Chinese chicken wings are a popular appetizer or snack that can be high in calories depending on how they are prepared. The number of calories in chicken wings can vary greatly based on factors like the cooking method, sauce or seasoning, whether they are breaded or fried, and any dipping sauces.
Quick Answer
On average, 3 ounces or about 5-6 chicken wings without sauce or seasoning has around 190 calories. Chicken wings cooked in oil or deep fried can have 200-300 calories per 5-6 wings. Wings cooked with sweet, savory, or spicy sauces may have 250-500 calories per serving. The dipping sauce can add 50-200 calories per tablespoon. So a full serving of deep fried chicken wings with sauce may have 500-800 calories or more.
How Many Chicken Wings are Typically Eaten
A single chicken wing is quite small, with just a couple bites of meat. Most restaurants and takeout places serve chicken wings in orders of 5-6 or 10-12 pieces. A serving size of chicken wings as an appetizer is often considered to be around 5-6 wings.
As a main course or meal, most people would eat 10-15 or more chicken wings. Competitive chicken wing eating contests may involve eating dozens of wings, but this is atypical. For the average person having chicken wings for dinner, an order of 10-12 wings is common.
Calories in Chicken Wings Without Sauce
Plain chicken wings without any breading, sauce, or seasoning are relatively low in calories compared to many fried foods. According to the USDA, the calorie breakdown per 100g of chicken wing with the skin is:
- Calories: 239
- Fat: 16g
- Carbs: 0g
- Protein: 18g
A typical chicken wing is around 30-50g. So for a 40g wing, it would have about 96 calories. Therefore 3 ounces or around 5-6 wings would have approximately 190 calories.
Oven Baked Chicken Wings
Baking chicken wings without any oil or batter makes them relatively low in calories. 5-6 oven baked wings may have about 150-200 calories depending on the size of the wings.
Fried Chicken Wings
Frying the wings in oil adds more calories. Deep fried chicken wings have around 200-250 calories for 5-6 pieces, depending on if they are coated in flour or batter before frying.
Calories in Sauced Chicken Wings
The sauce is where a significant amount of extra calories can come in. Sweet, savory, or spicy sauces add more calories and often more sodium too. Here are some estimates for calories in 5-6 sauced wings:
- Buffalo Wings in Hot Sauce – 250 calories
- BBQ Wings – 300 calories
- Teriyaki Wings – 300 calories
- Garlic Parmesan Wings – 350 calories
- Honey Sriracha Wings – 375 calories
- Sweet Chili Wings – 400 calories
- Mango Habanero Wings – 400 calories
The calorie counts can increase even more if the wings are breaded or fried before being coated in sauce. Fried wings in sauce may have 400-500 calories for 5-6 wings.
Calories in Dipping Sauces
Dipping sauces served alongside chicken wings also add extra calories. Blue cheese, ranch, and other creamy dipping sauces typically have around 50-100 calories per tablespoon. So dipping just 5-6 wings may add 200-300 calories from the dipping sauce alone.
Here are the approximate calories for 2 tablespoons of common dipping sauces:
- Ranch Dressing – 140 calories
- Blue Cheese Dressing – 120 calories
- BBQ Sauce – 60 calories
- Buffalo Sauce – 20 calories
Total Calories in Chicken Wings Order
To determine the full calories in a chicken wings order, you need to factor in:
- Chicken wing cooking method (baked, fried, etc)
- Any sauce or seasonings on the wings
- Serving size – 5-6 wings or 10-12 wings
- Any dipping sauce on the side
Based on typical wing orders at restaurants, here are some estimates for total calories:
| Chicken Wing Order | Estimated Calories |
|---|---|
| 6 Baked Wings | 180 |
| 6 Fried Wings with Buffalo Sauce | 500 |
| 12 Boneless Wings with Mango Habanero Sauce | 900 |
| 10 Fried Wings with BBQ Sauce and Ranch Dipping Sauce | 800 |
As you can see, an order of sauced fried wings may easily have over 500 calories, especially when dipping sauces are factored in. So while chicken wings make a tasty appetizer, they can also pack a lot of calories, carbohydrates, fat, and sodium.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Chicken Wings
Here are some tips for reducing the calories when eating chicken wings:
- Order baked or grilled wings instead of fried
- Choose lower calorie sauces like hot sauce or Greek yogurt based sauces
- Use lighter dipping sauces like mustard or hot sauce instead of creamy ranch or blue cheese
- Eat wings without the drumettes to reduce calories and fat
- Share a wing order as an appetizer instead of a full meal
Healthiest Ways to Eat Chicken Wings
While chicken wings aren’t the healthiest choice, there are some ways to make them a bit better for you:
- Bake the wings and use minimal salt rather than frying them
- Use fresh lemon juice, vinegar hot sauce, or Greek yogurt for lower calorie sauces
- Eat the wings with celery and carrots instead of dipping sauces
- Enjoy wings as an occasional treat in moderation, not too often
Should You Avoid Chicken Wings When Dieting?
Chicken wings can be high in calories, carbohydrates, and sodium, especially restaurant or takeout wings. So people trying to lose weight or on a low carb diet may want to avoid eating wings.
However, if you really enjoy chicken wings, you can work them into your diet in moderation. Some options include:
- Making baked chicken wings at home with healthier sauces
- Sharing a small order of 3-5 wings as an appetizer
- Eating wings only occasionally while sticking to your diet the rest of the time
It’s fine to eat chicken wings if you really love them, just be mindful of portions, frequencies and cooking methods to keep calories under control.
Conclusion
Chicken wings can make a tasty snack or appetizer, but they can also be high in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. Fried and sauced chicken wings often have between 500-800 calories for a full order. Opt for baking instead of frying and lighter sauces to reduce the calorie count. Enjoy wings in moderation along with a balanced diet for the best results.
