Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings

By Todd Martin December 29, 2023 5 mins read 151 Views

These Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings are seasoned with an Old Bay seasoning, grilled to perfection, then coated in a fantastic maple glaze. They are absolutely delicious and make the perfect appetizer for cookouts, parties, and game nights.

Pellet Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings on a tray.

What is Old Bay Seasoning?

Old Bay Seasoning originated in Baltimore, Maryland, and was later popularized by McCormick & Company. This coastal staple gets its distinct flavor from celery salt, paprika, and other spices. Old Bay is primarily used on shellfish but works well on poultry, pork, corn on the cob, and snack items like chips or boiled peanuts. This ‘go-to’ Maryland flavoring is widely used in Southern, Mid-Atlantic, and New England states. Old Bay seasoning is available in grocery stores nationwide, and sold through online retail stores.

Recipe tips

Equipment: We tested this grilled old bay chicken wings recipe on our pellet grill. However, you can cook these wings on a gas or charcoal grill or in your air fryer or oven.
Meat thermometer: Keep an instant-read thermometer nearby to check the temp of the chicken wings You don’t want to run the risk of undercooking or overcooking them!
Wood: Use maple, pecan, or cherry for best results. The object is to give these wings a quick hit of smoke since these spend a short time on the grill. Of course, we all have different wood preferences, so if you have a favorite “go-to” choice, use that.
Brine: For best results, we recommended doing a quick brine for these chicken wings. It’ll take two about 3-4 hours.
Glaze: The glaze is super easy to make and is made of real maple syrup. Do not use pancake syrup for this recipe. Make sure the label says “real maple syrup.” You can substitute this ingredient with honey or agave syrup.
Doneness: Chicken wings are safe to eat once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. That doesn’t always mean that they will have that satisfying crunch. So we recommend cooking them to an internal temperature of 175 degrees F.
Oven baked or air fryer chicken wings: Don’t own a grill? No problem! See the notes section in recipe card below for oven and air fryer instructions.

Ingredients

3 pounds of chicken wings, drumettes, and flats
Chicken Wing Brine
Olive oil (sub with grapeseed oil, hot sauce, or Worcestershire sauce)
Old Bay Seasoning
Real maple syrup
Unsalted butter
Salt
Chopped fresh chives (garnish)

Steps to Make Grilled Old Bay Wings

Brine the chicken wings for 2-4 hours.
Preheat your grill to 375 degrees F. If using a charcoal grill, stack the coals on one side, creating a two-zone cooking space. You will use the indirect heat side to cook the wings.
Remove wings from the brine solution and blot them dry with paper towels.
Coat wings with olive or grapeseed oil and season with old bay mixture.
Place wings on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook wings for 35-40 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
During the last 15 minutes of cooking time, prepare the glaze. Heat maple syrup, butter, 1/2 teaspoon old bay seasoning, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted through, remove from the heat, cover, and keep warm.
Place wings into an aluminum pan and pour glaze over top. Toss to coat, and place the entire pan back on the grill for 10 more minutes or until wings reach an internal temperature of between 175 degrees F.
Remove wings from the cooker, and garnish with chopped fresh chives. Serve immediately and enjoy with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer.

Air Fryer and Oven Wings

Air Fryer: Follow the brine and seasoning instructors listed on the recipe card. Cook wings in the air fryer according to manufacturers instructions (typically 30 minutes).
Oven: Arrange wings in a single layer n a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes, coat in glaze mixture, and return it to the oven for 8-10 minutes.

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