Chicken is one of those meats that is very versatile. It can be made in a variety of ways, two of which include boneless wings and chicken nuggets.
The latter is especially popular among kids, and it doesn’t matter the kid in question.
While both are obviously made from chicken, there are differences. This article will look at the similarities and differences between these two ways of preparing chicken.
Once this is done, we’ll be able to figure out if boneless wings are really just chicken nuggets in fancy packaging.
Contents
Chicken Nuggets vs. Boneless Wings
We know that Chicken Nuggets and Boneless Wings both come from the meat of a chicken. However, chicken nuggets and boneless wings just don’t pop out that way. They are made!
The Chicken Nugget
So, first up is the famous chicken nugget popular among children and adults alike! Chicken nuggets are made from the breast of the chicken.
Mostly, that is. You’ll also find other parts of the chicken mixed in as well, such as.
- Bones
- Tendons
- Fat
- Connective Tissue
- Nervous Tissue
You might ask yourself: how the heck am I eating bone? Well, it’s ground up together and then shaped into a chicken nugget for you to consume.
Besides the chicken parts, you’ll also find preservatives and fillers added to the mix.
We’ll spare you the way chicken nuggets are prepped. Just use your imagination and know that in order to get the chicken nugget to look the way it does, beige paste and tempura batter are needed.
The Boneless Wing
Let’s just be straight up with you from the start. Boneless chicken wings are not made from the wing of a chicken. They are actually made from the breast of a chicken.
Besides the chicken breast, their boneless wings require a bunch of other ingredients to make them look and taste the way it does. This includes:
- Milk
- Egg
- Flour
- Salt, Pepper, or other spices. Depends on what you want to add!
Cook this together, and then you get boneless wings! Almost makes you want to go out, buy the ingredients, and whip some up yourself.
What Are the Similarities Between Chicken Nuggets and Boneless Wings?
The biggest similarity between Chicken Nuggets and Boneless Wings is that they’re both made from chicken breast.
This is a bigger deal with boneless wings since you automatically assume, based on the name, that they are made from the wing of a chicken.
Another thing they have in common is that they are both made up of ground chicken breast. Now in chicken nuggets, we know that besides the breast of a chicken, we also see other parts ground into the chicken meat.
This can happen with boneless chicken wings but is more likely to happen with nuggets.
Based on these similarities, it seems like boneless wings are just a fancier form of nuggets.
But, don’t let your mind go down that road yet, because while there are similarities, there are also stark differences as well between these two.
What Are the Differences Between Chicken Nuggets and Boneless Wings?
So, both types of chicken are made from ground chicken breasts. The biggest differences we see are the extra bits that are ground up with chicken nuggets.
It can happen with boneless wings but remember, we said it’s less likely to happen.
Think of boneless wing like a chicken tender in the sense that you’re just using the chicken breasts and breading.
On the surface, they still are more similar than different. There just aren’t enough similarities to call it identical.
The biggest difference is how these types of chicken are advertised and served. Chicken nuggets are commonly thought of as a child’s meal and are often targeted toward that specific age group.
It will be commonly served with ketchup with fries on the side.
Boneless chicken wings are targeted toward adults rather than children. I mean, ever gone to a bar or tavern? Chances are they are going to have boneless wings on their menu.
For serving them, you are likely to see a lot more variety, unlike chicken nuggets.
For example, they can be served with dipping sauce (ranch blue cheese, ketchup, mustard, hot wing sauce) or celery and carrots on the side. Not only that but boneless wings can even be tossed in the sauce, making dipping sauce pointless.
What Are Some Non-meat-Based Alternatives to Chicken Nuggets?
If you are vegetarian or vegan, then getting some chicken nuggets or boneless wings just isn’t workable because of your diet. Fear not, though!
There are plenty of alternatives you can choose from.
One of the more popular non-meat alternatives is tofu. Tofu, or bean curd as it is also called, is often used in vegetarian food.
It is created from soy milk and then formed into the cube shapes you tend to see.
Another non-meat alternative is Seitan, which isn’t as well-known as tofu. For the vegetarian and vegan community, it’s very well known.
It’s made of wheat gluten and is a great option for those who don’t eat meat.
The two can even be combined, which apparently gives a richer taste to the food. Is the non-meat option going to taste different when compared to an actual chicken nugget or boneless wing? Yes, of course.
The thing is, sometimes the difference between the two is so subtle that you’ll barely notice any differences between the two.
Final Thoughts
And now we have reached the end of our article, which can only mean one thing!
The answer to the question that has been plaguing chicken eaters from the dawn of time. Are boneless chicken wings chicken nuggets?
No, but hear me out. It’s not a firm no. There are similarities in the way they are made like they are both created from chicken breasts.
However, there are just a few too many differences for them to truly considered chicken nuggets.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.