How Many Calories in 8 oz of Chicken? A Detailed Look

Chicken is one of the most popular sources of protein around the world Its versatility, taste, and relative affordability make it a staple ingredient in many cuisines But when watching your calorie intake, it’s important to know exactly how many calories are in a serving of chicken. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the calorie count in 8 ounces of chicken breast, thighs, wings, and other parts.

Counting Calories in Chicken

Calories are a measure of the energy content in food Consuming more calories than your body burns leads to weight gain over time So for anyone looking to manage their weight, calories matter. The main factors that determine the calories in chicken are

• Cut of chicken – Breast meat has the lowest calories while wings and thighs with skin are higher.

• Cooking method – Frying chicken adds a significant amount of calories from oil while baking, grilling, or roasting adds minimal calories.

• Skin on or off – The skin contributes a good amount of fat and calories. Removing skin reduces the calories substantially.

• Portion size – Larger portions mean more calories even for the same cut of chicken.

Now let’s look at the calorie counts for popular chicken cuts and servings.

Calories in 8 oz Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

Chicken breast is one of the most popular cuts thanks to its lean protein content. According to the USDA, 8 ounces of boneless, skinless, cooked chicken breast contains:

• 246 calories

• 51.7g protein

• 2.8g fat

• No carbs

Chicken breast is very low in fat when the skin is removed. And with over 50g of protein in an 8 oz portion, it makes a highly nutritious choice.

Calories in Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs have a higher natural fat content compared to breasts. An 8 oz serving of boneless, skinless thighs contains:

• 321 calories

• 43.4g protein

• 16.4g fat

• 0 carbs

So thighs contain about 75 more calories than boneless, skinless breasts. The thighs are richer in fat, which accounts for the extra calories.

Calories in Chicken Legs

The leg includes both the thigh and drumstick. An 8 oz serving of roasted, boneless, skinless chicken legs has:

• 221 calories

• 38.3g protein

• 8.8g fat

• 0 carbs

Legs are leaner than thighs alone since the drumstick contains less fat. But they are still higher in calories than plain breasts.

Calories in Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are often coated in crispy skin and batter, then deep fried. According to USDA data, 8 ounces of fried chicken wings with skin contain:

• 533 calories

• 35.8g protein

• 40.4g fat

• 2.3g carbs

The high fat content from the skin makes chicken wings much higher in calories than other cuts. Remove the skin to reduce the calories in wings substantially.

Calories in Rotisserie Chicken

Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store makes a quick and tasty meal. A typical 8 ounce serving of rotisserie chicken breast with skin has around:

• 296 calories

• 43.5g protein

• 12.4g fat

The skin adds quite a few calories compared to plain grilled or baked chicken breast. But rotisserie chicken still provides an excellent source of lean protein.

Best Low Calorie Chicken Options

To keep calories to a minimum, your best bets are boneless, skinless chicken breasts and legs/thighs prepared baked, grilled, or roasted. Avoid fried chicken or chicken with the skin to limit calories and fat. And watch your portion sizes, as even healthy cuts of chicken add up in calories if eaten in large amounts.