How Many Calories in Grilled Chicken Strips?

Grilled chicken strips are tasty and good for you. But how many calories are in these tasty chicken strips? The answer depends on a few important things. In this article, we’ll break down the average number of calories in grilled chicken strips and give you tips on how to keep the calories as low as possible.

What Are Chicken Strips?

If you want to make chicken strips, which are thin strips of chicken breast meat, you usually bread or batter them and then fry, bake, or grill them until the outside is golden brown and crispy.

Chicken strips are a quick and easy way to get protein for snacks and meals. Both adults and kids enjoy their mild flavor and crunchy texture. You can eat them plain or dip them in sauce. You can also add chicken strips to salads, wraps, pitas, and other foods.

Calorie Count for Grilled Chicken Strips

If you grill chicken strips instead of frying them, they are better for you because they have less fat and calories. But the number of calories still changes based on a few things:

Plain vs. Breaded

Plain grilled chicken strips with no breading or batter contain the fewest calories. A 3-ounce serving of plain grilled chicken breast strips has around 110 calories.

Breaded chicken strips have more calories because of the carbs and fat that coatings add. A 3-ounce serving of breaded, grilled chicken strips can have 150-180 calories.

Grill Method

Grilling chicken over an open flame produces the lowest calorie content. If the strips are grilled in a pan with a bit of oil or grilled on a countertop grill appliance, the calorie count increases slightly to 120-140 calories per 3 ounces.

Sauce

Chicken strips eaten plain have fewer calories than those dipped in sauce. Barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, honey mustard, and other dips add 50-150 extra calories per serving.

So in general, a 3-ounce serving of grilled chicken breast strips contains an average of:

• 110-120 calories for plain grilled chicken
• 130-150 calories for breaded grilled chicken
• 150-300 calories when served with sauce

A standard serving size at restaurants is around 6 ounces, so double these estimates.

Tips for Low-Calorie Chicken Strips

Here are some tips to keep the calorie count of your grilled chicken strips as low as possible:

• Opt for plain grilled chicken instead of breaded.

• Grill without oil or use very minimal oil.

• Choose lighter dipping sauces like mustard or salsa instead of creamy-based sauces.

• Watch portion sizes and stick to a 3-6 ounce serving.

• Pair with non-starchy vegetables instead of fries or chips.

Chicken strips can fit into a balanced, reduced-calorie meal plan in moderation. Follow the serving size recommendations and avoid frying or heavy sauces to keep the calorie content at a reasonable level. Grilled chicken strips with vegetable sides make a nutritious and waistline-friendly dinner option. Just be mindful of the cooking method and accompaniments to make the healthiest choices.

Four grilled chicken tenders typically contain between 484 and 510 calories.