How Many Grams is a Chicken Thigh? A Detailed Look at Sizes, Weights, and More

Chicken thighs are a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in all sorts of dishes. But when meal planning or tracking calories it’s important to know exactly how much a chicken thigh weighs. In this detailed guide we’ll take a close look at chicken thigh sizes, weights, and other key metrics to give you a better understanding of how many grams are in a chicken thigh.

Average Chicken Thigh Weights

Let’s start with some average thigh weights for raw chicken thighs

• The average weight of one raw chicken thigh with the skin on and bone in is around 125g or 44oz

• A skinless, boneless chicken thigh weighs around 83g or 2.9oz on average.

Of course, the exact weight will depend on the type of chicken and its size. Large thighs can weigh 200g or more, while small thighs may only weigh 90g.

Key Factors That Impact Weight

Several factors affect the weight of chicken thighs, including:

Chicken Breed and Size

Larger broiler chickens bred specifically for meat will have heavier thighs than smaller heritage breed chickens. The overall size of the chicken directly relates to thigh size and weight.

Bone-In vs. Boneless

Removing the bone significantly reduces the weight. You can expect a boneless thigh to weigh 100-180g, compared to 125-200g for a bone-in thigh. The bone accounts for a sizable portion of the total weight.

Skin-On vs. Skinless

Like the bone, removing the skin also reduces overall weight. Skinless thighs weigh less than skin-on. The skin contributes fat, moisture, and therefore additional weight.

Butcher’s Cut

Butchery impacts weight as well. A thigh with more of the backbone attached will be heavier than one with less bone. Aggressive trimming also results in lighter thighs.

Nutrition Content

In addition to weight, understanding the nutrition content of chicken thighs is important:

• Chicken thighs contain significant protein for building muscle along with iron and zinc.

• They provide more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats compared to saturated fat in some other meats.

• Based on size, a bone-in, skin-on thigh has about 200 to 250 calories. A boneless, skinless thigh has 150-200 calories typically.

• The skin contributes significant fat and calories. An intact thigh has about 39% more calories than one that doesn’t have skin on it.

Weight Conversion Tables

To summarize average chicken thigh weights:

Bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs

• 1 thigh = 125g = 4.4oz

• 4 thighs = 1 pound

• 8 thighs = 1 kilogram

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 1 thigh = 83g = 2.9oz

• 5 thighs = 1 pound

• 12 thighs = 1 kilogram

Use these standard weights for quick reference, keeping in mind they may vary based on specific cuts of meat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many grams in an ounce of chicken thigh?

There are approximately 28 grams in one ounce of chicken thigh meat. This conversion applies to boneless, skinless thighs.

How much does a chicken thigh weigh cooked?

Cooked chicken thighs usually weigh between 75 and 90 grams, assuming they lose about 5 grams of weight while cooking. The exact reduced weight depends on the cooking method.

How many thighs are in a pound?

You can expect approximately 4-5 bone-in thighs or 5-6 boneless thighs per pound, based on average thigh weights.

Should you weigh thighs before or after cooking?

For accuracy in nutrition tracking, weigh thighs raw in most cases. The exception is pre-cooked thighs, which should be weighed after cooking.

How many thighs are in a serving?

The standard serving size for chicken thighs is about 2 boneless or 1 bone-in thigh. Allow 2-3 thighs per person for a meal.

How big is a large chicken thigh?

A particularly large chicken thigh may weigh up to 200g or more. Typically, thighs over 150g can be considered large, while those under 90g are on the smaller side.

Can I estimate weight in recipes?

For convenience, using averages of 140g for bone-in and 100g for boneless thighs will provide a reasonable approximation in recipes.

The Takeaway

• A chicken thigh weighs 125g on average with the bone and skin or 83g for boneless and skinless.

• Many factors like breed, bone, skin, and cut affect the weight.

• Thighs contain significant protein and less saturated fat than some meats.

• Allow 4-5 thighs per pound or 8-12 per kilogram as a general rule of thumb.

• Weigh thighs before cooking for the most accurate calorie counts.

So now you know exactly how many grams are in a chicken thigh! Keep this guide handy for easy reference whenever chicken thighs are on the menu.