Mouthwatering Smoked Parmesan Chicken Wings with Vodka sauce have arrived and they make for the best game day food or anytime snack!
Smoked to perfection, this chicken wing recipe comes together with easy ingredients in just 2 hours (including smoke time).
Whether you are prepping a party and need the perfect appetizer, planning a family get-together, or it’s game time and you need the perfect snack, these wings will hit the spot!
Serve them up with other great appetizers and snacks like Pepperoni Roll Tailgate Appetizer, Spicy Smoked Pretzel Snacks, and Brat Roll Appetizer!
Smoked Parmesan Chicken Wing Recipe
Fall is right around the corner and you know what that means … it’s Football Season (and basketball season, if that’s your thing)!
And there is no better way to enjoy these parmesan chicken wings than with great company and a good game.
These tasty wings are smoked, not fried, perfectly crispy, and can be made with both fresh and frozen chicken wings.
BONUS: They come served with a side of homemade vodka sauce for dipping that seals the deal!
Ingredients needed for Smoked Parmesan Chicken Wings with Vodka Sauce
Chicken Wing Ingredients
Chicken: I used 3 lbs of chicken wings (whole wings) for this recipe. A 3-pound bag of chicken wings will get you roughly 12 whole wings. Double the recipe accordingly, depending on your crowd size.
Dairy: Used to stuff the flats of the wings, you will need 6-8 sticks of mozzarella string cheese.
Seasoning: Load on the flavor with 2 tbsp of Italian seasoning and 1 Tbsp of Kosher salt.
For Cooking: 3 tbsp of olive oil.
Vodka Sauce
Making homemade vodka sauce might sound intimidating, but stick with me, it is actually super easy to make! All you need is 2 cups of your favorite marinara sauce, ½ cup of heavy cream, ⅓ cup of grated parmesan cheese, and 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning.
Now, if you are looking to level up your vodka sauce, I recommend tossing in these optional ingredients like 2 tbsp of Calabrian Chili Paste, 2 tsp of Hot Honey, and 2 tsp of Balsamic Vinegar Glaze.
How Do You Make Smoked Parmesan Chicken Wings
Prep the wings. Start by prepping the wings. Cut the joint between the drum and the wing’s flat, then separate the joint and cut through. Set the drumstick aside. Make a small cut in between the two bones to separate them. Twist the smaller bone until it releases and removed. Finally, push the meat down to expose the remaining bone and carefully bend at the joint where it connects to the flap of the wing and remove it.
Repeat until all wings are prepped. Repeat this process so all the wing flats are deboned.
Stuff and Season the wings. Stuff each flat with half a stick of mozzarella string cheese. Rub the wings and drumsticks down with a light coat of olive oil and season with kosher salt and Italian seasoning.
Preheat the smoker and cook. Preheat the smoker to 300 degrees F. Cook for about 90 minutes until the wings have reached an internal temperature of about 185-190 degrees F.
Pro-Tip: For added crispiness and to achieve that crispy skin, turn the broiler on the last few minutes of cooking but stay close because broilers are unpredictable.
Make the vodka sauce. To prepare the vodka sauce, add all ingredients to a sauce pot and simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes just until warm, then serve with wings.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Fresh or Frozen Chicken Wings. The one thing I love about this recipe is that you can use either fresh or frozen wings! Personally, I prefer fresh, never frozen, but sometimes, it is all about what is available at the grocery store. If you are making frozen wings, I usually just add a couple of extra minutes to ensure they are cooked to temperature.
Parmesan Cheese. The secret is to use fresh, finely grated parmesan cheese. I know what you are thinking, and trust me, it is worth every penny because it is flavor packed and so delicious!
Other Seasoning. Next time you make this recipe, consider experimenting with other seasonings like black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, a dry rub you enjoy, or some fresh minced garlic.
Crispy Wings. I like my wings extra crispy, and if you do too, you should adjust the time based on how crispy you like them.
Serving Size. The serving size will vary depending on the size of the wings. However, on average, a typical serving size consists of 2 drumsticks, 2 flats, and 2 tbsps of sauce. I think it is important to know your audience and who you are serving. If you have a mixed bag crowd, it might be more up in the air than feeding 5+ hungry guys on game day.
Easy Cleaning. To make for an easy or easier clean-up, spray your baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Trust me; you will thank me later.
What to Serve with Chicken Wings
These wings are delicious with their perfect partner- vodka sauce. However, if the sauce is not your style and you are searching for more of a dressing or a dip, I recommend checking out my homemade (and easy-to-make) ranch or Bleu cheese dressing or your favorite hot sauce for dipping!
Looking to serve up something heartier than a side of dressing? Pair your wings with:
- Potato wedges or potato skins
- Best Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings
- Smoked Queso Dip Leftover Beef Brisket Recipe
- Bang Bang Shrimp Dip
- Pellet Grill Smoked Cheese Board
- Looking to make a healthy choice, consider serving with carrot sticks or celery.
Other Chicken Wing Cooking Methods
Gas or Charcoal Grilling Instructions: Cook the wings over indirect heat with a grill temp around 300-325 for about 1 hour until the wings reach an internal temp of 185-190 degrees F.
Oven instructions: Bake on a sheet pan for about 1 hour at 350 degrees until wings reach an internal temp of 185-190 degrees F. rest 5 minutes before serving.
Reheating and Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover chicken wings, don’t fret, these will taste just as good the next day.
Toss your leftover wings in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees F. The overall shelf life of leftover wings is about 4-5 days in the fridge inside of an airtight container, so don’t wait to cook them!
However, your homemade vodka sauce will last about one week in the fridge and can be used with your leftover wings or tossed over some pasta for a quick and easy meal.
Looking for More Chicken Wing Recipes
There is no shortage of wing recipes here! Try other recipes and flavors by checking out fan favorites like:
- Salt and Pepper Grilled Chicken Wings
- Smoked Honey Old Bay Wings – Pellet Grill Recipe
- Old Bay Honey Grilled Wings
- Grilled Old Bay Wings
- Jamaican Jerked Grilled Chicken Wings
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Wings – Grilled Wings
Smoked Chicken Parmesan Wings with Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Chicken Wings Whole Attached Wings
- 8 Sticks Mozzarella String Cheese
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
Vodka Sauce
- 2 cups Marinara Sauce
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- ⅓ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tbsp Calabrian Chili Paste optional
- 2 tsp Hot Honey optional
- 2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar Glaze optional
Instructions
- Start by prepping the wings. Make a cut at the joint between the drum and the flat of the wing, then separate the joint and cut through. set the drumstick aside. Make a small cut in between the 2 bones to separate them. Twist the smaller bone until it releases and remove it. Finally, push the meat down to expose the remaining bone and carefully bend at the joint where it connects to the flap of the wing and remove it.
- Repeat this process, so all the wing flats are deboned. Stuff each flat with half a stick of mozzarella string cheese. Rub the wings and drumsticks down with a light coat of olive oil and season with kosher salt and Italian seasoning.
- Preheat the smoker to 300 degrees F. Cook for about 90 minutes until the wings have reached an internal temperature of about 185-190 degrees F.
- To prepare the vodka sauce, add all ingredients to a sauce pot and simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes just until warm, then serve with wings.
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