Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings made with frozen drumettes and flats are ready in under 30 minutes. These honey-BBQ wings are coated in a flavorful homemade sauce and briefly broiled for a crisp skin and juicy interior. Make a large batch—these easy Instant Pot BBQ wings disappear fast.
Instant Pot BBQ Wings from Frozen
Instant Pot wings are simple and fast. You don’t need to thaw frozen wings—pressure cooking steams them perfectly in about 15 minutes. Toss the cooked wings in a tangy-sweet honey BBQ sauce, then broil briefly to create a sticky, crispy exterior.
The sauce is sweet, slightly spicy and full of smoky BBQ flavor. It clings to the wings and creates a delicious glaze you’ll want to lick off your fingers.
Tips & Tricks
- Best Flavor: Pressure cook the wings without the BBQ sauce. After cooking, toss them in the sauce and broil for 3–5 minutes to crisp the edges. This yields juicy meat with a sticky, caramelized coating.
- Upgrade Store-Bought Sauce: Add honey, butter and a few seasonings to bottled BBQ sauce to boost depth and balance. Don’t skip these for the best flavor.
- Get Crispy Wings: Broil the sauced wings on the top oven rack for 3–5 minutes, watching carefully. Broiling crisps the skin and helps the sauce set into a glossy finish.
Easy Instant Pot BBQ Wings – Ingredients
The full ingredient list with exact measurements is provided in the recipe box below. The list here is a quick reference.
- Chicken wings: Frozen drumettes and flats work great; no thawing required. If using fresh wings, see notes for adjusted cook time.
- BBQ sauce: Use your preferred brand. A hickory or smoky variety pairs especially well, but original styles or blends also work.
- Honey: Adds sweetness and helps the sauce cling to the wings. Adjust the amount to taste.
- Butter: Adds richness and improves sauce texture—recommended.
- Seasonings: Paprika, garlic powder and cayenne (optional for heat).
How to Make Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings
The detailed step-by-step recipe with measurements and a video is included in the recipe box below.
Step 1 – Pressure Cook the Wings
- Frozen wings: Place the metal trivet in the Instant Pot insert and add 1 cup water. Arrange frozen wings on the trivet, secure the lid, seal the valve and pressure cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, then quick release.
- Fresh (thawed) wings: Use the same setup but pressure cook on HIGH for 8 minutes, then quick release. For fresh wings you can rub a light seasoning before cooking.
Step 2 – Broil the BBQ Wings
- Make the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat (or using the Instant Pot on SAUTE with the water drained), combine BBQ sauce, butter, honey and seasonings. Simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring, then remove from heat.
- Coat the wings: Toss the steamed wings in the warm sauce until well coated.
- Broil: Line a baking tray with foil, set a metal rack on the tray and arrange wings in a single layer. Broil on HIGH on the top oven rack for 3–5 minutes, watching closely so they don’t burn. Times vary by oven.
Instant Pot Chicken Wings without an Oven
If you don’t have an oven, skip the broiling and serve the wings tossed in sauce. They will be flavorful but won’t have the crispy edges broiling provides.
Storage
- Fridge: Store cooled wings in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in heavy-duty, freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 2 months. Reheated wings will lose crispiness—brush with extra sauce before reheating.
Reheating Instructions
Reheat refrigerated wings in the microwave until warm, or reheat thawed frozen wings in the oven after brushing with extra sauce. Reheated wings will taste great but will not be as crispy as freshly broiled wings.
How to Steam Wings in the Instant Pot
Place wings on a steaming rack or metal trivet inside the Instant Pot, add 1 cup water, seal the lid and pressure cook on HIGH for the specified time (15 minutes for frozen, 8 minutes for thawed), then quick release.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings (**bone in, skin on. Frozen wings, both flats and drumettes. About 12 wings total.)
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce
- ¼ cup Honey
- 2 tbsp Butter
Seasonings
- 1 tsp Paprika
- ½ tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Cayenne pepper (**skip if you prefer no heat)
Liquid
- 1 cup Water (**for steaming)
Instructions
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Steam frozen wings: Place the trivet in the Instant Pot insert and pour 1 cup water. Arrange frozen wings on the trivet, seal the lid and pressure cook on HIGH for 15 minutes. Quick release when the cycle ends and carefully remove the wings.
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Prepare the sauce: In a small saucepan combine BBQ sauce, honey, butter, garlic powder, paprika and cayenne. Simmer over medium heat, stirring for 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat.
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Toss wings in sauce: Transfer the steamed wings into a large bowl, pour the warm sauce over them and toss to coat evenly.
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Broil wings: Line a baking tray with foil, set a metal rack on top and arrange wings in a single layer. Broil on HIGH on the top oven rack for 3–5 minutes until the edges caramelize—watch closely. Serve hot.
Notes
- Spice level: These wings are sweet with a mild heat. Omit cayenne if you prefer no spice, or substitute with black pepper.
- Scaling: You can double the recipe; cooking times remain the same—double the ingredient amounts.
- Honey substitute: If you skip honey, use 3–4 tablespoons brown sugar as an alternative.
Calorie and nutrition details are provided as estimates.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 66g
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Protein: 24g
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Fat: 32g
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