I’ve eaten enough chicken breasts over the years that I honestly feel Tyson should send me a Christmas card every year.
Chicken breasts are a staple for most lean meat eaters. They are for me as well. But I want to introduce you to the dark thigh meat. Why? Because the flavor, in my opinion, is between 50% and 100% better than breast meat. Here’s a side by side on the major nutrients in each for the skinless uncooked 4oz portions:
Thigh is on the left, Breast is on the right
Calories 134 | 124
Total Fat 4.4g | 1.4
Sat. Fat 1.1g | .4
Cholesterol 94mg | 66mg
Sodium 97mg | 73mg
Total Carbs. 0g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 22.2g | 21.1
Calcium 11.3mg |12.4
Potassium 261mg |288.2
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For the slight increase in dietary fat the flavor increase is MORE than worth it. And I don’t buy much into tiny increases in dietary saturated fat and cholesterol mattering AT ALL in our overall health. Research has pretty much disproven the stuff that came out in the 80s saying dietary saturated fat and cholesterol will ruin your blood lipids and health.
My favorite way to make them is to marinade them in full-fat italian dressing combined with La Costena brand of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce. We use a food processor to liquify the chipotle peppers. What I do is pour in the italian dressing AND a small can of the adobo sauce and food process them together so they are thoroughly mixed with no chunks. That becomes the marinade. Marinade your thighs (or breasts) for at least two hours. Then grill them. That’s how I do it.
Leanness Lifestyle University
This is really interesting as I’ve always felt guilty having dark meat. What about ground turkey? Is it still 99% breast or do you see value in having the 97% that tastes so much better?
We are a family of dark meat eaters-Chicken thighs do so well on the grill! It is hard to mess them up and they are so much more moist-Yummy! And as Dave says: No need to feel guilty!
I am gonna have to try that marinade for my Cross Fit getting more fussy in his tastes spouse!
Good question from Melissa.
I thought dark poultry was always verbotten and eat nothing but chkn breast. Your poultry prices in the US are waaaaaaaaaaay lower than ours. Fresh breast on sale is $4.99/lb,, while frozen and seasoned (Injected with water and corn syrup) can be had for $2.99/lb. If I can cut my meat bill in half, all the better.