What Are Chicken Wing Dings? A Deep Dive Into This Tasty Snack

Chicken wing dings are a beloved appetizer that have become a staple at parties and sporting events across America. Their crunchy exterior, juicy interior, and versatility with sauces have made them a go-to snack for gameday hangs, barbecues, and anytime you’re looking for a quick bite with big flavor. But what exactly are chicken wing dings? Where did they come from? And what’s the best way to cook them? Let’s take a deep dive into the origin, preparation, and enjoyment of this tasty finger food.

A Brief History of Chicken Wing Dings

While chicken wings themselves have been around for as long as chickens have, the concept of “chicken wing dings” is a relatively recent phenomenon that originated in Buffalo, New York. As the story goes, in 1964 Teressa Bellissimo, owner of the Anchor Bar, was looking for a way to utilize the unused chicken wings from her stock. She decided to deep fry them and serve them alongside a spicy hot sauce made with vinegar and butter. Thus, the Buffalo wing was born!

The concept quickly caught on not just in Buffalo but across the country. Restaurants and bars started offering their own riffs on Buffalo wings, experimenting with different sauces and cooking methods. Out of this exploration the “chicken wing ding” emerged – essentially taking the traditional Buffalo wing and shrinking it down into bite-sized pieces. Dings could be easily shared, dipped, and snacked on, making them the perfect appetizer for parties and game watching. Their popularity skyrocketed through the 70s, 80s, and beyond.

What Exactly Are Chicken Wing Dings?

Chicken wing dings are small bite-sized chicken wing pieces that have been fried or baked. They are usually made from either drumettes (the thick first section of the wing) or flats (the middle wing section) that have been cut into smaller pieces. The wing tips are often removed.

Dings can come prepared plain, but they really shine when tossed or coated in flavorful sauces and seasonings. Common examples include:

• Buffalo The tangy, peppery original – a sauce of hot sauce, butter, and vinegar

• Barbecue: Sweet, sticky, and smoky.

• Garlic Parmesan: Savory, garlicky, and coated in parmesan.

• Asian: Often featuring ginger, sesame, and soy flavors.

• Honey mustard: Sweet honey balanced by the tang of mustard.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning and saucing chicken wing dings. Restaurants often have entire menus dedicated to unique ding flavors.

Preparing Perfect Chicken Wing Dings at Home

Part of the appeal of chicken wing dings is their versatility – they can be baked or fried at home with fairly minimal effort. Here are some tips for nailing homemade dings every time:

Start with quality wings – Look for plump wings with smooth, taut skin. Rinse and pat thoroughly dry. Cut wings into drumettes and flats then slice into 1-2 inch pieces.

Season generously – A simple salt, pepper, and garlic powder mixture works wonders. Apply seasonings before and after cooking.

** Fry for maximum crunch** – Fill a heavy pot with 2-3 inches of oil and heat to 350°F. Working in batches, fry dings for 8-10 minutes until deeply golden. Drain on paper towels.

Or bake for a healthier option – Arrange on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping once. They won’t be quite as crispy but still tasty!

Toss in your favorite sauce – From Buffalo to teriyaki to lemon pepper, let your tastebuds guide you. Just a couple minutes of tossing and your wings will be perfectly coated.

Serve immediately – Chicken wing dings are best enjoyed right away while still hot and super crispy. Dig in while they’re fresh!

Tips for Serving Wing Dings

Once your chicken wing dings are cooked to golden perfection, you’ll want to serve them up in style. Here are some pointers:

• Focus on flavor pairings – Match your sauce or seasoning to a complementary dip. Ranch works well with Buffalo, honey mustard loves barbecue, blue cheese pairs nicely with plain or garlic dings.

• Offer an array of dip options – Provide more than one sauce/dip so guests can customize. Ranch, blue cheese, barbecue sauce, and honey mustard are crowd pleasers.

• Make it shareable – Arrange cooked dings in the center of a platter surrounded by dipping sauces. Provide plenty of napkins.

• Include veggie sides – Fresh crudités like carrot and celery sticks balance out the fried dings. Their crunch also mimics the texture.

• Keep them warm – If you need to keep dings warm for a buffet, place them in a 200°F oven on a sheet pan layered with paper towels. This prevents sogginess.

Why We Love Chicken Wing Dings

Chicken wing dings hold a special place in America’s heart, and it’s easy to see why. Here are some of the qualities that make them an undisputed favorite:

Their universally loved flavor – Chicken wings strike a perfect balance between savory meat and crispy, fatty skin. Who doesn’t love that? Dings maximize this flavor payoff in snackable pieces.

Satisfying crunch – The signature crunch of dings is incredibly addictive. That shattering bite lets you know they’re fresh from the fryer.

Endless customization – With so many seasoning and sauce options, you could enjoy dings multiple times a week without getting bored.

Perfect for sharing – Dings are the ideal group snack. Easy to pass around and pick at over drinks, the game, or a movie.

Nostalgic factor – For many, dings are intertwined with memories of childhood parties, sports bars, and good times. Comfort food at its finest!

So next time you’re craving a tasty, crispy snack that everyone will enjoy, look no further than good old chicken wing dings. A party classic for good reason!