Smoked Buffalo Wings Recipe With Blue Cheese Dip

These smoked buffalo wings are about to become your new favourite hot wings recipe! Buffalo chicken wings are known for their spicy flavour, paired perfectly with a blue cheese dipping sauce.

This easy-to-make appetiser is about to become your new go-to when entertaining. This classic pub food is taken to the next level with the addition of the smoky flavours.

Smoked Buffalo Wings Recipe

We love chicken wings in our household. Buffalo wings are a weekend favourite when we want something easy and quick to make on the smoker. And it really doesn’t need to be complicated!

Sure, you can make your own buffalo sauce from scratch, but let’s face it – sometimes we just want something simple. That’s where store-bought buffalo sauce comes in handy.

Just make sure you choose a good quality one with plenty of flavour.

Or if you do want to make your own, check out this homemade buffalo sauce recipe.

We usually make a few for the kids with BBQ sauce too since they don’t like anything with chilli powder or too much spice.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also experiment with different flavours and spices to create your own signature buffalo sauce for your chicken wings recipe. Some popular additions include honey or maple syrup for some sweetness.

What You Will Need

For this recipe, you will need approximately 2kg of chicken wings. Frozen is fine. Just make sure you give them enough time to defrost, ideally by defrosting in the refrigerator overnight.

Chicken Wing Dry Rub

This chicken dry rub is similar to my go-to pork spice rub, which can be used for most dishes. This version has a few extra ingredients in it, including chicken stock, thyme and rosemary.

• 4 tablespoons of smoked Paprika
• 4 tables spoons of brown sugar 
• 2 tablespoons of Garlic Powder
• 1 tablespoon of Onion Powder
• 1 Tablespoon of Mustard powder 
• 4 tablespoons of Salt
• 4 Tablespoons of cracked pepper
• 1 cube of chicken stock (finely grated) 
• 1 teaspoon of thyme
• 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary 

How To Make Buffalo Wings In The Smoker

If you’re looking for a way to add a smoky flavour to your buffalo wings, then using a smoker is the way to go. Smoking your wings can give them a unique flavour that you can’t get from traditional frying or baking.’

I used a bullet smoker and the prep instructions below include steps for using a charcoal grill, so you will need to adjust a little if you’re using a pellet smoker any other type of smoker for your chicken wings recipe.

Here’s how to make buffalo wings in the smoker:

Preparing The Chicken

• Defrost chicken wings completely and allow them to come to room temperature. 
• Pat down chicken wings with a paper towel to soak up any moisture.
• Coat the chicken wings in dry rub and place on a baking rack.
• Light approx 15-20 briquettes and place on the holding grate. Use a heat deflector to push heat directly away or directly under the chicken (I use a water bowl as a heat deflector).
• The air temperature of your smoker should be between 115 & 135 degrees Celcius (240 to 275 Fahrenheit).
• Add your choice of smoking wood and wait till you get a nice thin blue smoke before putting your wings on.

Tip: Don’t skip patting down your chicken wings with paper towels. This will help the skin get crispy when cooked.

Smoking Your Chicken Wings 

• Place the wings on the smoker and cook for approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
• Remove from indirect heat and place on direct heat (place grate above charcoal for no more than a minute on each side to get a nice charcoal burn.
• Remove from the grill pour over your favourite buffalo hot sauce and toss. Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving with your blue cheese dressing.

Making The Blue Cheese Dip

While your chicken wings are in the smoker, you can pre-prepare your blue cheese dipping sauce.

• ½ cup of gorgonzola blue cheese
• ½ cup of sour cream
• ½ cup of creamy mayonnaise
• ¼ cup of full-cream milk 
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons of lime juice
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic 
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste 
• (optional – chopped dill, chopped rosemary, chilli flakes)

Mix all the dip ingredients together until you get a smooth creamy consistency. Using a fork works best to mash the blue cheese. Place back into the fridge for a couple of hours before serving. 

Managing the Heat

One of the most important things to consider when smoking buffalo wings is managing the heat.

You’ll need to maintain a consistent smoker temperature throughout the cook to ensure that your wings cook evenly. This means that you’ll need to monitor the temperature of your smoker and adjust it as needed.

You can use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the wings. You’ll also need to monitor the temperature of your smoker. Depending on the recipe, you may need to smoke your wings at high heat, medium heat, or low heat. Be sure to adjust the temperature of your smoker accordingly.

Monitoring the Cook

Another important aspect of smoking buffalo wings is monitoring the cook. You’ll need to keep an eye on the wings to ensure that they don’t overcook or undercook.

Smoke time can vary depending on the recipe and the desired level of smokiness. Be sure to adjust the smoke time as needed.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to make delicious smoked buffalo wings that are sure to impress your friends and family.

Buffalo Wings Serving Suggestions

Now that your wings are sauced, it’s time to serve them up. If you’re not sure what to serve with buffalo wings, there are plenty of options.

A classic accompaniment to wings is blue cheese dip, which provides a cool and creamy contrast to the spicy sauce.

You can also serve your wings with celery and carrot sticks on the side to add a little crunch and freshness to your plate.

When it comes to presentation, you can serve your wings on a platter with the sauce in a bowl in the centre for dipping.

Don’t forget to garnish with some fresh herbs or chopped spring onions to add a pop of colour and flavour.

If you’re serving up your buffalo wings as a meal rather than an appetiser, they pair well with fries, a side salad or even something simple like a potato bake.