How to cook chicken wings on a griddle

Yes! You can cook up perfectly crispy chicken wings on your outdoor griddle for your next party. Here’s how.

Why cook wings on a griddle

So many people have flat top griddles in their backyards now, and they’re really popular at tailgates, too.

Whether you have a Blackstone griddle or an Evo grill like I do, there are so many things you can cook on it, including chicken wings. And the process is actually really easy.

The secret to creating the crispiest wings on a grill, smoker or griddle, is to rub the wings the night before with salt and baking powder. This is a technique I have done for years. It helps draw excess moisture from the skins, so they crisp up beautifully.

Then, you just fire up your griddle, squirt on a little cooking oil and get searing. The wings will crisp up in around 30 minutes, and you can add different sauces or seasonings at the end.

Ingredients

• Chicken Wings: For this recipe, I recommend using party wings that are separated versus whole wings. If you buy frozen wings, make sure they’re fully thawed.
• Kosher Salt
• Baking Powder: This helps the skin get crispy.
• Garlic Powder
• Vegetable Oil

Optional Finishing Touches

Amplify your wings by finishing them with seasoning or your favorite wing sauce.

• BBQ Rub: Use any kind of dry rub or spice you like.
• Hot Sauce
• BBQ Sauce

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.

How to cook chicken wings on a griddle

1. STEP ONE: Pat the wings dry with a paper towel. Toss with kosher salt, garlic powder and baking powder. You can lay them on a pan or keep them in a large bowl and refrigerate uncovered overnight.

PRO TIP: I don't recommend adding any other seasoning at this point, because it could burn on the hot flat top grill. Save the extra seasoning for the end. 

2. STEP TWO: Heat the griddle to medium. Toss the wings with a little oil and place them on the grill.

3. STEP THREE: Cook for 25-30 minutes flipping often, so they brown on all sides. You can add more oil as needed.

PRO TIP: Once the wings reach an internal temperature of 165F degrees, they're cooked through. For the best wings, I usually cook mine to a temp of 195-205F, which I finish in the next step. 

4. STEP FOUR: For plain wings, remove them from the grill and serve. For added flavor, sprinkle on your favorite seasoning or drizzle on some sauce and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

How to serve griddle-cooked wings

Place your wings on a platter with celery sticks, carrots sticks and ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. You can also add a side of extra sauce.

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat wings in the microwave, air fryer or back on the outdoor griddle.