Best Instant Pot Chicken Wings {Fresh or Frozen}

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

Step 1: Season the wings.

Toss the wings in the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Cook on high pressure.

Add the wings to a trivet in the pressure cooker, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.

Step 3: Make the sauce.

Mix together the buffalo wing sauce, melted butter and BBQ sauce.

Step 4: Toss the wings.

Do a quick release of the pressure and remove the wings, then toss them in a bowl with the sauce.

Step 5: Broil the wings.

Add the wings to a baking rack on a foil-lined sheet and crisp them up in the oven.

Step 6: 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 or appetizer ideas to accompany them! Focus on starches and vegetables for side dishes. Here are some of my favourite ideas:

• This potato salad is a hearty side to balance out the zesty flavor of the hot wings.
• Steamed vegetables will add some nutrients to your yummy wings.
• Serve with some tender 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

How do you make the chicken wings crispy?

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!

Can you double this recipe?

If you have a big enough Instant Pot, you can double this recipe for a party or potluck – just make sure you don’t go over the maximum line in the pot. The cooking time will remain the same, it might just take the Instant Pot longer to get up to high pressure. You could also cook the wings in batches.

How long do you cook frozen wings for in the Instant Pot?

To make frozen chicken wings in the Instant Pot, cook them on high pressure for 12 minutes (instead of 8 minutes for raw wings).

Do you need to defrost them first?

There’s no need to defrost frozen wings before cooking them. You can cook them straight from frozen for 12 minutes.

How do you know when they’re done?

You’ll know the Instant Pot chicken wings are done cooking when the juices run clear. You can also use a meat thermometer to ensure they’re at an internal temperature of 165°F.

Storing and reheating

You can store any leftovers Instant Pot wings in the fridge in an airtight container 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

• Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
• The Best Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

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.