What is a Boneless Chicken Wing? A Guide to the Beloved Fried Food

Boneless chicken wings have become a staple appetizer on bar and restaurant menus across America. While not technically made from chicken wings, these crispy morsels of breaded white meat have earned a cult following for their flavor and portability. If you’ve ever found yourself chomping through a platter of boneless wings while watching the big game and wondered, “What exactly is a boneless chicken wing?” – you’ve come to the right place!

A Brief History of Boneless Wings

While boneless wings have skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple decades, their exact origins are murky. Some food historians trace their creation back to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. The same restaurant that allegedly invented the original Buffalo wing in 1964. The owners claim they created a deboned wing product to accommodate customers who didn’t want to handle traditional bone-in wings.

John Young opened Wings ‘N Things in East Lansing, Michigan, in the late 1980s, according to other sources. Young says he came up with the boneless wing to use up extra chicken breast meat. He even tried to get a trademark for “boneless chicken wings” in 1994, but an investment group bought it from him in the end.

However they were first conceived, it’s clear that boneless wings filled an appetite for wing flavors without the mess and bones Their popularity as an appetizer skyrocketed in the 1990s and 2000s thanks to sports bar chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Wingstop These restaurants made boneless wings staples on their menus.

How Boneless Wings Are Made

Even though it’s called a “wing,” the boneless kind doesn’t have any wing meat in it. Traditional chicken wings are made up of two small parts called the drumette and the flat. Boneless wings are made solely from cuts of chicken breast.

To make boneless wings, restaurants purchase large frozen blocks of cubed or diced chicken breast meat. They bread or batter the cubes by dredging them in flour or cornstarch, dipping in egg wash, then coating in breadcrumbs or batter. The breaded cubes are then deep fried until golden brown and crispy.

Once fried, the boneless wings are tossed in any number of classic Buffalo wing sauces like Buffalo, barbecue, Thai chili, lemon pepper, etc. Some restaurants offer over a dozen sauce flavors to appeal to every palate! The wings are served hot and juicy, often accompanied by ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Boneless vs Traditional Wings

While boneless wings mimic the flavors of traditional wings, there are some major differences:

• Ingredients: Boneless wings contain only white breast meat, while bone-in wings consist of drumettes and flats which are dark meat.

• Bones: The obvious distinction is that traditional wings contain bones, while boneless wings do not.

• Cooking Method: Most bone-in wings are fried, baked, or grilled. Boneless wings must be breaded or battered before frying to achieve their signature crispy texture.

• There are bones, cartilage, and loose pieces of meat in traditional wings, which makes them messier and harder to eat. Boneless wings can be picked up easily with your hands.

• Because there aren’t many bone-in wings available, their price has gone up. Since breast meat is easier to find, boneless wings usually cost less per pound.

Are Boneless Wings Healthier Than Bone-In?

At first glance, boneless wings seem like the healthier option. With no skin and a lack of fatty dark meat, boneless wings contain less fat, cholesterol, and calories compared to bone-in wings.

However, the batter used to cook boneless wings adds extra carbs, sodium, and calories back. And while boneless wings aren’t fried in skin, they absorb just as much oil as traditional wings when cooked.

Some restaurants use additives like sodium phosphates in their boneless wings to retain moisture, which can increase the sodium content. When choosing healthier options, avoid wings containing artificial additives or fillers. Opt for wings cooked in an air fryer over deep fried to trim fat and calories.

Are They Really Wings? The Great Debate

Some wing purists argue that boneless wings don’t deserve to be called wings at all since they contain no actual wing meat.

In fact, some believe the proper terminology should be “wyngz” or “faux wings” to differentiate them from real wings sliced off actual chickens. Wendy’s fast food chain stirred up controversy when they changed their “boneless wings” to “boneless chicken chunks” for accuracy.

While this may be technically correct, it seems the name boneless wings is here to stay. Over two decades of popularity have cemented this fried appetizer in the American palette. Whether you call them wings, chunks, or wyngz – there’s no denying they taste delicious with an ice-cold beer.

How to Order Boneless Wings at a Restaurant

Here are some tips for ordering your favorite boneless wings:

• Start with the sauce – Select your preferred sauce flavor first, like Buffalo, lemon pepper, teriyaki, etc. This will determine the flavor profile.

• Choose boneless or bone-in – Decide if you want to deal with bones or prefer the convenience of boneless.

• Opt for a dry rub – For a low carb, gluten-free option ask for a dry seasoning instead of saucy wings.

• Request a side of dresssing – Blue cheese and ranch pair perfectly with wings to cut through spicy flavors.

• Share an order – Wings are the ultimate shareable app. Order one large order for the table.

• Add vegetable sticks – Balance out the fried wings with fresh veggie sides like celery and carrots.

• Don’t forget the wet naps – Keep wet wipes or paper towels handy for cleaning up after eating saucy wings.

Get Your Boneless Wing Fix

Boneless wings have cemented their status as a beloved American snack. While not technically made of wing meat, their crispy texture and flavor versatility helps explain the appeal. Keep an order of boneless wings on your own menu to satisfy those wing cravings any time. Just be prepared to answer the debate, “What exactly is a boneless chicken wing?”