Grilled Chicken Wings (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Simple buy oh so good grilled wings that are so tender and juicy just as they are or ready to toss with your favorite sauce for an epic meal or appetizer! Once you try these amazing grilled wings, you may never go back to oven roasted or deep fried again! One of the many reasons I love to grill my wings is because of the tantalizing smoky flavor they get from the grill, plus they turn out perfectly crisp without being overly saturated with excess oils, there’s virtually no mess to clean up, and everyone loves them!
Why Chicken is So Good For You!
We all know that chicken is a tasty and fantastic source of protein, but do you know why it is so good for you? Chicken, along with many other sources of animal protein, such as beef, eggs and fish, are a complete source of protein. This means that all nine essential amino acids are present and available to you when you eat these foods. When it comes to nutrients, anything labeled as “essential” means that your body cannot make or synthesize this nutrient, so it must be provided to your body by the foods you eat.
As mentioned above, there are nine essential amino acids that we must eat everyday to provide our bodies energy as well as the building blocks necessary in everyday functions such as growth and repair, immune support, and in the synthesis of our hormones and neurotransmitters.
The nine essential amino acids and their roles are [1]:
- Histidine: necessary for the production of histamine and also plays a role in nervous system health
- Valine: necessary in energy production as well as muscle growth and repair
- Phenylalanine: building block for neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine (adrenaline), and in the production of other amino acids.
- Leucine: necessary in stimulating wound healing, muscle repair, and blood sugar regulation.
- Isoleucine: necessary in immune function and energy regulation.
- Tryptophan: necessary building block for serotonin.
- Methionine: necessary in detoxification, metabolism, and in your body’s ability to absorb selenium (supports thyroid health) and zinc (necessary in production of HCl in your stomach).
- Threonine: necessary in skin and connective tissue health.
- Lysine: necessary in hormone production and your body’s ability to absorb calcium (bone, heart, muscle and nerve health.)
Why Grill and not Deep Fry?
- Vegetable oils may increase the risk of heart disease: Some vegetable oils, like soybean oil, contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which can increase inflammation and contribute to an increased risk of heart disease when consumed in large amounts.
- Highly refined vegetable oils oxidize when heated to high temperatures, which can produce harmful free radicals that damage your cells and contribute to aging and disease. Thinking about using peanut or seed oils? Don’t, these are inflammatory and often already rancid before hitting the store shelves.
So next time you’re craving some delicious, smoky wings, ditch the deep fryer and light up that grill, you won’t regret it!
Grilled Chicken Wings (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Chicken Wings wing tips removed
- 1 Tbsp EVOO or Avocado Oil
- 1 tsp Fine Real Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper opt
- Wicked Wing Buffalo Sauce opt
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to 400 degrees.
- If your wings are not separated, you can cut them into drumsticks and flats, or you can keep the whole wing together as well, just remove the wing tips beforehand.
- In a large bowl add the wings, avocado oil, salt and pepper, mix to combine and evenly coat the wings.
- Place wings on the grill and grill for 8-12 minutes per side until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Watch for flares from the burners, this will catch the wings on fire. This usually happens once the wings are flipped and the fat starts to render out.
- Tip: When I flip the wings, I move them to the center of the grill and turn the burners directly below the wings to low heat. I then turn the burners on the side up to high to keep the temperature up without a large flame under the wings. This will reduce your chances of a flare up or fire.
- Stay close to the grill once the wings are flipped to ensure they do not catch on fire.
- Remove the wings and serve immediately OR add to a large bowl and toss with your favorite sauces!
Nutrition
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FAQs
Q: Do I have to cook the wings over indirect heat when flipped?
A: I do because the fat starts to render out of the skins and poses a risk to catch fire. If you choose to use direct heat, keep a very close eye on the wings and watch for flare ups!
Q: How do I keep my wings from sticking to the grill?
A: You can toss the wings in a Tablespoon of avocado oil or EVOO, but keep and eye on them as the fat can cause a flare up.
Q: Some of my wings are burned to a crisp while others aren’t even cooked through, what happened?
A: Wings come in different sizes, keep and eye on smaller ones, especially flats, they cook faster than the drumsticks. Also, keep the wings spread out, over crowing can lead to uneven cooking.
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I am a holistic nutritionist with an auto-immune disorder, a love of cooking, and a passion for holistic health.
Sharing what I make and eat with all of you…in hopes that you find inspiration here to fuel your body and feel your best with nutrient dense whole foods and clean eating.
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