These glazed Asian Grilled Chicken Wings are marinated and grilled to perfection. This recipe is sweet, spicy, sticky, and gluten free!

This post has been sponsored by 7UP®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

These Sweet Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings are out of this world. They're sticky, sweet, a little spicy and honest-to-goodness lip-smacking good.

Grilled chicken wings on wooden cutting board in front of soda cans.

We have entered a glorious time in Minnesota. It's the period where the threat of snow storms has officially passed and the mosquitoes have not yet arrived. Spending time outdoors is pure bliss. My husband and I like to celebrate this time by grilling. Lots and lots of grilling.

We hang out on the front porch, admire our freshly planted garden, and chat with the neighbors as they stroll by while walking their dogs. We fire up the old charcoal grill and like to see how creative we can get with it.

Of course, I love all the traditional grilled favorites like burgers and brats but sometimes it's fun to mix it up a bit.

Last week we ventured into the world of grilled chicken wings. It turned out to be a pretty tasty venture!

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How To Make Grilled Chicken Wings Marinade
How To Grill Chicken Wings
How Long Do Chicken Wings Take To Cook On The Grill?
What To Serve With Asian Grilled Chicken Wings
Asian Grilled Chicken Wings

Raw chicken wings marinating in ceramic bowl in front of soda cans.

How To Make Grilled Chicken Wings Marinade

Grilled chicken wings are downright juicy and succulent. We wolfed them down and then fought a little over who was going to eat the last one.

The secret to these wings? It might surprise you - 7UP! Who knew that this classic soda would make for 'fighting over the last one' chicken wings? The lemon-lime flavor of the 7UP lends itself perfectly to the chicken.

It makes an awesome marinade - the 7UP in the marinade tenderizes the chicken and the sugars in the soda caramelize and create a sticky sweet glaze as they cook.

In a small bowl combine 4 tsp. Sambal Oelek (chili garlic sauce), 4 Tbsp. Tamari (or low-sodium soy sauce if not gluten free), ⅛ tsp. sesame oil, 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger, 2 tsp. rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and ¾ cup 7UP.
Mix until completely combined.
Place 2 lbs. of thawed chicken wings in a large bowl. Pour half of the marinade over the wings and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Reserve the other half of the marinade.

Raw chicken wings cooking on outdoor Weber grill.

How To Grill Chicken Wings

Marinating the chicken wings for a few hours in the refrigerator will really help to tenderize them so I recommend not skipping this step.

As the wings hit the end of their marinating time feel free to fire up the grill. Get the charcoal nice and hot.

Place the wings over the hottest part of the grill to start. Make sure that there is enough space between the wings so they cook evenly.
Cook them for 5 minutes on the first side.
Flip them over and repeat for another 5 minutes on the other side.

Chicken wings are full of skin and fat and starting them over the high heat will allow that fat to caramelize and will give you a nice sear on the outside.

The coals may flare up a bit as the fat melts so be careful of that as you're flipping the wings.

Hand holding metal tongs flipping chicken wings cooking on Weber grill.

How Long Do Chicken Wings Take To Cook On The Grill?

After the wings have cooked for 10 minutes (5 minutes per side) move them off of the direct heat to the other side of the grill. This will allow them to cook through but won't burn or char the skin.
Once the wings have been moved to a more indirect heat, brush some of the reserved marinade over them. Cook for about 5 minutes, turn them over and repeat.
The whole process is then repeated again, this time with the grill covered. Covering the grill will trap the heat and allow them to fully cook through. Basting them every 5 minutes or so with the reserved marinade will build up this sticky coating on the outside and the smoke flavor will really come through.
It's a bit of a process but so worth it. Once the grilled chicken wings are fully cooked remove them from the grill and place on a serving platter.
The safe internal temperature for chicken wings is 165 degrees. A grilling thermometer is a great way to check internal temperature when grilling meat.

If you love grilled chicken don't miss this Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Thai Peanut Sauce and Healthy Grilled Bruschetta Chicken!

Grilled chicken wings on wooden cutting board with chopped green onions.

What To Serve With Asian Grilled Chicken Wings

Once the wings are off the grill and ready to serve I like to garnish them with some chopped scallions and sesame seeds.
Simply cut 3-4 scallions into thin slices and sprinkle them over the wings. Pour 1 Tbsp. or so of sesame seeds over them as well.
Cut 1-2 limes into wedges and place around the wings. A squeeze of lime reinforces the lemon-lime flavor in the 7UP and adds a little pop of brightness.

I love grilled dishes with a summer side dish like Mediterranean Potato Salad, Spanish Potato Salad, or Grilled Corn Feta Salad.

You can't go wrong with a homemade coleslaw like this Miso Ginger Slaw, Blue Cheese Coleslaw, Classic Coleslaw, or Kohlrabi Slaw.

This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad or Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad is also a great option.

Grilled chicken wings on wooden cutting board in front of soda cans and reusable shopping bag.

I normally insist that chicken wings need some kind of dipping sauce but I'm telling you that these ones don't need anything.

They're tender and juicy and the skin is caramelized. You've got the sweetness from the 7UP and a little spiciness from the chili garlic sauce. They just melt in your mouth.

If you do prefer to serve chicken wings with a dipping sauce this Homemade Ranch Dressing, Blue Cheese Dressing, Spicy Thousand Island Dressing, and Creamy Tarragon Sauce are great options.

This is the perfect recipe for a summer bbq or get-together with friends and family. It's fun and festive - Chicken wings really are the ultimate party food.

These Asian Grilled Chicken Wings can be made outdoors while you spend time with friends, family, and neighbors.

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