Saving Money

3 Steps To Saving Money Making Your Own Buffalo Wings

Football season is here. For many, including myself, this time of year also means weekly gatherings of friends and family to eat delicious finger food while rooting on their favorite team. One of the most popular foods at football gatherings is chicken wings. They’re delicious, and an infinite number of sauces exist to add flavor. These wonderful morsels of heaven can be purchased pre-made from a deli, a restaurant, a freezer section, or online but if you want to save some money you can make them yourself in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Cut The Wings

Purchase a package of chicken wings from the grocery store. As you open the package you’ll noticed they look nothing the chicken wings you get from a restaurant. Using a sharp knife, cut each wing at the two joints and throw away the pointy tip. The two remaining pieces will look like the “wing” and “drumstick” that you know and love from restaurant wings.

Step 2: Cook The Wings

The wings can be cooked several different ways, including:

• On the grill
• Baked/broiled in the oven
• Deep Fried

My preference is on my charcoal grill because I can throw a few wood chips on the coals to add a litle bit of smoky flavor.

Step 3: Sauce The Wings

• Once the wings are cooked, place them in a plastic container that has a cover.
• Pour your favorite sauce over the top of the wings, put the cover on, and shake gently until the wings are coated.
• Place the wings on a plate, and serve!

One reason to make your own wings is convenience, as having to get takeout from a specialty wing place isn’t easy on football days. Another is to save some money. Here’s a price comparison between making my own wings, and getting an order from a nationally known wing restaurant:

Homemade Wings:

• Package of 12 chicken wings (cut into 24 mini wings): $8.19
• 1 bottle of Frank’s Hot Buffalo Sauce: $1.09
• 1 bottle store brand BBQ sauce: $0.99

Total cost: $10.27 or $0.43 per wing.

Restaurant Wings:

20 wings for $19.79, or $1.01 per wing

Delicious buffalo wings can be made at home for less than half the cost!

Next time your hosting or attending a football gathering with friends, be the hit of the party, and your finances by making your own buffalo wings!

Brought to you courtesy of Brock

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Brock Kernin

Brock is a software engineer by day and personal finance blogger at night. He is a fitness junkie and enjoys grilling and smoking meat. Married with two children,  Brock strives to improve his skills as a husband and father, and is always on the lookout to stretch his family’s budget as far as he can.