How Many Chicken Wings Are in a Pound?

a platter of fried chicken wings, how many chicken wings in a pound

Chicken wings are one of the staple party foods that everyone enjoys. You can create different delicious dishes with it, like the famous Buffalo wings and Hawaiian chicken wings. Now, as a party host, knowing how many chicken wings in a pound is crucial to ensure you have enough food for your guests.

If you’re planning to serve a chicken wings platter for your next get-together, you’ve come to the right place! Read on for our handy chicken wings guide below.

How Many Chicken Wings in a Pound?

Chicken Wing Parts	Pound (lb)	# of Pieces	Ounce (oz)*
Whole Wing (Raw)	1 lb	4 – 5	3.5 oz
Whole Wing (Cooked)	1 lb	6 – 8	2 to 2.5 oz
Wingettes/Flats	1 lb	10 – 12	1.5 oz
Drumettes	1 lb	6 – 8	2 oz
Boneless Wing	1 lb	10 – 16	1 to 1.6 oz

*Average Weight Per Piece

Knowing units of measurement like ounces and pounds can significantly help answer this question. For starters, how much is a pound? Well, there are 16 ounces in 1 pound. And an average-sized, raw, whole chicken wing weighs around 3.5 ounces.

So, to answer this crucial question, there are about 4 to 5 chicken wings per pound.

However, do note that several factors may change this. You need to consider if the chicken wing is raw or cooked. Different cuts of chicken wings may also affect the difference in weight. With that, we suggest that you read on and check out our quick guide to help you!

parts of a chicken wing

Whole Chicken Wing

Raw chicken wings are widely available in any supermarket’s meat and poultry section, and you’re likely to find whole wings at the forefront, fresh or frozen. Now, a whole chicken wing is a wing cut with an intact drumette, wingette or flat, and wing tip. Some poultry meat shops market whole chicken wings as “jumbo wings” because of their size. However, these two are just the same.

A raw and uncooked chicken wing varies in weight. Like any other meat, a chicken wing loses about 25 percent of its weight once it’s cooked. The average weight of a cooked chicken wing is 2 to 2.5 ounces.

So, if you are wondering how many cooked chicken wings are in a pound, the answer is approximately 6 to 8 pieces — almost double the number when you compare it to raw chicken wings.

How many frozen chicken wings are in a pound?

Frozen chicken wings are also available in bags of various sizes. A pound usually has around 8 to 10 pieces. Now, a frozen chicken wing may look bigger and weigh heavier than your usual uncooked chicken wing, but don’t be fooled. Some vendors inject water and salt solution into the meat, making it look plumper.

Wingette or Flat

A wingette usually refers to the flat boney cut of a chicken wing — that’s why it’s also called “flat wing”. Sometimes, other cooks include the wing tips when frying wingettes. Even if you prefer to remove these (since wing tips don’t contain much meat), you could save them to use for making chicken broth.

The average weight of a wingette is 1.5 ounces. With that, a one-pound bag usually contains around 10 to 12 pieces. It is less meaty compared to a drumette. However, suppose you like making buffalo wings, honey-glazed chicken, or other saucy chicken wings recipes. In that case, we highly recommend that you use flat wings. Their flat shape helps them hold more sauce, making them more delicious and flavorful.

Drumette

The meatiest cut among these chicken wing parts is the drums, commonly known as drumette. It got its name because it looks like a smaller version of the chicken leg or “drumstick.” Its average weight is almost double the size of a flat wing. With that, there are about 6 to 8 pieces of this wing part in every pound. But if you can’t choose between drums vs flats, worry not. Bags of drums and flats combo are widely available in supermarkets.

Boneless Chicken Wings

Now, if you like chicken wings but find removing bone in wings a hassle, then boneless chicken wings are what you need. An average-sized, raw boneless chicken wing only weighs around 1 ounce, so there are approximately 10 to 16 pieces in a one-pounder bag.

Also, we recommend boneless chicken wings for those who prefer white meat over dark meat, as it is versatile and effortless to cook. You can fry, bake, and even ground it to make nuggets or chicken patties!

Chicken Wing Recipes You Can Try

Korean Fried Chicken Recipe

If you love being a party host and serving chicken wings is your specialty, you’ll know that mastering how to properly bread your chicken is essential. Perfectly fried chicken has been our go-to dish when it comes to cooking this meat. But there are a whole lot of ways to serve and enjoy it. Check out our delicious recipes below.

Korean Fried Chicken – Spicy, sweet, and salty, Korean fried chicken is now becoming a craze in different parts of the world. And if you want to join this trend, might as well do it right. With that, we recommend munching these glazed chicken wings with a glass of cold iced beer.
Chicken Wings with Potatoes – This baked chicken wings recipe is easy to make. That is why it is perfect for those looking for a filling and delicious meal one can make on a whim. Place your seasoned wings and potatoes in a casserole and just pop them in your oven.
Instant Pot Chicken Wing Ramen – If you want to attempt making instant pot chicken recipes, you can start with this chicken wing and ramen combo. It’s warm, delicious, and filling — perfect for rainy days!
Buffalo Wings With Ranch Dipping Sauce – Want some spice to make your chicken wings nice? Try this buffalo wings recipe! We recommend that you pair it with some creamy, tangy, and herby ranch dip.

Want to know how many chicken wings you can expect to get in a pound? Join the discussion in the Ingredients Spotlight forum and share your experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much chicken should you serve per person?

Knowing how many wings you should serve per person is also essential to ensure that you have enough for every guest. Now, if you are serving chicken wings as a starter, allot around 2 to 3 wings for each guest.

In contrast, if it’s an entrée with chicken side dishes, each person should have about 5 to 6 wings (approximately 1 to 1.5 pounds). But if it is a solo entrée, prepare 6 to 8 chicken wings per person (1.5 to 2 pounds).

How many wings come in a 5-pound bag?

Meat vendors usually sell chicken wings in bags of different sizes. A 5-pound bag usually has 20 to 25 pieces of averaged-sized, raw chicken wings.

How many wings are in a 10-pound bag?

There are around 40 to 50 chicken wings in a 10-pound bag. However, do note that that is the case if we are talking about averaged-size, raw, whole chicken wings.

What’s the difference between buffalo wings vs chicken wings?

A chicken wing refers to a whole part — from the meaty drumettes to the wing tips. However, buffalo wings only pertain to the drummette or wingette cut. These are usually fried to perfection and glazed with a delicious sauce. This recipe originated in Buffalo, New York, where it got its name.

And suppose you are wondering how many buffalo chicken wings are in a pound. In that case, the answer is the same with measurements of wingettes (10 to 12 pieces) and drumettes (6 to 8 pieces).

Conclusion

Whether you are a caterer, a professional cook, or a budding party host, knowing how many chicken wings are in a pound is helpful cooking knowledge. Ultimately, it will assure you that each of your guests or customers is well fed and happy. With that, enjoy planning and happy cooking!