Grilled Cajun Chicken Wings

Name: Grilled Cajun Chicken Wings
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken wings (tip removed); 1 tbsp brown sugar (light brown); 1 tbsp paprika (sweet or smoked); 1½ tsp sea salt; 1 tsp garlic powder (granulated works best); 1 tsp onion powder (granulated works best); 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp dried thyme; ½ tsp black pepper; ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (more or less depending upon the level of heat you like.)

5 from 42 votes

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These delicious Cajun Chicken Wings are seasoned with a spicy and flavorful Cajun Dry Rub, wrapped in foil and grilled to perfection. They’re so crispy and delicious, that you won’t be able to stop eating them.

cajun chicken wings on a white plate with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing

Making moist and perfectly cooked chicken wings isn’t difficult if you know this chef’s secret. Using foil when grilling the wings because it locks in moisture and flavor, and it makes clean-up even easier! And best of all no more burnt wings!

close up of cajun chicken wings on a white plate with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing

Everyone knows that Chef Dennis loves his chicken wings and I love coming up with new ways to enjoy those delectable wings. My Cajun seasoning gives these wings an earthy and spicy flavor coating that takes them to a whole new level of deliciousness. Trust me, this is one delicious Cajun Chicken Wing Recipe!

*Not a fan of heat, leave out the cayenne and if you do like hot wings, add a little bit more cayenne to the seasonings.

If you love grilled wings, my Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings are another delicious option.

Ingredients

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Cajun Chicken Wings. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

*When cutting your wings save and freeze the wing tip for soups. I only serve the drumette and wingette portion of the chicken wing.

How do you make Cajun Chicken Wings?

Start by patting the chicken wings with paper towels. You want the wings dry before adding the seasonings.

Collage of steps showing how to make the chicken

Add the seasonings to a small bowl.
Mix the seasonings together.
Place the wings in a large bowl and sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the wings.
Toss the wings to coat them with the seasoning.

collage showing how to set the foil packets for grilling.

Arrange the wings in a single layer on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Leave space between each wing. Refrigerate the wings uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight if possible.
Let the wings come to room temperature, then place half the wings on a 12×13-inch sheet of Foil and fold over the foil to seal the wings in a pouch.
Going in the opposite direction wrap the foil package in another sheet of foil. Seal the package so the juices won’t escape. The layer of foil also protects the wings from burning.

How to cook chicken wings?

There are so many ways to cook chicken wings and most recipes can be adapted to cook them with your favorite method. Whether it’s in the oven, air-fryer, deep fryer or my favorite way, on the grill my Cajun Chicken Wings will come out delicious every time.

And while I do love that grilled flavor, I tend to get the wings a little too crispy….. and if you ask my wife she might even say I burn them. Sooooooo, I wrap the wings in foil to keep the sugar from over-caramelizing. It also keeps the wings super moist, not letting them dry out from the direct heat of the grill. That’s a win-win in my book!

collage showing how to grill using foil packets.

Place the foil packets of wings on a preheated 350-degree grill and close the lid.
Let the wings cook for 10 minutes then flip the packets over to the other side and cook the wings for an additional 10 minutes.
Carefully cut open the top of the packet and let the wings cook for an additional 6-8 minutes to let the heat dry the wings up just a bit.

Carefully remove the foil packets from the grill and place them on a serving platter.
Serve with ranch or bleu cheese dressing, celery sticks, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Garnish the dish with chopped Italian parsley or chopped green onions.

To tell the truth my Cajun Chicken Wing Recipe was so good, I didn’t even need a dip!

Recipe FAQ’s

What is Cajun Seasoning?

Cajun Seasoning finds its origin in Louisiana. It’s made of spices that are common in Cajun cuisine. There are many brands available online and at your grocer’s, but it’s easy to make your own and tailor to your specific tastes.

How do you make a Cajun Dry Rub?

Making a Cajun Dry Rub is really easy and adaptable to the seasonings you enjoy. But let’s start with the basics.
Paprika (smoked or sweet), garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, black pepper, sea salt, brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat.

How do I get the dry rub to stick to the chicken wings?

Using a paper towel to dry off the wings is the secret to getting the rub to adhere to the wings. Make sure they are patted dry before adding the spice rub to ensure the rub adheres to the wings.

More Wing Recipes You’ll Love!

grilled cajun wings on white plate with bleu cheese dressing and celery sticks

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5 from 42 votes