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    Instant Pot Chicken Wings

    Instant Pot Chicken Recipes Appetizers Easy Chicken Recipes Gluten Free Instant Pot May 17, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 103 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Ready in less than 30 minutes, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings are the most tender and flavorful chicken wings you will ever have. They are the perfect easy appetizer recipe to prepare for watching football or when entertaining.

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings are the most tender and flavorful chicken wings you will ever have. 

    Serve these Instant Pot Wings with Bleu Cheese or Ranch Dressing in addition to Taco Dip and Pizza Rolls for a spread that is perfect for game day or a laid-back party.

    Instant Pot Chicken Wings on white platter with celery.


    Buffalo Chicken Wings are my husband's favorite go-to football snack and he has been known to devour more than his fair share while watching football games. 

    But convincing him that homemade buffalo wings are just as good as restaurant chicken wings, was a bit harder to sell.

    That said, he has declared this recipe for Instant Pot Wings restaurant-worthy and is now his favorite version to enjoy during game day! 

    And I believe you too, will be amazed at just how good chicken wings turn out when prepared using the Instant Pot.   

    The moist heat of the Instant Pot keeps the chicken super tender and juicy. And then finished with a homemade buffalo sauce and crisped under the broiler to achieve irresistibly crispy skin, these Instant Pot Chicken Wings are incredibly full of flavor, lower in fat than fried wings, and incredibly easy to make.

    Key Ingredients

    Ingredients for instant pot chicken wings labeled on counter.
    • Chicken Wings: You can use either fresh or frozen chicken wings in the Instant Pot. I recommend using chicken drumettes, as they typically yield more meat. If using full wings, separate them into drumettes and flats to keep the cooking time the same. 
    • Seasonings: Seasoned salt, which is a mixture of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a few other spices is the perfect choice to add flavor to the wings before finishing them with your favorite sauce.  
    • Buffalo Sauce: I have included a simplified version of my homemade buffalo sauce recipe that is made with hot sauce, butter, garlic powder, and honey, as that is our preferred finishing touch for these wings. if you don't care for buffalo sauce, you can use barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, or honey mustard.
    • Water: Any time you pressure cook, you need thin liquid. For this recipe, water is used. Use 1 cup of cold tap water for a 3 or 6-quart pressure cooker and 1-½ cups of cold tap water for an 8-quart pressure cooker.

    How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Wings

    • To prepare the Instant Pot for cooking, pour water into the inner pot and a rack or steamer basket. This will keep the chicken wings raised above the cooking liquid so they don't become soggy!
    • If needed, separate the drumettes and flats from each other, removing and discarding the tips if desired.
    • Place the wings into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the seasoned salt over the chicken. Toss well to coat the wings, evenly with the seasonings. Note: If using FROZEN wings, the seasoning may not adhere to the meat as well, but you don't want to skip seasoning them altogether.
    • Place the seasoned wings onto the rack in the inner pot or in a steamer basket.
    • Seal the lid on the instant pot and set it to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes for fresh or defrosted chicken wings and 15 minutes for frozen chicken wings.
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes. This is key to ensuring the meat stays nice and tender.
    Side by side photo of chicken wings in instant pot before and after pressure cooking.
    • While the wings are cooking, use this time to prepare the homemade buffalo sauce if you intend to season your wings with buffalo sauce, rather than a store-bought sauce. Simply combine the hot sauce, garlic powder, melted butter, and honey together in a small mixing bowl.
    Ingredients for homemade buffalo sauce before and after mixing.
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed and the pressure has been released, remove the pressure-cooked wings from the inner pot and place them into a large, clean mixing bowl.
    • Drizzle the wings with half the prepared buffalo sauce, or ½ cup of your favorite sauce, and toss to coat.
    • Place the chicken wings onto a foil-lined baking sheet or broiler pan and broil the chicken wings until the skin is crispy, flipping once to ensure both sides are nice and golden. This step is not necessary but highly encouraged, as most people prefer the crispy chicken skin on the wings.
    Side by side photo of chicken wings before and after being tossed with buffalo sauce.
    • Once the wings are broiled, brush the remaining buffalo sauce over the chicken wings.
    Pastry brush brushing chicken wings with buffalo sauce.

    Instant Pot Chicken Wings Video

    Want to watch me make this in my kitchen? Check out the recipe below!

    Serving Suggestions

    Just like any good chicken wing, these wings need to be served with lots of napkins and a side of homemade ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing on the side. The side of celery and carrots are optional, but a classic pairing.

    We personally love to pair Instant Pot Buffalo Wings with Pull-Apart Pizza Bread and French Onion Chip Dip for a spread that is perfect for game day!

    Instant Pot Chicken Wing being dipped into ranch dressing.

    More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes

    • Instant Pot Chicken Breast
    • Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
    • Instant Pot Butter Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
    • Instant Pot Whole Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken Chili

    If you enjoyed these Instant Pot Chicken Wings, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    Instant Pot Chicken Wing being dipped into ranch dressing.

    Instant Pot Chicken Wings

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, and finished with a homemade buffalo sauce, Instant Pot Chicken Wings are tender, juicy, and flavorful!
    4.79 from 97 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Pressure Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 18 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    For the Chicken Wings

    • 3 pounds chicken drumettes or wings
    • ½ 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
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • If needed, separate the drumettes and flats from each other, removing and discarding the tips if desired. Place the chicken wings in a large mixing bowl, add the seasoned salt, and toss to coat.  
    • For a 3 or 6-quart model, pour 1 cup of cold tap water into the inner pot. For an 8-quart model, use 1.5 cups of cold tap water. Place a rack or steamer basket inside the instant pot. 
    • Place the seasoned wings on the rack or in the steamer basket inside the inner pot. It is okay if you layer the wings on top of eachother.
    • Seal lid of the pressure cooker, being sure vent knob is closed.  
    • For Fresh Wings: Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. For Frozen Wings: Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. 
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 5 minutes, 10 minutes is best.
    • Remove the pressure-cooked chicken wings from the pressure cooker and place them into a clean bowl.
    • In a separate small bowl, prepare the buffalo sauce by mixing together the hot sauce, honey, butter, and garlic powder until combined.
    • Pour half the buffalo sauce (or YOUR favorite sauce) over the chicken wings and gently toss to coat in the sauce.
    • Place the chicken wings on a baking sheet or broiler pan that has been lined with foil. Broil the chicken wings under high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, until the skin is golden and crispy.  
    • Brush the broiled wings with additional buffalo sauce and serve immediately.  

    Equipment Needed

    • Electric Pressure Cooker (6 or 8 quart)

    Notes

    Wings: I recommend using chicken drumettes, as they typically yield more meat. If using full wings, separate drumettes and flats for even cooking.  
    Broiling: It is not necessary to broil the chicken wings, but most people prefer the crispy chicken skin on the wings.
    Frozen 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.
    Buffalo Sauce: Using buffalo sauce is optional. If you don't care for buffalo sauce, you can use barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, or honey mustard. All these sauces pair well with the seasoned salt. 
    Storage: Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat by broiling them, as this will keep the skin crispy. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 1763mg | Potassium: 254mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 30.8mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    « Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
    Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Hazel

      May 27, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      Could not be easier! Thanks for this great and simple recipe. Everyone was very happy to eat wings tonight - and it didn't take much time or effort. This is a keeper.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 28, 2021 at 6:53 am

        Thanks for sharing you enjoyed Hazel.

        Reply
    2. Mike Walsh

      March 26, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      Using an Instant Por (brand) cooker, roughly how long should it take to get the wings (a dozen) just to the edge of being done? I'd like to finish them in a cast iron skillet to crisp the skin.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 27, 2021 at 7:33 am

        Hi Mike! I have not tried undercooking the chicken, so I can't give exact timing without experimenting myself. I will say I broil them after being cooked, so you can probably do the same for searing. OR I would suggest cooking for 6-7 minutes with NPR and then finishing in skillet.

        Reply
    3. Shantell Davis

      March 09, 2021 at 10:31 am

      I have a three quart instant pot. Do you think that would use the same amount of water as the 6 quart? This recipe looks so tasty and I want to try it. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 09, 2021 at 10:58 am

        I would use 3/4 cup of water Shantell. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Lindsay

      February 06, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      These look great! Can you cook them first and broil the next day?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 06, 2021 at 3:38 pm

        Yes absolutely Lindsay.

        Reply
    5. Kenna

      January 19, 2021 at 8:22 pm

      I tried this tonight! Very good! I did two batches as I wasn't sure if I should stack them in the steamer basket. I used frozen and I stood them up in the basket and fit however many I could! I did barbeque as I'm not a fan of hot sauce. I also did quite a bit longer for the broiler to really crispen them up! Super easy and so quick! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 20, 2021 at 6:49 am

        Hi Kenna! I am so glad you enjoyed the wings! For future reference, you are fine to stack the wings.

        Reply
    6. David Pittinger

      January 18, 2021 at 5:24 pm

      You can also use surger to cut the heat

      Reply
    7. Lisa

      January 14, 2021 at 7:31 am

      How can I change recipe for mild sauce?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 14, 2021 at 9:32 am

        Hi Lisa! You can use BBQ sauce, or you can mix 1/4 cup melted butter with 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 cup each of hot sauce and tomato sauce to cut down on heat. I would suggest cooking that over low heat for about 5 minutes to cook off the canned tomato taste.

        Reply
    8. Heather

      January 12, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      Making these tonight. Hoping they come out great!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 13, 2021 at 6:37 am

        Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    9. paul smith

      January 09, 2021 at 1:47 pm

      2 stars
      not fall off the bone

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 11, 2021 at 6:56 am

        Hi Paul. I am sorry these did not turn out tender for you. Did you allow for a natural pressure release?

        Reply
    10. Sarah

      December 11, 2020 at 10:23 pm

      5 stars
      I've had a hard time adjusting to my Instant Pot, so I was worried about making these. I thought they were going to be a complete fail because they seemed really soggy and looked kind of pale and sickly. That all resolved when I tossed them in sauce and broiled them. The meat was extremely tender!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 12, 2020 at 7:52 am

        Hi Sarah! It is really quite surprising the results isn't it? The meat is SO tender indeed. Glad you enjoyed!

        Reply
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    Primary Sidebar

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings are the most tender and flavorful chicken wings you will ever have. They are the perfect easy appetizer recipe to prepare for watching football or when entertaining.

    Meet Kristen

    Kristen Chidsey with apron on in front of vegetables in kitchen.

    Hi! I'm Kristen. It is my honor and passion to share easy, wholesome recipes with you to in turn share your loved ones. These tried and true recipes will help you make delicious, family-friendly meals without stress! Read more

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    Ready in less than 30 minutes, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Wings are the most tender and flavorful chicken wings you will ever have. They are the perfect easy appetizer recipe to prepare for watching football or when entertaining.

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