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Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings

Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings wings pack a punch of flavor, and the dry rub means you can savor each bite without worrying about a sauce-drenched catastrophe. Trust me, these wings are a game-changer, and your taste buds will thank you. Fire up your pellet grill and get smoking today!

Smoked Dry Rubbed Chicken Wings on a white plate.

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I love wings; my whole family loves wings and with a touch of smoke, wings are even more delicious! Wings are a blank canvas – you can add all kinds of flavors to them or just leave them simple and let a kiss of smoke work its magic.

These Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings are bursting with flavor! There’s a bit of heat in the rub which you can easily ramp up or down to suit your taste buds, and the blue smoke from the Traeger pellet grill really sticks to the rub so you get a bit of smoke in every bite.

For even more flavor, dry rub the wings and let them sit in the fridge for a few hours. But trust me, they’re great without any marinating time.

Craving wings? Fire up the pellet grill smoker and pass some napkins – you’re going to love these Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings!

Bbq chicken wings on a white plate with garlic.

What You’ll Love About Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings


  • Easy to make with simple ingredients.
  • The dry rub penetrates deep, ensuring each bite is a flavor bomb.
  • The Traeger pellet smoker gives an authentic, wood-fired taste.
  • Perfectly smoky yet crispy—no more choosing between the two.
  • Versatile enough to serve on game day, at BBQs, or during a fancy dinner.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken wings – Split; tips discarded.
  • Olive oil
  • Chili powder
  • Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Kosher salt
  • Ground pepper
  • Dried thyme
  • Smoked hot paprika
Spices and seasonings in bowls on a marble table.

How to Make Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings

  1. Preheat your Traeger pellet smoker to 225°F.
  2. Combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, ground pepper, dried thyme, smoked hot paprika, and olive oil in a small bowl.
  3. Toss the spice mixture with the chicken wings, ensuring they are well coated.
  4. Smoke the wings for about 1 hour or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F on a digital meat thermometer.
  5. Remove the wings from the smoker and crank up the heat to 450°F.
  6. Put the wings back on the pellet grill and cook for 3 minutes per side to make them a bit crunchier.
  7. Serve and enjoy your culinary masterpiece.
Chicken wings on a grill.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

  • Use a digital meat thermometer to make sure your wings are cooked to perfection. This way, you avoid any guesswork.
  • Don’t rush the smoking process. Slow and steady wins the flavor race.
  • Feel free to customize the spice mix to suit your own taste preferences.
  • Using quality wood pellets in your Traeger can make a significant difference in flavor.
  • Remember to preheat your Traeger. A properly heated pellet smoker is key for optimum smokiness.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Make It A Meal

Looking for some sidekicks to these show-stealing wings? Try pairing them with some homemade coleslaw and cornbread. The light, crisp coleslaw will complement the smoky richness of the wings, while the cornbread adds a touch of sweetness.

Chef Jenn's Favorite
Chef Jenn's 50+ Best Smoker Recipes eBook

This full-color ebook cookbook features more than 50 of Chef Jenn’s tried, tested, and favorite smoker recipes! Enjoy:

  • Smoked Beef Kabobs
  • Smoked Chicken Thighs
  • Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Pork Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
  • Smoked Spaghetti Squash with Herbs

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Storage

Finished but still have leftovers? No worries! Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. If you’re looking to save them for later, you can freeze these wings as well. Just ensure they’re in a freezer-safe bag or container. To reheat, simply thaw them in the fridge overnight and pop them back into your pellet grill or oven at 350°F until they’re warmed through.

Step By Step Process

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Smoked Dry Rubbed Chicken Wings on a white plate.
Print Pin
4.90 from 46 votes

Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings

With massive flavor in every bite, skip the sauce and go for Smoked Dry Rubbed Wings. So easy and so good, pass the napkins and dig in!
Course Appetizer, chicken, main dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken wings, smoked chicken, smoked wings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings
Calories 229kcal
Author Chef Jenn

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken wings split and tips removed
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked hot paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat your Traeger pellet smoker to 225°F.
  • Combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, ground pepper, dried thyme, smoked hot paprika, and olive oil in a small bowl.
  • Toss the spice mixture with the chicken wings, ensuring they are well coated.
  • Smoke the wings for about 1 hour or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F on a digital meat thermometer.
  • Remove the wings from the smoker and crank up the heat to 450°F.
  • Put the wings back on the pellet grill and cook for 3 minutes per side to make them a bit crunchier.
  • Serve and enjoy your culinary masterpiece.

Notes

Chef Jenn’s Tips
  • Use a digital meat thermometer to make sure your wings are cooked to perfection. This way, you avoid any guesswork.
  • Don’t rush the smoking process. Slow and steady wins the flavor race.
  • Feel free to customize the spice mix to suit your own taste preferences.
  • Using quality wood pellets in your Traeger can make a significant difference in flavor.
  • Remember to preheat your Traeger. A properly heated pellet smoker is key for optimum smokiness.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5pounds | Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 583IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

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