These wings are cooked in the slow cooker with root beer and barbecue sauce, then slathered in more sauce, sprinkled with brown sugar, and browned for just a few minutes. Absolutely delightful!
Oh sweet mother of chicken wings. These little beauties are going to knock your socks off. Seriously, people. These things are out of this world.
I’d pat myself on the back but my hands are covered in barbecue sauce. Ah, screw it, I’m throwing caution to the wind, and my shirt in the trash. Some days you just have to congratulate your dang self.
I’ve been working on a bunch of wing recipes for some upcoming projects and I had this idea come to mind. I know we all love, love, love our slow cookers. But some folks don’t love them because they like the crispness an oven provides. It’s a valid point.
So I’ll let you in on a little secret. I use my slow cooker all the time, but I love a good crisp on the skin of most meats so I pop things in the oven for just a few minutes when they are done. Yes it means you might have a few more dishes but who the heck cares when you’re eating meals like this one.
Suck it up buttercup. Do the extra dishes and get your crisp on. Better yet, make your hubby or kids do the dishes. I mean that is why we keep them around right? For errands and dishes. No? Just me then.
If you really do not want to turn on your oven you can crisp these on the grill. It’s easy to do. Grills are your friend. Your very hot friend. So proceed with caution and wear some cute oven mitts. If you have some with fun characters on them all the better.
By the way you should send me photos of you in those. I promise I will not post them on facebook. *crosses fingers behind back*
Don’t freak out over the weirdness. Yes, I used root beer (it’s a wicked good marinade for meat, peeps), and yes I used brown sugar (I’m sorry, but I’m not on the sugar is the devil train, unless you have diabetes, then you should probably not make this, nor visit my blog, just keeping it real, I’m a sugar whore). But you need to trust in the magic that happens when this cooks.
Okay peeps, go forth and conquer. Pull out those dusty old slow cookers. Strap on the feedbag and get busy. You’re going to be hungry after you do all the dang dishes.
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- 2 pounds of chicken wings
- 1 can root beer
- 1 cup barbecue sauce divided (use your favourite, we like bullseye original)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
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Place the wings in your slow cooker.
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Pour root beer inside.
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Pour half the barbecue sauce over top. Set the remaining sauce aside for later.
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Turn slow cooker on. You can cook these on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
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Turn slow cooker off.
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
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Remove the wings and lay on a cookie sheet lined with parchment.
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Brush the remaining barbecue sauce over top of the wings.
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Sprinkle the brown sugar over top.
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Place the cookie sheet in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
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Remove and carefully plate using tongs.
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Serve with a big old messy smile!
Recipe Source: Cravings of a Lunatic
These wings are freaking spectacular. Like slap your gramma good. Although I’d highly recommend not doing that. Most grammas will slap you back. Hard.
You can totally do all of this in the slow cooker if you like. Just drain the excess liquid. Then coat with sauce and brown sugar, and allow to cook for 30 minutes longer. They will be good but you won’t get the crisp from the brown sugar being in the oven that way. Still yummy, just not caramelized.
Hope you make them. And you don’t have to do the dishes. Boo hiss dishes. We hate you. Boo hiss.
For more Slow Cooker Cravings follow my Pinterest Board:
Follow Kim Beaulieu | Cravings of a Lunatic’s board Slow Cooker Cravings on Pinterest.
For more Slow Cooker Recipes swing by these posts:
- Manly Meaty Chili
- Hawaiian Pulled Pork
- Root Beer Pulled Pork
- Zesty Hamburger Soup
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Keep tuning in for more recipes including Trix Ice Cream Cake, Mini-Me’s Favourite Chocolate Buns, and some fun giveaways. See you soon.
Toodles and smoochies! xx
[email protected] Riffs says
Root beer and BBQ sauce? Haven’t tried that combo, but I will. These look great — thanks.
Kim Beaulieu says
I know right. It seems so wrong, but it sort of goes to the idea of how a lot of cultures use cola in slow cooked pork and beef. I took some “artistic license”. Ha
Courtney @ Pizzazzerie says
YUM! My husband and I love wings and I was just saying that I want to use the slow cooker more! So excited to try this recipe this weekend!
Kim Beaulieu says
Hope you love it Courtney. I love my slow cookers, I have a whole whack of them. I mentioned needing one and got 5 for Christmas one year. I’ve since given 2 away, and then wore one out. So I’m down to 2. Is that not the silliest thing ever. Who needs 5. Lol!
Choc Chip Uru says
These chicken wings put restaurants to shame – they look fantastic 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Kim Beaulieu says
Awe, thanks Uru. Hope you’ve been well my friend.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Those wings are beautiful. You are my wing queen.
Kim Beaulieu says
Ha, thanks Maureen. That’s high praise.
Ramona says
I love this slow cooker oven method for wings…. I’ve tried it before and had great success. Now the root beer I have not tried yet… that’s gotta be done soon. 🙂
Kim Beaulieu says
It really does work perfectly. I think most people shy away from slow cooker for chicken because of the lack of crisp skin. This works perfectly.
Heather // girlichef says
Oh my gawd, these look ridiculously in absolutely the best way imaginable! I love rootbeer (and other soda-types) in marinades and slow-cooked sauces – they add such good “sticky”! I think I’d go with firing up the grill at the end, to get a little smokiness going on. Oh how I wish I had messy fingers right this minute…
Kim Beaulieu says
Ha, thanks Heather. I love using soda in slow cooked meats. I always think about the Mexican culture, they use cola is carnitas all the time. So it’s basically the same principal. I was going to grill but it was bucketing out. Hate rain.
Martha @ A Family Feast says
Wow – these looks seriously delicious! That sauce…!!
Kim Beaulieu says
Thanks so much Martha.
Nutmeg Nanny says
These look incredible. I love that you utilized the slow cooker because it makes cooking on football sunday even easier.
Rebecca {foodie with family} says
It seems to me a cruel thing to have to wash dishes after making a delightful meal when all I really want to do is lay down on the couch and nap. Amiright? I love these wings, darling. Totally making them soon.
christine says
Oh.My.Gosh. These look so messy and sticky just like wings ought to be!
The Food Hunter says
There are so many things you can make in a slow cooker
Amy @Very Culinary says
You had me at root beer! These look a.ma.zing. GIMME.
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says
Love that sauce! I’ve never made wings in a slow cooker…but, it’s a great idea!
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
Sounds like such a fun (and delicious) way to use the slow cooker!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
Using a slow cooker for these is brilliant! Also root beer bbq sauce? sign. me. up.
[email protected] Mom says
Never heard of using root beer with wings but totally digging it! My hubby would love these!
Ginny McMeans says
How easy can you get. That is great and I bet root beer is really good in the sauce. Thanks!
Paula - bell'alimento says
I’ve been putting my slow cooker to good use lately. Adding wings next ; )
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
These sound like some really tasty, sticky wings! I love that you aren’t afraid to mix up the slow cooker and oven for the right result.
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Crisping crock pot meat is the best kept secret ever. Root beer is the best marinade ever! We’ll be in some serious trouble next time we’re together and near a kitchen.
Angela |Mind Over Batter says
Yup, that’s my beef with the slow cooker: lack of crispness. I’m going to have to suck it up and do more dishes, because these wings look like a tasty saucy mess. And I want to be down with that.
Karissa | Sweet as a Cookie says
I love this so much! My boyfriend is a wing-o-holic. This recipe looks absolutely perfect for us.
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
This looks like a man’s dream to come home to! I know my FIL would love this!
Stacy says
What a great idea, Kim! I would definitely finish these off on the grill for extra flavor. Talk about finger licking good!
Tamara Zimmer says
Hi Just wanted to know if you used raw chicken wings in this crock pot recipe? If so, are they frozen or thawed?
They look amazing, just want to fix them according to your recipe.
Thanks much
Kim Beaulieu says
Hi Tamara. I used fresh. I sent my hubby up to the butcher the day I made them. So you want them fresh but not ice cold. I always let meat rest for about 20 minutes before cooking. Although with slow cookers it is not as crucial as searing beef or pork. Hope you love them. Let me know if you need any help. xx
Whitney says
These look amazing and I can’t wait to make them. Though I hate dishes too so it’s a crock pot liner and aluminum foil to the rescue!
Kayre says
This is the best wings I’ve ever eaten! Just took them out the oven and could have eaten the whole tray! Thanks for the recipe!
Kim Beaulieu says
Yeah, I’m so happy to hear that. So glad you liked them. Thanks for swinging by to let me know.
melanie says
could you use cola in this recipe or would that make it too sweet? these look fantastic!
Kim Beaulieu says
Cola would rock in this. I use it quite often for slow cooker meals, and also for braising beef. It’s old school actually. People have used it for making carnitas for eons. Let me know how it turns outs.
Sue says
This recipe looks like a winner. I am planning to go home during lunch break and get the slow cooker going. My question is: I only have diet root beer, do you think that would make a difference? Please advise. Thank you in advance.
Kim Beaulieu says
Hey Sue, sorry, just seeing this now. I never use diet soda so I’m not sure if it would have any affect or not. My guess is no, but that’s just a guess. People use artificial sweeteners to cook and bake so it shouldn’t be an issue. But I could be wrong. Not very helpful, I know. Sorry.
Maggie says
Looks delicious! Mmm root beer! Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Wondering if this recipe can be doubled and can use frozen chicken wings instead of unfrozen??
Kim Beaulieu says
Thanks Maggie. I double the recipe often. It’s one of those recipes where you can veer off course and it will still turn out great. You could totally try this with frozen wings. I vote “go for it”. Let me know if you like it.
If you’re a root beer fanatic I also have root beer popcorn on the site. Because I dig root beer. ha
Maggie says
Thanks, Kim. 🙂
Root beer popcorn hey.. interesting! I’ll have to check out the recipe!
Candice says
Does the chicken wings have to be frozen or thawed before putting them in the slow cooker?
Kim Beaulieu says
Thawed is preferable. I try never to cook anything from the frozen state because I worry about bacteria. The food would spend too much time in the danger zone for me, temperature wise. If it stays in that zone too long harmful bacteria can grow. So I’m personally not a fan of cooking anything from a frozen state. I’m a total spaz when it comes to worrying about bacteria growth, mostly because I have a sensitive stomach due to illness. Some people will tell you it’s safe and recommend it. I’m not one of them. I would worry about salmonella, among other things. I know there’s a trend of people doing “frozen to cooked” in slow cookers, I’d be wary of them. Hope that helps. If you need anything else just holler. Sorry it took me so long to answer, today was my birthday so I took the day off work.
Laura says
This recipe looks amazing.. I’m attempting to double it, so I hope it works!
Kim Beaulieu says
Let me know how it goes for you. I double mine a lot but every slow cooker is so different. Hope you love them.