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-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs chicken wings, paprika, 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 "Plan a meal with the AI" 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

The grilling tools we’d reach for here → Best Grilling Tools and BBQ Gadgets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

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.