These Pellet Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings are seasoned with an Old Bay rub, grilled to perfection, then coated in a fantastic honey glaze. They are absolutely delicious and make the perfect appetizer for cookouts, parties, and game nights.
What is Old Bay Seasoning?
Old Bay Seasoning originated in Baltimore, Maryland, and was later popularized by McCormick & Company. This coastal staple gets its distinct flavor from celery salt, paprika, and other spices. Old Bay is primarily used on shellfish but works well on poultry, pork, corn on the cob, and snack items like chips or boiled peanuts. This ‘go-to’ Maryland flavoring is widely used in Southern, Mid-Atlantic, and New England states. Old Bay seasoning is available in several grocery chains and online retail stores.
How to make Pellet Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings:
- Equipment: First and foremost, you will need a good pellet grill.. These wings are cooked at 375 degrees F. and contain a bit of cornstarch to help them crisp up. If you’d rather use baking powder (NOT baking soda) to crisp the wings, use 1 tablespoon in the rub instead of cornstarch.
- However, if you are working with a charcoal or gas unit, set up for indirect cooking. Cook the wings indirectly until the wings have reached 170 degrees F. Then move them over direct heat to crisp up.
- If these pellet grilled chicken wings are not crispy enough for your liking, place them into an air fryer for 5 minutes, or broil them in your oven.
- Wood: Use maple, pecan, or cherry for best results. The object is to give these wings a quick hit of smoke since these spend a short time on the grill. Of course, we all have different wood preferences, so if you have a favorite “go-to” wood choice, definitely use that.
- Brine: For best results, we recommended doing a quick brine for the wings. It’ll take two about 2-4 hours; however, it’s not mandatory. You can still make some delicious chicken wings without brining them!
- Glaze: If you’d like a substitute for honey, feel free to use real maple syrup, agave nectar, or keto-friendly alternatives. It will somewhat change the flavor, but if you prefer one sweetener over another, try it and let us know how it worked out.
- Doneness: The chicken wings are safe to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. That doesn’t always mean that they will have that satisfying crunch. So we recommend cooking them to an internal temperature between 175-180 degrees F.
Serving:
These pellet grilled old bay chicken wings make a great appetizer or meal. Serve at cookouts, parties, tailgating events, or take them to a potluck. We like to serve them with crudites and a little blue cheese, but they work well with a side salad as well.
Pellet Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings drumettes, and flats
- 1/2 cup old bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 medium green onions finely chopped (garnish)
- For glaze:
- 1 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon old bay seasoning
Instructions
- Set your pellet cooker to 375 degrees F., and let it heat up for a good 15 minutes with the lid down.
- Meanwhile, if you are brining wings, give them a gentle rinse and blot dry with paper towels.
- Combine Old Bay seasoning with cornstarch and salt (use half or omit salt completely if brining). Sprinkle the entire mixture over wings, and toss to coat well in seasoning.
- Place wings in the pellet cooker, close the lid and let it go for 35 minutes. Turn them halfway through.
- While wings are cooking, it’s time to prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan, combine honey with butter and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the mixture has thinned out. Add ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning to glaze. Remove from heat and keep warm.
- After 35 minutes:
- Place wings into an aluminum pan and pour glaze over top.
- Toss to coat, and place the entire pan back into the pellet cooker.
- Let it go for an additional 10 minutes, or until wings reach an internal temperature of between 175-180 degrees F.
- Remove wings from the cooker, and garnish with chopped green onion. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Try some of our other pellet grill recipes:
- Pellet Cooked New York Strip Steaks
- Pellet Smoked Beef Tri-Tip
- The Best Pellet Grill Burger
- Pellet Roasted Leg of Lamb
- Smoked Chuck Roast
- Pellet Cowboy Steak
- Holiday Rib Roast on a Pellet Grill
- Pellet Grill Smoked Brisket
- Pellet Grill Pork Ribs
Check out all our best grills and smoked appetizer recipes!
