If you're looking for a super fast and easy recipe for how to make Instant Pot frozen chicken wings, this is it! The wings thaw quickly and cook in no time, and smothered in the delicious buttery hot Buffalo sauce, they are so delicious! Suitable to low-carb, gluten-free and keto diets. This is a guest recipe from the cookbook From Freezer To Instant Pot by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough.
We love cooking chicken wings in the Instant Pot - it’s fast and easy - so we are very excited to share this guest recipe for pressure cooker buffalo chicken wings. The chicken is cooked in the Instant Pot from frozen making this a very convenient dish to make when you’re in the rush or you’ve forgotten to pick fresh ingredients. Stocking a few chicken wings in the freezer means that you can whip these guys up any time!
This recipe is from the cookbook From Freezer To Instant Pot, which we reviewed here.
How To Cook Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings
Although we assume you’ll use both the wingette and the drumette portion of the wing, you can use just one or the other at your preference. At the supermarket, look for individually frozen chicken wings.
If you buy fresh wings on sale and want to freeze them, take the wings out of their packaging and freeze them in a fairly condensed hunk in a plastic bag for up to 3 months. In that case, you’ll need to set the hunk on the cooker’s rack, slanting up to the pot’s insert, and cook on for MAX for 18 minutes or on HIGH for 22 minutes, followed by a quick release. You’ll also need to break the wings apart when you open the pot.
If they’re still not cooked through (because of the density of the mass), cook them for another 3 minutes on either MAX or HIGH followed by a quick release. The chicken wings are cooked directly in the hot buffalo sauce mixed with Cajun spice blend, butter and some broth, which means they will be infused with the flavor and super tender.
Can I Use This Recipe With Instant Pot Max?
Instant Pot Max cooks at 15 psi, roughly the same pressure as a stovetop pressure cooker and all the former models cook at 12.1 psi for HIGH. If you have a Max, you can use the same directions below but set the settings to Pressure Cook on MAX for 12 minutes. By the way, the Max machine does allow you to set the pot for the older setting — and you can certainly do this recipe on HIGH (which is a slightly lower pressure) and cook for longer (15 minutes).
What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken Wings
Although this blue cheese dip is traditional (and we have provided the ingredients and recipe below), the author also recommends serving the wings with ranch dressing that’s been mixed with minced pickled jalapeño rings and minced chives. It certainly sounds delicious to use!
Of course, buffalo wings need celery and carrot sticks! A little crunch goes well with the warm protein (and the dip) and will offset some of the heat with fresh, crisp flavors. You can also serve these chicken wings with a side of rice (try our Instant Pot yellow rice here), pasta or every cauliflower rice for a low-carb version.
MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES TO TRY
- Instant Pot 101: How To Cook Frozen Chicken
- 15+ Instant Pot Recipes With Frozen Foods
- 15 Instant Pot Chicken Wings That Are Finger-Lickin' Good
- 15+ Mouthwatering Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
- 20+ Tasty Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
- 15 Instant Pot Super Bowl Recipes
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Full Recipe
Find the full list of ingredients, instructions, and a nutritional breakdown below. If you have questions or cook this recipe, please let us know in the comments, and make sure to rate this recipe so it’s easy for others to find.
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Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Wings With Buffalo Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup red hot sauce preferably Texas Pete or Frank’s Red Hot
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons butter ½ stick, cut into three or four pieces
- 2 tablespoons dried Cajun seasoning blend a gluten-free version, if that’s a concern
- 3 lbs. frozen chicken wings NOT breaded, preferably individually frozen wings (sometimes called “ice glazed”)
For the blue cheese dip
- ½ cup regular mayonnaise or low-fat
- ½ cup sour cream or low-fat sour cream
- 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese (½ cup)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Stir the hot sauce, broth, butter, and seasoning blend in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Set the wings in the sauce and toss well. Lock the lid onto the pot.
- Set the machine to either Chicken setting or Pressure Cook/Manual (depending on the model) with HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
- Use the quick-release method to bring the pot’s pressure back to normal. Unlatch the lid and open the cooker. Use tongs to transfer the wings to a large serving platter.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese, onion powder, and pepper in a small bowl until creamy. Serve alongside the hot wings as a dip (perhaps with some of the boiled-down liquid from the machine for a second dip).
Notes
- For an 8-quart Instant Pot, you must increase all the ingredients by 50 percent.
- Using a –20° F CHEST FREEZER? There is no difference in cooking times.
- To make these wings crisp (and thus take them over the top): In step 3, use tongs to transfer them from the cooker to a large, lipped baking sheet. Position the oven rack about 4 inches from the broiler and heat the broiler. Broil the wings until crunchy, basting several times with the pot’s juices and turning once, 2–3 minutes.
Nutrition
SAVE THIS CHICKEN WING RECIPE TO PINTEREST
Rick
What adjustments do I need to make if I only have Franks Buffalo Wing sauce?
Ann Fabrizio
No adjustments are needed for the cooking process only if you have heat/spice preferences.
Gerry Kadisch
Can this be done without or with less butter?
Ann Fabrizio
Yes. You may have to experiment with your personal preferences.
Barbara Haycraft
I was wondering if you need to melt the butter and if you have to put the rack in the bottom of the instant pot.
instantpoteats
The author didn't specify the rack so I believe you just throw everything in. I would melt the butter first just to make it easier to mix through.
Barb
Thank you. I am going to make these today. I will keep you posted!