Smoky Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

Smoky Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe with Sticky Sweet Heat

Chicken wing lollipops sizzle with smoky traeger chicken wing lollipops recipe magic that turns ordinary poultry into a mouthwatering delight.

Crispy edges and tender meat create a perfect harmony of flavors that dance on your palate.

These wings pack a punch of smoky goodness that will have everyone asking for seconds.

The secret lies in the careful preparation and the distinctive traeger grill technique.

Marinades and spices infuse each bite with incredible depth and character.

Every wing becomes a handheld masterpiece of culinary creativity.

The result is a crowd-pleasing dish that elevates backyard gatherings from ordinary to extraordinary.

Storage Guide For Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

  • Cool Batch Preparation: Make extra wings and separate into meal-sized portions for quick future dinners, using airtight containers that seal tightly and protect flavor integrity.
  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store cooked chicken wings in sealed containers within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Ensure wings are completely cooled before storing to prevent bacterial growth.
  • Freezer-Friendly Option: Wrap individual wings or batches in freezer-safe wrap or vacuum-sealed bags, maintaining quality for up to 3 months. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking.
  • Reheating Magic: Restore crispy texture by warming wings in Traeger or oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes. Avoid microwave to prevent soggy skin and maintain original smoky flavor profile.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients For Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

For Meat Base:
  • Chicken Drumettes: Select fresh, plump drumettes with clean, minimal bone exposure for best presentation and flavor absorption.
For Seasoning Blend:
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for foundational flavor enhancement and balancing overall taste profile.
  • Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Create depth and aromatic undertones without overwhelming the chicken's natural essence.
  • Smoked Paprika: Adds rich, smoky complexity and beautiful reddish color to the wing coating.
  • Cayenne: Introduces subtle heat and vibrant kick to the seasoning blend.
For Glaze and Finishing:
  • BBQ Sauce: Provides sweet and tangy foundational flavor for caramelization.
  • Honey: Helps create glossy, sticky exterior with natural sweetness.
  • Melted Butter: Enriches glaze with richness and promotes even caramelization.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Balances sweetness with bright, acidic notes.
  • Olive Oil: Ensures seasonings adhere perfectly to chicken surface.
For Optional Garnish:
  • Chopped Parsley, Sesame Seeds: Adds visual appeal and textural contrast to finished wings.

Tools To Prep Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

  • Sharp Knife: Essential for cutting and shaping chicken drumettes into lollipops.
  • Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining spices and creating the seasoning mix.
  • Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure spices for consistent flavor.
  • Traeger Smoker: Key equipment for smoking and cooking the chicken wings with wood-fired flavor.
  • Basting Brush: Used for evenly applying the delicious glaze onto the wings.
  • Meat Thermometer: Ensures chicken reaches safe and perfect internal temperature.
  • Tongs: Helpful for handling and turning wings during smoking process.
  • Small Bowl: Useful for mixing glaze ingredients.

Steps To Make Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

  • Create Chicken Lollipops

Grab a sharp knife and transform drumettes into elegant lollipop shapes by slicing around the base and pushing meat toward the thicker end. Trim away any loose cartilage for a polished look.

  • Season with Flavor Explosion

Drizzle olive oil over wings to help spices cling perfectly. Blend aromatic spices together for a mouthwatering coating that’ll make taste buds dance.

  • Fire Up the Traeger

Warm your wood pellet grill to a low and slow 225F, choosing hickory or apple wood for that irresistible smoky essence. Let the grill settle into its flavor groove for 10-15 minutes.

  • Smoke to Perfection

Arrange chicken lollipops bone-side down on the grates, allowing them to absorb smoky goodness. Cook until internal temperature hits 155F, typically taking 60-90 minutes.

  • Glaze and Elevate

Whip up a tantalizing glaze mixing sweet and tangy ingredients. Crank the Traeger to 375F, brush wings generously, and cook until temperature reaches 175-180F with a gorgeous caramelized finish.

  • Serve and Celebrate

Let wings rest briefly, then plate these show-stopping lollipops. Optional: Sprinkle with fresh herbs for extra pizzazz.

Tips To Add Kick To Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

  • Smoky Wing Mastery: Pro techniques to elevate your chicken lollipop game.
  • Perfect Meat Preparation: Use kitchen shears for cleaner, faster trimming of drumettes, reducing hand fatigue and ensuring uniform lollipop shapes.
  • Low-and-Slow Magic: Maintain consistent smoker temperature for tender, juicy wings; invest in a reliable digital meat thermometer to track internal temperatures accurately.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace traditional BBQ sauce with gluten-free alternatives like homemade or certified gluten-free branded sauces to accommodate dietary restrictions.
  • Flavor Remix Options: Experiment with different wood chips like pecan for nutty undertones, or swap BBQ glaze with Asian-inspired soy-ginger sauce for global flavor profiles that transform the classic recipe.

Ways To Serve Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

  • Party Platter Paradise: Arrange wings on a large wooden board with colorful dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, or spicy sriracha mayo for a crowd-pleasing presentation.
  • Game Day Crowd-Pleaser: Serve alongside crisp coleslaw, pickled vegetables, and cold beer to create the ultimate sports-watching spread that will have everyone cheering.
  • Gourmet Appetizer Setup: Create an elegant starter by plating wings on a sleek white dish, garnishing with fresh herb sprigs and offering small ramekins of gourmet dipping sauces for a sophisticated touch.
  • Family-Style Feast: Group wings on a large rustic platter with fresh lemon wedges, scatter chopped green onions on top, and encourage everyone to dig in and share the delicious smoky goodness.
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Smoky Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe

Smoky Traeger Chicken Wing Lollipops Recipe


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4.6 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Smoky Traeger chicken wing lollipops bring a delightful twist to classic appetizers. Crispy, tender wings glazed with zesty sauce offer a mouthwatering experience you’ll crave at every gathering.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs (907 g) chicken drumettes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) honey
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
  • 1 tbsp (15 g) butter, melted
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp (5 g) salt
  • 1 tsp (2 g) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp (2 g) onion powder
  • 1 tsp (2 g) smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp (1.5 g) black pepper
  • ½ tsp (1 g) cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Transform chicken drumettes into lollipop shapes by slicing around the base and pushing meat toward the thicker end, removing loose cartilage and tendons for a refined appearance.
  2. Seasoning: Coat drumettes with olive oil and generously apply spice blend including salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne for intense flavor profile.
  3. Smoking Setup: Activate Traeger smoker at 225F using hickory, apple, or cherry wood chips, allowing 15 minutes for temperature stabilization and smoke development.
  4. Initial Cooking: Position chicken lollipops vertically on grill grates, bone-side down, for uniform heat distribution and optimal smoke penetration during 60-90 minute smoking phase.
  5. Glaze Creation: Combine BBQ sauce, honey, melted butter, and apple cider vinegar to craft a balanced sweet-tangy coating for the chicken.
  6. Finishing Process: Increase smoker temperature to 375F, thoroughly brush lollipops with prepared glaze, cooking until internal temperature reaches 175-180F and a caramelized exterior forms.
  7. Serving: Rest chicken momentarily to redistribute juices, then plate with optional fresh parsley or toasted sesame seeds for an elevated culinary presentation.

Notes

  • Perfect Lollipop Technique: Use a sharp knife to carefully slice around the bone base, pushing meat down to create a clean, uniform shape. Remove any loose cartilage for a professional presentation.
  • Seasoning Pro Tip: Drizzle olive oil before applying spices to ensure maximum flavor adhesion and even coating across the entire chicken surface.
  • Smoke Wood Selection: Choose mild woods like hickory or apple for a delicate smoky flavor that complements chicken without overpowering the meat’s natural taste.
  • Glaze Application Strategy: Brush glaze during the final high-temperature phase to prevent burning and achieve a glossy, caramelized exterior that locks in moisture and creates irresistible flavor complexity.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Smoking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 360 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 25 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg
Olivia Bennett

Olivia Bennett

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Nutritional Analysis​, Dietary Accommodations​, Food Writing and Blogging​,

Education

University of Texas at Austin

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
  • Focus: Emphasis on dietary planning, food science, and the relationship between nutrition and health.​

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY

  • Program: Plant-Based Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized training in vegetarian and vegan cooking techniques, emphasizing whole foods and sustainability.​

Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.

Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.

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