Tequila Lime Chicken Wings cooked on the Traeger Grill are perfectly crispy and coated in a completely delicious sauce. They are my favorite wings to eat and make.
This chicken wings recipe is a great appetizer to make for a crowd. If you need a delicious finger food for a party, game day, or pot luck- these are the perfect party wings with their crispy skin and bright sauce. If you want to wow your friends with good food for the next big game, you need this recipe.
The flavor I get from the tequila, lime, and spices is bright and finger-licking delicious. Bonus points given because I cook them on the Traeger Grill, which ensures even cooking and crispy wings without the hassle of a deep fryer.
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Tequila Lime Wing Ingredients
We may as well start at the beginning of the recipe which is the ingredients of course. No surprise here, I buy my wings from Costco. They have a great selection of fresh and frozen wings available. The pack pictured above includes the drumette and wing, so both types of wing lovers are covered.
To prepare the wings before they hit the grill, we need to season them well.
Chicken Wing Spices:
- baking powder
- salt
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- onion powder
The baking powder is our secret ingredient so that all of the saucy goodness will stick and we get a crispy skin on the outside. Baking powder on chicken skin works magic when it comes achieving a perfectly crispy skin.
The sauce is where the magic happens.
Tequila Lime Sauce Ingredients:
- Tequila- either reposado tequila or anejo tequila
- lime zest
- fresh lime juice
- chili powder
- granulated garlic
- onion powder
- cumin
- agave syrup or honey
- black pepper
- butter
The next important ingredient is the tequila of course. I like to use the Kirkland Signature Anejo for the deep flavor. The classic margarita flavors from tequila and lime combined with a few spices makes for a bright and zesty wing. The only other ingredient we need to pull this all together is butter for a smooth coating on these crispy wings.
Tequila lime wing preparation
The steps for cooking these tequila lime wings are as follows:
- Preheat the Traeger, pellet smoker, or grill to 375F.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and spread out evenly on a baking sheet or place them in a large ziploc bag.
- Season the wings with the baking powder and spices. I like to coat the wings with the dry mixture in a ziploc bag and shake until they are evenly coated. This can be done one day in advance if needed.
- Once the grill has reached 375F place the wings on the grill in an even layer for cooking.
- Make the tequila lime sauce while the wings cook: place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add all of the sauce ingredients except for the butter. Bring the mixture up to a bubble and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the butter. Let the sauce cool while the wings finish cooking.
- Cook the wings for 35-40 minutes, flipping them once halfway through the cook time.
- After the wings have finished cooking, pull them off the grill into a large bowl and pour over the sauce. Place the wings back on the grill for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken wings to a serving platter. They will be smokin' hot! Give them a few minutes to cool.
- Eat the tequila lime chicken wings.
Tequila lime recipe modifications and FAQ
Tequila: If you don't want to use tequila in this recipe, you can still make delicious wings with a great chili lime flavor. Just leave the tequila out and add an extra teaspoon of chili powder to the sauce. Another option to replace the liquid we get from the tequila is to use orange juice instead.
Baking Powder: if you don't have this on hand you can use cornstarch instead. The wings won't be quite as crispy, but they will still have a dryer exterior which is important for great chicken wings.
Sweetener: you have options with the sweetener. Agave sweetener is the best, but I always have honey in the pantry. You can use brown sugar or white sugar which will work just fine and you'll still have a great recipe to work with.
Can I leave out the tequila?
Yes! To make this recipe free of alcohol, use ΒΌ" cup of orange juice. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin and Β½" teaspoon of paprika for additional flavor.
How else can I cook chicken wings?
You can cook chicken wings in the oven by spreading in an even layer on a sheet pan at 375F for 40 minutes. Another option is an air fryer set to 375F for 35 minutes.
Saving leftover chicken wings and reheating instructions
If you are fortunate enough to have leftover wings or if you make extra on purpose (smart move btw), here are a few tips.
Save the chicken wings in an airtight container like a glass snap-ware container or zip-top bag. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat the chicken wings, I recommend 3 options: air fryer, back on the traeger grill, or in the oven. Set the temp to 350F and reheat the chicken wings for 8-10 minutes. No need to flip them. This is the best way to maintain the crispy skin. I'd eat the wings cold before I put them in the microwave.
Why cook chicken wings on a Traeger Grill?
Cooking wings on a Traeger grill helps me in two major ways.
- I do not have to hover over the wings and watch them cook. I can trust my Traeger to maintain an even temperature. The wings only have to get flipped once and they are good to go.
- I can cook A LOT of these wings in a single layer across the grill. We are saving time and effort.
- It keeps the smell outside. I always go for outdoor cooking for this reason.
Also check out the Traeger website for more grilling supplies.
More supplies:
You can cook chicken wings in the oven by spreading in an even layer on a sheet pan at 375F for 40 minutes. Another option is an air fryer set to 375F for 35 minutes.
Yes! To make this recipe free of alcohol, use ΒΌ" cup of additional butter. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin and Β½" teaspoon of paprika for additional flavor.
Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Wing Recipe Card
Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Wing Recipe
Equipment
- 1 larger mixing bowl
- 1 set of tongs
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 Β½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Tequila Lime Sauce
- β cup tequila
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar
- 1 whole lime zest and juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Β½ teaspoon black pepper
- ΒΌ cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat the Traeger, pellet smoker, or grill to 375F.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and spread out evenly on a baking sheet or place them in a large ziploc bag.
- Season the wings with the baking powder and spices. I like to coat the wings with the dry mixture in a ziploc bag and shake until they are evenly coated. Otherwise, sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wings on both sides.
- Once the grill has reached 375F place the wings on the grill in an even layer for cooking.
- Make the tequila lime sauce while the wings cook: place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add all of the sauce ingredients except for the butter. Bring the mixture up to a bubble and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the butter. Let the sauce cool while the wings finish cooking.
- Cook the wings for 35-40 minutes, flipping them once halfway through the cook time.
- After the wings have finished cooking, pull them off the grill into a large bowlΒ and pour over the sauce. Place the wings back on the grill for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken wings to a serving platter. They will be smokin' hot! Give them a few minutes to cool.
- Eat the tequila lime chicken wings.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram @fancy_apron π or leave a comment below.
Other mouth watering tequila lime recipes
If you love these flavors, check out my tequila lime marinade which is great for chicken breast and chicken thighs. If you love the tequila lime flavor as much as I do, check out these tequila lime shredded beef puffy tacos.
More Traeger Recipes
Traeger Potato Skins are another family favorite appetizer! They are the perfect snack sized app because they are easy to serve and packed with flavor. I'm also a huge fan Smoked Beef Dip Sliders!
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