Slow cooker chicken wings divide opinion — some people cannot see past the absence of a deep fryer. They are wrong. Done properly, the slow cooker renders the fat completely and produces meat that is genuinely falling-off-the-bone tender. The trick is the browning first, and finishing the sauce on the hob before tossing the wings at the end.

My Crock‑Pot has a hob-safe insert, which makes this a straightforward two-stage operation — brown the wings in the insert directly on the gas, then straight into the slow cooker without the washing up. If yours doesn't, a separate pan for browning works just as well.

The sauce here is built around Nearly Nando's Lemon Herb Peri Peri Sauce — a homemade version of the Nando's original that I'll be publishing shortly. In the meantime, the closest shop-bought substitute is Nando's Lemon & Herb Peri Peri Sauce, used in the same quantities.

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings — The Recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients

For the wings:

• 300g chicken wings, skin on

For the garlic Parmesan sauce:

• 60ml Nearly Nando's Lemon Herb Peri Peri Sauce (or Nando's Lemon & Herb, shop-bought)
• ¼ tsp fresh lemon zest, finely grated
• 2 tbsp butter
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 30ml lemon juice
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan

Method

Brown the wings in the CrockPot insert over a medium-high gas flame, turning until golden on all sides. If your slow cooker insert isn't hob-safe, brown in a separate frying pan and transfer.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in the insert. Add the browned wings and toss to coat.

Cook on low for 4–6 hours. The wings are ready when the internal temperature reaches 80–85°C — at this point the meat is at its most tender.

Remove the wings and set aside. Pour the leftover sauce into a small pan and reduce over a medium heat until thickened and glossy. Toss the wings in the sauce and serve immediately.

This slow cooker garlic Parmesan chicken wings recipe is part of my Chicken Wings Recipes collection and my Chicken Hub — and part of the Slow Cooker & Slow Cooking Recipes collection, every slow cooker recipe and slow-cooked dish from Casa Adora and the road, gathered in one place. Browse all recipes here.

Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef