Grilled Cajun Wings are an easy, oh-so flavorful snack that packs a powerful spicy punch! These wings are rubbed with a homemade cajun seasoning, grilled, and slathered with a sweet and spicy sauce. They are downright addictive!
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Sprouts! As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cake ‘n Knife!
The Big Game is just around the corner, and I know you are all getting excited for whatever gathering you are planning on hosting or attending!
If there is any appetizer or snack that I absolutely adore having come game time, it’s chicken wings.
They are tasty, hearty, and go with so many different flavors so they can fit anyone’s flavor preference.
I don’t think any game watching session should ever go without them, and you’ll 100% agree with me once you get your taste buds on these bad boys.
One of the biggest questions I get about chicken wings is… do I break them down myself, or do I buy them already broken down?
I have done it both ways, but lately, I’ve been turning to The Butcher Shop at Sprouts so I can get them already broken down into wings and drummettes. Honestly, the time is takes to break down the wings isn’t really worth it, and it doesn’t make a difference to buy them prepped already.
The best part is, when you buy chicken wings from Sprouts, you know you are getting the highest quality product. Their chicken wings are always fresh, never frozen, all natural, and cage-free. The chickens are actually hatched, raised, and harvested in the U.S. with no added hormones, steroids, or artificial ingredients. That way you can be sure you are getting a product that you can have confidence in when you devour it, and especially when you serve it to your friends and family.
It’s the double-dose of cajun seasoning that makes these wings pack an epic punch of touchdown flavor.
First, you make a homemade cajun seasoning for a dry rub that the wings sit in the night before you plan to cook them. This helps the wings absorb those hearty spice notes.
Throw them on the grill on game day, and in the last minutes of cooking, you add a spicy sweet sauce to the mix.
This makes the wings sticky, spicy, and sweet in all the best ways!
Trust me when I say these wings will be gobbled up in about 5 minutes flat. So if you are having a party, be sure to make a double batch. If you want to serve two different kinds of wings, check out my dry rub wings!
Just a little pro tip, from me to you.
Or keep the one type of wings and add a bowl of hot boudin dip to enjoy as another tasty appetizer!
Don’t forget to hit up your local Sprouts Butcher Shop to create the perfect plan for the Big Game! They can help you choose other delicious items like handcrafted sausages, freshly ground meats, and marinated, ready-to-cook meats. These will make your gathering a surefire WIN. You can even pick their brains for cooking tips. Also, don’t forget to ask them to make custom cuts to make your prep time a whole lot shorter!
Are you hosting or attending a Big Game watch party this year??
This Recipe’s Must-Haves
To get your wings prepped before grilling, I use this USA Pan Bakeware Extra Large Sheet Baking Pan and Bakeable Nonstick Cooling Rack Set
. It fits perfectly in the bottom shelf of my fridge.
I lalalalala-looooooove this Traeger Lil Tex Elite 34 Pellet Grill
. It’s PERFECT for grilling, smoking, baking, and more. Seriously, once you go Traeger, you just don’t go back. I used Traeger Hickory 100% All-Natural Hardwood Grill Pellets
, but you can honestly use any of their pellet chip flavors!
To slather the sauce on the wings, you’ll need this Traeger Silicone Basting Brush
. It’s long so you won’t risk burning yourself, as well as being way easier to clean that non-silicone brushes.
Another grilling tool I adore are these Traeger 18″ BBQ Grill Tongs
. Again, they are long enough so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself, plus they have excellent grip strength.
Pin this Grilled Cajun Wings recipe for later!
Grilled Cajun Wings
ingredients
- 4 lbs chicken wings broken down into drummettes and flats
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 4 Tbsp butter melted
- 4 Tbsp hot sauce I used buffalo style hot sauce, but you can use your favorite kind
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 tsp cajun spice mix reserved from above
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Fresh parsley for garnish
instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Set aside 1/2 tsp of the mixture. Mix in baking powder with the majority of the spice mix.
- Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with majority of the cajun seasoning. Toss to coat. Place on a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 8 hours.
- Grill wings skin side up for 30 to 35 minutes, covered and over indirect heat.
- While the wings are grilling, make the sauce. Whisk together butter, hot sauce, honey, cajun spice rub, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Brush the wings with the sauce and cook an additional 5 minutes, covered.
- Add the remaining sauce to a large bowl and toss the wings in the sauce. Add the wings to a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle with parsley before serving.
notes
Don't worry if you don't have a grill! You can easily make these wings in the oven. Follow the recipe through Step 2. To bake the wings, preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchement paper. Spread the wings in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 50 minutes. Flip them halfway through, baking until they are cooked through and crispy. Make sauce and brush on the wings. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes. Continue onto Step 6.
Steven Noble says
I made the sauce as in the recipe but it was very thin…..it was not sticky whatsoever. Flavors were phenomenal, but the sauce didn’t look like yours.
Meghan Y. says
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t turn out! The sauce itself is supposed to be thinner – the wings gets a sticky base layer when you brush the wings on the grill with it and let it cook. I would suggest either turning up the heat on your grill or letting it cook another minute or so for better results!
Latasha says
Help would like to know if these Cajun wings can be made in the oven or will that change the taste or texture?
Meghan Y. says
You can definitely bake them! Follow the recipe through Step 2. To bake the wings, preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchement paper.
Spread the wings in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 50 minutes. Flip them halfway through, baking until they are cooked through and crispy.
Make sauce and brush on the wings. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes. Continue onto Step 6.
Continue to follow the recipe from step 6 on.
Naruto Senki App says
Just made these for the big game and they were a huge hit! The spicy and sweet flavors were perfect and the Cajun seasoning added a great depth of flavor. Definitely a new game day favorite in our household!