Are you looking for a flavorful and satisfying dish to serve your family, friends, or dinner party? Chicken wings are a great option. They are easy to prepare and serve, and can be customized with different sauces to appeal to any palette.
What Is The Recommended Serving Of Chicken Wings For Adults?
Chicken wings are sold in one of two different ways. They may be full wings, with three sections, called the “wingette,” “drumette,” and the tip. Or they may be “party wings,” which have the tips removed and the wingette and drumette separated into two different sections.
If served as an entree, the recommended serving size of full chicken wings is about 4-5 wings per adult, or about 1 pound per person. If you’re serving party wings, this will be 6-10 wing portions per adult.
If served as a side dish, the recommended serving size is 2 full chicken wings per adult or 4 party wing sections.
Of course, there are always people who eat more or less than the suggested serving size. Unless you are doing a formal dinner and plating each meal individually, it’s best to prepare a few extra.
What Is The Recommended Serving Of Chicken Wings For Children?
The recommended serving size of chicken wings for toddlers and young children is 1 to 1.5 full wings or 2-4 party wings. It’s best to remove the meat from the wings instead of allowing children to do it themselves. This makes it possible for them to get the full serving. Some children, especially toddlers, have a hard time picking the meat from the bone.
Older children and teenagers may eat nearly as much as adults, around 2-3 full wings each or 4-6 party wings. Of course, some may eat more or less, depending on their appetite and the size of the wings you’re serving.
Tips for Serving Chicken Wings The Main Course
Full chicken wings are usually served as the main course of a meal and can be served in different ways. It’s easiest to do this “family style” and place all the wings on a plate or large bowl. Each person can then choose which wings they want and how many.
The only problem with this serving method is that you won’t be providing the recommended serving size to each person and some people may take more than that portion.
If you plan to serve the chicken wings this way, it’s best to make more than the recommended serving size. Consider making at least two extra wings for every person you are feeding. Not everyone will take extras but if anyone does, there will be plenty.
Our favorite wing recipes include Japanese Teppan chicken wings and, of course, honey buffalo chicken wings.
As An Appetizer
If you’re going more formal and serving chicken wings as an appetizer, they can look surprisingly elegant if you plate them individually! Simply add one or two wings to a small plate and dress them up to look appetizing.
You can add a lettuce leaf, a stalk of celery, or a few carrots on the plate. You can also serve dressing or dipping sauce alongside the chicken wings on the plate.
What’s The Best Way To Serve Chicken Wings To A Crowd?
The best way to serve chicken wings to a crowd is buffet style. You can still prepare the suggested serving size per person, but instead of trying to make up individual plates for each person, you can serve them in a large baking pan or foil caterer’s pan.
What Side Dishes Go Best With Chicken Wings?
Chicken wings are rarely a whole meal on their own! Here are some ideas for the best side dishes to serve with chicken wings.
Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
French Fries are the ultimate side dish for chicken wings. They are commonly served with wings at restaurants, but you can make them at home, too! Starchy, salty, and dippable, when combined with chicken wings they create a perfect harmony of texture and flavor.
Onion Rings
Onion rings are crispy and flavorful, so they work well with chicken wings. Chicken wings tend to be rich and not many sides can compete with them. Fried onion rings can hold their own because of their own strong flavor.
Cole Slaw
Coleslaw has a cool and creamy flavor with a nice crisp bite for texture. It makes a great side because of the difference in flavor and texture and it adds some veggies to the protein dish.
Pickles
Salty, crunchy pickles are a classic side for chicken wings. They provide a cool, juicy break from the great meat of the chicken. If you are serving hot wings that have a spicy sauce, pickles can help cool the mouth between bites and prevent flavor fatigue. You don’t have to stop at cucumber pickles! Try some pickled radish or ginger from an Asian market to spice things up.
Salad
Tossed salad can be served with almost any meal, but it works very well for chicken wings! Wings can be greasy, especially when fried, and the salad provides a conscience-soothing, nutritious, light and crisp contrast.
The dressing on the salad can also be used as a dip for the chicken wings to bring the dishes together even more.
Macaroni And Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is served as a side with chicken wings in many restaurants, and you can also make it yourself for dinner parties. The creaminess of the cheese and the soft texture of the pasta is a nice contrast to the spicy and juicy chicken wings.
Bread
Bread goes well with chicken wings because it soaks up any sauces and helps break up the flavor. Many people like to take the meat off the chicken wings and add them to bread to make a sandwich.
Having bread as a side gives those enjoying the meal a chance to change textures. Dinner rolls, biscuits, and garlic bread are some of the best options.
Can You Reheat Chicken Wings?
You can reheat chicken wings but you need to make sure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving. You can reheat chicken wings in a variety of ways to get the texture you prefer. Some of the best methods include:
- Air Frying
- Baking
- Frying On The Stovetop
- Grilling
How To Handle And Prepare Chicken Wings Safely
The way you handle and prepare chicken wings is very important. Failing to follow simple safety precautions could result in foodborne illness. Follow these tips to ensure you are preparing wings safely.
Wear Gloves
Chicken can contain bacteria, as can your hands. Wearing gloves helps prevent the spread of bacteria from one to the other.
You can purchase food-safe gloves online that are comfortable and easy to work in. You should still wash your hands before and after handling the chicken just to make sure no bacteria accidentally found its way onto your hands through the gloves.
Keep Surfaces Clean
When working with any meat or food, be sure to clean every surface that it comes in contact with. Bacteria can grow on surfaces quickly, even if they were recently washed. Disinfect cutting boards, counters, and other tools before you place the chicken on it and after you finish preparing it.
Cook To A Safe Temperature
Chicken is only safe to eat if it is cooked to well done. According to the USDA, it should never be eaten rare or raw. (Although, yes, chicken sashimi is a thing!) Chicken meat should be cooked to a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 73.8 degrees Celsius. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature before serving.
Serve Or Refrigerate Soon After Cooking
Even after you cook the chicken, bacteria can grow on it and lead to food poisoning. You serve your wings immediately, while the chicken is still warm. If you don’t plan to serve it immediately, you should place it in an airtight container and keep it cold in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Chicken wings are a delicious and simple meal to serve to a small crowd or a large one. They are versatile and easy to flavor with different sauces. While the recommended serving is meant to give you an idea of how many wings to serve per person, you should always use your best judgment to make sure you have enough to satisfy your guests.
