How Many Calories Are in 5 Chicken Wings? A Detailed Breakdown

Chicken wings are a beloved appetizer and finger food especially when coated in a sticky tangy buffalo sauce. But these little bites can pack a surprising caloric punch. So how many calories are actually in 5 chicken wings? Let’s take a closer look.

Calculating Chicken Wing Calories

To determine the calories in chicken wings we first need to understand that there are two basic parts to a chicken wing

• The drumette (the thicker, meatier section that looks like a mini drumstick).
• The flat (the thinner, wider section).

There are a lot of different ways to count calories when you eat drumettes, flats, or a mix of the two. Size is also important; wings from bigger chickens will have more meat, which means they have more calories.

Here are some average calorie counts for 5 chicken wings:

• 5 small wings (mixed drumettes and flats): 350 calories
• 5 medium wings (mixed): 461 calories
• 5 large wings (mixed): 600 calories

As you can see, the difference between small and large can be over 200 calories for the same number of wings!

Key Factors That Impact Chicken Wing Calories

There are a few key factors that determine how many calories are in an order of wings:

1. Wing Size

As mentioned above, larger wings contain more meat and fat compared to smaller wings. Larger wings come from bigger chickens like broiler chickens or free-range chickens. Smaller wings are more often found on Cornish game hens.

2. Cooking Method

Fried chicken wings have significantly more calories than baked, grilled, or air-fried wings since frying adds a lot of oil. Here are some estimates:

• 5 fried wings can have 700-900 calories
• 5 baked wings can have 300-500 calories

3. Flavors and Sauces

Plain or simply seasoned wings (like lemon pepper or cajun) tend to be lower in calories. But once you add thick, creamy sauces and glazes like barbecue or buffalo sauce, the calories increase. The sugary sauces add another 150-300 calories to your 5 wings.

4. Skin Eaten or Removed

The skin on chicken wings contains a lot of fat. Eating the skin can add 80-100 calories more per wing compared to eating wing meat with the skin removed.

5. Bone In or Boneless

Boneless wings are simply chicken breast chunks, so they will be lower in calories than true bone-in wings. About 70-100 fewer calories for 5 boneless wings compared to bone-in.

Nutritional Profile of 5 Chicken Wings

Now let’s take a look at the full nutritional values in 5 medium chicken wings:

• Calories: 461
• Total Fat: 30.9g
• Saturated Fat: 8.6g
• Cholesterol: 133mg
• Sodium: 646mg
• Protein: 42.6g

Chicken wings provide a good amount of protein but are high in saturated fat due to the skin. The sodium is also elevated if you eat wings coated in a salty buffalo glaze or seasoning blend.

A serving of 5 medium wings delivers over 40% of your daily recommended intake for saturated fat and sodium. So wing lovers need to be mindful of going overboard.

Tips for Lightening Up Your Chicken Wings

If you want to enjoy wings without all the extra calories, here are some tips:

• Remove the skin before eating to slash fat and calories.
• Use an air-fryer instead of deep-frying to cut added oils.
• Opt for drumettes only since flats have more skin.
• Skip heavy sauces and opt for lighter seasonings like lemon pepper.
• Switch to boneless wings for less fat than bone-in.
• Pair your wings with lower calorie sides like celery sticks and avoid creamy dips.

With some simple substitutions, you can still enjoy the flavor of wings without breaking your daily calorie budget.

Calorie Counts for Different Wing Orders

To recap, here are some estimated calorie counts for different wing orders at your favorite restaurants:

• 5 small wings (mixed) – 350 calories
• 5 medium wings (mixed) – 461 calories
• 5 large wings (mixed) – 600 calories
• 5 extra large wings – 700+ calories
• 5 boneless wings – 300-400 calories
• 5 fried wings – 700-900 calories
• 5 buffalo wings – 500-600 calories
• 5 barbecue wings – 500-600 calories

It’s easy to see how eating more than 5 wings can add up to a lot of calories. To keep your meal under 500 calories, stick to 3–4 small or medium drumettes without skin or sauce.

Or, eat your wings with vegetables and dips that are lower in calories. Enjoy your wings mindfully so they remain a tasty treat.

The Bottom Line

How many calories are in 5 chicken wings? It depends on how big the wings are, how they are cooked, what sauces they are served with, and whether you eat the skin or not. But 5 small to medium bone-in wings usually have 350 to 461 calories.

Chicken wings can fit into a balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation. Just be mindful of your portion size, and choose healthier cooking methods and seasoning options whenever possible. Tracking calories can help keep your wing habit from going overboard!

Nutritional Information