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These wild blueberry BBQ chicken wings are basted with a homemade wild blueberry honey BBQ sauce and then grilled to perfection. These little crispy wings are going to be your new summertime favorite.
This post is sponsored by Wyman’s of Maine. As always all opinions are 100% my own.
I have a massive love for all things chicken wings.
I have already made Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, Pineapple Mango Habanero Chicken Wings, Baked Garlic Buffalo Wings. Now I’m all over your feed with wild blueberry BBQ chicken wings.
Holy heck! I know you’re thinking, “Hey, what’s with all this fruit-based BBQ sauce?” but I can’t stop! Plus, wild blueberries make the best-colored sauce on the planet. Seriously, look at that beautiful, rich purple color.
But I didn’t use just any wild blueberries; I used my favorite, Wyman’s of Maine.
They are lovely and so teeny tiny that they border on adorable. Plus, when they combine with honey and lime, they make a delicious sweet and savory BBQ sauce.
I sprinkled them with a little crushed red pepper when serving them, but serving them alongside a dish of blue cheese would be a lovely pairing.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken drumettes
- Spices
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Lemongrass
- Chili paste
- Wild blueberries
- Honey
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Lime zest
How to make blueberry BBQ chicken wings
The best thing about making chicken wings at home is that you can eat as many as you want with zero judgment. It’s just me and my giant plate of chicken drumettes!
Plus, making your own wings at home is super simple and I’m here to show you just how easy it really is!
- Season your chicken wings with kosher salt and black pepper and set aside.
- In a skillet, saute your onion until soft and fragrant. Add your garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and chili paste and stir to combine.
- Add the wild blueberries, honey, balsamic vinegar, and lime zest. Simmer for a bit, just until the berries start to soften.
- Puree the sauce in a blender, or food processor, and add back to the same skillet.
- Simmer until thickened, taste, and season with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Add your chicken wings to a preheated grill and baste with the homemade BBQ sauce.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Using fresh or frozen blueberries
I’m using frozen wild blueberries for this recipe, BUT if you’re lucky enough to have fresh wild blueberries where you live, use them instead! If you opt to use frozen blueberries you do not need to defrost them. They will cook down in the skillet and defrost quickly in the sauce mixture.
You can also use regular blueberries if you can’t find or don’t have access to wild blueberries.
Substitutions and Adaptations
- Use chicken legs or full-sized wings for a more meaty meal.
- Try using regular fresh or frozen blueberries in place of wild blueberries.
- Broil your wings vs. grilling if you don’t have access to a grill.
More Chicken Wing Recipes
- Pineapple Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Wings
- Apple Butter Chicken Wings with Spicy Honey Mustard
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Wild Blueberry BBQ Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 24 chicken drumettes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon lemongrass paste
- 1 teaspoon chili paste, also called Sambal Oelek
- 2-½ cups wild blueberries, frozen or fresh
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 whole lime, zested
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium heat and season chicken wing drumettes lightly with kosher salt and pepper, set aside.
- Add olive oil to a 12-inch skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the garlic, grated ginger, lemongrass paste, chili paste and saute for one minute or just until fragrant.
- Add in blueberries, honey, balsamic vinegar and lime zest. Cook just until the berries start to soften and release their juice.
- Add the ingredients from the skillet to a blender or food processor. Carefully puree until smooth and creamy.
- Add the pureed mixture to your skillet and simmer over medium heat until the BBQ has thickened about 15 minutes. Once finished cooking, set aside while you grill your chicken wings.
- Add the chicken wings to the preheatd grill. Place directly on the grill grates and grill for 20-25 minutes, flipping the wings every 5 minutes to prevent the skin from burning.
- Halfway through the grilling time, baste the chicken with the wild blueberry BBQ sauce and continue cooking. At this stage, I like to baste the chicken wings on each side after I flip them. This ensures a delicious coated chicken wing wihtout burning the sauce.
- Serve with a drizzle of honey or a side of blue cheese dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my gosh, why have I never thought to try a little blueberry into my wing sauce!? These look INCREDIBLE!
Has anyone who liked this made it?
I like to read reviews that have made the recipe!
Love the beautiful color and looking at your list of ingredients, I know it is delicious.
My gosh. I have never thought of mixing blueberries and chicken wings but damn it works. I made these for my wife and kids and they loved them!