Traeger 0-400 Chicken Wings – Recipe and Cooking Guide

ByPaul

Hey Smokers, and welcome to my post where we will run through my recipe and cooking guide for Traeger 0-400 Chicken Wings. As you may or may not know, this site is all about cooking on my Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet Smoker and seeing where we can take things – and today, it’s the wing.

Traeger 0-400 Chicken Wings - Header

So, what are 0-400 chicken wings you may ask? Well, after seeing a lot of posts and comments about them, I have found out that in simple terms, they are done by cooking chicken wings in a smoker that starts from 0 degrees – i.e. turn on point – and left until the smoker reached 400°F (around 204°C).

At this point, they should be crispy and delicious. And seeing as my family loves a good chicken wing, well it would be almost criminal not to check it all out.. so here we go… some Traeger chicken wings

Check Out My: Traeger Hot and Sweet Chicken Wings – Recipe and Cooking Guide

Traeger 0-400 Chicken Wings: What You’ll Need

Ok, so below is what I used to cook me some smoked chicken wings on the Traeger pellet smoker:

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs of chicken wings (about 12-16 wings)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • Your favorite BBQ sauce (optional)

I forgot the onion powder but was still good. Also, I have seen a few recipes where the pitmasters have used baking powder as well to get a crispier finish – I didn’t have any so I didn’t use it (Hint: just make sure you use baking POWDER and NOT baking soda).

Equipment

  • Pellet smoker
  • Smoker pellets (I had Hickory already in mine so that is what I used)
  • Meat thermometer (if you want to go by temp)
  • Tongs
  • Basting brush (if using BBQ sauce)

I didn’t baste, rather added the sauce post-cook.

The Cooking Process

This is what I did and when…

1. Preparation

  1. Clean the Wings: Rinse the chicken wings under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
  2. Season the Wings: In a large bowl, toss the wings with olive oil. Combine the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
traeger 0-400 chicken wings - prepared wings pre cook

2. Preheat the Smoker

  1. Fill the Pellet Hopper: Fill the hopper of your pellet smoker with your chosen wood pellets.
  2. Preheat the Smoker: Set the temperature to 400°F.

3. Smoke the Wings

  1. Place the Wings on the Smoker: Arrange the wings on the grill grates in a single layer, making sure they are not touching.
  2. Set to 400°F: Smoke the wings for about 30-45 minutes and then turn.
  3. Cook the Wings: Continue cooking the wings at 400°F for another 30-40 minutes. The wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F and the skin is crispy.
traeger 0-400 chicken wings - pre turn wings

4. (Optional) Sauce the Wings in Cook

  1. Baste with BBQ Sauce: If you prefer sauced wings, brush your favorite BBQ sauce onto the wings during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking. Allow the sauce to caramelize and get sticky.
  2. Final Temperature Check: Ensure the internal temperature of the wings reaches at least 165°F.

5. (Optional) Sauce the Wings Post-Cook

  1. Baste with Sauce: Place the cooked wings in a bowl and cover with your favorite sauce such as BBQ or Buffalo etc.

This is the method I chose – I covered the wings in a buffalo sauce and served.

6. Serve and Enjoy

  1. Rest the Wings: Let the wings rest for a few minutes after removing them from the smoker.
  2. Serve: Serve the wings hot, with additional sauce such as a ranch or blue cheese on the side if desired.

My Results

I turned my wings after about 45 minutes and then checked them after about 70 mins. And as I hoped above, they are indeed crispy and delicious.

Now, as I was setting everything up, I realized that on my smoker, I do not actually have a setting for 400°F – my highest is 190°C/375°F and then ‘high’. I set the temp to the max and when I came out after 45 minutes to check them for turning, the smoker thermometer was up around the 232°C/450°F so I turned it back to 190°C/375°F for the last 30 minutes or so.

Regardless, for the sake of an hour or so to cook and not really having to watch temps or specific times, this is a very straight forward method in which to smoke chicken wings with great results.

traeger 0-400 chicken wings - buffalo sauced wings

Tips for Perfect Smoked Wings

  • Wood Choice: Experiment with different wood pellets to find your preferred flavor profile. Fruity woods like apple and cherry add a mild sweetness, while hickory provides a stronger, smoky flavor.
  • Dry Brining: For extra flavor, consider dry brining the wings by seasoning them and letting them sit in the fridge uncovered for a few hours or overnight.
  • Crispy Skin: Ensuring the wings are dry before seasoning and increasing the smoker temperature to 400°F are key steps to achieving crispy skin.

Conclusion

So there you have it, my recipe and cooking guide for some Traeger 0-400 wings on the smoker. I hope it has been of assistance but as usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out by commenting below. I would also love to hear of your own experiences, preferences or suggestions here as well.

Are there any other products you have been looking at but want to know more about? If so, please comment below and I will do my best to get some details for you.

Until next time

Have fun and get smoking!

Paul

Very recently I decided pretty much on a whim to purchase myself a Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet Smoker. I have never used one of these before so come on a journey with me as I find stuff to smoke on my new toy – from the view of a beginner. Then, hopefully, one day as an expert.

Let’s get smoking!

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