Chicken wings may be the least meaty cut of chicken, but their appeal continues to grow, despite the small amount of meat per wing. The small portion per wing hasn't slowed the popularity of this cut of chicken for sports fans across America, especially on one of the biggest sports days of the year this week (you know which BIG GAME we're talking about!). Here are some fun facts and all you need to know about your game day chicken wings!

History Of Wings

It's pretty crazy to think that the chicken wing phenomenon came about due to the popularity of the boneless skinless breasts in the early 80s. Before then, families mostly cooked whole chickens. In the 80s, more people asked for easier cooking options and became more health conscious. The boneless skinless breast was introduced, sales exploded, and is still the most popular chicken product in the U.S. The chicken wing became an inexpensive by product of the coveted breast portions and were an economical protein source for bars and restaurants. It wasn't until the 1990s that the concept of wings hit the big leagues with several national restaurant chains adding wings to their menus. The number of wings consumed each year has skyrocketed since then thanks to the number of wing-centric restaurants popping up all across the country. In fact, an estimated 1.47 BILLION wings will be consumed in America this Sunday for the Big Game! That's about a 20 million wing increase from the previous 2 years.

The Legend Of The Buffalo Wing

According to the National Chicken Council, the humble beginnings of the hot wing started in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Co-owner, Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. They loved them so much that this tasty treat was added to the Anchor Bar menu the next day served with a side of celery slices and blue cheese sauce. The rest, they say, is history! The "Buffalo Wings" became an instant hit and have remained hot ever since then.

Perfect Pairing For The Big Games

There's no hard and fast reasoning for the popularity of eating chicken wings while watching American football. It most likely had more to do with timing than anything. As wings increased in demand, sports became more readily available thanks to the rise in popularity of sports bars, the launch of satellite TV and advances in technology that made sports viewing easier. Football is one of the most popular sports to watch in groups, so it makes sense to eat or serve foods that are easy to share with a crowd. A big plate of wings can be shared among many people. They are easy to eat, don't require any cutlery and sometimes only dirties the plate they are served on!

Did You Know?

More Americans prefer the traditional wing to the boneless wing.

Top 3 Sauces For Wings: BBQ Sauce, Ranch, & Classic Buffalo Sauce

The #1 side eaten with wings are French fries with celery at a VERY distant second place!

Anatomy Of The Chicken Wing

Just in case you don't know the proper terminology of the chicken wing, we'll break it down for you.

Each chicken has 2 whole wings which can then be broken down into 3 parts.

• Drumettes - this portion of the wing is connected to the breast of the chicken. It has one bone in the middle with most of the meat at the top end of the bone where it connects to the breast. Looks like a mini drumstick, hence the name.
• Flat (also known as wingette or mid-section ) - this portion of the wing is the middle cut and has 2 thin bones with tender dark meat mostly centered between the bones and wrapped completely in skin.
• Tips - the tips are almost all bone, skin and cartilage with very little meat. When you buy pre-cut wings, the tips aren't included. If you buy whole wings and break them down yourself, the tips are great for making stock or bone broth, and some people even enjoy frying them up as a crispy treat.

Wing Inspiration

Go for the easy option and use one of the Springer Mountain Farms Fully Cooked Wings. Choose from the Savory Wings or the Buffalo Style Wings. Just heat and eat, or get creative and add additional flavors.

Want to start with the fresh wings but need some recipe ideas? Check out these 10 winning wing recipes! (click image)