Have you ever found yourself staring at a menu and wondering, “what are chicken lips made of?” You’re not alone! This quirky-sounding dish has sparked curiosity among food enthusiasts worldwide Today, I’m going to crack open the mystery of chicken lips once and for all, so you’ll know exactly what you’re sinking your teeth into the next time you order this uniquely named delicacy
The Anatomical Truth: Do Chickens Have Lips?
Let’s start with a basic fact that might surprise you – chickens don’t actually have lips! That’s right despite the name “chicken lips” these birds lack the soft, fleshy lips that mammals have. Instead, chickens have beaks, which are hardened structures composed primarily of
- Bone (forming the mandibles)
- Keratin (the same protein found in human fingernails and hair)
- Blood vessels and nerve endings
The chicken beak consists of two parts
- The upper mandible (maxilla)
- The lower mandible (mandible)
These bony structures are covered with a layer of keratin that gives the beak its strength and durability. The beak serves multiple functions for chickens, including:
- Foraging and feeding
- Preening and hygiene
- Defense and social interaction
So if chickens don’t have lips, what exactly are we eating when we order “chicken lips” at a restaurant?
What “Chicken Lips” Actually Refers To
Depending on where you’re dining, “chicken lips” can refer to several different food items:
1. Chicken Breast Strips
According to Graze Restaurant, their “World Famous Chicken Lips” are made with:
- Voluptuous chicken breast strips
- Rolled in flour and buttermilk
- Fried to perfection
- Tossed in their special “Lip Sauce” (described as a mild Buffalo-style sauce)
Their website emphasizes that these are NOT chicken wings or boneless wings, but rather hand-cut, hand-breaded strips made from “fresh, non-GMO, All Natural Chicken.” They describe their Chicken Lips as “tender, juicy, succulent” and “Simply Breathtaking.”
2. Chicken Paps or Gizzards
According to HypeUnity, “chicken lips” may also refer to:
- Chicken paps
- Chicken gizzards
- A type of organ found in the digestive system of chickens
- Comprising a pair of thick, fleshy flaps
- Responsible for filtering food particles from the gizzard
3. A Culinary Creation
In some contexts, “chicken lips” is simply a creative name for a specific restaurant’s chicken dish. Chef Peter Harman, referred to as “The Food Guru,” created Chicken Lips in 1991 on Sanibel Island, Florida. Since then, according to Graze Restaurant, “Millions of Chicken Lips have been enjoyed by Raving Fans.”
How Chicken Lips Are Made (Graze Restaurant Recipe)
Let’s take a closer look at the preparation process for the famous Chicken Lips at Graze Restaurant:
- Start with fresh chicken breast strips
- Roll them in flour and buttermilk
- Fry until perfectly cooked
- Toss in their signature “Lip Sauce”
- Serve with homemade Budweiser Blue Cheese Dressing
The restaurant points out that their Chicken Lips are spicy but not overly hot, and they undergo a painstaking 24-hour preparation process that results in their unique texture and flavor.
The Cultural Significance of Chicken Lips
Chicken lips have developed something of a cult following in certain regions. At Graze Restaurant, they claim their Chicken Lips are “Brain Food” that might make you “smarter, faster, taller and better looking” and that “Chicken Lips Build Champions.” While these claims are clearly made in jest, they demonstrate the fun, almost mythical status that this dish has achieved among its fans.
The restaurant’s motto for their chicken lips is apparently “Lips Rule!” – showing just how beloved this creation has become.
Health Aspects of Chicken Lips
When considering the nutritional value of chicken lips (the food dish, not the non-existent anatomical feature), it’s important to remember that they’re typically:
- Made from chicken breast (a good source of protein)
- Breaded and fried (adding carbohydrates and fat)
- Often served with rich dipping sauces
Like many fried foods, chicken lips would be considered an indulgence rather than a health food. However, they do provide protein and can be part of a balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation.
Making Your Own Chicken Lips at Home
If you’d like to try creating chicken lips at home, here’s a simplified recipe based on what we’ve learned:
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast, cut into strips
- Buttermilk
- All-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- Oil for frying
- Buffalo sauce (mild) or your preferred wing sauce
- Blue cheese dressing for dipping
Instructions:
- Soak chicken strips in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes (overnight is better)
- Mix flour with salt and pepper in a separate bowl
- Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in the flour mixture
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C)
- Fry chicken strips until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp of 165°F/74°C)
- Toss fried chicken in buffalo sauce or your preferred sauce
- Serve with blue cheese dressing on the side
Other Interpretations and Misconceptions
It’s worth noting that the term “chicken lips” has caused confusion for many people. Some of the misconceptions include:
- The belief that they’re made from actual chicken lips (which don’t exist)
- Confusion with chicken gizzards (which are a real organ, but not lips)
- Thinking they’re the same as chicken wings (they’re typically made from breast meat)
FAQs About Chicken Lips
Do chickens have teeth?
No, chickens don’t have teeth. Instead, they have a gizzard, which is a muscular organ in their digestive system that grinds food with the help of small stones or grit.
What does a healthy chicken beak look like?
A healthy chicken beak is typically smooth, hard, and without cracks or lesions. The color varies by breed.
Can I use ranch dressing instead of blue cheese with chicken lips?
According to Graze Restaurant, “Yes, it’s ok to use Ranch if you prefer, but we highly recommend the Blue Cheese for the BEST Chicken Lip Experience.”
Are chicken lips gluten-free?
Traditional chicken lips recipes use wheat flour for breading, so they’re not gluten-free. However, you could adapt the recipe using gluten-free flour alternatives.
Conclusion: The Delicious Truth
So, what are chicken lips made of? Now we know that despite the funny name, chicken lips are actually delicious chicken breast strips that have been breaded, fried, and tossed in a flavorful sauce. They’re not made from any mysterious part of the chicken—just good old chicken breast prepared in a specific way.
The next time someone asks you about chicken lips, you can set them straight with your newfound knowledge. And if you happen to see chicken lips on a menu, you can order with confidence knowing exactly what to expect: a tasty chicken dish with a quirky name that’s sure to satisfy your appetite.
Have you tried chicken lips before? I’d love to hear about your experience with this uniquely named dish! Drop a comment below or share your own chicken lips recipe with our community.
Editor’s Note: This article was last updated on September 24, 2025, to reflect the most current information about chicken lips dishes served at restaurants across the country.
Servings – 4 wraps
- 1 lb of chicken cut into 4 strips or 4 chicken tenderloins
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup panko
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Buttermilk
- Olive Oil or Canola Spray
- Lettuce, cut into strips
- Tomatoes, diced
- Cheddar Jack, shredded
- 4 burrito size tortillas
- Blue Cheese Dressing – use your favorite or I’ve included a recipe below
- 1/2 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
- 1-2 habaneros (depending on how hot you like it, we ended up only using one because it had ripened to red and was blazing hot) Even 2 regular habaneros is potent. Be mindful.
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 + 1/8 cup yellow onion, minced
- 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp white vinegar
- 6 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup non fat greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup low fat mayo
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbled
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Cracked black pepper to taste
- I recommend making the hot sauces in advance and keeping in the refrigerator – it makes the process much faster, or be crazy like me and do all of it at the same time. For the buffalo sauce add all ingredients to a pot over medium heat, whisk until butter is melted and everything is blended together, about 5-8 minutes.
- For the habanero mango hot sauce – add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend together until smooth. Pour into a pan over medium heat and simmer 10 mins till reduced and thickened.
- To a container with a lid add the chicken and add enough buttermilk to completely cover. Place in refrigerator and marinate for at least 1 hour.
- When you’re ready to make your chicken, preheat your air fryer to 400F or oven to 425F. You’ll need 3 different containers for breading the chicken – one with flour, one with the egg whisked, and 1 with the panko and breadcrumbs. That’s also the same order for breading your chicken – Flour, Egg, Breadcrumbs
- Spray breaded chicken with either canola or olive oil spray. Add to air fryer or to oven on a baking sheet and cook for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
- Remove from air fryer or oven and toss in your choice of hot sauce, or if you don’t like spicy toss in BBQ sauce or nothing if you want.
- You have 2 options with the Blue Cheese Dressing, you can either spread it on the tortilla or you can use it as a dipping sauce – you’re call, or do both if you really like blue cheese!
- Place your Lip on the tortilla and top with diced tomato, lettuce, and cheese. Wrap it up!
- Enjoy!
