8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (2024)

Jul92021

Chicken's one of our favorite go-to proteins! If you’re stuck in a rut, here are eight easy ways to give that poultry a serious upgrade...

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (1)

Top with Fruity Salsa

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 3 tbsp. salsa = 200 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 3*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 0*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 0*

Fruit and chicken gosowell together, and this combo doesn't even require any produce chopping. Pick up some salsa studded with peaches, pineapple, ormango.Newman's Ownmakes some great ones. Or DIY by whipping up a batch of thisTropical Pico de Galloin advance!

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (2)

Enjoy Burger Style

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 2 large lettuce leaves, 3 dill pickle chips, 2 tsp. each ketchup and mustard = 215 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 4*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 1*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 1*

Create a variation on a burger by wrapping the chicken in lettuce. Iceberg is great if you like a little crunch, but butter lettuce works too. Add classic condiments -- ketchup, mustard, and pickles -- for a burger fix with a fraction of the calories and fat.

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (3)

Greek-ify It

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 1 slice roasted red pepper, 2 tbsp. crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, 1 tbsp. sliced black olives = 230 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 2*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 2*

This one's delicious and packed with Mediterranean flavor. It even features a couple of foods you probably already have in your pantry! Just top your chicken with roasted red pepper (previously packed in water, not oil), crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, and sliced black olives. So much yum...

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (4)

Spread with Hummus

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 2 tbsp. hummus, dash paprika = 240 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 2*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 2*

Speaking of Mediterranean flavor, hummus is a great way to zazzle up that chicken. And it's protein on protein, so you know you'll be satisfied after eating it! We love the hummus made by Lantana… SO many flavor options.

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (5)

Top with Mozzarella, Artichoke Hearts & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 1 tbsp. each chopped sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, 2 tbsp. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese = 245 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 4*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 1*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 1*

Taking things Italian, here's another flavor-packed idea. Chop some bagged (or rinsed and dried if packed in oil) sundried tomatoes and canned artichoke hearts, and sprinkle over your chicken. Then top with shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, and heat until melted. Mmmm...

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (6)

Smother with Creamy Tomato Soup

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 1/4 cup tomato soup with 4g fat or less per serving = 210 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 4*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 1*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 1*

What's better than a bowl of steamy tomato soup? Steamy tomato soup poured over chicken like a sauce! Ourfavorite, hands down, isAmy's Organic Chunky Tomato Bisque. There's even a Light in Sodium version of that soup, which rocks.

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (7)

Buffalo Wing It

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 1 1/2 tsp. hot sauce, 1 tbsp. crumbled blue cheese = 210 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 4*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 1*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 1*

Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Saucemakes just about anything taste like Buffalo wings. (We're pretty sure ourtennis shoes would taste like wings if wedoused 'em in Frank's!) Coat your chicken with the hot sauce, and sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles to seal the deal.

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (8)

Go Naked Chicken Parm

4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast, 3 tbsp. low-fat marinara sauce, 2 tbsp. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese = 245 calories

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 2*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 2*

Enjoy the taste of chicken Parmesan without all the extra calories and fat. Just slather low-fat marinara sauce on your chicken breast, and top with shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese. Heat until the cheese is nice and melty, and dig in.

Chew on this:

Today, July 9th, is National Sugar Cookie Day… It’s also Jamie Goldberg’s b-day! She’s an HG exec, on the HG podcast, and a candlemaker extraordinaire. Check out her awesome candles on Amazon (or just eat a sugar cookie)!

You know you're not the only one who's bored with chicken -- click "Send to a Friend" now!

8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (9)

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8 Simple Chicken Recipes Under 250 Calories (2024)

FAQs

What is the lowest calorie chicken piece? ›

Here are the calorie counts of the most common cuts of boneless, skinless chicken per 3.5 oz. (100-g) serving:
  • Chicken breast: 165 calories.
  • Chicken thigh: 179 calories.
  • Chicken wing: 203 calories.
  • Chicken drumstick: 155 calories.

Which chicken item is good for weight loss? ›

If your main aim is weight loss, then the best type of chicken you can opt for is- skinless, boneless chicken breast. Do you know that 3-ounce serving of skinless, boneless chicken breast provides just 140 calories, a whopping 26 grams of protein, and just 3 grams of fat?

How much is 200 calories in a chicken breast? ›

How much is 200 calories in a chicken breast? About exactly 100g, which makes meal maths simple! And bonus: that's around 45g of protein, your recommended daily allowance.

What is the healthiest way to cook chicken? ›

The healthiest way to cook chicken is to bake it in the oven or stir fry it with vegetables. Put the parts in a baking pan, rub some olive oil on them, and surround them with plenty of garlic, lemon, carrots, or whatever you like. Bake at 350° until brown.

Can you survive off 250 calories a day? ›

200–300 calories a day is too FEW and will kill you. The average adult requires 2000 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, and people with taller frames or intense athletic training may require 3000.

What will happen if I only eat 250 calories a day? ›

calories are required for your body to function. If you don't get enough, you'll develop serious health issues. a large calorie deficit will drastically slow down your metabolism. Your body doesn't know that you're trying to lose weight, it thinks you're starving.

How much weight will I lose if I cut 250 calories a day? ›

That means it would take three-and-a-half weeks to lose one pound if the number of calories you consume stays the same. If you altered your diet and cut back by 250 calories a day (½ cup of ice cream or two sugar-sweetened sodas), you'd lose a pound in two weeks.

Can I eat chicken to lose belly fat? ›

Chicken helps lose overall body weight if consumed as a healthy and balanced diet. In the process, one can also lose belly fat. While eating chicken, remember to opt for lean chicken breast; it is a good source of protein with fewer calories.

Can I just eat chicken to lose weight? ›

While a meat-only diet can help with weight loss, it comes with some serious potential downsides, including essential nutrient deficiencies, unhealthy eating habits, and unsustainability. overall. Weighing the main benefits and disadvantages suggests that the chicken diet is not an ideal approach to dieting.

Can I eat chicken and still lose weight? ›

When creating a healthy diet plan, grilled chicken is almost always a staple. This is because grilled chicken is lean and contains far less fat and calories than other types of meat. Eating it regularly can help you lose weight, especially when you swap it out for fattier meats like beef or pork.

Will eating chicken and rice everyday help me lose weight? ›

Yep, chicken and rice is a solid meal choice for weight loss. Chicken is a great source of lean protein, meaning it'll supply more protein for less calories than other cuts of meat like lean steak or salmon. Plus, the combo of carbs and protein will keep you satisfied for hours.

How many pieces of chicken can I eat on a diet? ›

How much chicken should I eat per day to lose weight? As a lean meat, chicken doesn't have much fat — so aim for 100g per day as part of a balanced diet to make sure you're getting what you need. High is protein, it's a solid choice for feeling satiated for longer, weight loss and maintaining lean body mass.

Can I eat KFC chicken on a diet? ›

Overall, most health experts and dietitians would not recommend KFC products as part of a healthy diet. Fried chicken, KFC's signature product, is high in calories, fat, and salt, and has been linked to many health risks, including weight gain andl diabetes.

What is the healthiest chicken to eat? ›

In general, skinless chicken breast is considered one of the healthiest cuts of chicken. It is low in fat and calories, yet high in protein and essential nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, niacin, and phosphorus.

Do chicken tenders have less calories than breast? ›

Chicken tenders are quite, well, tender compared to other parts of the bird. That's not the only thing that sets them apart: They're more caloric than plain chicken breasts and they have more sodium.

Is chicken piece good for weight loss? ›

Including chicken in your diet can aid weight loss as it is high in protein and nutrients while low in calories. However, avoiding fried and processed options is essential and opt for organic, natural chicken. A nutritious diet, regular exercise, and balanced protein intake are crucial for effective weight loss.

How much chicken is 100 calories? ›

100 calories = 2 ⅓ oz or ⅓ average piece chicken breast.

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