The line between the pizza and chicken wings segments became blurred even further on Wednesday with the announcement that MOD Pizza is testing new oven-baked wings.
The Seattle-based chain said the new menu item is available in 28 restaurants in Dallas and Salt Lake City. It’s the first market-wide tests for the menu offering, which was first tested only in Seattle.
Guests can choose from five flavors for the baked wings:
- BBQ Hot Honey, described as sweet and smoky and drizzled with sweet-chili-infused honey;
- Buffalo, a classic hot and tangy version;
- Sri-Rancha, a mix of sriracha and ranch, which is also drizzled with ranch sauce after baking
- Parmesan Garlic Rosemary;
- Original, which is ready for dipping in a signature sauce.
Offered with the wings is a choice of seven dipping sauces, including ranch, hot Buffalo, barbecue, balsamic fig glaze, red sauce, pesto and Sri-Rancha.
Prices range from $8.97 to $9.47 for a six-pack, and $16.47 to $16.97 for a 12-piece, depending on location.
“Quality, customization and variety are key reasons our customers are drawn to MOD, and our new wings give them even more to love,” said Mark Shambura, MOD’s chief marketing officer, in a statement.
He also hinted there’s more menu innovation to come.
“Wings have been in our culinary pipeline for a while, and we were committed to working through our testing process to bring our customers the high-quality, craveable and customizable product they’ve come to expect,” he said. “We’ll continue to lean into menu innovation in 2023, and have a number of exciting products to test and debut throughout the year.”
Wings have become a part of the pizza-eating experience—particularly around this season of “game-day menus.” Chicken commodity costs are also dropping.
Big chains like Domino’s have long offered wings, though last year the menu item was made an online exclusive because of rising costs.
Earlier this month, Taco Bell brought back chicken wings paired with its revived Mexican Pizza as part of an Ultimate Gameday Box. Last year, Buffalo Wild Wings introduced its first pizza, which was topped with boneless wings.
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