How Many Calories Are In 3 Chicken Breasts?

Chicken breast is one of the most popular lean proteins. It’s low in fat and calories but high in protein. A lot of people eat chicken breast because it’s good for them. But how many calories are in 3 chicken breasts? Let’s find out.

An Overview of Chicken Breast Nutrition

There are a few things that can change how many calories and nutrients are in chicken breast.

• Raw vs cooked. Raw chicken breast contains more calories than cooked.

• Bone-in vs boneless. Chicken breast with the bone has more calories than boneless.

• Skin on vs skinless. Chicken skin adds quite a few extra calories

• Cooking method. Frying adds more calories than baking, grilling, or roasting.

In general, a 6 ounce cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast contains around 210 calories. It provides 44 grams of protein and around 4 grams of fat. Chicken is a great source of B vitamins, selenium, vitamin B6, and phosphorus.

Determining Calories In 3 Medium Chicken Breasts

Pay attention to the serving size when reading the nutrition facts for chicken breast. Usually, the nutrition facts are given for 1 chicken breast, which is equal to 1 ounce.

To figure out calories for 3 medium chicken breasts:

• Check the calories per breast or per ounce
• Estimate weight of 3 medium chicken breasts
• Multiply calories by estimated weight

A medium chicken breast is around 6-8 ounces cooked. Let’s say they weigh about 7 ounces each as a rough guess.

3 medium chicken breasts x 7 ounces per breast = 21 ounces total

With boneless, skinless chicken breast containing about 35 calories per ounce when cooked,

21 ounces x 35 calories per ounce = 735 calories

So for 3 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the total calories comes to approximately 735.

This calorie estimate can vary based on exact weight and other factors like cooking method. But it provides a good ballpark figure.

Calories For Chicken Breast With Bones and Skin

If the chicken breast contains bones and skin, the calorie count will be higher.

Here are estimates for 3 medium bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts:

• Chicken breast with bone: 45 calories per ounce
• Chicken breast with skin: 50 calories per ounce

21 ounces x 50 calories (with skin) = 1050 calories

So 3 medium bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts would be around 1050 calories.

The skin alone adds a significant number of calories, around 15 calories per ounce. Eating chicken breast without the skin is an easy way to reduce the calorie content.

Comparing Raw and Cooked Chicken Breast

Most nutrition information for chicken breast is based on cooked values. But you may need to know the calories for raw chicken if you are meal prepping or cooking from scratch.

There are around 31 calories in one ounce of raw, boneless, skinless chicken breast.

For 3 medium raw chicken breasts weighing 21 ounces total:

21 ounces x 31 calories (raw) = 651 calories

The raw chicken calories will decrease by around 15-25% after cooking due to loss of water weight.

Chicken Breast Calorie Summaries

To summarize, here are the approximate calories for 3 medium chicken breasts under different conditions:

• Raw, boneless, skinless: 651 calories
• Cooked, boneless, skinless: 735 calories
• Cooked, bone-in, skin-on: 1050 calories

These values can help you determine calories and plan chicken breast into your diet. Just keep in mind that they are rough estimates. The exact calories can vary based on specific weights and cooking.

When calculating chicken breast calories, look up nutrition info per ounce or per breast. Weigh your chicken portions and multiply by the calorie amount. Remove skin before cooking and weighing to lower the calories.

Health Benefits of Chicken Breast

Chicken breast is a healthy, lean protein choice that provides a number of benefits:

• High in protein – Great for building and maintaining muscle. Also helps keep you fuller for longer.

• Low in fat – Much less saturated fat than red meats. Easy to remove skin for even less fat.

• Contains nutrients – Provides B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus for bone health, and more.

• Versatile – Easy to flavor and add to salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, pasta, and more.

• Budget-friendly – Typically cheaper than beef or fish. Can buy in bulk.

Chicken breast is a nutrition all-star. Adding it to your diet 2-3 times per week can help meet protein needs while keeping calories under control.

Simple Ways to Prepare Chicken Breast

Chicken breast can be prepared in endless healthy and delicious ways. Here are some easy recipe ideas:

• Baked chicken – Bake with lemon, herbs, and olive oil.

• Chicken salad – Dice and mix with mayo, celery, onions for sandwiches or lettuce wraps.

• Fajitas – Slice and sauté with peppers and onions.

• Chicken parmesan – Top with tomato sauce and mozzarella, bake until melted.

• Stir fry – Mix with veggies like broccoli, peppers, snap peas, and teriyaki.

• Curry chicken – Simmer in coconut milk-based curry sauce with veggies.

• Meal prep – Bake or poach for the week. Store in the fridge and add to meals.

Chicken breast is endlessly versatile. With simple seasoning and cooking, you can make it taste great while controlling calories.

Chicken Breast Calories in Perspective

While chicken breast is considered a lean protein, the calories can add up if portions are too large. Here are some tips for keeping calories in check:

• Stick to a palm-sized portion, around 3-4 ounces cooked.

• If having a larger breast, slice it in half before cooking and save half for later.

• Avoid frying or breading chicken, which adds extra calories.

• Use healthier fats like olive or avocado oil instead of butter when cooking.

• Load up on non-starchy veggies vs grains or starches as sides.

• Skip high-calorie sauces and opt for salsa, mustard, or hot sauce instead.

Focus on getting protein with the least amount of accompanying fats, carbs, and calories. Chicken breast is a stellar choice for this when eaten in reasonable portions.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in 3 medium chicken breasts? The estimates are:

• Raw: Around 651 calories
• Cooked, no skin/bone: Around 735 calories
• Cooked, with skin/bone: Around 1050 calories

Chicken breast is a lean, nutritious protein that provides plenty of benefits. Monitor portion sizes and preparation methods to keep calories in check. Limit skin and pair chicken with non-starchy vegetables instead of high-carb sides.

With some easy preparation, chicken breast can be a regular go-to item in your healthy eating plan.