Switching From Chicken Breasts To Thighs Can Save You Money, But It’s Not That Simple, Learn Why!

Chicken thighs and chicken breasts are two primal cuts of a chicken.

Although they differ in many ways, such as their flavors, textures, or prices, you totally can substitute one cut for the other.

In this article, we will give you a detailed look at these chicken cuts as well as how to alternate chicken thighs for chicken breasts so that your meal tastes just as good without breaking the bank.

What is chicken thigh?

Chicken thigh is a cut of chicken that comes from the upper section of the chicken leg.

It is the part that attaches to the bird’s body.

Every chicken has two thighs that are often sold boneless and skinless on the market.

However, you can also find other forms of chicken thighs like bone-in and skinless, bone-in and skin-on, or boneless and skin-on.

Chicken thighs are considered dark meat chicken because they contain more fat.

Therefore, chicken thighs are more affordable compared to their white meat counterpart like chicken breast.

Chicken thighs have a richer and more flavorful taste with a juicier texture.

They are a very versatile cut that can be cooked in different ways, including baking, grilling, stewing, or deep-frying.

It is recommended to remove the skin before cooking or serving because most fat of the chicken is found under the skin and by discarding it while eating, you can cut down some fat intake while still having a delicious dish from chicken thighs.

What is chicken breast?

Chicken breast is one of the most popular cuts of meat in America as well as many other cuisines in the world.

It is the leanest part of the chicken that is cut from the pectoral muscle of the bird.

One chicken has only one breast, but it is typically cut into two equal halves when being sold on the market.

Therefore, it will be like you have two chicken breasts to use in many recipes.

One of the main reasons why chicken breast is one of the sought-after cuts by many people is that it is considered the healthiest part as the chicken breast is an excellent source of protein and many other essential nutrients while being low in fat and cholesterol.

Chicken breast is tender, but it can easily turn dry and chewy if improperly cooked.

When you have the right recipe to work with a chicken breast, you can achieve a tender, moist, delicious, and very healthy dish.

There are many ways to cook chicken breast, such as deep-frying, grilling, baking, barbecuing, or just simply boiling and shredding to make salads.

Can you substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts in cooking recipes?

Of course, you can substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts in any cooking recipe.

If you are about to make a wonderful chicken dish from the chicken breast but cannot find this cut available on the market because it is too hot and already runs out of stock, don’t worry, just use chicken thighs instead.

Since it is relatively simple to remove the skin and bone from chicken thighs, you can turn this cut into a similar boneless and skinless chicken breast.

Although there will be some slight differences between the texture and flavor between chicken thighs and chicken breasts, these distinctions are not significant.

Therefore, feel free to substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts in any recipe that calls for the lean breast cut.

Moreover, chicken thighs are cheaper than chicken breasts, so this will be a more economical option when you are working on a tight budget but still want to serve your family the best dish from chicken.

The bottom line

The difference between thigh and breast meat is a matter of personal preference.

Some people might prefer the soft texture and mild taste of chicken breast, while others enjoy the flavorful and fattier chicken thigh.

These two chicken cuts can be used interchangeably in most recipes, and if budget constraints are your primary concern, then chicken thighs are more affordable than breasts.

Hope you will have the best dishes from either chicken thighs or chicken breasts without breaking your budget.