Instant Pot Chicken Wings: Ready in less than 30 minutes, these Buffalo Chicken Wings are the most tender and flavorful chicken wings you will ever have.
Wings are my husband’s favorite go-to football snack and he has been known to devour more than his fair share during a football game or two.
But convincing him that homemade buffalo wings are just as good as store bought wings, that is a bit harder sell.
However, even he agrees, these Instant Pot Wings are Incredible.
Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Not only are these chicken wings incredibly full of flavor, Instant Pot Wings are the most tender wings you will ever have!
Tossed with a homemade spice rub and steamed to tender perfection, the chicken wings are then finished with a homemade buffalo sauce and broiled to achieve crisp skin.
How to make Pressure Cooker Chicken Wings
- Season chicken wings with spice rub.
- Place 1 cup of water in Instant Pot.
- Place rack or steamer basket inside pressure cooker.
- Place wings on rack or in steamer basket.
- Close lid on pressure cooker and be sure to have it sealed.
- Pressure Cook Chicken Wings.
- Toss with half the buffalo sauce.
- Broil chicken wings until skin is crispy.
- Brush remaining buffalo sauce over chicken wings.
- Serve with homemade ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing.
How to Cook Fresh Chicken Wings
- For Fresh Chicken Wings cook on high pressure for 9 minutes.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings
- For Frozen Chicken Wings cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- When cooking frozen food, it may take up to 20 minutes for pressure cooker to reach pressure.
Homemade Buffalo Sauce
In my husband’s book, buffalo sauce is the only sauce acceptable for chicken wings. If Buffalo Sauce is not your favorite, feel free to use barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce on these chicken wings.
To Make Buffalo Sauce
- Mix together hot sauce (like Red Hot brand), with melted butter, honey, and garlic powder.
- The honey and butter help to add depth and balance the hot sauce and garlic makes everything better.
- If you need PALEO Buffalo Sauce, use Ghee.
- If you need Dairy-Free Buffalo Sauce, omit butter altogether or use a vegan butter substitute.
- For KETO Buffalo Sauce, omit the honey and add in 1 teaspoon sweetener of choice (or omit sweetener altogether.)
Notes on Buffalo Chicken Wings
- I prefer to use chicken drumettes, as they typically yield more meat.
- If using full wings, remove tips and separate drumettes and flats separated (cook time remains the same.)
- It is not necessary to broil the chicken wings, but most people prefer the crispy chicken skin on the wings.
- Don’t be afraid to toss frozen meat with seasonings, the rub won’t stick as well, but it will still help to season the chicken wings perfectly.
- Use ghee in place of butter and maple syrup in place of honey for Paleo Buffalo Chicken Wings.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Chili
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wing Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings
- 3 pounds chicken drumettes or wings
- 1/2 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 cup water
For the Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Toss chicken wings with seasoned salt.
- Pour 1 cup water into inner pot of pressure cooker for a 6 quart Instant Pot and 1.5 cups of water into an 8 quart instant pot. Place rack or steamer basket inside instant pot.
- Place seasoned wings on rack or in steamer basket.
- Seal lid of pressure cooker, being sure vent knob is closed to sealed.
- For Fresh Wings: Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- For Frozen Wings: Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once the cook time has elapsed, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then do a quick pressure release of any remaining pressure.
- Remove chicken wings from instant pot and place in large bowl.
- Mix together the hot sauce, honey, butter, and garlic powder.
- Pour half the buffalo sauce over the chicken wings and gently toss.
- Place the chicken wings on a baking sheet or broiler pan--I prefer to line the bottom of the pan with foil for easier clean-up.
- Broil chicken wings under high heat for 2-3 minutes per side to crisp up the chicken skin.
- Brush the chicken wings with remaining buffalo sauce and serve.
TO MAKE INSTANT POT WINGS YOU MAY NEED
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How much is a serving size?
Hi Valerie. The serving size for the nutritional value is approximately 4 wings.
Hi Kristen,
Thanks so much for the recipe! I want to make these for tomorrow and have time to do it today. I’m wondering if I can do the instapot part today, store the wings in the fridge and then Do the broiler part tomorrow right before we eat. What are your thoughts? Thanks so so much!!
Absolutely Lisa! I would take your wings out of the fridge for 15-20 minutes before broiling so they will warm up easier 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Hi there – I just came across this recipe and plan to make it tomorrow for the Super Bowl! Do the wings need to be in a single layer in the Instant Pot or can they piled on top of each other? I would think with using 3 lbs they would be piled up but want to make sure. Thanks!
Hi Katharine! You can pile up the wings without an issue. I do like to broil them in a single layer. I hope you enjoy!
Before I make these could you please explain # 11 of the instructions. I don’t understand what you mean by, “and topped with a cooking rack”.
Hi Teresa! I typically use a broiler pan, but that is not necessary–a sheet pan lined with foil will work. I will clarify in the directions.
First time Instant pot user and I am making there today. The recipe doesn’t say what buttons to push and the video your hand is in the way! Lol.
Hi Amy! Sorry for the confusion. Press manual or pressure cook (depends on your model) and then use +/- buttons to adjust timing.
Amazing recipe and the steps were easy to follow. I’m new to using my Instant pot; this was only my second time. The wings were so tender and received rave reviews by my family.
I am so glad you and your family enjoyed! And I love hearing how easy this recipe was to follow. Thanks for leaving a comment Monique 🙂
Want to make these now but my wings are frozen and in a solid block. Is 15 mins enough? Will they fall apart while pressure cooking?
Hi Jaklyn, I would run the wings under cold water to seperate and then proceed with recipe as written for frozen wings. Enjoy!!
Was this made in a 6 or 8qt insta pot?
Hi Lindsey! I test all my recipes in both the 6 and 8 quart. For a 6 quart use 1 cup water, for 8 quart use 1.5 cups water. I hope you enjoy!
Thank you!!!
These were amazing. Im new ro the instapot world and I’m kind of intimidated by this machine. I did frozen wings with the season salt and cooked for 20 minutes just to be safe. But 15 would have worked. They were fall off the bone straight from the insta pot. After a bit under the broiler I really couldn’t wait to eat them. I used Frank’s redhot wing sauce, sweet baby Ray’s sweet and spicy bbq sauce and famous Dave’s original bbq. So quite the variety… and they all tasted great.
I am so glad you enjoyed RanDee and I hope you find more recipes here to enjoy!
Going to make these tomorrow, but I’m wondering what the “spice rub” is in step one….?!
Hi Molly! The spice rub is my homemade seasoned salt. I hope you enjoy!