National Chicken Wing Day 2023: When, Why, and Where to Score the Best Deals

Mark Your Calendars for July 29th – It’s Time to Get Saucy!

Hey wing lovers! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got hot sauce stains on half your shirts and a special place in your heart for that perfect crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken wing. Well, I’ve got some finger-lickin’ good news for ya – National Chicken Wing Day 2023 falls on Saturday, July 29th, and it’s gonna be epic!

I’ve been counting down the days on my calendar (seriously, I circled it in red), and now it’s almost here. This special day celebrates America’s favorite appetizer, game day snack, and let’s be honest – sometimes our entire dinner. And the best part? Restaurants across the country are offering some pretty amazing deals to celebrate.

The Tasty History Behind National Chicken Wing Day

Before we dive into where to score free wings, let’s take a quick look at how this delicious holiday came to be.

National Chicken Wing Day wasn’t just made up by hungry marketing execs (though they certainly love it). It actually goes all the way back to 1977 when the mayor of Buffalo, New York, Stan Makowski, officially proclaimed July 29th as National Chicken Wing Day. Why Buffalo? Well, that’s where the legendary Buffalo wing was born!

Buffalo proudly claims to be the birthplace of the chicken wing as we know it today. The most popular origin story points to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, where in 1964, Teressa Bellissimo created the first batch of what we now call Buffalo wings. The story goes that she was trying to whip up a quick late-night snack for her son Dominic and his college friends, so she deep-fried some chicken wings (which were usually just used for soup stock back then), tossed them in butter and hot sauce, and BAM! A culinary legend was born.

But there’s some debate about who deserves the true credit John Young had opened Wings’n Things on Jefferson Avenue in 1963, though his wings were breaded and used a tomato-based sauce The Anchor Bar’s recipe turned out to be irresistible, and other restaurants in town quickly caught on. Duff’s, in Amherst, started selling them in 1969.

When Mayor Makowski made his proclamation, he noted that “thousands of pounds of chicken wings are consumed by Buffalonians in restaurants and taverns throughout the city each week.” Little did he know that the wing craze would spread nationwide!

America’s Wing Obsession By The Numbers

We Americans LOVE our chicken wings The stats are pretty mind-blowing

• Americans consumed 4.4 billion chicken wings in the 12 months ending May 2023
• We’re eating about 2% more chicken wings each year
• During Super Bowl weekend alone, Americans gobble up 1.23 billion wings
• That’s over 100-million pounds of wings in just one weekend!
• If you laid out all those Super Bowl wings end to end, they’d circle the Earth TWICE

The National Chicken Council explains that wings became popular partly because consumers began preferring boneless-skinless chicken breast meat in the ’80s. Wings became an afterthought, so chicken producers began selling them to restaurants and bars. Since wings are usually salty and spicy, they helped boost beer sales – a win-win for restaurants!

As Bon Appetit test kitchen director Chris Morocco perfectly put it “The wing is where you get all of the nuance of texture and fattiness and richness and flavor of an entire chicken but distilled down to its own microcosmic universe”

Where to Score Free & Discounted Wings on National Chicken Wing Day 2023

Now for the good stuff! Here are some of the best National Chicken Wing Day deals for 2023:

Buffalo Wild Wings

Get six free boneless or traditional wings with any $10 dine-in purchase. Choose from their 26 sauces, including limited-edition flavors like General Tso’s and Sweet Chile Lime, or try their new Blazin’ Knockout sauce made with nine of the hottest peppers.

Popeyes

Score a free side with your pick-up order of Popeyes’ Ghost Pepper wings (a 6-piece order is $5). If you want delivery, you can still get that free side when ordering through Popeyes.com or their app.

Wingstop

Use code FREEWINGS at checkout on Wingstop.com or their app to get a free 5-piece order of wings. They’ve recently teamed up with rapper Latto on a new flavor (Latto’s Lemon Herb Remix) if you’re feeling adventurous.

Hooters

Hooters will give dine-in customers 10 free wings for every 10 purchased (any style) at participating locations.

7-Eleven

Members of the 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs can get an 8-piece order of Korean BBQ boneless wings for just $3. Loyalty members can also get five traditional bone-in wings with Korean BBQ flavor for $5.

Zaxby’s

Zax Rewardz members can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal on 10-piece traditional wings (starts at $12.99) on Friday and Saturday.

Wing It On!

Dine-in or order online to get a free 6-piece order of wings with any purchase of $5 or more.

Fatburger

Co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express will give you a free three-piece order of wings with the purchase of any Fatburger Meal when ordering through order.fatburger.com (use code WINGMAN23).

Buffalo’s Cafe

Buffalo’s Cafe has a sweet $1 wing offer for dine-in customers, and you can choose from any of their 13 sauces.

Hurricane Grill & Wings

Enjoy a special of 10 boneless or bone-in wings with two award-winning sauces for $12.99 (available in-store and online).

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings

Members of their Coal Fired Rewards loyalty program who order chicken wings through July 30 get a free five-piece order of wings. New members also get a free five-piece wing and 12-inch pizza on their next visit.

Pluckers Wing Bar

When you buy 10 wings and dine-in at Pluckers on Saturday, you get a free bottle of wing sauce, plus there’s $2 Bud Light pints.

Golden Corral

The buffet restaurant is offering all-you-can-eat wings and fried chicken through September 10, featuring two new flavors: Garlic Parmesan and Sweet Bourbon BBQ.

Wingzone

Wingzone has two specials: Get 16 boneless wings for $10 or 16 original wings for $12.

Hosting Your Own Wing Party? Here’s What You Need to Know

Not in the mood to battle the crowds at restaurants? I don’t blame ya! Here’s how to throw your own wing bash at home:

1. Stock up on wings: Perdue Farms is offering a Wing Day Bundle through August 1. The bundle includes six pounds of wing sections, drumettes and mid joints for $34.99 (regularly $49.98) on PerdueFarms.com.

2. Master the cooking technique: For extra-crispy wings, try a double cooking method – first bake them low and slow to render the fat, then crank up the heat or finish them on the grill for that perfect crispiness.

3. Offer variety: Not everyone likes their wings super spicy! Provide at least 3 different sauce options – a classic Buffalo, something sweet like honey BBQ, and maybe a wild card like garlic parmesan or lemon pepper.

4. Don’t forget the dips: Blue cheese and ranch are classics for a reason. And celery and carrot sticks help cool the palate between wings.

5. Stock the beverages: Cold beer is the traditional pairing, but lemonade, sweet tea, or soda work great too!

Types of Wings to Try Before You Die

The world of wings has expanded WAY beyond the original Buffalo style. Here are some must-try varieties:

• Classic Buffalo – The OG, butter and hot sauce perfection
• Korean-style – Sweet, sticky, and often garnished with sesame seeds
• Lemon Pepper – Tangy, zesty, and no sauce required
• Garlic Parmesan – Cheesy, savory goodness
• Mango Habanero – Sweet heat that’ll make you sweat
• Cajun Dry Rub – Spicy and perfect for those who don’t like saucy fingers
• Honey BBQ – Sweet, smoky, and crowd-pleasing
• Caribbean Jerk – Complex spices with island flair

The Great Debate: Bone-In vs. Boneless

I’m gonna say something controversial here: boneless wings aren’t actually wings. gasp They’re basically chicken nuggets tossed in wing sauce! But that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious.

The bone-in vs. boneless debate rages on, and people have STRONG opinions. One Nebraska man even went viral for his rant against the name “boneless wings,” suggesting alternatives like “wet tenders” or “saucy nugs.” (I kinda like “saucy nugs,” not gonna lie.)

Here’s my take: bone-in wings have more flavor because of the bone marrow and skin, but boneless wings are easier to eat. So why choose? Get both!

Why We Can’t Get Enough of Chicken Wings

Wings have become more than just a food – they’re a cultural phenomenon. They’re the perfect party food, the ultimate game-day snack, and they pair perfectly with cold beer and good company.

Part of their appeal is their versatility. Whether you like them hot and spicy, sticky sweet, or plain Jane, chicken wings can adapt to any flavor profile. And with hundreds of different sauces and rubs available, you could theoretically eat wings every day for a year without repeating a flavor.

The other part? They’re just darn fun to eat. There’s something primal about eating with your hands, licking your fingers, and getting sauce all over your face. Wings give us permission to be a little messy and enjoy our food with all five senses.

Wing It Forward: Make National Chicken Wing Day Count

While you’re enjoying your discounted or free wings this National Chicken Wing Day, consider “winging it forward” by donating to a local food bank or charity. Many people in our communities struggle with food insecurity, and your donation could help provide nutritious meals to those in need.

You could also use the occasion to support local restaurants that might be struggling in today’s economy. Instead of just going for the big chains, consider trying wings from a local mom-and-pop shop.

So mark your calendars for July 29th, 2023, grab some napkins (lots of them), and prepare to celebrate National Chicken Wing Day in style! Whether you prefer them bone-in or boneless, mild or face-meltingly hot, this is your day to indulge in America’s favorite finger food.

See you at the wing bar – I’ll be the one with sauce on my chin and a smile on my face!

#NationalChickenWingDay