Is Flame-Grilled Chicken Healthier Than Fried Chicken?

Chicken is one of Australia’s favourite go-to meals. It’s versatile, packed with protein and, depending on how it’s prepared, can be a great option when you’re looking for something satisfying without feeling too heavy.

But when it comes to flame-grilled chicken vs fried chicken, which is the healthier choice?

While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying fried chicken occasionally, the cooking method can make a significant difference to the amount of added fat and calories in your meal.

Flame-Grilled vs Fried: What’s the Difference?

The biggest difference is right there in the name: how the chicken is cooked.

Fried chicken is typically coated in flour, crumbs or batter before being cooked in oil. During frying, some of that oil is absorbed into the coating and chicken, adding extra fat and calories to the finished meal.

Flame-grilled chicken, on the other hand, is cooked directly over heat without needing to be submerged in cooking oil.

According to nutrition guidance, grilling is generally one of the cooking methods that can help keep added fat and calories lower compared with deep frying.

Less Added Oil

One of the main advantages of choosing flame-grilled chicken over traditional fried chicken is that it doesn't rely on a deep fryer to cook.

Deep-fried foods absorb some of the oil they're cooked in, which can considerably increase their fat and calorie content.

With flame grilling, you can get beautifully cooked chicken without the need for all that additional frying oil.

No Heavy Breading or Batter

That signature crunch of fried chicken usually comes from breading or batter. Delicious? Absolutely. But it also adds another layer of carbohydrates, calories and, once fried, additional fat.

Flame-grilled chicken lets the chicken itself take centre stage.

At Chickita, our chicken is all about flame-grilled flavour, complemented by our signature sauces and seasonings rather than a heavy fried coating.

A Great Source of Protein

Regardless of how it is prepared, chicken can be an excellent source of protein.

Protein plays an important role in maintaining and repairing muscle and can also help make meals more satisfying.

The difference is that when chicken is flame grilled rather than battered and deep fried, you're getting that protein without the additional fried coating and absorbed cooking oil.

But Is Grilled Chicken Always "Healthy"?

Not necessarily.

There's much more to a balanced diet than whether something is grilled or fried. The cut of chicken, portion size, sauces, sides and the rest of your diet all matter too.

Even grilled chicken can become a heavier meal when it's loaded with high-calorie toppings and sides.

So rather than thinking about individual foods as simply "healthy" or "unhealthy", it can be more useful to consider the overall meal and how it fits into your lifestyle.

What About the Flavour?

Here's where flame grilling really comes into its own.

Cooking chicken over a flame creates that distinctive smoky, charred flavour without relying on a thick fried coating.

At Chickita, our chicken is flame grilled, not fried, giving you juicy chicken with plenty of flavour straight from the grill.

Pair it with your favourite Chickita sides and signature sauces, and you've got a meal that doesn't feel like you're compromising on flavour.

So, Is Flame-Grilled Chicken Healthier Than Fried Chicken?

Generally, flame-grilled chicken can be a lighter choice than traditional deep-fried chicken, particularly because it doesn't require the same amount of cooking oil or a flour or batter coating.

That doesn't mean you can never enjoy fried chicken. Food is meant to be enjoyed, and balance is important.

But if you're craving chicken and looking for an alternative to the usual deep-fried option, going flame grilled is an easy switch.

Less frying. More flame. Plenty of flavour.

Next time you're craving chicken, come and discover why flame-grilled chicken is a Good Thing!