Brant’s Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings
Brants Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings embody the bold flavors of spicy ranch dip. These are ranchy and tangy with a hint of zing!
April 2025 update: I first shared these Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings back in March 2024. I didn’t mess with the original recipe—because why fix what isn’t broken?—but I did add some fun serving suggestions and a few more appetizer ideas to help you build the ultimate Super Bowl or backyard barbecue spread. Give these Smoked Chicken Wings a try and let me know what you think down in the comments—I love hearing how they turn out for you!
👩🍳Rowdy Ranch Smoked Wings: The Best Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe
If you’re a wing fanatic like me, you’re gonna absolutely lose it over these Rowdy Ranch Smoked Chicken Wings. We made these bad boys during a big family vacation—the kind where my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, my brother, sister-in-law, their kids, and our kids (fourteen people total, pure chaos) all piled into a giant cabin. We packed tons of food from our gardens, loaded up coolers, and of course brought these Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings along with Brant’s other masterpiece—Nashville Hot Chicken Wings made with our homemade Nashville Hot Seasoning. Y’all… everyone raved about these wings. Nobody could stop talking about them the whole trip. They’re just that good.
Rowdy Ranch Smoked Wings bring the smoke, the juiciness, the bold flavor—basically, they steal the show at any get-together. We kick things off by soaking the wings in a tangy buttermilk marinade that makes them melt-in-your-mouth tender. Then we coat ‘em in a zesty, spicy ranch seasoning before slow-smoking them to absolute perfection. A quick blast in the air fryer at the end? Boom. Crispy, smoky magic. If you’ve been hunting for the ultimate Smoked Wings Recipe, this one’s about to become your new ride-or-die.
Here’s why I’m obsessed with my husband’s Rowdy Ranch Smoked Chicken Wings:
First off, he created them, and I love that. Second, we used to deep fry our smoked wings to get that crispy skin, but we discovered the air fryer’s magic. Less mess, less oil, way easier cleanup—and honestly, the texture hits just as good. Total win-win-win. These wings crush it at game days, backyard BBQs, cabin getaways, or even some random Tuesday night when you’re craving something rowdy and next-level delicious.
This Smoked Wings Recipe cranks out 24 wings, but fair warning: people will absolutely fight over the last one. So grab your buttermilk, fire up that smoker, and let’s make some magic happen.
🛒 Recipe Ingredient List
🐓 Here’s how we make chicken wings
Make the Dry Rub: In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered buttermilk, granulated garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, parsley, dried dill, tarragon, chives, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed. This flavorful dry rub will give your wings that extra kick!
Marinate the Wings: In a large bowl (big enough to hold all your chicken wings), combine the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon of fresh dill, and 1 tablespoon of your homemade rub. Add in the chicken wings, making sure they’re well-coated in that creamy marinade. Cover the bowl and let the wings marinate in the fridge for about 3-4 hours. This step is crucial for achieving juicy, tender wings!
Prepare the Wings: After marinating, remove the wings from the buttermilk and pat them dry with paper towels. This will help them crisp up nicely later on. Discard the marinade and rinse the bowl to avoid any mess. Make sure to dry the bowl thoroughly before the next step.
Preheat the Smoker: Get your smoker going and preheat it to 400°F. This high heat will help lock in the flavors while the wings cook.
Season the Wings: Add the dried wings back to the now-clean bowl. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over them and toss with the remaining dry rub, making sure each wing is generously coated. Let the wings rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to really soak in!
Smoke the Wings: Arrange the seasoned wings on the smoker and cook them until they reach an internal temperature of approximately 195°F. This ensures they are cooked through and super juicy.
Air Fry for Crispiness: Now, here’s the game-changer! Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the smoked wings on the air fryer tray in a single layer. Air fry them for about 5-10 minutes, or until they’re crispy and golden brown. This method gives you that perfect crunch without the mess of deep frying—win-win!
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Brant’s Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 24 chicken wings
- 2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp fresh dill ( chopped)
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Rub
- ⅓ cup powdered buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon dill
- ½ teaspoon terragon
- ½ teaspoon chives
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the dry rub: ⅓ cup powdered buttermilk, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chipotle powder, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1/2 teaspoon terragon, 1/2 teaspoon chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- In a large bowl (big enough for all your wings), combine 2 cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp fresh dill and 1 tbsp of the rub. Add wings and allow them to marinate for 3-4 hours in the fridge.
- Remove the wings from the marinade and dry them off with paper towels. Discard the buttermilk marinade and rinse the bowl. Dry the bowl thoroughly.
- Preheat smoker to 400℉.
- Add wings back to the bowl and toss with 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil and the dry rub. Allow the wings to rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Arrange the wings on the smoker and cook until they reach an internal temperature of approximately 195℉.
- Preheat airfryer to 350℉. Place wings on an airfyer try and airfry until crispy, about 5-10 minutes.
Nutrition
FAQs
Why you should soak chicken wings in buttermilk first?
The acidity of buttermilk tenderizes the meat, making it juicier and more flavorful. Buttermilk also imparts a subtle tanginess to the chicken and helps retain moisture during cooking. Additionally, the soaking process allows for the absorption of the hot sauce and later the rub. This technique contributes to a more tender, flavorful, and well-textured end result for chicken wings.
Can I make Rowdy Ranch Chicken Wings less spicy?
Sure, leave out the chipotle powder. Then they will be ranch chicken wings without the rowdiness.
Why you should soak chicken wings in buttermilk first?
The acidity of buttermilk tenderizes the meat, making it juicier and more flavorful. Buttermilk also imparts a subtle tanginess to the chicken and helps retain moisture during cooking. Additionally, the soaking process allows for the absorption of the hot sauce and later the rub. This technique contributes to a more tender, flavorful, and well-textured end result for chicken wings.
Serving Suggestions
When it’s time to serve up these Rowdy Ranch Smoked Wings, you’ve gotta go big! I love piling them high on a big platter with plenty of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping (because let’s be real, wings + dip = magic). Add some crunchy celery sticks, carrot sticks, and maybe a few jalapeño slices if your crew likes a little extra heat. These wings also pair insanely well with a cold beer, a pitcher of sweet tea, or even some spicy margaritas if you’re feeling fancy.
For a full spread, don’t forget to throw in a few more of my favorite appetizers—like Smoked Chicken Nachos, Mango Salsa, or Pigs In A Blanket—so there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s a backyard BBQ, a game day bash, or just a chill night with friends, these smoked wings are guaranteed to steal the show.
Appetizers are party royalty!
For the ultimate spread of appetizers for a backyard barbecue or Super Bowl party, I’ve got you covered with some seriously crowd-pleasing options! Along with these Rowdy Ranch Smoked Wings, make sure to check out a few more of my all-time favorite appetizer recipes on the blog.
For something a little spicy and totally irresistible, my Nashville Hot Chicken Lollipops are a must—super fun to eat and packed with bold flavor. If you’re a nacho lover (who isn’t?), don’t miss my Smoked Chicken Nachos, piled high on a white plate with creamy Nacho Cheese Sauce for drizzling on top. Add a little tropical twist to your appetizer table with my sweet and smoky Grilled Pineapple Salsa—both bring a fresh burst of flavor that pairs perfectly with chips or grilled meats. Want even more fruity goodness? Try my Mango Salsa for a bright, juicy snack that disappears fast.
And of course, no party is complete without a few classics: Stuffed Mushrooms for the savory lovers, Pigs in a Blanket for a bite-sized favorite everyone fights over, and my personal secret weapon—Cottage Cheese Smokehouse Beef Brisket Dip. It’s smoky, creamy, and downright addictive.
Seriously, with these easy appetizers in your back pocket, your barbecue or Super Bowl party is gonna be legendary.
We went on a trip to the smokies and brought these — reheated them in the oven — and now my family agrees that my husband is the best wing smoker. We are going to bring them on all family trips from now on at the urging of everyone.