Description
Make restaurant-quality BBQ chicken wings better than takeout with this incredibly easy 3 ingredient crock pot chicken wings recipe! Using just frozen wings, Coca-Cola, and your favorite BBQ sauce, this slow cooker method creates fall-off-the-bone tender wings with perfectly caramelized sauce. The secret is the two-step cooking process: slow cooker for tenderness, then oven for that irresistible char. Perfect for game day, parties, or easy family dinners. No thawing required
Ingredients
Scale
- 12–16 frozen chicken wings (approximately 2.5 lbs, bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 can (12 oz) Coca-Cola (or store brand, diet cola, Sprite, or Dr. Pepper)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey flavor recommended)
Instructions
- Rinse frozen wings: Place frozen wings in large colander in sink. Rinse gently with slow-running water to remove ice crystals. Do not thaw. Wash sink area thoroughly after.
- Start slow cooker: Turn crock pot to LOW setting. Pour the entire can of Coca-Cola into the slow cooker.
- Add wings: Place all rinsed frozen wings into the cola. The liquid should barely cover the wings (they’ll create more juice while cooking).
- Slow cook: Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours until wings are tender and fully cooked. (3 hours for single bag, 4 hours for larger quantities)
- Preheat oven: About 30 minutes before wings are done, preheat oven to 350°F.
- Drain wings: Using a large slotted spoon (NOT tongs – wings are very tender!), carefully remove wings from crock pot and transfer to large colander. Let drain for 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare baking sheet: Line large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray foil generously with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange and sauce: Place drained wings in single layer on prepared baking sheet (don’t overlap). Brush each wing generously with BBQ sauce using silicone basting brush.
- Bake: Place in preheated 350°F oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until BBQ sauce is heated through.
- Broil for char: Turn oven to BROIL. Watch closely and broil for 1-3 minutes until wings develop char marks and sauce caramelizes. DO NOT WALK AWAY – char happens fast!
- Serve: Remove from oven when desired level of char is reached. Serve immediately while hot!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 wings (approximately 6 oz)
- Calories: 591 kcal
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 1,122mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 148mg
Keywords: 3 ingredient crock pot chicken wings, crock pot chicken wings