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Get game-day ready with these easy Crock Pot Chicken Wings! Slow-cooked to fork-tender and finished in the oven for a crispy bite, these wings are coated in buffalo sauce.

buffalo chicken wings on a pan with ranch and buffalo sauce

Game days and tailgating just got a whole lot tastier with our Crock Pot Chicken Wings. The wings start in the crockpot and finish in the oven for that perfect golden-brown crispy skin.

Tossed in classic buffalo sauce, these crockpot chicken wings are a crowd-pleaser, but you can also coat them with BBQ, honey garlic, or teriyaki sauce.

What You’ll Need:

Frozen chicken wings: I purchase a 3 pound bag of what’s called “party wings”, which are a mix of drumettes and wingettes. You should NOT put frozen wings in the crockpot because it can cook unevenly. Thaw the chicken wings before you put them in the slow cooker.
Buffalo sauce: There are different options for dipping sauces below, but buffalo chicken wings are a classic. Buy your favorite brand, or make your own homemade buffalo sauce for buffalo wings.

How to Make Crock Pot Chicken Wings

Place the thawed chicken wings in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the wings and mix to combine.

buffalo chicken wings uncooked in a crockpot

Cook on low for 3 hours, or cook on high for 1 hour and low for 1 one hour.

buffalo chicken wings cooked in a crock pot

Take the chicken wings out of the crockpot and place them on an even layer on a baking sheet. Brush with buffalo sauce.

Bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes, then flip the wings and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Broil on low for 3 minutes until the wings get lightly browned.

buffalo chicken wings on a pan with fresh thyme

Internal temperature of chicken wings

The internal temperature of chicken wings should reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are fully cooked. It’s best to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature at the thickest part of the wing, avoiding the bone for an accurate reading.

The wings will most likely be at 165ºF when you take them out of the slow cooker, but wings can handle being baked to a higher temp. Baking them after they’ve cooked in the slow cooker makes the chicken fork tender and melt in your mouth delicious.

How to Crisp Up Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

There are two methods to do this, both after the chicken has already cooked in the slow cooker.

In the oven. Just as we describe in this recipe, place the slow cooked wings on a sheet pan under the broiler for 3-4 minutes.
In the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375ºF. Place chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 5 minutes, flipping once half way through cooking.

Wing Sauce Ideas

Looking for a flavor other than hot sauce or buffalo sauce? Use the sauce from one of these recipes and use the slow cooker method.

closeup of buffalo wings with ranch drizzled on top

What to Serve with Crock Pot Chicken Wings

Serve wings with dipping sauce such as blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.

They also go great great with veggies such as celery sticks or carrot sticks for a game day snack.

As a meal, serve with oven baked fries, bowtie pasta salad, and crusty asiago bread.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer to crisp the wings back up.