These extra spicy “Meaner than Evil” BBQ chicken wings go from hot to dangerously hot depending on your chile flakes and BBQ sauce. A dry rub of smoked paprika, brown sugar, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper coats the wings before they marinate for 2 to 4 hours. Then you grill them or air fry them until crispy and charred. A final toss in spicy barbecue sauce finishes them off.
This recipe comes from The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook. It’s named “Meaner Than Evil” after season 3, episode 9 of Yellowstone. Use the spicy BBQ sauce from the cookbook for the full experience, or substitute your favorite store-bought sauce. Serve them with the Dutton Family Ranch Dressing from the cookbook on the side.
Servings: 2 servings
The spiciness of these chicken wings will vary greatly from hot to dangerously hot, depending on the heat of the chile flakes you are using, and the barbecue sauce you select. Use the spicy BBQ sauce recipe from Jackie Alpers’s The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook or your favorite store-bought sauce.
Ingredients
- 12 chicken wing pieces
- 1-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked hot paprika
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup spicy barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Secure the chicken wings and the spice rub ingredients in a resealable bag. Shake the bag to coat the wings, then massage the spices into the chicken. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
- Grill on medium, covered, turning occasionally, until thoroughly cooked with a nice char, and crispy.
- Brush both sides of the wings with barbecue sauce and let brown, about 2-5 minutes more.
- Alternatively, you can cook the wings in the air fryer. Spray the inside of the air fryer with vegetable oil then preheat it to 400 degrees F. Place the wings in the basket so that they are not touching, standing them on-end against the walls if needed. Air fry for 18-20 minutes, turning half-way through and shaking occasionally, until thoroughly cooked and crispy or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the wings reads 165 degrees F.
- Place the hot wings in a large bowl and toss with barbecue sauce to coat.
- Serve with Dutton Family Ranch Dressing from The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook.
Hungry for More? Buy the Unofficial Elf Cookbook, The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook and the Taste of Tucson Cookbook!
