Chicken wings are a popular appetizer and finger food. However, there are different types of chicken wings, from spicy buffalo wings to breaded boneless wings. When chicken wings are served without any breading or sauce, they are often referred to as “plain wings” or “naked wings.”
The Anatomy of a Chicken Wing
Before diving into what plain chicken wings are called, it helps to understand the anatomy of a chicken wing:
- The drumette – This is the meatier upper portion of the wing that looks like a little drumstick.
- The flat or flank – This is the middle flat part of the chicken wing.
- The wing tip – The tip of the wing that has less meat.
Typically, chicken wings are cut into drumettes and flats/flanks. The wing tips are usually removed and discarded or saved for making stock.
What Are Plain Chicken Wings?
Plain chicken wings are wings that are not breaded or coated in sauce. They are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and perhaps other spices and then fried, baked, or grilled. Here are some common names for plain chicken wings:
- Naked wings
- Dry wings
- Plain fried wings
- Unbreaded wings
- Sauceless wings
Essentially, any chicken wing without breading or sauce can be considered a plain wing. They are the basic starting point that can then be tossed in various sauces or seasonings.
How are Plain Wings Typically Seasoned and Cooked?
Although they don’t have any breading or sauce, plain wings are still usually seasoned before being cooked. Some popular ways to cook and season plain chicken wings include:
- Fried plain wings – seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder then fried in oil until crispy
- Baked plain wings – coated in oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder then baked
- Grilled plain wings – brushed with oil and seasoned with dry rub or herbs
- Air fried plain wings – seasoned and cooked in an air fryer
- Plain lemon pepper wings – tossed in lemon pepper seasoning
- Plain buffalo wings – cooked plain then tossed in buffalo wing sauce
The cooking method will impact the crispiness and texture of the wings, while herbs, spices, and seasonings add flavor.
How Do Plain Wings Differ from Breaded Wings?
There are a few key differences between plain and breaded chicken wings:
| Plain Wings | Breaded Wings |
|---|---|
| No breading or coating | Coated in breadcrumbs, flour, or batter |
| Often fried or baked plain | Deep fried until crispy |
| Takes on flavors from seasonings and sauce | Often served plain with dipping sauce |
| Tend to be juicier | Crispier exterior |
| Require less time to cook | Take longer to fry until cooked through |
Breading gives the wings a crispy exterior coating, while plain wings allow you to taste the chicken and sauce flavors more prominently.
Popular Sauces and Seasonings for Plain Wings
Half the fun of plain wings is tossing them in your favorite sauce or seasoning blend. Here are some popular options:
- Buffalo wing sauce – Tangy, buttery cayenne pepper hot sauce. Often served with blue cheese.
- BBQ sauce – Sweet, sticky tomato-based sauce.
- Teriyaki sauce – Sweet soy and ginger glaze.
- Garlic Parmesan – Garlic butter and Parmesan cheese.
- Mango Habanero – Sweet and spicy.
- Jerk seasoning – Spicy and herb-heavy Caribbean dry rub.
- Cajun seasoning – Blend of paprika, garlic, onion, black pepper.
- Lemon pepper – Zesty lemon and cracked pepper.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to flavoring plain wings!
How to Make Crispy Plain Wings at Home
Here is an easy recipe and method for getting perfectly crispy plain chicken wings at home:
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs chicken wings, cut into drumettes and flats
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Directions:
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, toss the wings with the olive oil and seasonings until fully coated.
- Arrange wings in a single layer on wire racks set over baking sheets.
- Bake at 450°F for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Remove wings from oven and let cool 5 minutes before tossing with sauce.
- Toss cooked plain wings in your favorite sauce or enjoy as is.
Tips for extra crispy wings:
- Let wings air dry in the fridge uncovered for a few hours before cooking.
- Fry wings in oil at 350°F for 5-8 minutes before baking.
- Finish wings under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to crisp the skin.
Where to Buy Ready-to-Cook Plain Wings
To save time, you can buy packages of pre-cut plain chicken wings from your local grocery store or butcher shop. Here are a few places to find ready-to-cook wings:
- Grocery store meat department – Fresh or frozen wings sections
- Costco or Sam’s Club – Bulk discounted wings
- Butcher shop or meat market – Fresh boneless/bone-in wings
- Asian market – Often have good deals on wings
- Online – Wings can be ordered online and shipped
Look for plump, meaty wings with skin intact. Separating drumettes and flats can save time prepping. Plain wings are the perfect blank canvas to add your own flavors!
Popular Dishes Featuring Plain Wings
Beyond just a starter or appetizer, plain wings are a versatile ingredient used in many dishes globally. Here are some popular recipes that use plain chicken wings:
- Chicken 65 – Spicy deep-fried chicken dish from India made with plain wings.
- Soy garlic wings – Korean-style wings flavored with soy, garlic, and other seasonings.
- Thai chicken wings – Wings fried and glazed with a sweet, spicy Thai chili sauce.
- Chicken wing soup – Chinese soup made with whole plain boiled wings.
- Tulang (Chicken Wing Bone) – Indonesian street food of deep fried then caramelized plain wings.
- Piri piri chicken wings – Flame grilled peri peri seasoned wings from Portugal.
- Tsukune – Japanese chicken meatballs on skewers with ground chicken wing meat.
The mild flavor of plain wings adapts well to many global flavors and cooking methods.
Nutrition Information of Plain Chicken Wings
Here is the nutrition breakdown for 3 plain chicken wings (about 84g) based on USDA data:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 162 |
| Fat | 10g |
| Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Protein | 13g |
| Cholesterol | 85mg |
| Sodium | 290mg |
Plain chicken wings are high in protein and low in carbs. They make a nutritious addition to many diets when enjoyed in moderation.
Storing and Reheating Plain Wings
For food safety, plain wings should be consumed within 3-5 days if refrigerated and 3-4 months if frozen. Here are some tips for storing and reheating plain wings:
- Refrigerating – Store cooked wings covered in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Freezing – Freeze cooked plain wings in a single layer on a sheet pan then transfer to bags. They will keep frozen for 4 months.
- Reheating – Reheat wings in a 375°F oven or air fryer until warmed through, about 10 minutes.
- Crisping – To recrisp wings, brush with oil and finish in a hot oven or fryer for 2-3 minutes.
Avoid letting plain wings sit a room temperature too long before serving. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Conclusion
Plain chicken wings have many common names like naked wings, dry wings, or sauceless wings. They provide a versatile, mild-flavored base for all sorts of breading, seasoning, and sauce options. Fry, bake, or grill plain wings using your choice of flavors and customize them into thousands of recipes. Store cooked plain wings covered in the fridge up to 5 days or freeze them for longer storage. Plain wings offer lots of possibilities for home cooks and restaurants.