Chicken

Poultry

Chicken

Chicken is the world's most widely consumed poultry, valued for its mild flavour, lean breast meat, and suitability across roasting, frying, grilling, poaching, and braising. Breed, age, and rearing method strongly influence texture, skin quality, and the richness of dark meat. From Hainanese chicken rice and coq au vin to Nashville hot chicken and tandoori, chicken underpins cuisines on every continent. Understanding parts, breeds, and provenance helps match whole birds, bone-in portions, or fillets to the intended cooking method.

Track this ingredient

Unit

Cuts & parts

Breeds & varieties

A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles. Showing 10 of 134.

View all

View all 134 breeds & varieties

Characteristics

Preparations

BoiledBone InBonelessChilledDicedFreshFrozenGrilledGroundHalvedMincedPoachedQuarteredRoastedSaltedSkin OnSkinlessSlicedSmokedSpatchcockedWhole

Provenance

Antibiotic FreeBiodynamicCorn FedFarm AssuredFree RangeGrain FedHalalHeritageHormone FreeKosherLabel RougeOrganicPasture RaisedRegenerativeRSPCA AssuredSingle OriginSlow Grown

Sources

Indoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild

Traits

ButteryCrispFirmGoldenLeanMildMoistPaleTenderUmami

Nutrition and pairings

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 185

Amount per 100 g

  • Total Fat 9.77 g
  • Saturated Fat 3.17 g
  • Trans Fat 0.1 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat 4.12 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 1.95 g
  • Cholesterol 87 mg
  • Sodium 70 mg
  • Salt 0.15 g
  • Total Carbohydrate 1.07 g
  • Dietary Fibre 0 g
  • Total Sugars 0.48 g
  • Complex / starch 0 g
  • Protein 22.2 g
  • Water 61.7 g
Detailed nutrients

Poultry muscle is relatively lean; skin and dark meat raise fat and energy.

In the kitchen

Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Chicken.

Pairs well with

Classic and complementary matches

Usually avoid with

Often clash in flavour or tradition

Grading systems

Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.

Canada

Canada Grade

European Union

EU Poultry

France

Label Rouge

United Kingdom

Red Tractor / RSPCA

United States

USDA

History

Chickens were domesticated from red junglefowl in Southeast Asia and spread westward along trade routes into Europe and Africa.

European exploration and colonial trade networks accelerated poultry breeding and the global diffusion of chicken cookery.

US

Broiler genetics and vertical integration transformed chicken into an inexpensive, year-round industrial protein.

Free-range, organic, and heritage breed chickens gained mainstream retail presence alongside conventional broilers.

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