Bang Bang Chicken Wings are a special kind of chicken wings. They’re first smoked, which means they’re cooked slowly with wood smoke to give them a deep flavor. After that, they’re fried to make them crispy. Finally, they’re covered in a spicy and creamy sauce called Bang Bang Sauce. These wings are perfect for parties, get-togethers, or just a tasty meal at home.

What is Bang Bang Sauce?

Bang Bang Sauce is a mix that’s a bit spicy, a bit sweet, and creamy. It’s made from common ingredients like mayo, which gives it creaminess; chili sauce, which adds sweetness; and hot sauce, which gives it a kick. There’s also garlic in it, which adds more flavor. This sauce is popular because it can make many dishes taste even better.

Common Dishes Using Bang Bang Sauce:

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos: These are tacos filled with fried shrimp. The sauce is drizzled over the shrimp, making the tacos extra tasty.
Shrimp Bang Bang Po Boy: This is a type of sandwich that has shrimp in it. The sauce is added to give the sandwich a spicy and creamy flavor!

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Ingredients:

Bang Bang Sauce:

1 cup mayo
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons hot sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon honey

Smoked Chicken Wings:

Chicken wings
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons chili powder
Mustard (as a binder)
3 hickory wood chunks

Fried Chicken Wings:

Canola oil (for frying)
Chopped chives (for garnish)

How to Smoke Chicken Wings:

Smoking is a way of cooking where food is exposed to wood smoke. This smoke gives the food a unique flavor. For our chicken wings, smoking makes them taste rich and smoky. The wings become soft and juicy from the inside because they’re cooked slowly. The added spices and mustard make sure the wings are full of flavor.

Begin by patting the chicken wings dry with paper towels.
Apply a thin layer of mustard over each wing. This acts as a binder, helping the seasoning adhere better.
Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder in a mixing bowl. Mix well.
Generously season each wing with the spice mixture, ensuring they’re well-coated.
Allow the wings to marinate for 15-20 minutes, letting the flavors meld.
While the wings are marinating, preheat your smoker to 250 degrees F.
Add three hickory wood chunks to the smoker for that authentic smoky flavor.
Once the smoker is ready, place the wings inside and let them smoke for 60-90 minutes. Ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Once smoked to perfection, transfer the wings to a baking sheet.

Fried Chicken Wings:

After the wings are smoked, they’re fried. Frying means cooking them in hot oil. This makes the outside of the wings crispy and golden. People love the combination of the soft inside and crispy outside of the wing. After frying, the wings are covered in Bang Bang Sauce. This sauce adds even more flavor to the wings. To finish, some green chives are sprinkled on top. Chives are like mild green onions and add a fresh taste.

Smoking wings before frying infuses them with a rich, smoky flavor while ensuring the meat remains tender and juicy. This process allows for a delightful contrast of a soft interior and crispy exterior. Additionally, the wings absorb seasonings better during smoking, leading to deeper flavors. The pre-cooking from smoking also reduces frying time, resulting in wings that are less greasy. Overall, this combination offers a unique and enhanced taste experience compared to just frying.

Pour canola oil into a skillet, ensuring it’s at least 2 inches deep, and heat to 350 degrees F.
Once the oil is hot, carefully add the smoked wings. Fry them for 60-90 seconds on one side until they turn a golden brown.
Flip the wings and fry the other side for an additional 60-90 seconds.
Remove the wings from the skillet and drain any excess oil on paper towels.
In a large mixing bowl or saucepan, add the wings.
Pour the prepared Bang Bang Sauce over the wings. Toss them gently, ensuring each wing is generously coated with the sauce.
Transfer the sauced wings to a serving plate and garnish with freshly chopped chives.

How to Make Bang Bang Chicken Wings:

To make these special wings, you need to follow a few steps. First, you prepare the Bang Bang Sauce by mixing all its ingredients. Then, you smoke the chicken wings. This means you cook them with wood smoke to give them a deep, smoky flavor. After they’re smoked, you fry the wings in hot oil. This makes them crispy. The last step is to pour the sauce over the wings and mix them so they’re fully covered. Add some chives on top, and they’re ready to be enjoyed.

Instructions:

Bang Bang Sauce:

In a mixing bowl, combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, and honey.
Whisk the ingredients together until smooth and set aside.

Smoking the Chicken Wings:

Pat the chicken wings dry using paper towels.
Apply a thin layer of mustard over each wing to act as a binder.
In a separate bowl, mix together salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
Generously season the wings with the spice mixture.
Allow the wings to marinate for 15-20 minutes.
Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees F.
Add the hickory wood chunks to the smoker.
Place the wings in the smoker and let them smoke for 60-90 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Once smoked, transfer the wings to a baking sheet.

Frying the Chicken Wings:

In a skillet, pour canola oil to a depth of at least 2 inches and heat it to 350 degrees F.
Carefully add the smoked wings to the hot oil, frying them for 60-90 seconds on each side until golden brown.
Remove the wings from the skillet and drain any excess oil on paper towels.
In a large mixing bowl or saucepan, add the wings.
Pour the prepared Bang Bang Sauce over the wings, tossing them gently to ensure they’re well-coated.
Transfer the sauced wings to a serving plate.
Garnish with freshly chopped chives and serve hot.

Below is a printable recipe card!

Bang bang Chicken Wings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1 15

Total Time 1 35

Course Appetizer

Servings 4