Applebee’s is a popular American casual dining restaurant chain with locations across the United States. The restaurant is known for its extensive menu of American cuisine, including burgers, ribs, steaks, salads, and more. One common question that many customers have is whether Applebee’s serves chicken wings. The quick answer is yes, Applebee’s does offer chicken wings on their menu.
Types of Chicken Wings at Applebee’s
Applebee’s serves several varieties of bone-in and boneless chicken wings. Here is an overview of the chicken wing options available at Applebee’s:
Bone-In Wings
– Classic Buffalo Wings – Tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce. Served with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing.
– Honey BBQ Wings – Tossed in a sweet and smoky honey BBQ sauce.
– Nashville Hot Wings – Tossed in a spicy cayenne pepper sauce. Topped with diced pickles.
Boneless Wings
– Classic Boneless Wings – Breaded and fried boneless wings tossed in buffalo sauce. Served with blue cheese or ranch dressing.
– Sweet Asian Chile Boneless Wings – Tossed in a sweet Asian chile glaze.
How Applebee’s Prepares and Cooks Wings
At Applebee’s, the chicken wings go through the following process:
– Wings are trimmed and separated into sections (flats, drums, etc).
– The raw wings are seasoned with spices.
– Wings are breaded then deep fried until golden brown and crispy.
– Fried wings are tossed in your choice of savory sauce.
– Wings are served with celery sticks and a sauce for dipping (blue cheese or ranch dressing).
By frying the wings, Applebee’s is able to achieve the signature crispy exterior while keeping the interior juicy and tender. The frying also allows the sauce to stick and permeate the wings.
Chicken Wing Sauces at Applebee’s
The sauces and glazes are a key part of what gives Applebee’s wings their robust, signature flavor. Here are some details on the wing sauces available:
Buffalo Sauce
The classic buffalo sauce features a blend of hot pepper sauce (cayenne pepper, vinegar, etc) and butter. This mixture creates a spicy, buttery flavor with a robust kick. The buffalo sauce packs a punch but also has a nice underlying buttery flavor.
BBQ Sauce
Applebee’s uses a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce for their BBQ chicken wings. The sauce likely contains ingredients like ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. The BBQ wings are sticky and infused with traditional barbecue flavors.
Nashville Hot Sauce
To make Nashville hot wings, Applebee’s uses a spicy cayenne pepper hot sauce. They likely also add some additional spices, vinegar, and oil to create the sauce. The sauce brings serious heat along with acidic and onion/garlic undertones.
Asian Chile Sauce
The Asian chile sauce combines sweet and spicy flavors. It likely contains ingredients like rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chile peppers, and sweeteners like brown sugar or honey. This gives it a glossy, sweet and savory flavor profile.
How to Order Chicken Wings at Applebee’s
Chicken wings can be ordered as an appetizer or entree at Applebee’s. Here are some tips for ordering wings:
– Choose bone-in or boneless wings based on your preference. Bone-in wings offer more meat while boneless are less messy.
– Pick your desired sauce flavor – buffalo, BBQ, Nashville hot, or Asian chile.
– Opt for blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
– Wings are typically sold in quantities of 6, 10, or 15 pieces. Order based on your hunger level.
– For a meal, consider ordering 15-20 wings or combining wings with sides like fries or coleslaw.
– For an appetizer, 6 or 10 wings are a good amount to share.
– Notify your server of any sauce substitutions or food allergy accommodations.
With so many flavors and options, Applebee’s chicken wings make for a tasty starter or meal. The wings pair perfectly with cold beers or drinks given their hearty, savory flavors. Be sure to order them crispy for the best texture!
Nutrition Information on Applebee’s Chicken Wings
Here is some nutrition information on Applebee’s chicken wings:
| Wing Type | Calories (6 wings) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Bone-In Wings | 690 | 48 | 12 | 40 |
| Boneless Wings | 730 | 45 | 56 | 36 |
As you can see, both the bone-in and boneless wings are high in calories, fat, and sodium. The bone-in wings provide more protein. The boneless wings have more carbs from the breading. Keep this nutrition info in mind when planning your full meal.
Tips for the Best Wings at Applebee’s
Here are some helpful tips to end up with the perfect chicken wings from Applebee’s:
– Ask for the wings to be cooked extra crispy to get the skin nice and crunchy.
– Request your wings to be tossed in your choice of sauce again just before serving to re-coat them.
– Eat the wings immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.
– Have napkins and wet wipes handy to handle the mess.
– Cool your mouth between spicy wings with blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce.
– Pair the wings with french fries, coleslaw, or celery sticks.
– Wash down the fiery wings with cold domestic beer or a margarita.
Chicken Wing Flavor Combinations
One fun way to mix things up is by ordering a combination of different flavored wings. Here are some recommended combinations:
– 50/50 buffalo and BBQ
– Nashville hot and honey BBQ
– Asian chile and classic buffalo
– BBQ, buffalo, and naked (plain)
Mixing flavors adds variety to your order so you can experience the range of Applebee’s sauces. You can also alternate between spicy and cooling flavors to keep your palate excited.
Chicken Wing Menu Items at Applebee’s
In addition to standalone orders of wings, here are some other menu items featuring wings:
– Boneless Wings ‘N’ Shrimp – 6 golden fried shrimp and 6 boneless wings with your choice of sauce.
– Three-Cheese Chicken Penne – Grilled chicken, penne, and wing sauce baked with a three-cheese blend.
– Chicken Wonton Tacos – Crispy wonton shells filled with chicken, slaw, pico de gallo, cilantro, and your choice of wing sauce.
– Chicken Quesadilla – Sautéed chicken, cheddar-jack, bacon, and buffalo sauce in a crispy tortilla. Served with ranch.
So don’t forget to check the main menus for additional ways to get your wing fix at Applebee’s!
Prices for Wings at Applebee’s
The prices for chicken wings at Applebee’s are quite reasonable, especially when considering the generous portion sizes. Here are the typical prices as of 2023:
– 6 Bone-In Wings – $9.99
– 10 Bone-In Wings – $13.99
– 15 Bone-In Wings – $18.99
– 6 Boneless Wings – $8.99
– 10 Boneless Wings – $12.99
– 15 Boneless Wings – $16.99
These represent Applebee’s regular menu prices. Specials or happy hour deals may offer reduced pricing or bonus wings. Overall though, Applebee’s wings offer good value for the cost compared to other casual dining chains.
How Applebee’s Wings Compare to Other Chains
Compared to other popular casual dining chains, Applebee’s holds its own when it comes to chicken wings:
Buffalo Wild Wings
– More wing flavor varieties – Over 25 sauces and dry rubs
– Specialize in wings – Broader menu focused on wings
– Higher prices – Similar portion is $2-3 more per order
Chili’s
– Fewer wing options – Mainly just buffalo flavor available
– Lower prices – Slightly cheaper than Applebee’s
– Smaller portions – Chili’s serves 5 and 10 wings
TGIFridays
– More flavors – Offers unique flavors like Thai chili and lemon pepper
– Larger portions – Serves up to 20 wings per order
– Similar prices – Wing prices align with Applebee’s
While Applebee’s doesn’t specialize in wings, they offer a solid wing menu compared to similar casual chains. The variety of sauces, crisp frying, and reasonable prices make them a good wing choice.
Customer Reviews of Wings at Applebee’s
Overall, online customer reviews indicate positive experiences with the wings at Applebee’s. Here are some common themes in customer feedback:
Positive Reviews
– “The wings had great flavor and were crispy.”
– “Good sized wings for the price. Sauces were delicious.”
– “Wings were juicy inside with a nice crunch.”
– “Better than expected. Great with a cold beer!”
Negative Reviews
– “Wings were too small with not enough meat.”
– “Boneless wings had soggy breading.”
– “Too expensive for the portion size received.”
– “Sauces lacked depth of flavor.”
While there are some mixed opinions, most reviews suggest Applebee’s serves tasty, crunchy wings coated in flavorful sauces. When prepared well, they make for an appetizing starter or meal.
Conclusion
So in summary – yes, Applebee’s does make chicken wings! Their menu offers traditional bone-in wings as well as boneless options coated in flavorful sauces ranging from buffalo to honey BBQ. The wings are freshly fried to order until crispy and can be paired with cool, creamy dipping sauces. While not a wing specialty restaurant, Applebee’s provides diners a solid choice for enjoying chicken wings in a casual dining environment at a reasonable price point. Be sure to visit an Applebee’s location soon to try out their take on this tasty, messy, finger-licking appetizer. Just don’t forget the wet naps!