Spooky Smoked Bat Wings for Halloween

By James Kimble October 29, 2025 6 mins read 5 Views

These smoked “bat wings” aren’t winning any beauty contests, and that’s exactly the point. Coated in a black BBQ rub made with activated charcoal and injected with hot sauce for a fiery kick, they’re smoky, spicy, and perfect for your next Halloween gathering.

Underneath that ghoulish exterior, they’re just whole chicken wings, crisped up on the smoker and finished with a drizzle of spicy ranch. Serve them up and watch your guests hesitate… then come back for seconds.

Why these smoked bat wings are perfect for Halloween

Halloween happens to be one of my favorite times of year to fire up the smoker, especially here in Texas, where the cooler evenings make it prime grilling season.

I always lean into spooky snacks when I throw Halloween parties, but must still taste good. These wings might look wild, but they’re the real deal. Smoky, juicy, and packed with flavor they will disappear fast once they hit the table. They come together in about an hour and a half, so they’re easy to make and fun to serve.

Savory option – While most Halloween food tends toward sweetness, these are savory, smoky, and different from the usual candy and cupcakes.
They look creepy – The activated charcoal rub turns them pitch black, giving them a bat-wing-like, otherworldly appearance that fits Halloween’s spooky aesthetic.
They’re a fun party shocker – Injected hot sauce gives a surprise “bloody” look when you bite in, gory in the best way.
They’re customizable – Spicy, smoky, mild, or sweet, you can tweak the sauce options.

smoked bat wings on a plate with a bowl of spicy ranch beside them

Ingredients you’ll need

Whole chicken wings – You can use chicken wing portions for this recipe, but whole wings look more like bat wings, making them extra spooky.
Black BBQ rub – To get the black look on your wings, you’ll need a BBQ rub that contains activated charcoal. I used Hardcore Carnivore Black rub. It’s a savory blend of coarse black pepper, garlic, salt, onion, with a touch of sugar, chili powder, and activated charcoal for color. Any black rub will work.
Hot sauce – The injected hot sauce adds heat and a vinegary tang that cuts through the smoky rub. Plus, it gives a gory surprise when guests bite in!
Ranch dressing – Optional, but I like to mix ranch dressing with hot sauce to make a spicy ranch to drizzle on top of the wings. It adds a pop of color and flavor.

ingredients for smoked bat wings on a wood board

Equipment you’ll need

Smoker or pellet grill – I used my Grilla Grills OG pellet grill for these wings, but any smoker or pellet grill will work.
Poultry injector – For injecting the hot sauce into the chicken wings.
Squeeze bottle – The best tool for drizzling the spicy ranch.

How to make smoked bat wings

1. Fire up the smoker

Preheat your smoker to 275°F.

This is my favorite temperature to smoke chicken because it’s low enough to impart a good smoke flavor to the meat but hot enough to get the skin a nice and crisp.

I smoked these on my Grilla Grills OG pellet grill. It’s one of my favorite smokers for recipes like this because the barrel-like design pushes the smoke up through the chamber, and I find that it gives really amazing smoke flavor. Plus, the heat comes from below, which is a great way to ensure your chicken cooks evenly and gets extra crispy.

the gorilla grills og pellet smoker with a plate of raw wings on top

2. Inject the wings

Fill the injector with hot sauce and inject the wings in both the flat and drum portions. Any remaining hot sauce can be used as a binder for the seasoning.

a plate with raw wings, bowl of hoy sauce, an injector

The hot sauce adds flavor from the inside out, but also gives the appearance of blood on the inside. The whole point of this recipe is to be as spooky as possible, so I like to amp it up.

3. Season

A black BBQ rub is ideal for achieving that creepy, black bat-wing appearance. I used Hardcore Carnivore Black rub because it’s my favorite, but any rub with activated charcoal will work just fine.

Pro tip – I’ve seen similar recipes that use black food coloring to dye the sauce for the wings instead of a black rub. I have tried that before, and the food dye turned everyone’s mouths black, so the black rub is a way better option.

a tray of raw chicken wings with half of them coated with black BBQ rub

Season your wings liberally on all sides to ensure they’re fully coated in that black seasoning, then they’re ready to hit the smoker.

a white plate with raw seasoned chicken bat wings

4. Smoke the wings

Place the wings directly on the grates, or if you’re doing a big batch, use a wire rack to make it easier to move them on and off.

bat wings in the grilla grills pellet grill

Let them smoke for about one hour and 20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 180°F.

Remove the wings from the smoker, drizzle on the spicy ranch, and serve them up!

5.Make the spicy ranch sauce

Combine ranch dressing with hot sauce and give it a good mix.

For extra Halloween flair: Mix ketchup or BBQ sauce with a splash of beet juice or pomegranate molasses to deepen the red color; a bloodier effect with no artificial dyes.

I like to transfer it to a squeeze bottle to make it easier to drizzle on top of the wings, but you can serve it on the side if you prefer.

smoked bat wings ready to serve with spicy ranch

Sauce Variations

If you’re serving a mixed crowd, here are some easy options:

For milder heat lovers:

Ranch: Cut the hot sauce in half and add more ranch for a milder drizzle.
Chipotle mayo: Smoky with a touch of heat. You can use store-bought or stir chipotle powder into mayo or sour cream.

For kids or spice-sensitive guests:

Bloody ketchup: Serve with plain tomato ketchup or mix it with a little BBQ sauce for a thicker, “bloodier” look. It’s mild, sweet, and kid-approved.
Honey mustard: Creamy, tangy, and just a touch sweet. A nice contrast to the smoky wings without any heat.
Sweet BBQ sauce: A mild, smoky option that pairs well with the charcoal rub.

Whether you’re hosting a full-blown Halloween bash or just firing up the smoker for some seasonal fun, these spooky smoked bat wings are a guaranteed conversation starter. They’re easy to make, fun to serve, and fully customizable for all spice levels.

If these bat wings made an appearance at your Halloween spread, don’t ghost us. Drop a comment and leave a rating.

If spooky wings aren’t your thing, try one of these

Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings

The Best Smoked Buffalo Hot Wings With Crispy Skin

How to Make Traeger 0 to 400 Chicken Wings

Easy Chicken Wings on a Blackstone Griddle

Spooky Smoked Bat Wings for Halloween

Spooky smoked chicken wings coated in black BBQ rub and injected with hot sauce for a bloody Halloween twist. Smoky, spicy, and party-ready.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1 20

Total Time 1 30

Servings

Calories 413kcal

Author Breanna Stark

Equipment

meat injector

Ingredients

2 lbs whole chicken wings
¼ cup hot sauce
3 tbsp activated charcoal BBQ rub

Spicy ranch

¼ cup hot sauce
½ cup ranch

Instructions

Preheat smoker to 275°F.
Use a poultry injector to inject the wings in both the flat and drum portions. Any remaining hot sauce can be used as a binder for the seasoning.
Season the wings on all sides with the BBQ rub, ensuring they’re well-coated and fully blackened.
Place the wings on the smoker's grates for one hour and 20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 180°F.
When your wings are done, you can remove them from the smoker.
Drizzle the spicy ranch dressing over the top of the wings or serve it on the side for dipping and enjoy!