Buffalo Wild Wings Nutrition

If you are planning to dine out at Buffalo Wild Wings® and are not concerned about calories – then go for it! An occasional splurge is ‘allowed’ on any weight loss or maintenance program. However, it’s never a bad idea to scan the menu (and nutrition facts) in advance, always available on the Internet, to make the healthiest choice available. Luckily, Buffalo Wild Wings® offers, in addition to ribs and chicken wings, a variety of grilled meats, sandwiches, wraps and sides. Most meals (unless otherwise noted) provide over 2,000 mg sodium.

Tenders, Wings, Ribs, Burgers and Wraps

The Naked (chicken) Tenders® and wings are relatively low in calories, but the nutrition information is per piece/wing and they do not offer much meat. However, if you can control your portion and choose healthy sides, you can minimize the caloric damage. Each Naked Tender® offers 43 calories, 2 g fat and 570 mg sodium. Each traditional wing provides 72 calories, 5 g fat and 66 mg sodium while a boneless wing offers 88 calories, 6 g fat, 2 g saturated fat and 178 mg sodium.

The ribs and combo meals offer 820 to 2,380 calories per entrée. The best of the bunch is the popcorn shrimp & fish combo for 820 calories, 36 g fat and 6 g saturated fat. The burgers come without French fries but each choice offers more than 750 calories and 50 g total fat!

Skip the burgers and choose a wrap or buffalito® instead, without chips. The Southwest Chicken Queso Wrap® provides 490 calories, 7 g fat and 4 g saturated fat. The Chicken Caesar® and Naked Tender® wraps are both acceptable choices providing, on average, 575 calories, 14 g fat, 7.5 g saturated fat and 1,850 mg sodium each. Another healthier option is the Grilled Chicken Buffalito® for 380 calories, 9 g fat, 6 g saturated fat and around 1,200 mg sodium.

Snacks, Sandwiches, Sides and Sauces

The Buffalo Wild Wings® snacks double as starters. The only ‘best bite’ in this category is the 6 piece order of Naked Tenders® for 260 calories, 12 g fat and 1 g saturated fat. The sodium is outrageous however, at nearly 3,500 mg. There are a couple of calorie-controlled sandwich options on the menu (providing 1,000 mg or less sodium), such as the Jerk Chicken Sandwich® for 530 calories and 10 g fat; the grilled chicken sandwich for 470 calories and 7 g fat; and the Gardenburger® for 250 calories and 5 g fat. Skip the ‘sides’ since they are large orders and loaded with calories. You can order a ‘substitution’ instead to go with any entrée or sandwich. Each choice provides 170 to 280 calories and 5 to 15 g fat except for the onion rings, which is ultra high in calories and fat (skip it).

The sauces and dressings come in 1-oz. servings and are meant to accompany a salad or wing order. Buffalo Wild Wings® recommends using 1-oz. sauce for 5 traditional wings or 6 boneless wings. Most sauces are relatively low in calories (90 or less) except for the blue cheese, ranch dressing, Parmesan garlic and Southwestern ranch. All of the sauces are high in sodium, so use them sparingly!