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
- 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.
- 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.
- Smoking Setup: Activate Traeger smoker at 225F using hickory, apple, or cherry wood chips, allowing 15 minutes for temperature stabilization and smoke development.
- 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.
- Glaze Creation: Combine BBQ sauce, honey, melted butter, and apple cider vinegar to craft a balanced sweet-tangy coating for the chicken.
- 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.
- 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