Fast Foods, Fried Chicken, Wing, meat and skin and breading
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
A classic fried chicken wing, complete with crispy, golden-brown breading and skin, offers a satisfying crunch that gives way to juicy, tender meat. Each 100-gram serving packs a substantial 21 grams of protein alongside a rich, savory flavor profile. It's a calorie-dense food, with over half its energy coming from fat, making it a hearty and indulgent treat.
Calorie split: 27% protein · 14% carbs · 58% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore the irresistible textural contrast between the shatteringly crisp coating and the succulent meat inside. Its deep, savory flavor and finger-licking, communal nature make it a staple at gatherings, sports events, and as a beloved comfort food.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat and calorie content, along with often-elevated sodium levels from seasoning and breading, can be a concern for heart health and weight management. To enjoy it more mindfully, practice strict portion control (e.g., 2-3 wings), pair it with a large, vinegar-based side salad to aid digestion and add fiber, and choose grilled or air-fried versions when possible to reduce added fat.
Key benefits
- High-quality complete protein for muscle maintenance
- Provides essential minerals like selenium and phosphorus
- Source of B vitamins, particularly niacin and B6
- Satiating due to high protein and fat content
- A familiar, comforting food in many social settings
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The practice of frying chicken was brought to the American South by Scottish immigrants, but the tradition of frying the wing section separately and saucing it is widely credited to a bar in Buffalo, New York, in 1964.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 44.6 g |
| Energy | 310 kcal |
| Energy | 1298 kj |
| Protein | 21.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 20.1 g |
| Ash | 3.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 11.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.10 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 10.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 67.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.0 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 24.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 220 mg |
| Potassium, K | 262 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 867 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.3 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.08 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.17 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 28.4 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.24 mg |
| Niacin | 6.5 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.98 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.19 mg |
| Folate, total | 25.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 17.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 8.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 37.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 82.2 mg |
| Betaine | 6.7 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.46 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 16.0 ug |
| Retinol | 16.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 53.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.74 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.02 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.87 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.03 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.17 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.02 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 5.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 5.4 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.18 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.6 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.4 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 9.8 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.83 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 8.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.17 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 3.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 2.8 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.42 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.07 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.31 g |
| Cholesterol | 114 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Fast foods, english muffin, with egg, cheese, and sausage — USDA does not publish this profile for Fast Foods.
| Tryptophan | 0.16 g |
| Threonine | 0.52 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.54 g |
| Leucine | 0.98 g |
| Lysine | 0.75 g |
| Methionine | 0.29 g |
| Cystine | 0.20 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.59 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.41 g |
| Valine | 0.65 g |
| Arginine | 0.65 g |
| Histidine | 0.33 g |
| Alanine | 0.60 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.5 g |
| Glycine | 0.54 g |
| Proline | 0.90 g |
| Serine | 0.70 g |
FAQ
Is the breading or the skin more calorie-dense?
Both are high in fat and calories. The skin is a natural fat layer, while the breading absorbs significant cooking oil. Together, they account for the majority of the wing's fat and calorie content.
How does the nutrition change if I remove the skin and breading?
Removing the skin and breading drastically reduces the fat and calorie count, leaving you with a lean, protein-rich piece of chicken meat. The protein content remains high, but the total calories and fat can drop by more than half.
What is the best way to reheat leftover fried wings to keep them crispy?
Avoid the microwave. Reheat them in an oven or air fryer at around 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. This helps re-crisp the skin and breading without making them soggy.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.10 kcal/g · 27% calories from protein · 0.1 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 3.31 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.