Instant Pot Chicken Wings made from fresh or frozen chicken wings, are super tender and juicy! Smothered in tasty Buffalo sauce and broiled until nice and crispy.

These Instant Pot Chicken Wings are the perfect easy appetizer to serve at parties, for game day or any time you feel like having a lip smacking hearty snack.
I love time saving instant pot recipes and the convenience of cooking proteins from fresh or frozen. Just like when cooking Instant Pot Chicken Breasts, these Instant Pot wings can be added to the pressure cooker frozen and still be ready in little time.

Equipment Needed To Make Pressure Cooker Chicken Wings
You will need the following:
- A Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
- A trivet, or a trivet with handles or a steamer basket . Any of these work well, although the steamer basket is probably the best for the job. Instant pot wings become very tender and lifting them with the help of the steamer basket makes it easier.
- A baking sheet with a wire rack to broil the buffalo chicken wings!
How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Season the chicken wings with the spice mix.
- Pour 1 cup of water or broth into the bottom of the instant pot.
- Place the trivet or steamer basket inside the pressure cooker.
- Place the seasoned fresh or frozen chicken wings on the trivet or inside the steamer basket.
- Close the lid and turn the valve to sealed.
- Cook on high pressure and set the timer.
- After the cooking is done, do a natural release pressure for 5 minutes.
- Release the remaining pressure and remove the wings from the instant pot.
- Toss chicken wings with half of the sauce.
- Broil for a few minutes or until golden on one side, then flip the chicken wings and broil the other side.
- Brush or toss with the remaining sauce.
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Wings
- For frozen chicken wings, cook on high pressure for 15 minutes followed by a 5 minutes Natural Pressure Release.
How To Cook Fresh Chicken Wings
- For fresh chicken wings, cook on high pressure for 10 minutes followed by a 5 minutes Natural Pressure Release.

How To Make Buffalo Sauce
I must admit, Buffalo sauce is my favorite chicken wing sauce. Although I have other favorites like these Honey BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Wings, I always go back to my first love Buffalo Wild Wing Sauce!!
This Buffalo Sauce recipe is simple and easy to make. It only has 3 ingredients:
- Hot Sauce, my favorite sauce for hot wings is Frank’s Red Hot
- Butter (if you follow a dairy-free diet you can omit it or use vegan butter substitute)
- Honey (omit if on a Keto diet)
To make this Buffalo Sauce recipe, melt the butter in a sauce pan, stir in the hot sauce and honey and simmer for a few minutes.

Instant Pot wings Recipe Tips
- This recipe calls for 3 or 4 pounds of chicken wings. If cooking 3 pounds, you don’t have to use all of the spice mix if you think is too much.
- When seasoning frozen wings, the spice mix may not stick to the wings as well. It will still give them flavor.
- Broiling the wings is not required. The wings will be fully cooked out of the pressure cooker. The broiling is only to crisp up some of the skin.
- Feel free to use any spice mix or any sauce you want for your hot wings!
- Serve this amazing and super tasty Hot Wing recipe with your favorite Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce or Ranch!
Check Out These Easy Recipes From Lemon Blossoms
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Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- 3 – 4 pounds bone-in chicken wings cut into drumettes and flats (party wings) fresh, thawed or frozen
For the Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon Seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup Hot Sauce (Frank’s Red Hot)
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Optional: If using fresh or thawed out wings, dry them up with paper towels. The seasoning mix will stick to the wings better if the wings aren’t as wet.
- Toss the wings with the seasoning mix.
- Pour the water or broth into the inner pot of your pressure cooker. Place the trivet at the bottom of the inner pot.
- Place the seasoned wings on the trivet (or steamed basket). Close and secure the lid. Place the vent knob on the sealed position.
- For fresh or thawed out wings. cook on high pressure and set the timer for 10 minutes.For frozen wings, cook on high pressure and set the timer for 15 minutes
While the Wings Cook Make the Buffalo Sauce
- In a small sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the hot sauce and honey. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Turn on the Broiler. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a cooking rack on top.
- When the cooking has been completed, do a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release. Then release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and carefully remove the wings (they will be hot and tender). Place the wings in a large mixing bowl. Pour half the buffalo sauce over the chicken wings and toss gently.
- Place the chicken wings on the prepared baking sheet.
- Broil chicken wings for about 3 minutes or until golden and then flip and broil the other side.
- Brush the chicken wings with buffalo sauce and serve with any remaining sauce on the side.
Addie Bambridge says
Can I make these in my Ninja Foodi?
Kathy says
I am not familiar with a Ninja Foodi but you can make it in any pressure cooker. I actually have an IP and a gourmia brand. Instant Pot is just a brand like crock pot!
Elizabeth says
So easy and oh so good every single time!
Susan says
My husband gave this recipe a 4.98.😉.I used the I.P.for 15 minutes as recommended. He liked that the meat fell off the bone.
Will save the sauce for another batch.
Kathy says
Thank you!!
Anita V. says
My husband has had a hankering for wings and this recipe did it. It was very easy and quick to make. I don’t cook with season salt, so I substituted Bold Taco Seasoning and Greek Seasoning (Penzey’s). He loved them!! Thank you!
Kathy says
So happy you liked it!! Thank you
Melissa Barber says
These wings are easy to make from frozen wings and taste amazing! We didn’t use the rack in the oven because of the cleanup and they still came out great.
Kathy says
Thank you!!
Kazlin T says
Would I have to use drumettes and flats?
Kathy says
You should separate them yes
Lisa says
Huge hit at our house!! Super easy to make. The only thing I did different was I used bbq sauce instead of the hot sauce (we aren’t heat fans..lol). But this recipe is definitely a keeper! Thank You!! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks Lisa. So happy you enjoyed them.
Suzy says
I think you mean fresh instead of frozen:
HOW TO COOK FRESH CHICKEN WINGS
For frozen or thawed out chicken wings, cook on high pressure for 10 minutes followed by a 5 minutes Natural Pressure Release.
Kathy says
Thank you! Fixed
chloe says
Just made these from frozen drumsticks. So delicious and easy! I skipped making the buffalo sauce and added hot sauce and honey to bbq sauce instead. I’ll have to stock up on Frank’s and try the original recipe later. 🙂
jacque says
Glad you enjoyed them!
Karly says
Amazing! Love how easy these are!
Kathy says
Thank you! I know super easy!
Julian says
These wings look amazing! I love that you can cook them from frozen. Thanks for all the tips.
Kathy says
Thank you