you grill chicken wings on a gas grill, you might want to add seasonings to your dry brine. Chili pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper are all great options.
2. Start Low and Slow
Now that your wings are prepped, you’ll need to know how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill at the right heat levels. Like many grilled meats, you’ll want to use a combination of indirect and direct grilling.
Start by grilling your wings on indirect heat for 20 minutes or so. This will get the juices moving on the inside without burning the skin. If you’re using a thermometer, the plan is to move them to the searing zone right before the internal temperature hits 165°F.
3. Sear Them to Crispy Perfection
Many people who try to grill chicken wings on a gas grill give up because their grills aren’t able to reach the high temperatures required to sear the skin crispy. Gas grills offer a lot of benefits, but they do lack in the heat department.
The FlavrQ Grilling System is a simple and effective solution. Not only does it infuse your food with authentic charcoal-grilled flavor, but it boosts the heat capabilities of gas grills by over 100°, making it possible to achieve a beautiful sear that locks in moisture and flavor.
Without FlavrQ, you can wing it with your stock gas grill, but the results won’t be nearly as impressive! Once you grill chicken wings on a gas grill that’s equipped with FlavrQ, you’ll never look back.
At this point of the grilling process, your wings are basically fully cooked, so you just need to sear them for a minute or two until the skin is golden-brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
Grill Like the Pros with FlavrQ
That’s how to grill chicken wings on a gas grill like a true grill master! All that’s left is to toss them in your favorite wing sauce and enjoy finger-lickin’ good wings!
Before you invite your friends over for a wing feast, make sure your gas grill is upgraded with FlavrQ. Our proprietary gas grill accessories do so much more than grill chicken wings on a gas grill! They drastically improve any grilled food you can imagine.
All you need is the FlavrQ Grid and our patented Charcoal Chips™ fuel. The installation takes seconds (no special tools or skills required) and won’t permanently modify your grill. Just make sure you check your grill’s dimensions to ensure it’s compatible before ordering.
Ready to start enjoying the juiciest, crispiest, and tastiest grilled foods at home? The FlavrQ Starter Kit has everything you need to unleash the ultimate grill master in you. Get yours now, and check out our BBQ blog for more awesome recipes and grilling tips!