3 Best Healthy Fried Chicken Alternatives

Fried chicken is a staple in many American households and restaurants, but it is far from the healthiest option.

If you are looking for fried chicken substitutes that are just as tasty and satisfying without all the fat and calories, then you are in the right place.

Today, we have plenty of choices to replace the old-fashioned favorite, and many of them are better for our health.

What is fried chicken?

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Fried chicken is a kind of fried food that typically consists of chicken cuts or chicken pieces.

Fried chicken originated in Southern American cuisine, but it has become very popular all over the world.

Fried chicken can be made from chicken breast cutlets, chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, or chicken thighs.

The chicken is often breaded in a seasoned batter before being deep-fried in hot oil.

It can come in different flavors, ranging from mild to spicy, depending on the spices that are used to season the batter.

The resulting dish is crispy on the outside while the meat is juicy inside.

Fried chicken can be served as an appetizer, main course, or a snack, with numerous choices for a side dish.

Normally, it is eaten with French fries, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or as a filling for burgers.

Today, fried chicken can be found in any fast-food chain across the world, or can be made at home from easy-to-find ingredients and utensils.

Can you substitute fried chicken in cooking recipes?

Yes, fried chicken can be easily substituted in any cooking recipe.

Many people might think: “Why would someone want to substitute mouth-watering fried chicken?” We cannot deny how satisfying it is when eat fried chicken, however, there are many reasons why a lot of people are looking for other options to replace fried chicken, or maybe just because there is no cut of chicken left in your local grocery store.

Fried chicken is often packed with high fat and calories due to the deep-frying method.

Therefore, it is definitely not good to consume in the long term, especially for those who have a history of heart disease.

People who want to eat healthier, cut down some animal protein intake, go vegan, or lose some weight might want a healthy diet with something that can substitute for fried chicken without giving up all these delicious flavors.

The good news is that there are actually a lot of alternatives that meet your requirements and are available on the market.

What can you substitute for fried chicken?

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you can use to replace your delicious fried chicken.

The following suggestions will help:

1. Baked/ grilled chicken

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The easiest way to substitute fried chicken and eat healthier is to change the cooking method.

Instead of deep-frying chicken in hot oil, why not bake or grill it instead? In these recipes, you still achieve the same flavor of chicken and the same texture of the meat too.

Keeping the skin intact while cooking will help you have a crispy crust, flavorful, and juicy meat.

Normally, when baking or grilling chicken, you won’t need to bread it in flour or batter.

Just marinate your chicken with your favorite mixture of spices before cooking it so that you won’t end up with bland meat.

2. Fried tofu

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Tofu is a good source of vegan protein.

While it has a bland taste itself, tofu can easily absorb the flavors from the seasoning.

Therefore, you can use fried tofu, with or without a seasoned batter, in place of fried chicken.

It is much lower in calories and fat while still delivering a delicious taste.

Fried tofu can be served with different kinds of sauce, and takes less time to cook.

It is crispy outside while very soft and moist inside.

3. Baked/ fried vegan chicken

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Another vegan substitute for fried chicken is baked/ fried vegan chicken.

Vegan chicken is often made from soy and flavored with different spices.

Don’t expect it to taste like chicken because vegan chicken only looks like chicken cutlets or nuggets, but tastes like soy.

You can use the chicken flavoring, bake, or grill chicken to substitute for your fried chicken dish.

No matter what it is, fried or baked vegan chicken is always a healthier option compared to fried real chicken.

It is not only beneficial to your health but also to the environment.

However, soy-based vegan chicken is not ideal for people with soy allergies.

The bottom line

Who doesn’t love fried chicken, right? But it’s time to cut down the fat and calories that come with it.

That doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to this crunchy and juicy dish forever, but there are numerous alternatives for fried chicken that can help you eat healthier without sacrificing the flavor, from breaded tofu cutlets to oven-baked chicken.

Hope you will stay healthier with our list of fried chicken substitutes!