Calories in Chicken, By Cut and Cooking Method (2026)

Chicken breast (100 g cooked) has about 165 calories, while wings with skin can reach up to 290 calories. Tenderloin is the lowest at 120 calories.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the calorie content in various chicken cuts and cooking methods. Data is sourced from USDA FoodData Central and manufacturer labels, ensuring accuracy.

How Many Calories Are in Chicken by Cut?

Different chicken cuts have varying calorie counts. Chicken breast is a lean source, while cuts with skin or breading are higher in calories.

Cut (100 g cooked)	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)
Breast skinless	165	31	3
Tenderloin	120	26	2
Thigh skinless	170	24	7
Drumstick	175	28	8
Wing	215	30	12
Thigh with skin	250	24	20
Breast with skin	220	30	10

The skinless breast is the leanest option, while wings and skin-on cuts are significantly higher in calories.

How Many Calories Are in Chicken Breast by Cooking Method?

Cooking methods can significantly affect the calorie content of chicken breast. Grilled and baked options remain lean, while breaded varieties are calorie-dense.

Cooking Method	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)
Grilled	165	31	3
Baked	165	31	3
Rotisserie with skin	250	30	14
Breaded and fried	320	24	18
Nuggets	290	14	18

Grilled and baked chicken breast are the healthiest options, while breaded and fried varieties are the highest in calories.

Which Chicken Cut Has the Fewest Calories?

The chicken cut with the fewest calories is the tenderloin.

1. Tenderloin (100 g cooked): 120 kcal
2. Breast skinless (100 g cooked): 165 kcal
3. Thigh skinless (100 g cooked): 170 kcal
4. Drumstick (100 g cooked): 175 kcal
5. Wing (100 g cooked): 215 kcal

Which Chicken Cut Has the Most Calories?

The chicken cut with the most calories is the breaded and fried breast.

1. Breaded and fried (100 g cooked): 320 kcal
2. Nuggets (100 g cooked): 290 kcal
3. Thigh with skin (100 g cooked): 250 kcal
4. Rotisserie with skin (100 g cooked): 250 kcal
5. Wing (100 g cooked): 215 kcal

How to Track Chicken Calories Accurately

Estimating chicken calories can be tricky due to varying portion sizes, density, and hidden ingredients like skin or breading. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies chicken and cooked poultry from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million verified foods. It also supports barcode scanning for packaged items and voice logging for quick entries. Nutrola is available from €2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

For related references, see calories in every fish and seafood, calories in every pasta and noodle, and calories in every rice and grain.

How We Calculated These Numbers

Data was compiled using USDA FoodData Central and manufacturer label information. All values are based on 100 g cooked servings and rounded to the nearest whole number.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the calorie count for grilled chicken breast?

Grilled chicken breast contains approximately 165 calories per 100 g cooked.

How many calories are in a chicken thigh with skin?

A chicken thigh with skin has about 250 calories per 100 g cooked.

Are chicken nuggets high in calories?

Yes, chicken nuggets have around 290 calories per 100 g cooked.

Is skinless chicken healthier?

Skinless chicken is generally lower in calories and fat compared to skin-on cuts.

What cooking method retains the most nutrients in chicken?

Grilling or baking chicken typically retains more nutrients than frying.

How does breading affect chicken calorie content?

Breading significantly increases the calorie content, often adding over 100 calories per serving.

Key Takeaways

• Chicken breast is a low-calorie option with about 165 calories per 100 g cooked.
• Tenderloin is the lowest calorie cut at 120 calories per 100 g cooked.
• Wings and skin-on cuts are higher in calories, reaching up to 290 calories.
• Cooking methods like grilling and baking keep calorie counts lower.
• Breaded and fried chicken is the highest in calories, averaging 320 calories.
• Protein content remains similar across different chicken cuts.