What this guide covers: Seed oil usage at Buffalo Wild Wings, based on their allergen documentation. Important: the fryer oil and the sauce oil are two separate considerations. Read both sections.
Buffalo Wild Wings has an underreported story: standard US sit-down locations switched their fryers to beef shortening (100% beef tallow) in 2017. That makes the wings themselves, coming out of the fryer, free of soybean and canola oil. The catch: most of their wet sauces contain soybean oil. Order naked or dry rub, and you're eating tallow-fried wings. Toss them in standard sauce, and you're adding seed oil back.
The fryer: beef tallow at standard US locations
At traditional sit-down Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the US, all frying is done in beef shortening, rendered 100% beef tallow. This applies to:
- Traditional bone-in wings
- Boneless wings
- Crispy chicken tenders
- French fries and other fried sides
This is confirmed in BWW's allergen documentation. They switched from a seed-oil-based fryer to beef shortening in 2017, a change that was largely unannounced but is verifiable through their allergen guide.
Clean from the fryer (standard US sit-down locations)
✓ = fried in beef tallow at standard US BWW locations. Sauce choice is a separate decision.
- ✓Traditional bone-in wings Fried in beef shortening. Order naked or with dry rub for full seed-oil-free.
- ✓Boneless wings Fried in beef shortening. Thicker batter coating, verify no seed oil in the batter if strict.
- ✓Crispy chicken tenders Fried in beef shortening.
- ✓French fries Fried in beef shortening.
The sauces: most contain soybean oil
This is the critical nuance. Buffalo Wild Wings is famous for their 20+ sauces and seasonings. Most wet sauces, including Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Asian Zing, Mango Habanero, and others, contain soybean oil as a primary ingredient.
When you order wings "tossed" in sauce, the clean tallow-fried wings get coated in a sauce that likely contains soybean oil. From a seed-oil perspective, this adds back what the tallow fryer removed.
Important caveats
- ⚠Most wet sauces contain soybean oil Buffalo, BBQ, and most signature sauces list soybean oil. Order naked or dry rub to avoid.
- ⚠BWW Go locations use soybean oil The takeout-only BWW Go format fries in soybean oil, not beef shortening. Different supply chain.
- ⚠Canadian locations use soybean oil This beef shortening policy applies to standard US locations only. Canada uses different oil.
- ⚠Boneless wing batter The batter coating on boneless wings may contain seed oils independent of the frying oil.
How to order cleanly at BWW
Cleanest order: Traditional bone-in wings, naked or with a dry rub seasoning, from a standard US sit-down location. The wings come out of a tallow fryer and go to your plate without a soybean oil sauce.
Dry seasonings to check: Lemon Pepper, Salt & Vinegar, Cajun, and other dry rubs are generally cleaner than wet sauces. Verify individual seasonings on their current allergen guide since formulations can change.
Before you go: Confirm the location is a standard sit-down BWW (not a BWW Go or Express). Use their website's allergen guide to check the specific sauce or seasoning you want before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Does Buffalo Wild Wings use seed oils?
Standard US Buffalo Wild Wings locations fry in beef shortening (tallow), not soybean or canola oil. However, BWW Go locations (takeout-only format) use soybean oil, and Canadian locations also use soybean oil. The sauce you choose is a separate consideration, most BWW wet sauces contain soybean oil.
What oil does Buffalo Wild Wings fry in?
Standard US BWW locations have used beef shortening (100% beef tallow) since 2017. This applies to wings, tenders, and all fried items at traditional sit-down locations. The beef shortening fryer is confirmed in their allergen documentation.
Are Buffalo Wild Wings actually seed oil free?
The wings coming out of the fryer at standard US locations are fried in beef tallow, that part is clean. The issue is the sauce. Most BWW wet sauces (Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Asian Zing, etc.) contain soybean oil. If you order naked wings or a dry rub and avoid the wet sauces, you're eating tallow-fried wings. If you toss them in a standard sauce, you're adding soybean oil back.
Which Buffalo Wild Wings sauces are seed oil free?
This requires checking their current allergen guide. Their dry seasonings (like the Salt & Vinegar, Lemon Pepper, or Cajun dry rubs) are generally cleaner than wet sauces. Most wet sauces list soybean oil as an ingredient. Check BWW's allergen documentation for the current oil listing for each specific sauce.
Does BWW Go use the same oil as regular Buffalo Wild Wings?
No. BWW Go locations, the takeout-only format, use soybean oil for frying. This is a different supply chain than standard sit-down BWW locations. If you're ordering from a BWW Go, assume soybean oil unless confirmed otherwise.
What is the cleanest order at Buffalo Wild Wings?
Naked wings (or wings with a dry rub) from a standard US sit-down location. The fryer is beef tallow, and the dry seasoning avoids the soybean oil in the wet sauces. Traditional wings are cleaner than boneless wings, which have a thicker battered coating. Skip the loaded fries and sides with creamy sauces.
Sources
- Buffalo Wild Wings, Nutrition & Allergen Information · Official source for fryer oil and ingredient documentation (old URL cited here was dead, corrected 2026-07-08; the linked Allergen & Preparation Guide PDF directly states "Beef tallow is used to fry products")
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