Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings
User Reviews
4.6
Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings
Description
This recipe starts by coating chicken wings with a dry rub of brown sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and dried parsley, which imparts complex spices. The wings are placed in a slow cooker and coated with a honey buffalo sauce made from hot sauce, honey, melted butter, and optional molasses. Cooking low and slow on high or low heat ensures the wings become tender and absorb the sauce’s flavors.
After slow cooking, the sauce can be reduced and thickened with a cornstarch slurry to form a sticky glaze that clings to the wings, enhancing the texture. This additional step adds a glossy coating for serving.
The wings deliver a balance of heat, sweetness, and savory spice with a tender, juicy interior due to slow cooking. They are suitable for serving as appetizers or part of a main meal.
Frozen wings can be used but should be thawed first to avoid excessive water in the sauce. If cooking from frozen, increase the cooking time accordingly for proper doneness.
Ingredients
SPICE RUB:
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder or dried minced onion
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 1 tsp parsley dried
HONEY BUFFALO SAUCE:
- 3/4 cup hot sauce Frank's Original is what I always use
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 Tbsp butter melted
- 1 Tbsp molasses optional but recommended
WINGS:
- 4 lbs chicken wings fresh, patted dry
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add rub ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and add chicken wings. Sprinkle rub over the top and use hands to massage the rub into all the chicken wings. I like to use nitrile gloves for this - easy clean up!
- In the empty rub mixing bowl, add sauce ingredients and whisk to combine well. Pour over spiced wings and toss gently to coat.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours, or on LOW for 3-4 hours.
FOR STICKY GLAZE:
- Cook slow cooker recipe as directed above. Line a baking sheet with 2 sheets of aluminum foil, then place an oven safe wire cooling rack on top. Place cooked wings on cooling rack, then pour sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Add 2 Tbsp cornstarch and 2 Tbsp of water to a small bowl and whisk to combine well, then pour into sauce and whisk. Cook over MED-HIGH heat until boiling, then reduce heat to MED-LOW and whisk as it cooks. Cook about 5 minutes, or until thickened to desired consistency.
- Brush wings with thickened sauce, then broil on HIGH for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce caramelizes a little. Brush with more glaze and broil another 2 minutes. Repeat this one more time and you should have perfectly sticky wings!
Notes
- For best results, thaw frozen wings before cooking, as ice glazing can thin the sauce.
- If cooking wings from frozen, increase cook time to 3 hours on HIGH or 4-6 hours on LOW.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6-
Amount Per Serving
Calories 714 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 714kcal | 36% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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