How many calories are in 6 garlic parmesan wings?

Garlic parmesan wings are a popular appetizer or snack that combines the delicious flavors of garlic, Parmesan cheese, and chicken wings. But many people wonder just how many calories are in an order of these tasty wings.

Quick Answer

On average, 6 garlic parmesan wings contain about 600-900 calories total, or about 100-150 calories per wing. The exact calorie count depends on factors like the restaurant, cooking method, wing size, and amount of coating.

Calories in Chicken Wings

To determine the calories in garlic parmesan wings, you first need to know the basic calorie content of chicken wings themselves without any breading or sauce. Here are some key points about chicken wing calories:

  • Chicken wings contain about 50-100 calories per wing on average depending on the size. Jumbo wings are the most caloric.
  • Wings are made up of about 50% skin and 50% lean chicken meat. The skin contains most of the calories.
  • Skinless chicken wings only have around 30 calories per wing.
  • Cooking method impacts calories too. Deep fried wings have up to 90 calories per wing. Baked or grilled have 60-80 calories.

So on their own, 6 average sized chicken wings would contain 300-600 calories total before factoring in any coatings or sauces.

Calories in Garlic Parmesan Coating

Garlic parmesan wings get most of their added calories from the flavorful coating mix. This is usually made from:

  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Melted butter
  • Minced garlic
  • Spices like parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper

Let’s break down the calories in these key ingredients:

Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese that packs a lot of flavor and calories into a small amount. Just one tablespoon of grated Parmesan contains:

  • 22 calories
  • 1.5g fat
  • 2g protein

So covering 6 wings likely requires 2-4 tablespoons of Parmesan, adding 50-90 calories total.

Butter

Butter is the main source of fat and calories in garlic Parmesan wings. A single tablespoon of melted butter has:

  • 100 calories
  • 11g fat

Assuming 2-3 tablespoons of butter for 6 wings accounts for 200-300 additional calories.

Garlic

Garlic adds lots of flavor but minimal calories. One clove only has about 5 calories. Even with 6 cloves for 6 wings, that’s just 30 calories.

Spices and Herbs

Parsley, oregano, salt, pepper and other spices add very few calories per serving. You can estimate about 5-10 calories total for seasoning 6 wings.

Total Calories for 6 Wings

Adding up the calories from the chicken itself, Parmesan coating, butter, garlic and seasonings, we can estimate the total calories for 6 garlic Parmesan wings:

  • Chicken wings: 300-600 calories
  • Parmesan cheese: 50-90 calories
  • Butter: 200-300 calories
  • Garlic: 20-30 calories
  • Herbs and spices: 5-10 calories

In total, this comes out to around 600-900 calories for 6 garlic Parmesan wings, or about 100-150 calories per wing depending on the restaurant and preparation.

Ways to Reduce Calories in Wings

If you’re looking for ways to lighten up this appetizer, here are some tips to reduce the calories in garlic Parmesan wings:

  • Choose smaller or medium sized wings instead of jumbo.
  • Opt for oven baked instead of fried.
  • Remove skin or order boneless wings.
  • Use light butter or cut amount in half.
  • Use reduced-fat Parmesan cheese.
  • Skip the Parmesan coating and use lighter garlic sauce.
  • Eat with plenty of vegetables instead of fries.

Nutrition Facts for 6 Garlic Parmesan Wings

Based on the average calorie estimates, here is the full nutrition information for 6 garlic Parmesan wings:

Nutrition Facts 6 wings
Calories 750
Fat 45g
Carbohydrates 2g
Protein 42g

As you can see, the majority of calories come from fat due to the chicken skin and butter. But you also get a good amount of protein from the chicken meat as well.

Calories in Other Wing Flavors

While garlic Parmesan is a popular wing choice, restaurants also offer many other flavor varieties. Here’s how other common wing sauces compare in calories:

Wing Flavor Calories for 6 Wings
Buffalo 660
BBQ 690
Teriyaki 600
Lemon pepper 690
Honey mustard 810
Mango habanero 600

Buffalo, teriyaki, and mango habanero tend to be lower in calories due to less fat in the sauces. While flavors like honey mustard have more calories due to sugar and oil content.

Healthiest Ways to Eat Wings

While wings are high in calories, fat, and sodium, you can still integrate them into a healthy diet in moderation with these tips:

  • Limit to 6 wings as an appetizer or snack, not a full meal.
  • Pair with cut up raw vegetables instead of fries.
  • Avoid ranch or blue cheese dressing dips.
  • Choose dry rubs or lighter sauces like buffalo.
  • Bake or grill instead of frying.
  • Remove skin to cut calories in half.
  • Eat with a side salad to increase vegetable intake.

Summary

In summary, the average garlic Parmesan chicken wing contains about 100-150 calories. So for a typical appetizer order of 6 wings, you’re looking at around 600-900 total calories.

Factors like the cooking method, wing size, thickness of the coating, and brand of ingredients can slightly increase or decrease the totals. But the cheesy, buttery coating does add quite a bit of extra fat and calories compared to naked wings.

You can still fit garlic Parmesan wings into a healthy diet by watching your portions, choosing healthier cooking methods, and pairing them with lower calorie side dishes.

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