How Are Boneless Wings Made?
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023
They're a strong callback to our childhoods, but not necessarily what they seem.
If you asked me what my favorite food of all time was, I’d always answer with the same: chicken wings. I’ve been smackin’ on chicken wings for as long as I can remember—even my mom says it’s practically all she ate while she was pregnant with me. Coincidence? Maybe. I’ve always been a bone-in gal, but a lot of my friends say otherwise. They prefer boneless because they’re easier to eat, cleaner and come with a nice breading. And they’re not the only ones. Boneless wings are intensely popular.
But how are boneless wings made, and are they really wings at all? Here’s what you need to know before you start chowin’ down on your next boneless round.
Are Boneless Wings Really “Wings”?
There are many different cuts of chicken. Breast, thigh, tenderloin, leg, wing… I could go on. The chicken wing, however, has become practically synonymous with sports and game days. Order a plate of wings, and you’ll surely have a crowd of pleased people. While the Buffalo wing we know and love today started around the 1960s, the boneless wing appeared sometime in the 2000s.
But let’s get back to the question. Are they really wings? No, not like traditional bone-in chicken wings. Instead, boneless wings are actually more akin to chicken nuggets and are made from breast meat. The more you know!
How Are Boneless Wings Made?
Rather than deboning chicken wings and using the meat, boneless wings are prepared using breast meat. The meat is cut into wing-sized shapes, dipped in a bread or batter concoction and deep-fried. Afterward, the new nugget shapes are free to be slathered with wing sauce just as traditional chicken wings would be.
It seems the term “wings” has evolved into more of a chicken bite you can easily eat with your hands. Is it a marketing ploy? Perhaps, but that’s beside the point. If it’s good, we’ll eat it. And we’ll eat a lot of it.
Now, we must ask ourselves one more very important thing. What’s the best wing sauce?
Chicken Wings That'll Change Your Appetizer Spread
Sweet Sriracha Wings
Serve my fiery hot wings on game day or any time friends and family gather. If you don’t like a ton of sweetness, add the honey slowly and taste as you go. —Logan Holser, Clarkston, Michigan
Spicy Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
These fall-off-the-bone tender wings have just the right amount of heat. The cool blue cheese dressing creates the perfect flavor combination for dipping. —Kevalyn Henderson, Hayward, Wisconsin
Chili-Lime Chicken Wings
Who would have guessed that mixing maple syrup, chili sauce and lime juice would make chicken wings taste so good? Family and guests alike will scramble to ensure they get more than one of these utterly delicious wings—so be sure to make extras! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Bandito Chicken Wings
These golden wings make a mouthwatering hot appetizer. —Gloria Jarrett, Loveland, Ohio
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Hot wings got their start in Buffalo, New York, in a kitchen. Although there was no game on at the time, today spicy wings and cool sauces are traditional game-day fare. Cayenne, red sauce and spices keep these tangy buffalo chicken wings good and hot, just like the originals. —Nancy Chapman, Center Harbor, New Hampshire
Sticky Chicken Wings
You'll want to keep an extra stack of napkins nearby once people start reaching for these sweet and sticky wings. The brown sugar marinade makes every bite finger-lickin' good! —Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
Ginger-Orange Wings
The sweet-and-sour sauce in this recipe was originally for pork spareribs, but my family has always enjoyed it this way. The longer the wings sit in the ketchup, ginger and orange marmalade sauce, the better they taste. They can be served warm or cold. -Lora Fletcher, Lyons, Oregon
Spicy Butterscotch Wings
We love big-time-spicy chicken wings. I do a caramel sauce to balance the heat, but you could also glaze the wings with melted brown sugar. —Aaron Salazar, Westminster, Colorado
Nacho Wings
Since I love both wings and nachos, I combined them for the perfect pairing! This recipe earned an award in a wings and ribs contest we held at our summer cottage. —Lori Stefanishion, Drumheller, AB
Five-Spice Chicken Wings
Bird is the word when it comes to these wings. They’re baked to a perfect golden brown and hum with mild, delicious Asian spices. Thanks to an overnight marinade, the chicken inside stays tender while the skin maintains that signature crunch. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Honey-Mustard Chicken Wings
For a change from spicy Buffalo sauce, try these sweet and sticky wings. There's a good chance they'll become your new favorite! —Susan Seymour, Valatie, New York
Sweet 'n' Tangy Chicken Wings
I love the convenience of slow-cooker recipes for get-togethers. Start these wings a few hours ahead of time and you'll have fantastic appetizers ready when your guests arrive. —Ida Tuey, South Lyon, Michigan
Sticky Maple Pepper Glazed Chicken Wings
This is one of my favorite appetizers to make over the holidays! The coarse ground pepper cuts the sweetness of the maple syrup by adding just the right amount of heat. These chicken wings are best fresh out of the oven (they are nice and crispy), but they are also delicious if made ahead and kept warm in a slow cooker. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
Honey-Barbecue Chicken Wings
These wings get loads of flavor from the slightly sweet honey-barbecue sauce they’re tossed in. They’re just the tiniest bit sticky—exactly the way they should be. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Baked Island Chicken Wings
These baked chicken wings are a tasty twist on regular wings. The orange flavor is a game-changer and will have you coming back for seconds! —Caren Berry, Lancaster, California
Grilled Wing Zingers
My husband fine-tuned this recipe—and the results were spectacular! These spicy-hot grilled wings help make the party. You can easily adjust the heat level by altering the amount of chili powder and cayenne. The wings take a little time, but they’re worth it. —Angela Roster, Greenbackville, Virginia
Quentin’s Peach-Bourbon Wings
My father and husband love bourbon flavor, so I add it to tangy wings baked in peach preserves. Stand back and watch these wings fly. —Christine Winston, Richmond, Virginia
Spicy-Good Chicken Wings
We enjoy eating these chicken wings while watching football on TV, but make them for any special occasion for a crowd favorite! The pepper sauce gives just the right amount of heat.—Della Clutts, New Tazewell, Tennessee
Peanutty Chicken Wings
A pleasant, mild blend of peanut and curry flavors makes up the sauce for these wings. I doubled the recipe, and was I glad I did! The tasty wings were devoured. —Kristen Proulx, Canton, New York
Like 'Em Hot Wings
These spicy Buffalo-style chicken wings are wonderfully seasoned. They are an easy, crowd-pleasing snack that disappears quickly. —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas
Tangy Barbecue Wings
I took these slow-cooked wings to work, and they vanished before I even got a bite! The tangy sauce is lip-smacking good. —Sherry Pitzer, Troy, Missouri
Maple-Glazed Chicken Wings
Some wonderful maple syrup I brought back from my last trip to Vermont inspired my recipe. These wings have been a hit with family and friends. They're very versatile—use them for TV snacks, hors d'oeuvres for parties or showers, or appetizers—or double or triple the recipe and make the wings a main dish you can serve with a salad or corn on the cob on the side. —Janice Henck, Clarkston, Georgia
Mexican Chicken Wings
I make these spicy appetizers for parties and football games and never have any leftovers. The hot wings contrast nicely with the cool but zippy dip. When the wings run out, we use the extra cilantro dip on tortilla chips. —Barbara McConaughey, Houlton, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooked Cranberry Hot Wings
Cranberry wings remind me of all the wonderful celebrations and parties we've had through the years. My daughter’s friends can’t get enough of these wings. —Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut
Cola Hot Wings
These delectable wings are so easy to make, and they offer year-round versatility, from summer cookouts to autumn tailgates. My husband likes them so much he'll stand out in the snow to grill them! —Lisa Linville, Randolph, Nebraska
Sweet-and-Sour Chicken Wings
These slow cooker wings are a fun appetizer for gatherings. I sometimes like to serve the saucy chicken over rice as a main dish. Either way you do it, these Asian-inspired wings will be a hit! —June Eberhardt, Marysville, California
Zesty Chicken Wings
These spicy barbecue wings are so easy to make. I fix a double batch since my family thinks they're great. You should see them disappear! —Joan Rose, Langley, British Columbia
Sweet Gingered Chicken Wings
I first tasted this delicious chicken dish when I attended a class on using honey in cooking. When I prepare this recipe for a party, it's one of the first dishes to disappear! —Debbie Dougal, Roseville, California
Glazed Chicken Wings
I received this easy wing recipe from a cousin on Vancouver Island during a visit there a few years ago. They're an appealing appetizer, but also a favorite for Sunday lunch with rice and a salad. —Joan Airey, Rivers, Manitoba
Tempura Chicken Wings
When I moved to Kansas City from Texas, I brought many of my mom's best-loved recipes with me, including these saucy sweet-and-sour wings. The recipe is so good it turned a friend who's not a fan of chicken into a real wing lover. —Susan Wuckowitsch, Lenexa, Kansas
Grilled Cherry-Glazed Chicken Wings
When I take these grilled wings to events, there are never any leftovers! Friends and family love them. —Ashley Gable, Atlanta, Georgia
Exotic Five-Spice Chicken Wings
Savor the flavors you crave! These distinctive wings deliver a sweet, salty and slightly spicy taste with every bite. —Barb Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota
Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings
The meat literally falls off the bones of these wings! Spice lovers will get a kick out of the big sprinkling of red pepper flakes. —Sue Bayless, Prior Lake, Minnesota
Cranberry Hot Wings
Chicken wings get special treatment from cranberry sauce, a little citrus and a touch of hot sauce in this no-fuss recipe. The wings are a tangy way to heat up a winter night. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island
Originally Published: February 23, 2023
