Popeyes takes on KFC and Wendy’s with their own line of saucy Boneless Wings

A new front has opened in the fast food chicken wars: saucy boneless wings. After KFC introduced Saucy Nuggets in March, and Wendy’s dropped their own Saucy Nuggs earlier this month, Popeyes is getting in on the action with a line of Boneless Wings, which let’s be honest, are chicken nuggets by another name.

"Our new Boneless Wings are a game changer. Our culinary team brought the best flavors from our existing Wing platform to this new Boneless offering to give our guests the best of both worlds," said Jeff Klein, President of Popeyes North America via press release.

The new permanent menu item will come in six sauces, or flavors if you prefer: Roasted Garlic Parmesan, Signature Hot, Honey BBQ, Honey Lemon Pepper, Sweet ‘N Spicy, and of course, Classic. Just like your regular Popeyes boneless chicken, it’s white meat, covered in Popeyes breading, and then sauced – or not, if you’re getting Classic.

In order to promote the new line, Popeyes has teamed up with comedian and actor Jimmy O. Yang, who famously wrote an op-ed in Bon Appetit titled “Boneless Wings Are A Lie!” In the essay, Yang broke down that so-called Boneless Wings are not, in fact, deboned wings, but in fact, pieces of chicken that have been breaded and sauced. True story: he was right, and he said what he said.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Yang has betrayed the very fiber of his moral being after Popeyes presumably backed up the money truck. Said Yang, "Okay, you got me. I wasn't acting at all. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm officially a boneless believer. Popeyes has made a boneless wing so good that I'm eating my words. I used to be a hater —honestly, I've always been a hater —but after trying these, holy #$!@, they're incredible. If these wings can convert me, they can convert anyone."

Look, not to be anti-Yang here, but his point that boneless wings are incorrectly named was well-stated and, in fact, correct. I’m not saying they’re bad – they’re pieces of breaded chicken covered in sauce, what’s wrong with that? – but you can call them nuggets, fingers, whatever you want. Boneless Wings is a bad name for what the product actually is.

Doesn’t matter though, as I’m on the losing side of history here, and you, the Popeyes fan, are the winners. That’s because to celebrate the drop of the Boneless Wings, Popeyes is giving away a free 6 piece of any flavor when you make a $10 or more purchase through the app or website, now until July 14.

Boneless Wings are now available at Popeyes nationwide, and if you want you can whisper “They’re chicken nuggets” right after you order if it’ll make you feel better. I know I will.