There are many foods I love in this world: chocolate, noodles, nachos, and chicken wings. Chicken wings are a constant craving of mine. And I know I’m not alone here. Many Americans love a good chicken wing, or 10. It’s a staple food choice for many sports viewing parties like the Super Bowl. In fact, the National Chicken Council’s annual Chicken Wing Report projected Americans will consume a record-breaking 1.48 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl LX this weekend. According to the NCC, that’s enough wings to circle the entire planet nearly 3 times. Or the same as eating one wing every 30 seconds since the fall of the Roman Empire.
There are multiple places to get your chicken wing fix, but my favorite spot is Wingstop. If you’re on TikTok, you get it. In the first two seconds of watching a Wingstop mukbang, I’m already contemplating ordering from the fast-food chain for a six-piece-wing combo and an extra side of ranch.
As someone who really loves chicken wings, ranking Wingstop wing flavors is a no-brainer. Below is my ranking, where I️ tried each wing flavor on both bone-in and boneless wings. I️ opted for no ranch (crazy, I️ know) while trying them since I️ wanted to go off the flavor of each wing alone.
13. Atomic
Atomic is Wingstop’s hottest flavor, scoring five full flames on the heat scale, and trust me, this was not a joke. All I tasted was spicy. As I’m typing this, I’m getting spicy flashbacks, and not in a good way. I didn’t even know something could smell that spicy until I came in contact with this wing. And honestly? I think the pure level of mouth burning overpowers the depth of the flavor profile. Proceed with caution.
12. Plain
Though ranked second-to-last, this chicken wing showcases the true Wingstop spices, with a herby flavor and crispy texture. In this case, I️ actually prefer a boneless wing over the bone-in option; it’s kind of like a glorified chicken nugget.
However, I️ still prefer a sauce and a dry rub over this classic.
11. Mild
Mild is just Buffalo sauce’s younger sister, not as spicy, and frankly, not as memorable. With only two flames on the spice scale, there’s definitely not an overpowering amount of heat, but a slow sting still builds on the tongue. It’s actually Wingstop’s Original Hot sauce brought down a bit. It’s a good wing, but the mildness here doesn’t do it for me.
10. Spicy Korean Q
Spicy Korean Q (barbecue) is another flavor I had for the first time this year. Not sure if it’s my taste buds, but I don’t find this flavor to pack the heat of three fire flames like Wingstop claims. It gives more of a sweet and sour vibe, rather than the spicy blend of ginger, garlic, sriracha, and crushed red pepper that I was promised. Don’t get me wrong, this flavor is still awesome, just not spicy enough,
9. Original Hot
When you open these sauce-coated wings, the red coloring warns you that you should have a glass of milk at the ready. Except spoiler: it’s not spicy enough, either!
This sauce is definitely more akin to a Texas Pete or Frank’s hot sauce rather than the buffalo sauce bite I was expecting. This is a great wing, but the color is deceiving. I️ don’t think it’s spicy at all, and that’s something that should definitely be present in a wing strongly advertised as hot.
8. Cajun
Moving one step up on the heat scale, we’re brought to Cajun, which is also ridiculously red in color. The chicken wings are tossed in Wingstop’s Original Hot sauce, then dusted with bold and zesty Cajun seasoning. Upon first bite, it felt like a lot was going on flavor-wise. With all the overstimulation, the only taste I could really decipher was spice. But as I kept going, I️ was able to break down all the flavors of the Cajun chicken wing. The smoked paprika, the garlic powder, the cayenne pepper; it was all there. This is such a great and fiery wing, but you have to pace yourself since the spice level only builds with each bite.
7. Louisiana Rub
This flavor is a spiced dry rub as opposed to a sauce, which allows the crispiness of the chicken wing to shine, and is why I prefer this flavor with bone-in wings rather than boneless. Foodbeast says this flavor is a combination of Cajun, Original Hot, and Lemon Pepper. And while it’s basically a lot going on in your mouth at once, the flavor is a bit more pronounced than the regular Cajun and keeps you coming back for more.
6. Hawaiian
I had this for the first time this year, and I was pleasantly surprised! Coming in with a zero on the hot scale, this is such a refreshing flavor, which may be a weird way to describe a chicken wing flavor, but it is! There’s a strong citrus flavor — I would guess pineapple — and I couldn’t get enough. There’s also a saltiness to the wing that I’m guessing is soy sauce, based on the “rich Asian flavors” Wingstop boasts in the flavor description.
5. Lemon Pepper
A trusty choice if you’re not super into spicy chicken wings. This is one of the milder wings with an intense lemon flavor throughout that pairs nicely with the cracked black pepper that coats the wing. Like the Louisiana Rub, the sauceless dry rub of this flavor is preferable for neat eaters who don’t want to be surrounded by wet wipes.
4. Hickory Smoked BBQ
BBQ chicken wings are a must. It’s a flavor that many feel comfortable grabbing, making it a reliable crowd favorite. It’s no wonder Hickory Smoked BBQ is one of Wingstop’s most popular flavors. The smoky flavor reminds me more of a sticky teriyaki sauce rather than a barbecue, but the bold flavor has a hint of spiciness that the crowd will love.
3. Garlic Parmesan
Who doesn’t love a garlic parm wing? This is one of my go-to flavors. However, I will say I prefer this flavor as a boneless wing rather than a bone-in. Tbh, if this list were based on only bone-in eating experiences, I’m not confident this flavor would have made the top three. There’s just something about popping it in your mouth that feels more satisfying, plus you can soak up all the bonus parm on the bottom of the box.
Regardless of the type of wing, though, this has a strong garlic flavor with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, almost coating the chicken entirely. Garlic parm is a flavor that you know is always going to be good, but make sure you have some post-meal mints in the vicinity.
2. Hot Honey Rub
Disclaimer: Before I tried this hot honey flavor, Garlic Parmesan was actually my number two chicken wing flavor. But when this limited-time (now turned full-time) flavor came back during Valentine’s Day week, how could I pass it up? This dry rub has a mild spiciness that grows after each wing. While it claims to have the same heat level as the Original Hot flavor, I think this rub is the perfect time to incorporate some of the iconic ranch. Since its release, Hot Honey Rub has been my go-to flavor and I don’t see that stopping any time soon.
1. Mango Habanero
Is it any surprise that my top flavor is one of the spiciest on the menu? First it’s sweet, then it’s hot. This is one of Wingstop’s “wet” flavors, and trust, the wings are drenched in the orange-colored sauce. Mango Habanero is my favorite wing flavors — it’s the perfect balance of sticky, sweet, and spicy. The blend of the tropical flavors with the warmth of the heat transports you to a relaxed state of mind. And isn’t that the testament of a good chicken wing?
This article was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on February 4, 2026.