Atlanta wings are a style of chicken wings that originated in Atlanta, Georgia. They are characterized by being fried and then coated in a sweet and tangy sauce. Atlanta wings have become popular across the United States, though they remain closely associated with the city of Atlanta.
Origin and History
The exact origins of Atlanta wings are disputed, but most accounts suggest they were first created in the 1970s or 1980s. Several restaurants and bars in Atlanta claim to have invented the dish. One of the earliest definitive accounts of Atlanta wings comes from the Dwarf House restaurant, which claims to have created them in 1982. The Dwarf House suggests they came up with the idea of frying chicken wings and tossing them in a sweet barbecue sauce as an appetizer item.
Rise in Popularity
Over the next few decades, additional Atlanta restaurants put their own spin on chicken wings, tweaking the sauce recipes and preparation methods. The dish gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming a staple appetizer and bar food in the city. Atlanta wings also started to gain national attention, as the city became associated with excellent chicken wing recipes.
Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves also helped boost the popularity of Atlanta wings. Thousands of fans consumed wings at home games, associating the dish with Atlanta sports culture. The city embraced wings as part of its identity.
Preparation and Cooking
Authentic Atlanta wings are fried and then coated in a sweet, tangy sauce that balances different flavors.
Frying
The wings are seasoned and deep fried, resulting in a crispy exterior:
– Wings are seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and other spices. The seasoning helps boost flavor.
– Wings are submerged and fried in oil heated to 350-375°F. The high heat crisps up the skin.
– The frying takes around 5-8 minutes. Wings are drained afterwards.
Sauce
The fried wings are tossed or coated in a sweet and tangy sauce:
– The sauce balances sweet and tangy flavors. Common ingredients include brown sugar, honey, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and butter.
– Recipes can tweak amounts of each ingredient to create different flavor profiles. Some versions have more heat while others are sweeter.
– Tossing or coating wings allows sauce to stick while keeping a crisp exterior.
Common Sauce Flavors
There are many popular Atlanta wing sauce flavors, usually featuring a blend of sweet and heat:
Traditional Buffalo
The traditional Buffalo sauce features a vinegar-based hot sauce for tangy heat:
– Made with hot sauce, butter, and distilled white vinegar
– Tabasco sauce or other Louisiana-style hot sauces are commonly used
– Medium heat, usually 2-4 peppers on a typical heat scale
Honey BBQ
Honey barbecue has a sweeter, stickier texture:
– Made with barbecue sauce, honey, and butter
– Does not contain significant heat
– Thicker, glazier texture
Honey Sriracha
Honey sriracha blends sweet and hot:
– Made with sriracha hot sauce, honey, butter
– Hotter than traditional Buffalo, 4-6 peppers on a heat scale
– Features lingering heat balanced by sweetness
Teriyaki
For an Asian twist, teriyaki wings feature the salty-sweet Japanese sauce:
– Made with soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic
– Does not contain significant heat
– Thinner, wetter sauce
Accompaniments
Atlanta wings are often served with accompaniments like:
Celery Sticks
Crunchy, cool celery helps offset heat and grease
Carrot Sticks
Similarly, carrots add crispness and moisture
Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing
Cool, creamy dips complement the wings
Fries
Crispy fries are a popular side item to wings
| Sauce | Sweetness | Spiciness | Texture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Buffalo | 2 | 4 | Thin, vinegar tang |
| Honey BBQ | 5 | 1 | Thick, sticky |
| Honey Sriracha | 4 | 5 | Mildly thick |
| Teriyaki | 5 | 1 | Thin, wet |
Atlanta Wing Restaurants
Some popular restaurants to try Atlanta wings in the city include:
The Varsity
The iconic Atlanta drive-in diner first opened in 1928. Their wings feature a tangy sweet barbecue sauce.
American Deli
With 8 locations across Atlanta, American Deli serves jumbo wings with flavors like sriracha honey barbecue.
Hudson Grille
This local sports bar chain serves wings with 12 sauce options and all-you-can-eat specials.
Fox Bros Bar-B-Q
Fox Bros is known for barbecue, but their fried wings come in creative flavors like peach bourbon barbecue.
Twin Smokers BBQ
Another barbecue joint, Twin Smokers has sauces ranging from naked to XXX hot.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts for 6 traditional fried Atlanta wings:
Calories
Around 600 calories
Fat
Around 45g, much coming from frying
Protein
Around 40g
Carbohydrates
Around 20g
So wings are high in fat and calories but also provide protein. Milder or grilled wings are healthier.
Global Variations
While invented in Atlanta, wings are popular around the world:
Korea
Korean fried chicken wings like soy garlic or spicy yangnyeom are popular.
UK
Jumbo chicken wings in American-style sauces frequent British pubs.
Australia
Aussie pubs serve Atlanta-style wings with local twists like eucalyptus bbq.
India
Indian chicken 65 wings feature yogurt, ginger, garlic, and chili marinade.
So Atlanta wings have influenced wing styles globally while also being adapted to local tastes.
Conclusion
In summary, Atlanta wings originated as a fried, sauced appetizer in the 1980s. They became popular nationwide as a result of Atlanta’s food scene and embrace by sports fans. Traditional Atlanta wing sauce blends sweet and tangy flavors, often with some heat. Frying and sauce coating result in a crispy, sticky wing. Restaurants serve a variety of sauce options, from spicy to mild. While high in calories and fat when fried, wings also deliver protein. The Atlanta style has inspired chicken wing recipes around the world. Wings have become iconic to the city of Atlanta.