Chili Oil Chicken Wings

This chili oil chicken wings recipe is super easy to make, and you can prepare most of it ahead of time.

No game day party is complete without wings; unlike your party, these are a sure thing.

Chili oil is easy to make, and any leftovers will go great on eggs, pork belly, noodles, sandwiches, and even vegetables. The possibilities are endless here!

Chili Oil Chicken Wings on the Smoker

The key to this recipe is making your own chili oil by combining fresh ginger and garlic with dried chili flakes and then pouring over hot oil.

For the best flavor, use Gochugaru, which is a type of Korean chili flake. If you can’t get your hands on it, Aleppo or regular chili flakes will work.

You could easily cook these wings in the oven or on the grill away from the direct heat, but my favorite method is to use a smoker for a little extra flavor.

I am a huge fan of using pellet grills. They are typically large enough to cook a huge batch of wings in a single batch.

For this cook, I used my new Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 36.

I have been using this grill for a few months now, and I am beyond impressed with what this pellet grill is capable of. You get the convenience of a pellet grill but the ability to add the flavor of a charcoal smoker by throwing wood or charcoal into its firebox.

How to make chili oil chicken wings 

1. Fire up the smoker

Set your grill or smoker to 350°F for cooking. Allow 20 minutes for the grill to preheat.

I used the Gourmet Blend from Bear Mountain BBQ, which consists of oak, hickory, maple, and cherry hardwoods, giving it some great smoke flavor.

2. Season

If you bought whole chicken wings, separate the drums and flats by cutting each part of the wing with a sharp knife at the knuckle. 

Place the wings in a bowl, then coat them with an olive oil binder, which will help the seasoning stick to the chicken wings.

Season your wings with a salt, pepper, and garlic blend and the cornstarch.

Thoroughly mix the chicken wings to ensure each wing is properly coated. 

3. Smoke the wings

Place your seasoned wings directly on the grates of the preheated grill.

Since I cooked these wings on my new Camp Chef Woodwind Pro, I added a chunk of cherry wood to the Smoke Box for some extra flavor.

This is optional, and there are plenty of other ways to get more smoke flavor on your pellet grill.

After 30 minutes of cooking, flip the wings over and let them cook for an additional 30 minutes. This allows the wings to cook evenly on the inside and give you a super delicious, crispy skin on the outside (this is where the cornstarch helps by drying out the skin). 

4. Chili oil

Add the oil to a pot and place it on the stovetop over medium heat. Once the oil reaches 375°F, it is ready for the final step. I used canola oil for this recipe, but avocado oil is another excellent option.

Prepare your garlic and ginger by mincing fresh produce. Then, combine them in a porcelain bowl with the other dry ingredients.

Be sure to use a bowl/dish that is safe/ made to handle hot oil. Do not use a standard bowl or cup, as it may crack due to the heat.

When the oil reaches 375°F, carefully pour it into the bowl with all the other ingredients. All the ingredients will sizzle, and a lot of steam will rise from the dish.

Once it’s done sizzling and the steam is gone, carefully stir the ingredients, then set aside for later. 

You can store any leftover chili oil in a mason jar and refrigerate it for up to a week. My favorite thing to do is to top some eggs with chili oil for a little extra kick in the morning. 

5. Serve

Once your crispy, juicy wings have reached an internal temperature of 185°F, remove them from the grill and place them in a large bowl. 

Top the wings with your cooled-down chili oil, then either stir or toss them to ensure they are all coated in the chili oil. 

Serve them up immediately, or you can reheat them on the grill for 5 minutes on high to make your wings even crispier. 

Optional: serve them up with a dipping sauce of your choice. These wings are packed with flavor, so this is totally your call! 

Other wings recipes to try

If you are anything like me, you enjoy having multiple flavor options of wings to feast on. You can easily grill up a huge pile of wings with the same seasoning, then top them with a different sauce.  

Be sure to check out all of our other delicious wing recipes, like our Lemon Pepper, Honey Garlic, Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, and Mango Habanero.