Nutrition Diet: Uncovering Exactly How Many Carbs Are in 10 Buffalo Wild Wings?

October 27, 2025 •

4 min read

Traditional, unsauced chicken wings inherently contain zero carbohydrates. This critical fact sets the stage for understanding how many carbs are in 10 Buffalo Wild Wings, revealing that the true carb count depends entirely on whether you choose bone-in or boneless and the sauce or seasoning applied.

Quick Summary

The carb count for a 10-piece wing order varies drastically depending on the wing type and seasoning or sauce. Boneless wings are high in carbohydrates due to their breading, while traditional bone-in wings have a low baseline carb count that increases with sugary sauces.

Key Points

Traditional vs. Boneless: Traditional bone-in wings have 0g carbs before adding sauce, whereas boneless wings contain a significant carb load due to breading.
Sauce is Key: For traditional wings, the sauce is the main source of carbs, with sweet sauces like Asian Zing and Honey BBQ being very high in sugar and carbs.
Low-Carb Options: Dry seasonings and classic vinegar-based sauces (like Mild, Hot, and Wild) are the best low-carb flavoring options.
Naked Tenders: For the lowest-carb protein option, plain Naked Tenders contain 0g carbs per serving.
High Sodium Warning: Be mindful that most items, even lower-carb ones, can be very high in sodium, especially with sauce.
Portion Control: Regardless of your choices, practicing portion control is important due to the high calorie, fat, and sodium content of many menu items.

The Fundamental Difference: Traditional vs. Boneless Wings

When calculating the carbohydrate content of your meal, the first and most important distinction to make is between traditional and boneless wings. The presence or absence of breading is the main factor that influences the baseline carb count before any sauce is even considered. Traditional wings, which are bone-in, are simply fried chicken with no breading, making them naturally carb-free. A 10-count order of plain traditional wings has 0 grams of carbs. In contrast, boneless wings are essentially breaded chicken breast nuggets. The breading adds a significant amount of carbohydrates. A 6-piece order of plain boneless wings contains 20 grams of carbohydrates, which means a 10-piece order would contain approximately 33 grams of carbs before any sauce is added.

The Impact of Sauces and Seasonings

The sauce is the primary source of carbs for traditional wings and adds to the carbohydrate load of boneless wings. Many of the signature sauces at Buffalo Wild Wings contain a high amount of sugar, which drives up the total carb count. However, there are also low-carb options available, primarily the dry seasonings and classic, vinegar-based sauces. The contrast is stark; a dry rub can add as little as 1 gram of carbs, while a sweeter sauce can add over 20 grams for a single serving.

Low-Carb and High-Carb Sauce Examples

Low-Carb Options: These typically contain minimal to no added sugars.
- Dry Seasonings: Most dry rubs like Lemon Pepper or Desert Heat are very low in carbs, often adding only 1g per serving.
- Classic Buffalo Sauces: Mild, Medium, Hot, and Wild sauces are vinegar-based and tend to have low carb counts.
High-Carb Options: These are loaded with sugar, which adds significant carbs.
- Asian Zing: Contains 21g of carbs for a standard serving.
- Honey BBQ: Has 17g of carbs per serving.
- Mango Habanero: Provides 18g of carbs per serving.

Nutrition Breakdown: Traditional vs. Boneless Wings with Toppings

To illustrate the difference, here is a comparison of the approximate carbohydrate counts for 10 wings, based on typical servings and nutrition information. For this example, we will calculate the totals based on 10 boneless wings (approx. 33g base) and 10 traditional wings (0g base).


Wing Type & Topping	Approximate Carbs per 10 Wings	Notes
Traditional Wings (Plain)	0g	No sauce or seasoning applied.
Traditional Wings + Dry Rub	~1-2g	Most dry rubs, like Lemon Pepper, add minimal carbs.
Traditional Wings + Mild Sauce	~4-8g	Based on sauce nutrition, varies by serving size.
Traditional Wings + Honey BBQ Sauce	~20-25g	High-sugar sauce, adds significant carbs.
Boneless Wings (Plain)	~33g	Due to the breading, before any sauce.
Boneless Wings + Dry Rub	~34-35g	Breading carbs plus minimal dry rub carbs.
Boneless Wings + Medium Sauce	~37-40g	Breading carbs plus sauce carbs.
Boneless Wings + Asian Zing Sauce	~50+g	A very high-carb option due to breading and sugary sauce.

Making Informed Dietary Choices at Buffalo Wild Wings

If you are following a low-carb diet like keto, understanding these differences is crucial. Opting for traditional wings is the most straightforward way to manage your carbohydrate intake. Pairing them with a dry seasoning or a low-carb sauce, like the classic mild or hot buffalo, will keep the carb count in check. For those who prefer boneless wings, be mindful of the breading, which adds a significant and unavoidable carb load. An even more carb-conscious option is to order the naked chicken tenders, which have 0 grams of carbs and 37 grams of protein for a 3-piece order. You can season these with a dry rub or a low-carb sauce on the side for extra flavor.

Additional Considerations Beyond Carbs

While carbohydrates are a key focus for many diets, it is important to remember the other nutritional factors at play. All wing options, particularly boneless and sauced varieties, can be high in calories, fat, and sodium. The amount of sodium, especially, can be exceptionally high, far exceeding recommended daily values. Therefore, practicing portion control and being aware of the overall nutritional profile is essential for a balanced diet. If you are watching your salt intake, asking for unsauced wings is the best way to significantly reduce sodium. A balanced meal might involve a smaller portion of wings and a side of celery instead of fries.

Conclusion

Understanding how many carbs are in 10 Buffalo Wild Wings requires knowing the fundamental difference between traditional (bone-in) and boneless wings. Traditional wings have a zero-carb base, while boneless wings are carbohydrate-heavy due to their breading. The total carb count is then determined by the choice of sauce or seasoning, with sweet and sugary options adding significantly more carbs than savory, dry rubs, or classic buffalo sauces. For a low-carb diet, traditional wings with a dry rub or classic buffalo sauce are the best choice. For the absolute lowest-carb option, consider the naked chicken tenders. By making informed choices, you can enjoy your meal while staying aligned with your nutritional goals.

Visit Buffalo Wild Wings for the official nutrition information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, traditional bone-in wings are naturally low in carbohydrates, containing 0g of carbs before any sauce or seasoning is applied.

A 10-piece order of plain boneless wings contains approximately 33 grams of carbs, as they are breaded. The final carb count will increase depending on the sauce chosen.

The lowest-carb options are the dry seasonings (e.g., Lemon Pepper) and the classic, vinegar-based buffalo sauces (e.g., Mild, Medium, Hot, Wild).

You should avoid high-sugar sauces like Asian Zing, Honey BBQ, and Mango Habanero, as they can significantly increase the total carb count of your meal.

No, boneless wings are generally less healthy, often having more calories, fat, and significantly higher carbohydrate and sodium content due to the breading.

Yes, plain traditional wings (with no sauce or seasoning) and the Naked Tenders are both zero-carb options. Always check for any hidden carbs in toppings or dips.

Order traditional wings with a dry rub or a classic buffalo sauce. Consider pairing them with a side of celery and low-carb ranch or blue cheese dip instead of fries or other high-carb sides.