The Only Grilled Chicken Wings Recipe You'll Ever Need

Here's something I've noticed about chicken wings: most people think of them as a vehicle for sauce.

Listen, I get it, I have my favorite sauces too. But there's a reason that mindset exists. People rely on sauce to make their wings flavorful because the wings themselves don't taste all that good.

That's the reality of most conventionally raised chicken. Those birds aren't eating what they're supposed to like grass and bugs. Instead, they're fed a diet of modified grains designed to help them gain weight quickly. That diet is high in starches but low in actual nutrition, and you can taste the difference. Or rather, you can't taste much at all.

But pasture-raised chicken is a different story. When you bite into a wing from a chicken that was raised on pasture, the flavor is immediate, and it can stand on its own without heavy sauces.

That's exactly why the recipe I'm sharing today is so simple. We don't need to do a lot to make these wings delicious — just a good seasoning and the right amount of time on the grill. My family requests these constantly, and the only real challenge is keeping their hands off the tray long enough for me to grab a few myself.

This is the one wings recipe you need for the Fourth of July and the rest of grilling season.

Cook with me!

I made a video breaking down all these steps. Check it out and let's cook our wings together!

What You'll Need

• Chicken wings — as few or as many as you'd like. For our family of four, I usually make 2 packs and we'll have leftovers. For a small get-together, 3 packs is the sweet spot. Right now, through July 5th, we're including a free pack of chicken wings with every single order so there's no better time to give this a try.
• Rebel Rub — our go-to spice blend that's sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of spicy. It's what makes the flavor of these wings really sing.
• A large bowl
• Tongs
• A grill

Let's Make Them

1. Get your grill going. Turn on your grill and let it come up to temperature while you prep the wings. You're aiming for 375°F.

2. Dry your wings — don't skip this. Empty your chicken wings into a large bowl and pat them dry with paper towels. If you have time, you can also lay them out on a baking sheet and let them sit uncovered in the fridge for about an hour. This is the secret to crispy skin. Really dry wings are the difference between wings that have that perfect snap when you bite into them and wings that are just... fine. Don't rush this step.

3. Season generously. Sprinkle your Rebel Rub directly over the wings in the bowl and toss to coat thoroughly. Don't overthink the amount — measure with your heart. You want every surface covered.

4. Grill, lid down. Once your grill is at 375°F, spread the wings out in an even layer, avoiding any hot spots. Close the lid and let them cook for 8 minutes. 

5. Flip. After 8 minutes, use your tongs to flip every wing. The side that was on the grill should have a beautiful golden color. If it's not there yet, give it another minute or two before flipping.

6. Finish and check your temp. Cook on the other side for another 8 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F at the thickest part. Note: Pasture-raised chicken cooks faster than conventional chicken, so using a meat thermometer will be your best bet against overcooking.

7. Serve. Plate them as-is or with your favorite dipping sauce on the side. At our house, we usually eat half of them plain before we even make it back inside.

Don't Miss Your Free Wings

Through July 5th, every order from Rebel Pastures comes with a free pack of pasture-raised chicken wings. If you've been thinking about stocking up (or if you just want an excuse to make this recipe this weekend) now is the time.

Order Now and Get Your Free Wings →

From our family to yours, happy grilling!

— Jenni