How Many Calories Are in a Single Piece of Fried Chicken?

Fried chicken is a popular comfort food that is loved by many for its crunchy coating and juicy, tender meat. But it is also high in calories and fat, so it’s important to pay attention to portion sizes when indulging. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the calorie counts for different pieces and cuts of fried chicken to help you make informed choices.

Calorie Counts for Common Fried Chicken Pieces

The number of calories in fried chicken can vary significantly depending on the cut and size of the piece, whether it is breaded or not, and how it is cooked. Here are some common calorie counts for single pieces of fried chicken from various fast food and restaurant chains:

• KFC Original Recipe Fried Chicken

  • Breast – 260 calories
  • Wing – 140 calories
  • Drumstick – 190 calories
  • Thigh – 230 calories

• Chick-fil-A Fried Chicken

  • Breaded Breast Filet – 340 calories
  • Breaded Chicken Nuggets (4 piece) – 190 calories

• Popeyes Fried Chicken

  • Bonafide Breast – 250 calories
  • Boneless Wing (medium) – 150 calories
  • Leg – 340 calories
  • Thigh – 290 calories

• Church’s Fried Chicken

  • Breast – 250 calories
  • Wing – 130 calories
  • Drumstick – 160 calories
  • Thigh – 190 calories

As you can see, calorie counts can vary by 100 calories or more depending on the restaurant and specific cut of chicken. Breasts tend to be the highest in calories while wings are generally the lowest.

Calorie Differences Between Chicken with and without Skin

One important factor that affects the calorie count is whether the fried chicken still has its skin intact or not. Chicken skin adds significant amounts of fat and calories:

• A boneless, skinless fried chicken breast has around 200 calories
• A boneless fried chicken breast with skin has around 260 calories

So the skin alone adds about 60 extra calories. The same is true for other cuts of chicken as well. Removing the skin can be an easy way to lighten up fried chicken.

Calorie Differences Between Coated and Uncoated Fried Chicken

Breading and batter also impacts the calorie count:

• An uncoated, bone-in fried chicken thigh contains about 190 calories
• A breaded, bone-in fried chicken thigh contains about 290 calories

The additional coating adds about 100 extra calories. Opting for unbreaded or lighter coated fried chicken is an easy way to save calories.

What Impacts the Calorie Count of Fried Chicken

There are a few main factors that influence the calorie content in fried chicken:

• Cut of chicken – Breasts have the most calories, followed by thighs, legs, wings, and drumsticks.

• Skin – The skin adds significant fat and calories. Removing it can reduce the calories by 50-70.

• Breading/batter – Heavier breading or battercoatings add extra calories from carbohydrates and fat. Lighter breadings have less of an impact.

• Cooking method – Fry chicken soaks up more oil, increasing the fat and calorie content. Oven-frying uses less oil than deep frying.

• Portion size – Larger pieces have more calories. Stick to single pieces rather than multi-piece combos.

Tips for Lightening Up Fried Chicken

If you want to enjoy fried chicken but still watch your calorie intake, here are some tips:

• Remove the skin before eating to eliminate about 60 calories per piece

• Opt for lighter breading or unbreaded options to cut out excess calories from frying

• Choose leaner cuts like breasts and wings over thighs and drumsticks

• Get single pieces rather than multi-piece meals so you can better control portions

• Oven-fry rather than deep fry chicken to significantly reduce the amount of absorbed oil

• Enjoy fried chicken occasionally as a treat alongside vegetables and lighter sides

How Many Calories Are in a Full Fried Chicken Meal?

When enjoyed as part of a full meal with sides and a drink, the calorie count of fried chicken can climb even higher. Here are some typical full fried chicken meal calorie counts from popular chains:

• KFC 2-piece Meal (drumstick & thigh) with mashed potatoes, biscuit, and soda – 790 calories

• Chick-fil-A 3-piece Strips Meal with waffle fries and lemonade – 930 calories

• Popeyes Bonafide Chicken Meal (breast & wing) with red beans & rice and biscuit – 960 calories

• Church’s 3-piece Mixed Meal with honey butter biscuit, fries, and soda – 1230 calories

As you can see, full fried chicken meals can easily deliver 800-1200 calories, or even more, in a single sitting. Being mindful of sides, skipping high-calorie biscuits and soda, and watching portion sizes are key for keeping fried chicken meal calories in check.

The Bottom Line

When focusing on just the fried chicken itself, calories can range from 140 for a wing up to 340 for a large breast, depending on the cut, skin, breading, cooking method, and portion size. Removing the skin and opting for lighter breading or uncoated chicken can reduce the calories. Overall, enjoying fried chicken in moderation as part of a balanced diet is the healthiest approach to incorporate this tasty yet high-calorie comfort food. Being mindful of portion sizes and accompaniments is key to keep calories in check when indulging in fried chicken.