Patriotic Red, White & Blue Smoked Wings: The Ultimate July 4th BBQ Showstopper
Jason Hardee, Elite BBQ Smokers
Nothing says July 4th celebration like amazing food — and if you want to wow your friends and family, these Patriotic Red, White & Blue Smoked Wings are the ticket! Picture tender, smoky wings tossed in three unforgettable sauces: classic Buffalo Red, creamy Alabama White, and a unique Sweet & Smoky Blueberry Chipotle Blue.Not only do they look stunning when arranged together, but they’re packed with bold flavors perfect for a summer cookout.At Elite BBQ Smokers, we’re passionate about helping you make BBQ that’s both fun and unforgettable — and this recipe does just that. Whether you’re hosting a big backyard bash or a cozy family gathering, these wings will steal the show. Let’s get cooking!
1bottleSweet Baby Ray’s Buffalo Wing Sauceuse as desired
Alabama White Sauce
1cupmayo
¼cupapple cider vinegar
1tbsplemon juice
1tbsphorseradish
½tspblack pepper
½tspgarlic powder
½tspsalt
Blueberry Chipotle Glaze:
1cupblueberries
2-3tbsphoney
1tbsplemon juice
2chipotle peppers
1-2tspadobo sauce
pinchsalt
Instructions
Prep the Wings
Pat wings dry with paper towels — this helps get crispy skin.
Separate into flats and drumettes if needed.
Lightly spray all sides with Duck Fat.
Season generously with Sweet Smoke Q All Purpose Rub for a savory base.
Smoke the Wings
Preheat your pellet smoker to 275°F with a hickory/charcoal blend.
Place wings on the smoker over indirect heat.
Smoke until the internal temp reaches 175–180°F, about 60–75 minutes.
Spritz for Moisture
Mix ½ cup Mott’s White Apple Grape Juice + ½ cup apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
Every 20–30 minutes, spritz wings lightly to keep them moist and flavorful.
Halfway through cooking, spray wings lightly again with Duck Fat for crispiness.
Make the Sauces (Red, White, & Blue Sauces Below)
Get yourself prepared with (3) different buffet style disposable tin pans (or similar) so you can add wings and individual sauces into each for tossing & maximum coverage. Let's jump into the sauces below!
Buffalo Red Sauce
Use Sweet Baby Ray’s Buffalo Wing Sauce straight from the bottle — classic and reliable.
Alabama White Sauce
Whisk together 1 cup mayo, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp horseradish, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp salt.
Blueberry Chipotle Glaze
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup blueberries, 2–3 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, 1–2 tsp adobo sauce, and a pinch of salt.
Simmer 5–7 minutes until thick.
Blend until smooth (be careful with hot liquid).
Sauce & Set
When wings reach 175–180°F, remove from smoker.
Divide wings into three groups
Toss ⅓ in Buffalo sauce
Toss ⅓ in Alabama White Sauce
Toss ⅓ in Blueberry Chipotle Glaze
Reduce smoker temp to 225°F.
Return wings to smoker for 5–10 minutes to set sauces.
Plate & Serve
Arrange wings in red, white, and blue order on a platter.
Add herbs or small American flags for a festive touch.
Rest wings 5–10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ✅ Combines three flavors in one cook: spicy, tangy, and sweet ✅ Uses a pellet smoker for crispy wings without frying ✅ Perfect for July 4th or any patriotic occasion ✅ Makes an eye-catching platter everyone will talk aboutMethods & Special Techniques For this recipe, we smoke wings at 275°F on a pellet smoker, spritzing them regularly with a mix of Mott’s White Apple Grape Juice and apple cider vinegar. Spritzing keeps the wings juicy and adds a subtle sweetness. To get extra crispy skin, we use Duck Fat spray before seasoning and again halfway through the cook — a trick that’s a game-changer for smoked wings.For sauces, we take a classic approach with Buffalo, whip up a homemade Alabama White Sauce, and finish with a unique Blueberry Chipotle Glaze made with real chipotle peppers blended smooth for a vibrant blue color.Ingredients:
Alabama White Sauce: 1 cup mayo, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp horseradish, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt
Blueberry Chipotle Glaze: 1 cup blueberries, 2–3 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 chipotle peppers + 1–2 tsp adobo sauce, pinch of salt
Directions:
Pat wings dry; spray with Duck Fat and season.
Smoke at 275°F until 175–180°F internal.
Spritz every 20–30 minutes with juice/vinegar mix; spray Duck Fat halfway.
