Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken Wings - Delicious Wing Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

What I love about this recipe is the balance of flavors. The Dr Pepper brings a unique sweetness and depth, while the ketchup and brown sugar add that sticky quality we all crave in a good wing. The apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce give it a tangy kick that perfectly complements the sweetness.

Trust me, the baking powder trick is key to achieving that crispy skin on the wings when done. You’ll want to dry out those wings before they hit the grill, and this step is essential. Letting them rest in the fridge really makes a difference.

Ingredients

You’ll need a handful of simple ingredients to whip these up:

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 1 ½ cups Dr Pepper (that’s one can, folks)
• ½ cup ketchup
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Your favorite BBQ or chicken seasoning

How to Make It

First toss the wings with baking powder and your chosen seasoning. Just a light coating will do. Once they’re all coated, let them hang out in the fridge uncovered for at least an hour. This step helps dry out the skin even further. I know it’s tempting to skip it, but don’t! It’s worth the wait.

First things first, preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F if you can get it there. You want it hot and ready to go though regardless. While that’s heating up, take your chicken wings and pat them dry with paper towels. This is a super important step that I can’t stress enough. You want those wings as dry as possible so they get crispy when grilled.

While those wings are chilling, let’s make the glaze. In a saucepan, combine the Dr Pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat. You want to let it bubble away for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens up nicely. It should get glossy and syrupy, and that’s when you know it’s ready.

Now, back to the grill! Place the wings over direct heat and keep an eye on them, flipping often. You’re aiming for crispy skin and cooked-through wings. This should take about 18-22 minutes. My grill gets a little hot in spots, so I’ll move them around to avoid burning.

When you’re just a few minutes away from finishing, brush those wings generously with the glaze. Flip them and glaze them a few times to build that sticky coating. It’s like the final touch that takes these wings from good to incredible. Once they’re looking shiny and delicious, pull them off the grill and give them one last brush of warm glaze for that extra shine.

Let them rest on a wire rack for a couple of minutes before digging in. This helps keep the skin crispy, which is exactly what you want.

Tips and Variations

If you're feeling adventurous, you can play around with the glaze. Add some heat with a splash of hot sauce or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper in the glaze. You can even mix in some smoked paprika for an extra smoky flavor. And if you happen to have leftovers (which is rare, but it happens), these wings make a fantastic salad topper or can be added to a wrap for a quick lunch.

Serving Ideas

When it’s time to serve, I like to pair these wings with some classic sides. Think coleslaw, potato salad, or even a tangy cucumber salad to balance the sweetness. Don’t forget a cold drink, maybe another can of Dr Pepper to keep the theme going. If you’re feeling fancy, a little ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping never hurts.

Closing

So there you have it, my go-to recipe for Dr Pepper glazed chicken wings. They’re sweet, sticky, and downright addictive. I can’t wait for you to try this at your next gathering. Trust me, they’ll be a hit. Happy grilling!

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Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken Wings - Delicious Wing Recipe

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Chicken Wings
• 1 ½ C Dr Pepper (1 can)
• ½ C Ketchup
• ⅓ C Brown Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• Your Favorite BBQ or Chicken Seasoning

Instructions

• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F.
• Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels.
• Season the wings lightly with baking powder and your favorite BBQ or chicken seasoning. Toss until evenly coated.
• Let the wings rest uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour if possible. This helps dry out the skin for extra crispy wings.
• Place the wings on the grill and cook over direct heat, flipping often, until the skin is crispy and the wings are cooked through, about 15 minutes, but will vary - cook until around 200F internal
• While the wings cook, add the Dr Pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce to a saucepan over medium heat.
• Simmer the glaze for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy.
• Remove the wings from the grill and toss in the Dr Pepper Sauce
• Let the wings rest in the sauce for 5 minutes before serving.