These are the Best Instant Pot Chicken Wings made with a 3-ingredient buffalo sauce and fresh or frozen wings – no deep-frying required!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Raw chicken wings – frozen chicken wings would also work, just keep in mind you’ll need to increase the cooking time.
- Paprika – cayenne or chili powder would be the best substitutes here.
- Onion powder – use garlic powder or onion flakes instead.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
- Buffalo wing sauce – use a store-bought version or make your own using hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, white vinegar and cayenne.
- Melted butter – this will help cut the buffalo sauce. You can try using the butter substitute of your choice or leave this out altogether.
- BBQ sauce – use a combination of ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce for a similar flavour.
- Carrots & celery – serve these wings with any other veggies or another side dish of your choice.
- Ranch dressing – blue cheese dressing or extra buffalo sauce would also be good for dipping.
How to make chicken wings in the Instant Pot
- Toss the wings in the seasoning.
- Add the trivet to the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high for 8 minutes.
- Make the wing sauce.
- Do a quick release of the pressure.
- Toss the wings in extra sauce.
- Broil until crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with chicken wings
Instant Pot chicken wings will provide the hearty protein for your meal. Of course, you will need some side dishes to accompany them! Focus on starches and vegetables for side dishes. Here are some of my favourite ideas:
- This Ultimate Instant Pot Potato Salad is a hearty side to balance out the zest of the hot wings.
- Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables will add some nutrients to your yummy wings.
- Some Instant Pot Corn on the Cob for the ultimate backyard BBQ.
Of course, you can also just serve your wings with raw veggies and dip for a simple pub-inspired meal at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo wings are a version of chicken wings, created in the kitchen of a bar in Buffalo, New York. Unlike some versions of fried chicken wings, Buffalo wings have no breading or batter. Another thing that sets them apart from traditional fried wings is the sauce. Typically, Buffalo wing sauce has a vinegar base and includes butter and hot sauce or hot peppers.
Wings are delicious in both the air fryer and the Instant Pot! It’s really just a matter of personal preference and depends on which kitchen tool you have handy, but I personally love how easy instapot chicken wings are. If you’re looking for an air fryer recipe, try this one.
For this Instant Pot wings recipe, you’ll make the wings nice and crispy by broiling them for 4-5 minutes per side on a baking sheet lined with foil after cooking them in the Instant Pot. They’ll be nice and juicy on the inside but crispy on the outside!
Yes! You can make these Instant Pot chicken wings using either fresh or frozen wings. If you’re using frozen wings, you’ll need to add some time on to cooking time, so you’ll set the Instant Pot to cook on high for 12 minutes instead of 8 minutes.
Storing and reheating
You can store any leftovers Instant Pot wings in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, with any extra sauce on the side. When you’re ready to enjoy, I suggest reheating them in the oven, because wings don’t microwave very well. You’ll lose the crunch and just end up with soggy wings, which no one wants. I’d suggest broiling them for a few minutes per side or reheating them for 10-15 minutes at 375° Fahrenheit.
Can you freeze chicken wings?
If you used frozen wings to make these Instant Pot chicken wings, you won’t be able to refreeze them, but if you used fresh chicken wings, you can definitely freeze them either cooked or raw for up to 3 months. Store them in airtight glass containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags.
You can cook or reheat them from frozen, or let them defrost in the fridge overnight then follow the cooking or reheating instructions above.
More Instant Pot chicken recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls to pack up these wings and store them in the fridge.
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re marinating the wings then freezing them.
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
Best Instant Pot Chicken Wings {Fresh or Frozen}
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 lbs raw chicken wings
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion or garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- Carrots & celery sticks to serve
- Ranch and/or blue cheese dressing to serve
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss wings with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Add trivet and water to Instant Pot, then add seasoned chicken wings to trivet. Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal.
- Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 8 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook the 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, set oven to broil on high and mix together wing sauce. Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily.
- Remove wings from Instant Pot and toss in sauce in a large bowl. Add wings to a baking sheet lined with foil and topped with a baking rack. Broil for 4-5 minutes per side to crisp wings up. Serve with veggies and dip and enjoy!
