I tried 5 flavors of wings from Wingstop and ranked them from worst to best

• Wingstop reported 38.8% revenue growth and opened 273 new US locations in 2024.

• Wingstop's most popular flavors include Original Hot, barbecue, garlic Parmesan, and hot honey.

• We also tried the chain's newest limited-time-only flavor, Sweet Chili Glaze.

Nothing says tailgating like a classic chicken wing, and arguably no chain is more famous for its hot wings than Wingstop.

A report by the National Chicken Council estimates Americans will eat 1.47 billion chicken wings this Super Bowl weekend.

It comes as chains that specialize in chicken wings, such as Wingstop, are also experiencing significant growth.

In October 2024, the chain, which focuses its menu on bone-in chicken wings, boneless wings, and other chicken items, announced 38.8% year-over-year revenue growth.

Wingstop's senior director of culinary, Larry Bellah, told Business Insider that the chain's bone-in traditional wings are its most popular offering, and the chain's Original Hot, hickory-smoked barbecue, garlic Parmesan, and hot honey rub rank among its most popular flavors, in addition to lemon garlic.

I tried four of the chain's most popular flavors, plus the chain's newest limited-time-only sauce offering, Sweet Chili Glaze, a "sweet and spicy fusion" of sweet chili, rich hoisin, and red chili sauce.

Here's how five Wingstop flavors ranked from worst to best.

My least favorite wing flavor was the chain's barbecue wings.

Before we go any further, I do have to admit that I've never been a fan of barbecue sauce, from practically any chain. I find it too sticky and sweet, and it lacks the heat I typically look for in a chicken wing.

However, I tried to judge Wingstop's hickory-smoked barbecue wings as impartially as possible.

The wings were evenly coated in savory barbecue sauce.

The chicken wings were fried, but the thick, sticky sauce seemed to slightly overpower the crispiness of the wings.

The barbecue wings were sweet and juicy.

I was impressed by the amount of actual chicken meat inside the Wingstop wings I tried.

The hickory-smoked barbecue flavor was sweet and smoky, with a rich balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes. However, when it came to sauces, the barbecue simply landed at the bottom for me in terms of personal preference.

The garlic Parmesan wings came in second to last place.

The garlic Parmesan wings came coated in a generous smattering of cheese, which had partially melted when I opened the box.

The rich smell of cheese and garlic immediately hit my nose, making my mouth water.

These wings were juicy and flavorful.

Overall, I really liked the savory garlic and the richness of the Parmesan cheese.

However, I was still craving that hint of spice.

I'd definitely recommend these wings for people who prefer a mild or non-spicy wing. They pack a ton of buttery flavor into a small bite.

Next up was Wingstop's newest limited-time-only flavor, Sweet Chili Glaze.

Bellah told BI that the flavor was tested and developed in Southeast Asia and that the chain is aware that sweet and spicy flavors are especially popular among younger consumers.

"We could easily add a whole bunch of stuff, but if it's not going to be the best, we don't want to do it. So our goal is to always serve the best flavor, the best wings that we possibly can," Bellah said.

A sprinkling of sesame seeds amped up the flavor on these wings.

The sauce itself was sweet and somewhat similar to an Asian barbecue sauce, with a slight kick.

The wings paired excellently with the chain's signature ranch.

The slightly sweet flavor of the sticky sauce was complemented by the slight spice from the red chili sauce, making for a balanced flavor profile I'd definitely order again.

My second favorite flavor was the chain's Original Hot wings.

Wingstop doesn't offer Buffalo sauce on its menu, but it does have its Original Hot sauce, which is the chain's version of Buffalo.

The wings were generously coated in the vibrant red sauce yet remained incredibly crispy.

The sticky sauce coated my fingers as I enjoyed these wings, which were perfectly sized — not too big or too small — with just the right amount of tender chicken.

The meat was tender and the spicy hot sauce really impressed me.

This was the spiciest wing flavor I tried, but still isn't the spiciest sauce offered by Wingstop. The chain also offers an Atomic flavor that really brings the heat.

The sauce had a complex depth, balancing a bold vinegar tang with a buttery richness, finished with a slightly smoky spice that wasn't overwhelming.

The heat didn't overpower the flavor — instead, it enhanced it.

My favorite flavor out of the ones I tried was the chain's hot honey rub.

I've heard from multiple people that hot honey is their favorite Wingstop flavor, by far — and I had to agree.

The wings were super crispy and had an almost caramelized feel and taste to them.

While the wings do have "hot" in their name, diners who don't like spice shouldn't be alarmed. They had a very slight kick to them but definitely didn't have me reaching for a glass of milk.

The wings had a distinct buttery, sweet flavor to them with just the right amount of salty flavor and spice that seemed to linger on my tongue, without being overpowering.

These wings were incredibly crispy and had the best texture out of the wings I tried.

While I enjoy saucy wings, these crispy fried wings were crunchy on the outside while keeping the chicken inside tender and juicy.

The slight hint of spice, crispy texture, and buttery flavor of these wings struck the perfect balance.

Read the original article on Business Insider