How Many Calories Are in a Bojangles Chicken Breast? A Detailed Look

Bojangles’ is a popular fast food chain known for its delicious fried chicken and biscuits. Their chicken breast is a popular menu item, but many people wonder – just how many calories are in a Bojangles chicken breast? In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the calorie count, nutrients and other important factors to consider about a Bojangles chicken breast.

Calorie Count of a Bojangles Chicken Breast

A Bojangles chicken breast has 540 calories, according to the company’s nutrition facts. This is for a whole chicken breast with no extra sides or sauces.

Two hundred sixty calories, or about twenty-four percent, of the 540 calories come from fat. The chicken breast has 29 grams of fat, 10 grams of which are saturated fat. It also contains 130mg cholesterol and 580mg sodium.

• Total Calories: 540
• Calories from Fat: 260
• Total Fat: 29g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Cholesterol: 130mg
• Sodium: 580mg
• Total Carbs: 24g
• Protein: 41g

This nutrition information is confirmed on other websites such as FastFoodNutrition.org

How Does Bojangles Prepare Their Chicken Breast?

The chicken breasts at Bojangles are fried in a breading that has been seasoned. The chicken is fried in canola oil.

Frying adds a significant amount of calories from fat and also boosts the sodium content compared to a plain grilled or baked chicken breast.

For example, a 6oz grilled chicken breast with no breading or oil has around 180 calories with 7g fat. The added breading and frying method at Bojangles increases the calorie count significantly.

How Bojangles Compares to Other Fried Chicken Breasts

Compared to fried chicken breasts from other popular fast food chains, Bojangles is fairly average:

• Bojangles Chicken Breast – 540 calories
• KFC Original Recipe Chicken Breast – 490 calories
• Church’s Chicken Fried Chicken Breast – 560 calories
• Popeyes Fried Chicken Breast – 590 calories

Bojangles does seem to be slightly lower in calories than Popeyes and Church’s chicken, but fairly comparable to KFC. The differences come down to the exact size of the chicken breast and how thick the breading is.

When getting fried chicken from any fast food restaurant, expect a minimum of around 500 calories for a standard chicken breast. The breading and frying adds a lot of fat and calories.

Tips for Making Your Bojangles Chicken Healthier

While Bojangles chicken breasts are high in calories, fat, and sodium compared to homemade grilled chicken, there are some tips to make your meal healthier:

• Avoid dipping sauces – Bojangles dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, and Bo’s sauce add an extra 100-200+ calories per packet. Skipping the sauce can save you a lot of extra calories.

• Choose a side salad – Pairing your chicken with a side salad instead of fries or a biscuit can help balance your meal. A Bojangles garden salad has just 100 calories compared to Bo-Tato rounds with 260 calories.

• Split the breast – A Bojangles chicken breast is a large portion, so splitting it in half and saving half for later will cut the calories in half.

• Pay attention to what you drink. Instead of sugary soda with your meal, choose diet soda, unsweetened iced tea, or water. Bojangles’ sweet tea has a huge 700 calories per half gallon!

Making a few simple swaps and adjustments can help reduce the calorie count of your Bojangles chicken meal significantly while still letting you enjoy their delicious fried chicken flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about the calories and nutrition info for Bojangles chicken breasts:

How many calories in just the Bojangles chicken breast meat without the breading?

The Bojangles chicken breast meat without the breading likely contains around 180-250 calories depending on the size. The breading accounts for an extra 300 or so calories.

Does it matter if I get a grilled chicken breast instead of a fried chicken breast?

Yes, a grilled chicken breast will be significantly fewer calories, around half the amount. A grilled chicken breast may have around 280 calories compared to 540 calories for fried.

Are calories the only thing I should look at for fast food chicken?

No – also pay attention to fat, sodium, cholesterol and nutrients. Bojangles chicken is high in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol compared to lean protein options. Getting fried chicken only occasionally is recommended.

Does Bojangles offer any low calorie chicken options on their menu?

Unfortunately Bojangles does not offer any grilled chicken sandwiches or low calorie options besides salads. Everything is fried in oil which boosts the calorie counts.

What’s the healthiest option at Bojangles?

Your healthiest choice is likely a grilled chicken salad or garden salad with light dressing on the side. Avoid fried menu items, biscuits, sugary drinks and heavy sauces for the lowest calorie options.

The Bottom Line

A Bojangles chicken breast contains about 540 calories, with 260 of those calories coming from fat. It’s a high calorie fried chicken option but comparable to other popular fast food chicken breasts. You can reduce the calorie count by skipping dipping sauces, choosing healthier sides and watching your portions. While not the healthiest choice, enjoying a Bojangles chicken breast in moderation can still fit into an overall balanced diet. Just be mindful of the extra calories from the fried preparation.