Ah, habibi, you’re curious about the age-old debate: chicken breast vs chicken thigh—which one’s better for you? It’s a question as old as time, and one we often get asked, so we wanted to share our knowledge with you. We don’t discriminate over here—we’re fans of both chicken thighs and chicken breasts, and they both feature heavily on our menu.
They have different flavour profiles and different health benefits, too. Keep on reading so the next time someone asks you which side of the chicken thigh vs breast table you’re on, you’ll have an answer!
Nutritional Breakdown of Chicken Breast and Thigh
Trying to decide between chicken breast vs chicken thigh? We get it. If you’re all about hitting your macros or just want the tastier cut for your next meal, it pays to know the difference. Both are great for protein, but when it comes to fat, flavour and calories? The chicken thigh vs breast debate gets juicy. Literally.
Calories and Macronutrients
Let’s break it down. Chicken breast is leaner, higher in protein and lower in fat. Ideal if you’re counting calories like it’s a full-time job. But if you want richness and flavour that actually slaps, chicken thigh meat vs breast might have you switching sides.
Wondering about the calories in chicken thigh vs breast? Or what the actual difference looks like when it’s all grilled up and ready to go? Here’s how the numbers stack up.
| Chicken Breast | Chicken Thigh | |
| Calories per 100g | ~120 | `~150 |
| Protein per 100g | ~31g | ~24g |
| Total fat per 100g | ~3g | ~8g |
| Sodium | ~74mg | ~174mg |
| Cholesterol | ~85mg | ~128mg |
Vitamins and Minerals
In addition to being packed full of flavour, chicken thighs are typically more nutrient-dense, featuring B-vitamins, iron, and zinc. If you’re looking for a delicious piece of chicken that helps you meet your vitamins and minerals goals, you can’t go wrong with a juicy cut of chicken thigh. Chicken breasts are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, though. Featuring B-vitamins like B6 and B12, a lean cut of chicken breast will also help you introduce B-vitamins into your diet!
Which Cut Supports Your Health Goals Best?
Working on your fitness? We see you, and we support you. Depending on your health goals, you might prefer chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Here’s how both cuts of chicken can support your lifestyle goals.
Weight Loss and Lean Eating
If you’re on a calorie-controlled diet, then we recommend sticking with lean cuts of chicken breasts.. Our high-protein menu features lean options, like our legendary charcoal chicken with a side salad. That way, you can eat healthy and build muscle. Everyone wins.
Balanced Diets and High-Flavour Meals
If you’re not counting calories, but you still want to eat healthy, then chicken thighs might be the best option. Prepared right (like we do here at El Jannah), chicken thighs are packed full of flavour, without mucking up your macros. To balance out your diet, you can pair our chicken thighs with a side salad or grilled veggies for true balance.
Fitness and Muscle Building
With both chicken breasts and chicken thighs packing in over 20g of protein per 100g, you can’t go wrong with either cut when you’re looking to grow muscle. However, if you are trying to bulk up, then a chicken thigh’s slightly higher caloric count can help you meet your goals when it’s bulking season. Looking good, habibi.
Chicken Breast vs Thigh: Taste and Texture Comparison
Wondering what each cut of chicken will taste like as part of your meal? Chicken breasts and chicken thighs have a different mouthfeel and flavour profile when cooked, while there’s a different level of juiciness, depending on which cut you choose. Choosing one over the other will affect how your recipe comes out, so it all depends on what you’re looking for when you’re creating a culinary masterpiece.
Moisture and Tenderness
When you’re chasing juiciness and tenderness, a chicken thigh is more forgiving and juicy. A chicken breast is lean, but can be dry if it’s overcooked. Typically, people bake or grill their chicken breasts to keep them lean, while frying a chicken thigh helps to lock in its juiciness. We add a secret blend of herbs and spices when hand-breading our chicken thighs to pack a one-two punch of crispiness and juiciness.
Flavour and Cooking Method Suitability
Deciding on whether to cook up some chicken breasts vs chicken thighs will depend on what you’re chasing flavour-wise. Chicken thighs are rich and bold, ideal for slow cooking or frying to really lock in the flavours of your seasonings. Chicken breasts, meanwhile, are quick, easy, and clean, perfect for whipping up a marinade or throwing through a quick meal for your busy lifestyle.
Chicken breasts and chicken thighs are features of our charcoal chicken and crispy chicken boxes, and they’re what make our meals so great. Our charcoal chicken boxes are legendary, so we don’t need to make too much noise about our flame-grilled, traditionally marinated chicken breast (OK, that’s a lie, we’re super proud of them). However, we love to tell people about our crispy chicken boxes—they’re loud, full of flavourful chicken thighs, and in your face. Either way, you’re getting something memorable.
When Should You Cook with Chicken Breast or Thigh?
Stuck at the shops, trying to decide between chicken breasts vs chicken thighs for lunch or dinner tonight? We’ve been there, and we’ve picked up a tip or two. Here’s when you should go with one cut over the other.
Best Dishes for Chicken Breast
If you’re whipping up a stir-fry or craving a grilled wrap, sandwich, or salad, a lean chicken breast can take your creation to the next level. Make sure you’re using lots of seasoning (we see you out there with just the salt and pepper)—a lean chicken breast gives your spice mix or marinade a chance to be the star of the show.
Best Dishes for Chicken Thigh
Welcome to flavourtown, friend. A juicy chicken thigh is perfect for when you’re frying up a storm, mastering the art of BBQ, slow-cooking something for tonight, or packing a wrap so full of flavour, you’ll forget it’s good for you.
What Does El Jannah Use?
Alright, we’ve laid down what you should do when you’re cooking, but it’s time for us to put our chicken where our mouth is. Every piece of quality chicken we serve up is 100% Halal, and 100% delicious, and here’s where you’ll find both chicken breasts and chicken thighs on our menus.
Our Crispy Chicken Cut
We use chicken thighs for our crispy chicken meals, because they’re juicy and full of flavour. We lovingly hand-bread every piece before frying it to perfection, locking in the juiciness while adding a serious crunch factor. Once you’ve had that first bite, your mouth and tastebuds won’t know how to thank you. We also use our chicken thighs on our crispy chicken burger, because we’ve never believed in doing things by halves. Go hard, or go home, preferably after dining out on one of our crispy chicken boxes.
Our Charcoal Chicken Cut
If you know anything about us, then you’ve heard about our charcoal chicken. And if you don’t know about our charcoal chicken, then we’re about to become best friends. We grill our charcoal chicken low and slow over fiery charcoal, using a traditional Lebanese marinade we’ve been perfecting for decades. The result is so tasty and tender, you won’t believe it’s good for you. We also use chicken breasts in our wraps, grilled chicken burger and our salads—there’s just something about a perfectly marinated chicken breast that makes a fresh salad or roll slap.
Final Verdict: Chicken Breast or Thigh?
If you ask us, picking a side in the chicken breast vs chicken thigh debate doesn’t make sense. It’s not about what’s better, it’s about what’s better for your needs. If you’re watching your calories? A lean chicken breast is the way to go. If you’re looking for flavour and juiciness? A chicken thigh is the answer. You really can’t go wrong with either, though, as long as you’re cooking them right.
Pros and Cons Summary Table
| Chicken Breast | Chicken Thigh | |
| Calories | Lower in calories | Higher in calories |
| Protein | Packed full of protein | Packed full of protein |
| Taste | Lean and clean, can be dry if not cooked properly | Juicy and flavourful |
| Cooking methods | Grilled, baked | Fried, slow cooked |
| Nutrients | B-vitamins | B-vitamins, iron, zinc |
Our Recommendation
Whether you’re a seasoned chicken lover or you’re looking to expand your palette, both chicken breasts and chicken thighs are an excellent choice for your next meal. If you’re after some legendary chicken breast, then our charcoal chicken boxes are so delicious, you’ll come back for seconds. If you’re after some juicy chicken thighs, then our crispy chicken boxes are packed full of lovingly hand-breaded chicken thighs that pack flavour into every bite!
FAQ's
Is chicken breast lower in calories than thigh?
A raw chicken breast is around 120 calories per 100g, while a raw chicken thigh is around 150 calories per 100g. If you’re on a calorie-conscious diet, chicken breast is typically chosen as your meat of choice, though both cuts are lean when served without skin.
Which has more protein, breast or thigh?
A chicken thigh has 24g of protein per 100g, while a chicken breast has 31g of protein per 100g. Our chicken breasts feature heavily in our high-protein menu options, if you’re a gym-goer trying to meet your macronutrient goals!
Is chicken thigh unhealthy compared to breast?
Both chicken thigh and chicken breast are healthy when prepared well (like we do here at El Jannah). A chicken thigh contains more fat than a chicken breast, but also features nutrients like iron and zinc. We marinate and grill our chicken breast over charcoal to keep it lean, while our chicken thigh is hand-breaded and fried in premium oil to make it both delicious and healthy!
Can I substitute chicken thigh for breast in recipes?
You can definitely substitute chicken thigh for chicken breast in any recipe, but you’ll need to slightly change how you cook the chicken. If you’re swapping chicken thigh for chicken breast, you’ll need to reduce the cooking time slightly so you don’t dry out your chicken breast. If you’re swapping chicken breast for chicken thigh, you’ll want to marinate the chicken thigh to increase the flavour of your dish.
What chicken cut does El Jannah use in crispy chicken?
When we’re whipping up some of our irresistible crispy chicken, we use premium chicken thighs. Chicken thighs stay juicy under high heat, and give a satisfying crunch once we’ve hand-breaded them with our secret blend of herbs and spices!
Are both chicken breast and thigh dishes Halal-certified at El Jannah?
All of El Jannah’s ingredients are 100% Halal-certified, including our chicken breasts and chicken thighs. We source the highest quality chicken, so when it hits your plate, you’re in for a flavour explosion.
