Slow-Smoked Southern BBQ Chicken Wings with Spicy Dry Rub

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

Tender chicken wings infused with smoky flavor and coated in a zesty, spicy dry rub perfect for game day or casual gatherings. This Southern American chicken recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs chicken wings, paprika, and brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups soaked applewood chips
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to create the dry rub.
2. Step 2: Pat 2 lbs chicken wings dry with paper towels, then toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and rub the spice mixture evenly over all surfaces.
3. Step 3: Preheat your smoker or grill to 225°F and add 2 cups soaked applewood chips to generate smoke.
4. Step 4: Arrange wings on the smoker rack, maintaining indirect heat, and smoke for 1.5 to 2 hours until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and skin is slightly crisp.
5. Step 5: Remove wings from the smoker and let rest for 5 minutes before serving smoky, spicy wings hot off the grill.