How Many Calories Are in a KFC Extra Crispy Chicken Breast?

KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is a well-known fast food chain that is best known for its fried chicken. One of KFC’s most popular menu items is the Extra Crispy Chicken Breast. It’s important to know how many calories are in food if you are watching your weight or following a certain diet plan. Let’s take a close look at how many calories are in a KFC Extra Crispy Chicken Breast.

Calorie Count of a KFC Extra Crispy Chicken Breast

The nutrition facts sheet from KFC says that one Extra Crispy Chicken Breast has 530 calories. This is for one whole chicken breast without any sauces or sides.

To break it down further

• 60% of the calories come from fat (315 calories)
• 14% of the calories come from carbohydrates (73 calories)
• 26% of the calories come from protein (142 calories)

So the majority of calories in an Extra Crispy Chicken Breast come from fat due to the signature breading and frying method used by KFC.

Putting 530 Calories In Perspective

To help put 530 calories into perspective, here are some comparisons:

• It’s over a quarter of the recommended 2000 daily calorie intake for most adults.

• You’d have to walk for about 1 hour and 16 minutes to burn off the 530 calories.

• It has more calories than a Big Mac (563 calories) or a Whopper (670 calories) if you don’t add any sides or drinks.

So 530 calories is a pretty significant amount coming from a single menu item. An Extra Crispy Chicken Breast packs quite a caloric punch on its own.

Extra Crispy vs Original Recipe Chicken Breasts

KFC offers chicken breasts in both Extra Crispy and Original Recipe versions. The Original Recipe has slightly fewer calories at 490 per breast. Here’s a comparison:

• Extra Crispy Chicken Breast: 530 calories, 35g fat, 18g carbs, 35g protein

• Original Recipe Chicken Breast: 490 calories, 31g fat, 13g carbs, 32g protein

The Original Recipe is lower in fat and calories because it uses less breading than the Extra Crispy version, which is thicker and crunchier. Both have a lot of calories, but Extra Crispy has more.

Ways To Make Your Meal Healthier

While the Extra Crispy Chicken Breast is high in calories, there are some ways you can make your KFC meal a bit healthier:

• Opt for grilled chicken instead of fried. A KFC Grilled Chicken Breast is 160 calories.

• Skip the creamy sauces and opt for lower calorie options like barbecue sauce.

• Choose a side salad instead of fries or mashed potatoes.

• Get a small or medium drink or skip the soda altogether.

• Share your meal or take half home for later.

With some simple substitutions, you can still enjoy KFC while limiting calorie intake. Moderation and balance is key.

Nutrition Information Sources

When looking up nutrition information, it’s best to use the restaurant’s official website as the primary source. We referenced the main KFC website for this article.

Other reputable sites like FatSecret and Nutritionix also provide detailed nutrition facts for fast food menu items. However, information should be verified against the restaurant’s own published data whenever possible.

These sites allow you to look up and compare calories, fat, carbs, protein and more in your favorite fast food items. This makes it easier to track nutrients and make informed choices when dining out.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in a KFC Extra Crispy Chicken Breast? The answer is 530 calories coming mostly from fat. That’s over a quarter of the recommended daily intake for most adults.

While high in calories, some simple tweaks like opting for grilled chicken or lighter sides and drinks can help reduce the calorie count of your KFC meal. Being aware of nutrition facts allows you to enjoy your favorite fried chicken in moderation.