How Many Calories in a Thin Chicken Breast?

Chicken breast is one of the most popular lean proteins. It’s low in fat high in protein and very versatile. But calories can vary depending on the size and preparation method. So how many calories are actually in a thin chicken breast?

What is Considered a Thin Chicken Breast?

There is no standard size for a “thin” chicken breast It is generally thinner and smaller than a regular chicken breast Here are some common thin chicken breast sizes

• 4 ounces raw
• 3 ounces cooked
• 1/2 inch thick
• 1 thin breast slice

Chicken breasts that are too thin may also be called chicken cutlets, paillards, or fillets. Before being cooked, they are often pounded even thinner to make them extra lean and quick to cook.

Calorie Count for Thin Raw Chicken Breasts

The calorie count is lowest for raw chicken. A 4 ounce raw, boneless, skinless thin chicken breast has approximately:

• 120 calories
• 3g fat
• 0g carbs
• 26g protein

So a thin chicken breast in its raw state has very few calories—just 120 calories for a 4 ounce serving. It has no carbs and a lot of lean protein.

Calories After Cooking Thin Chicken Breasts

The calorie count increases once the raw chicken is cooked During cooking, the chicken loses moisture which concentrates the protein and increases calorie density

A 3 ounce serving of cooked, boneless, skinless thin chicken breast has roughly:

• 110 calories
• 1g fat
• 0g carbs
• 27g protein

The protein also increases to 27g per 3 ounce serving after cooking.

So cooked thin chicken breast is still very low calorie at around 110 calories for a standard 3 ounce serving.

How Calories Change With Different Cooking Methods

The main ways thin chicken breasts are prepared are grilling, sauteing, baking, and pan frying.

Grilled thin chicken breast has the lowest calorie count. A 3 ounce grilled chicken breast has about 100 calories.

There are a few more calories in sautéed, baked, and pan-fried thin chicken breasts. Each 3 ounce serving has 110 to 120 calories. The small difference is whether oil or breading is used.

Even if you cook it a certain way, a thin chicken breast without the skin will have 100 to 120 calories per 3 ounce serving.

Calorie Range in Other Serving Sizes

Here is the calorie count for some other common serving sizes of thin chicken breast:

• 1 thin breast slice: 14 calories
• 1/2 thin chicken breast (4 oz cooked): 123 calories
• 1 whole thin chicken breast (6 oz cooked): 165 calories
• 1 cup shredded or chopped: 231 calories

So you can see the calories add up quickly if you eat a whole breast, but a single slice is minimal at only 14 calories.

How Thin Chicken Compares to Regular Chicken Breasts

Regular, non-thin chicken breasts contain more calories and fat due to their larger size and thickness.

A 6 ounce cooked, boneless, skinless chicken breast has about:

• 284 calories
• 3g fat
• 0g carbs
• 53g protein

Whereas a 6 ounce thin chicken breast has just 165 calories. So thin chicken breasts contain much fewer calories for the same serving weight.

Benefits of Choosing Thin Chicken Breasts

Thin chicken breasts have several advantages over regular thickness:

• Fewer calories per ounce
• Lower fat content
• Cook faster
• Easier to pound thin for cutlets
• Easy to slice thinly for meals
• Work well for appetizers and sandwiches

So for a lower calorie option, thin chicken breast is the way to go. You can enjoy all the health benefits of chicken breast while keeping calories in check.

How to Include Thin Chicken Breasts in a Healthy Diet

Here are some tips for enjoying thin chicken breasts as part of a balanced, calorie-conscious diet:

• Use thin chicken for salads, sandwiches, wraps, and tacos
• Pound into cutlets and pan fry or bread and bake for chicken parmesan
• Dice up for chicken skewers or kabobs
• Shred or chop for casseroles, pasta dishes, and soups
• Grill and slice for meal prep lunches and dinners

Thin chicken breast is very versatile, so you can easily work it into all kinds of healthy recipes. Because it’s lower in calories, you can feel good enjoying a satisfying portion.