FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook
- Why You Need My Crock Pot Chicken Wings
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Chicken Wings In A Crock Pot
- My Recipe Tips
- Sauce & Seasoning Variations
- Storage & Meal Prep
- Serving Ideas
- More Chicken Wing Recipes
- Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Wings (Garlic Parmesan) Recipe card
- Gratitude Moment
- Recipe Reviews
I used to be a meat-off-the-bones kind of girl, but these Crock Pot chicken wings converted me years ago. And now I can’t get enough wings… as long as they are crispy! Now, let’s be real, crispy is not usually the word you’d use to describe slow cooker chicken wings (or slow cooker anything ). But I’ve developed an easy method that will leave them not only super juicy inside, but also crispy on the outside. And you’re going to love this garlic parmesan coating. Make these with me for tender, flavorful — and very crispy — wings with minimal effort!
Why You Need My Crock Pot Chicken Wings
- Fall-off-the-bone chicken with crispy skin – It seems impossible, but it isn’t! It’s not unusual for slow cooker chicken wing recipes to turn out amazingly juicy and tender, and these definitely are, but my method also gets you that crispy skin.
- Buttery, garlicky flavors – My simple garlic butter coating with parmesan is rich, savory, and I’ll say it, irresistible. But I also have several variations for you below if you prefer a different flavor.
- Fuss-free slow cooker cooking – I make slow cooker recipes year-round, from Tuscan chicken and these Crock Pot wings to pulled pork and beef barbacoa , because they’re just so hands-off. And this recipe needs just 4 simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
- Perfect for any occasion – Whether it’s game day, a weeknight dinner, or just a weekend pick-me-up, these wings will be a hit with your family. They’re easy to make and disappear fast!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my slow cooker chicken wings recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Chicken Wings – I prefer to get my organic chicken wings delivered from here , but any wings that are separated into drumettes and wingettes will work.
- Butter – I like this brand of grass-fed butter , but you can use any unsalted butter. If you use salted, you’ll need to reduce the sea salt to 3/4 teaspoon.
- Garlic – I highly recommend fresh minced garlic here! You can also use a tablespoon of the kind from a jar , or substitute 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder in a pinch, but fresh tastes the best.
- Parmesan cheese – I like shredded parm on my Crock Pot chicken wings because it gets more melty, but grated works if that’s what you’ve got.
- Green onions – Just an optional garnish for a pop of color! Chives make a good substitute.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Cook Chicken Wings In A Crock Pot
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Season the chicken. Place the wings into your slow cooker . It’s fine if they overlap! Season with the sea salt and black pepper, and mix to disperse the spices evenly.
- Toss with garlic butter. Heat the butter and garlic together to melt the butter. You can do this in a medium bowl in the microwave, or a saucepan on the stove. (The stovetop option will give you extra flavor because you can saute the garlic for a minute!) Pour the garlic butter mixture over the wings and stir to coat evenly.
- Cook the chicken wings in the slow cooker. The time will vary depending on whether you use low or high, so just see my recipe card below for details.
- Get them nice and crispy! This is where the magic happens. After slow cooking, a quick trip to the broiler gives these wings a crispy, golden-brown finish. Spread the wings on a lined baking sheet, and broil until crispy and golden, flipping halfway through. Don’t worry, this step is super quick, but so important!
- Add the parmesan. Top the Crock Pot chicken wings with with shredded parmesan cheese, then broil again until the cheese melts.
My Recipe Tips
- Thaw your chicken wings before slow cooking. This avoids any food safety risks ( source from the USDA ) and ensures that the garlic butter sauce sticks. Plus, frozen wings can water things down, making it harder to get that crispy texture later. If you don’t have time to thaw, make my frozen air fryer chicken wings instead.
- Use a liner for easy cleanup. If you want easier cleanup, use reusable slow cooker liners like this . Just lift out the liner and toss it in the dishwasher when you’re done.
- Do you really have to broil them? No, but I highly recommend it because the skin is pretty soggy if you don’t include this step. After broiling, you get the best of both worlds — super juicy, tender meat inside and crispy, golden skin on the outside.
- Watch closely when broiling. The time to brown can vary. I recommend placing the wings 6 inches from the heating element for this step, and when I do this my slow cooker wings usually take 5 minutes per side to brown.
- Don’t want to use your oven? You can also crisp up the wings in your air fryer ! Just preheat to 400 degrees F, then air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy. You’ll need to do this in batches to avoid crowding the basket, which is why I usually prefer the oven for a large batch like this recipe.
- You can serve the chicken wings in the slow cooker if you like. Just drain the liquid and wipe it down, then place the wings back in after broiling — like my picture below. I like to do this and keep my Crock Pot on the warm setting, so the wings stay warm!
Sauce & Seasoning Variations
I’m obsessed with these garlic parmesan wings, but my method will work to get crispy, fall-off-the-bone Crock Pot chicken wings with any sauce you like — or no sauce at all!
Saucy Options:
For most sauces, I use 1 cup to cook the chicken wings in the slow cooker and then an extra 1/2 cup at the end. You can use:
- The buffalo sauce from my buffalo wings recipe
- Regular or sugar free BBQ sauce (similar to my Crock Pot chicken legs )
- Your favorite hot sauce (mixed with butter or olive oil)
- Teriyaki sauce for some sweetness
Just toss the wings with sauce before slow cooking, then brush on more sauce either before or after broiling.
Seasoned Options:
You don’t have to use a sauce for these to turn out juicy and crispy! If you want to keep it simple, just season the wings in the Crock Pot, slow cook, spritz with olive oil spray, and broil.
The seasonings from my baked chicken wings taste great, or try 2 tablespoons of my lemon pepper seasoning .
Storage & Meal Prep
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Meal prep: Season the wings and prep the sauce ahead of time, then refrigerate separately. You can also cook Crock Pot chicken wings and hold off on the broiling step. I find that if I wait to broil them until the day-of, they taste like I made them fresh!
- Reheat: You can reheat the chicken wings in the slow cooker again, but they don’t turn out crispy that way. So, I prefer to reheat them in the oven at 375 degrees F, or my air fryer at 350 degrees F.
- Freeze: Arrange the wings on a line sheet pan in a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip lock bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you know you’ll be freezing them, wait until after thawing to broil.
Serving Ideas
Crock Pot chicken wings are really versatile in that they can be a main dish, an appetizer, or even a snack. Here are some ways I serve them:
- Dipping Sauce – These garlic butter wings are already plenty flavorful on their own, but I really like them with ranch dressing . If you make my buffalo version in the variations above, blue cheese dressing pairs well with that, too.
- Raw Veggies – Wings wouldn’t be complete without the classic celery sticks and carrot sticks. Sometimes I mix it up with radishes and bell pepper strips, too.
- Pizza – I love slow cooker wings and pizza for a comfort food dinner! Try my pizza casserole or cauliflower crust pizza for lighter options.
- Salad – For a complete meal deal, add one of my crisp salad recipes ! My creamy radish salad or simple cucumber tomato salad are so easy.
More Chicken Wing Recipes
Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Crock Pot – I love mine that has 30-minute time increments and it’s the perfect size for family meals.
- Sheet Pan – I have this baking sheet in every size because it’s that amazing. I also have the version with a wire rack — use it if you want even crispier wings.
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 4 lb Chicken wings (separated into flats and drumettes) ▢
- 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (melted) ▢
- 6 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded) ▢
- Green onions (or chives; optional; sliced thinly for garnish) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- Place the chicken wings in the bottom of a slow cooker . Season with sea salt and black pepper. Mix well.
- In a small bowl or saucepan , stir together the melted butter and minced garlic. You can melt it on the stove or in the microwave. If melting on the stove, saute the garlic for about a minute before removing from heat.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the chicken wings. Stir to coat.
- Cook the wings in the slow cooker for 2.5-3 hours on High or 5-6 hours on Low, until almost fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Toward the end, preheat the oven to Broil. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, or you can use foil and grease well. (If using parchment paper, make sure there isn’t any excess to prevent burning under the broiler.)
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the pan. Broil for about 5 minutes on each side, until crispy and golden.
- Remove the chicken wings from the oven. Top with shredded parmesan cheese. Return to the oven (under the broiler again) for 1-2 minutes , until melted.
- Garnish with green onions or chives if you like.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/8 of the entire recipe, or about 5 chicken wings
- Tips: See the details in the post above! I’ve got tips to help you get your slow cooker wings nice and crispy, an easy cleanup trick, notes on using frozen wings, an alternative to your broiler, and more.
- Flavor variations: See the details in the post above! I’ve got ways you can make these with buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce , teriyaki sauce , simply seasonings, and more.
- Storage: Up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Meal prep: Cook the chicken wings in the Crock Pot, keep in the fridge, and wait to broil them until the day you’re serving them.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months in the freezer. I recommend freezing on a sheet pan first to prevent sticking, then transfer to a zip lock bag.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle , Keto Ebook Bundle , and Winter Ebook Bundle !
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
Add Your NotesYour Notes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Crock Pot Chicken Wings
Gratitude Moment
I’m definitely grateful for my slow cooker on busy days! The only hard part is remembering to set it earlier in the day, but that’s what my phone reminders are for, lol.
These slow cooker chicken wings have saved me on more than one occasion. And if I know I’ll have an extra busy day, I even slow cook them the day before and broil the day-of.
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- The Basic Keto Meal Formula
- Understanding Macros
- Keto Food Swaps
- Keto Food List
- Electrolyte Basics
- Keto Diet Types
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- Recipe Reviews
Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.
You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.
Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.
Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.
| Pick A Protein | Pick A Veggie | Add Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison | Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery | Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil |
Understanding Macros
Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.
Carbs Are A Limit.
Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.
A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.
“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.
A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.
Protein Is A Goal.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].
“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.
Fat Is A Lever.
Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.
A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).
Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.
Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.
“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.
Keto Food Swaps
One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.
So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .
Keto Swaps For Breakfast
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Pancakes | Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes |
| Oatmeal | Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds |
| Cinnamon rolls | Fathead cinnamon rolls |
| Cereal | Keto nut granola |
| Muffins | Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins |
| Donuts | Almond flour donuts |
| Scones | Almond flour scones |
| High-sugar smoothies | Smoothie with berries or avocado |
| Hash browns | Cauliflower hash browns |
| Breakfast casserole | Breakfast casserole with no potatoes |
| Egg whites | Whole eggs |
| Turkey bacon | Bacon |
| Waffles | Chaffles |
Keto Swaps For Bread
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Bagels | Fathead bagels |
| English muffin | Almond flour English muffin |
| White bread | Keto white bread |
| Multigrain bread | Coconut flour bread with seeds |
| Tortillas for wraps | Coconut flour tortillas |
| Corn taco shells | Cheddar cheese taco shells |
| Burger buns | Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps |
| Breadsticks | Cauliflower breadsticks |
| Biscuits | Almond flour biscuits |
| Cornbread | Almond flour cornbread |
| Croutons | Parmesan crisps |
| Rice | Cauliflower rice , konjac rice |
Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Breaded wings | Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded) |
| Low-fat meat & poultry | High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower |
| Roasted potatoes | Roasted or fried radishes |
| Tacos | Taco salad |
| Pizza | Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza |
| Lasagna | Eggplant lasagna |
| Potato salad | Cauliflower “potato” salad |
| French fries | Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries |
| Tater tots | Cauliflower tots |
| Wraps | Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas |
| Sushi | Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi |
| Breaded chicken or fish | Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds |
| Spaghetti | Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles |
Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Nachos | Cheese crisps |
| High-sugar fruit | Berries & other keto fruits |
| Crackers | Almond flour crackers |
| Hummus | Cauliflower hummus |
| Soft pretzels | Fathead pretzels |
| Popcorn | Puffed cheese |
| Granola bars | Grain-free granola bars |
| Jam | Sugar-free berry chia jam |
| Sweet fruity yogurt | Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries |
| Sweet salad dressing | Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette |
| Ketchup | Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup |
| BBQ sauce | Sugar-free BBQ sauce |
| Sweetened peanut butter | Natural, sugar-free nut butters |
| Light mayo | Avocado oil mayo |
| Maple syrup | Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup |
| Potato chips | Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds |
Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Monk fruit or allulose |
| Powdered sugar | Powdered monk fruit or allulose |
| White flour | Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes) |
| Making baked goods soft/chewy | Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder |
| Breadcrumbs | Pork rinds or almond flour |
| Margarine | Butter, coconut oil, or ghee |
| Vegetable oil | Olive or avocado oil |
| Bananas | Banana extract |
| Chocolate chips | Sugar-free chocolate chips |
| Cornstarch or flour roux | Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end) |
| Simple syrup | Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat |
Keto Swaps For Drinks
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Water with lemon |
| Soda | Flavored sparkling water |
| Milk | Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream |
| Latte | Butter coffee |
| Coffee creamer | Heavy cream |
| Sweet wine | Dry wine |
| Beer | Ultra light beer |
| Mixed drinks | Hard liquor with soda + lemon |
If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .
Keto Food List
When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.
The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!
Foods To Eat On Keto
- Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
- Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
- Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
- Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
- Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- Avocados
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
- Almond flour and coconut flour
- Eggs
- Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.
Foods To Avoid On Keto
- White flour & sugar
- Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
- Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
- Cereal
- Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
- Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
- Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
- Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
- Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:
Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)
Electrolyte Basics
Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.
For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .
The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:
| Sodium | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles | Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens | Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork |
Keto Diet Types
People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.
Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.
Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!
- Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
- Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
- Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
- Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.
For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)
Crock Pot Chicken Wings (Garlic Parmesan)
My recipe will make your Crock Pot chicken wings actually CRISPY, with fall-off-the-bone chicken and 3-ingredient garlic parmesan coating.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/slow-cooker-garlic-parmesan-chicken-wings-recipe/
Ingredients
- 4 lb Chicken wings (separated into flats and drumettes)
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (melted)
- 6 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- Green onions (or chives; optional; sliced thinly for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the chicken wings in the bottom of a slow cooker . Season with sea salt and black pepper. Mix well.
- In a small bowl or saucepan , stir together the melted butter and minced garlic. You can melt it on the stove or in the microwave. If melting on the stove, saute the garlic for about a minute before removing from heat.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the chicken wings. Stir to coat.
- Cook the wings in the slow cooker for 2.5-3 hours on High or 5-6 hours on Low, until almost fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Toward the end, preheat the oven to Broil. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, or you can use foil and grease well. (If using parchment paper, make sure there isn’t any excess to prevent burning under the broiler.)
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the pan. Broil for about 5 minutes on each side, until crispy and golden.
- Remove the chicken wings from the oven. Top with shredded parmesan cheese. Return to the oven (under the broiler again) for 1-2 minutes , until melted.
- Garnish with green onions or chives if you like.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/8 of the entire recipe, or about 5 chicken wings
- Tips: See the details in the post above! I’ve got tips to help you get your slow cooker wings nice and crispy, an easy cleanup trick, notes on using frozen wings, an alternative to your broiler, and more.
- Flavor variations: See the details in the post above! I’ve got ways you can make these with buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce , teriyaki sauce , simply seasonings, and more.
- Storage: Up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Meal prep: Cook the chicken wings in the Crock Pot, keep in the fridge, and wait to broil them until the day you’re serving them.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months in the freezer. I recommend freezing on a sheet pan first to prevent sticking, then transfer to a zip lock bag.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle , Keto Ebook Bundle , and Winter Ebook Bundle !
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)
FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook
- Why You Need My Crock Pot Chicken Wings
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Chicken Wings In A Crock Pot
- My Recipe Tips
- Sauce & Seasoning Variations
- Storage & Meal Prep
- Serving Ideas
- More Chicken Wing Recipes
- Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Wings (Garlic Parmesan) Recipe card
- Gratitude Moment
- Recipe Reviews
I used to be a meat-off-the-bones kind of girl, but these Crock Pot chicken wings converted me years ago. And now I can’t get enough wings… as long as they are crispy! Now, let’s be real, crispy is not usually the word you’d use to describe slow cooker chicken wings (or slow cooker anything ). But I’ve developed an easy method that will leave them not only super juicy inside, but also crispy on the outside. And you’re going to love this garlic parmesan coating. Make these with me for tender, flavorful — and very crispy — wings with minimal effort!
Why You Need My Crock Pot Chicken Wings
- Fall-off-the-bone chicken with crispy skin – It seems impossible, but it isn’t! It’s not unusual for slow cooker chicken wing recipes to turn out amazingly juicy and tender, and these definitely are, but my method also gets you that crispy skin.
- Buttery, garlicky flavors – My simple garlic butter coating with parmesan is rich, savory, and I’ll say it, irresistible. But I also have several variations for you below if you prefer a different flavor.
- Fuss-free slow cooker cooking – I make slow cooker recipes year-round, from Tuscan chicken and these Crock Pot wings to pulled pork and beef barbacoa , because they’re just so hands-off. And this recipe needs just 4 simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
- Perfect for any occasion – Whether it’s game day, a weeknight dinner, or just a weekend pick-me-up, these wings will be a hit with your family. They’re easy to make and disappear fast!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my slow cooker chicken wings recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Chicken Wings – I prefer to get my organic chicken wings delivered from here , but any wings that are separated into drumettes and wingettes will work.
- Butter – I like this brand of grass-fed butter , but you can use any unsalted butter. If you use salted, you’ll need to reduce the sea salt to 3/4 teaspoon.
- Garlic – I highly recommend fresh minced garlic here! You can also use a tablespoon of the kind from a jar , or substitute 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder in a pinch, but fresh tastes the best.
- Parmesan cheese – I like shredded parm on my Crock Pot chicken wings because it gets more melty, but grated works if that’s what you’ve got.
- Green onions – Just an optional garnish for a pop of color! Chives make a good substitute.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Cook Chicken Wings In A Crock Pot
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Season the chicken. Place the wings into your slow cooker . It’s fine if they overlap! Season with the sea salt and black pepper, and mix to disperse the spices evenly.
- Toss with garlic butter. Heat the butter and garlic together to melt the butter. You can do this in a medium bowl in the microwave, or a saucepan on the stove. (The stovetop option will give you extra flavor because you can saute the garlic for a minute!) Pour the garlic butter mixture over the wings and stir to coat evenly.
- Cook the chicken wings in the slow cooker. The time will vary depending on whether you use low or high, so just see my recipe card below for details.
- Get them nice and crispy! This is where the magic happens. After slow cooking, a quick trip to the broiler gives these wings a crispy, golden-brown finish. Spread the wings on a lined baking sheet, and broil until crispy and golden, flipping halfway through. Don’t worry, this step is super quick, but so important!
- Add the parmesan. Top the Crock Pot chicken wings with with shredded parmesan cheese, then broil again until the cheese melts.
My Recipe Tips
- Thaw your chicken wings before slow cooking. This avoids any food safety risks ( source from the USDA ) and ensures that the garlic butter sauce sticks. Plus, frozen wings can water things down, making it harder to get that crispy texture later. If you don’t have time to thaw, make my frozen air fryer chicken wings instead.
- Use a liner for easy cleanup. If you want easier cleanup, use reusable slow cooker liners like this . Just lift out the liner and toss it in the dishwasher when you’re done.
- Do you really have to broil them? No, but I highly recommend it because the skin is pretty soggy if you don’t include this step. After broiling, you get the best of both worlds — super juicy, tender meat inside and crispy, golden skin on the outside.
- Watch closely when broiling. The time to brown can vary. I recommend placing the wings 6 inches from the heating element for this step, and when I do this my slow cooker wings usually take 5 minutes per side to brown.
- Don’t want to use your oven? You can also crisp up the wings in your air fryer ! Just preheat to 400 degrees F, then air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy. You’ll need to do this in batches to avoid crowding the basket, which is why I usually prefer the oven for a large batch like this recipe.
- You can serve the chicken wings in the slow cooker if you like. Just drain the liquid and wipe it down, then place the wings back in after broiling — like my picture below. I like to do this and keep my Crock Pot on the warm setting, so the wings stay warm!
Sauce & Seasoning Variations
I’m obsessed with these garlic parmesan wings, but my method will work to get crispy, fall-off-the-bone Crock Pot chicken wings with any sauce you like — or no sauce at all!
Saucy Options:
For most sauces, I use 1 cup to cook the chicken wings in the slow cooker and then an extra 1/2 cup at the end. You can use:
- The buffalo sauce from my buffalo wings recipe
- Regular or sugar free BBQ sauce (similar to my Crock Pot chicken legs )
- Your favorite hot sauce (mixed with butter or olive oil)
- Teriyaki sauce for some sweetness
Just toss the wings with sauce before slow cooking, then brush on more sauce either before or after broiling.
Seasoned Options:
You don’t have to use a sauce for these to turn out juicy and crispy! If you want to keep it simple, just season the wings in the Crock Pot, slow cook, spritz with olive oil spray, and broil.
The seasonings from my baked chicken wings taste great, or try 2 tablespoons of my lemon pepper seasoning .
Storage & Meal Prep
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Meal prep: Season the wings and prep the sauce ahead of time, then refrigerate separately. You can also cook Crock Pot chicken wings and hold off on the broiling step. I find that if I wait to broil them until the day-of, they taste like I made them fresh!
- Reheat: You can reheat the chicken wings in the slow cooker again, but they don’t turn out crispy that way. So, I prefer to reheat them in the oven at 375 degrees F, or my air fryer at 350 degrees F.
- Freeze: Arrange the wings on a line sheet pan in a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip lock bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you know you’ll be freezing them, wait until after thawing to broil.
Serving Ideas
Crock Pot chicken wings are really versatile in that they can be a main dish, an appetizer, or even a snack. Here are some ways I serve them:
- Dipping Sauce – These garlic butter wings are already plenty flavorful on their own, but I really like them with ranch dressing . If you make my buffalo version in the variations above, blue cheese dressing pairs well with that, too.
- Raw Veggies – Wings wouldn’t be complete without the classic celery sticks and carrot sticks. Sometimes I mix it up with radishes and bell pepper strips, too.
- Pizza – I love slow cooker wings and pizza for a comfort food dinner! Try my pizza casserole or cauliflower crust pizza for lighter options.
- Salad – For a complete meal deal, add one of my crisp salad recipes ! My creamy radish salad or simple cucumber tomato salad are so easy.
More Chicken Wing Recipes
Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Crock Pot – I love mine that has 30-minute time increments and it’s the perfect size for family meals.
- Sheet Pan – I have this baking sheet in every size because it’s that amazing. I also have the version with a wire rack — use it if you want even crispier wings.
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 4 lb Chicken wings (separated into flats and drumettes) ▢
- 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (melted) ▢
- 6 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded) ▢
- Green onions (or chives; optional; sliced thinly for garnish) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- Place the chicken wings in the bottom of a slow cooker . Season with sea salt and black pepper. Mix well.
- In a small bowl or saucepan , stir together the melted butter and minced garlic. You can melt it on the stove or in the microwave. If melting on the stove, saute the garlic for about a minute before removing from heat.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the chicken wings. Stir to coat.
- Cook the wings in the slow cooker for 2.5-3 hours on High or 5-6 hours on Low, until almost fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Toward the end, preheat the oven to Broil. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, or you can use foil and grease well. (If using parchment paper, make sure there isn’t any excess to prevent burning under the broiler.)
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the pan. Broil for about 5 minutes on each side, until crispy and golden.
- Remove the chicken wings from the oven. Top with shredded parmesan cheese. Return to the oven (under the broiler again) for 1-2 minutes , until melted.
- Garnish with green onions or chives if you like.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/8 of the entire recipe, or about 5 chicken wings
- Tips: See the details in the post above! I’ve got tips to help you get your slow cooker wings nice and crispy, an easy cleanup trick, notes on using frozen wings, an alternative to your broiler, and more.
- Flavor variations: See the details in the post above! I’ve got ways you can make these with buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce , teriyaki sauce , simply seasonings, and more.
- Storage: Up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Meal prep: Cook the chicken wings in the Crock Pot, keep in the fridge, and wait to broil them until the day you’re serving them.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months in the freezer. I recommend freezing on a sheet pan first to prevent sticking, then transfer to a zip lock bag.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle , Keto Ebook Bundle , and Winter Ebook Bundle !
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
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Crock Pot Chicken Wings
Gratitude Moment
I’m definitely grateful for my slow cooker on busy days! The only hard part is remembering to set it earlier in the day, but that’s what my phone reminders are for, lol.
These slow cooker chicken wings have saved me on more than one occasion. And if I know I’ll have an extra busy day, I even slow cook them the day before and broil the day-of.
