Butter-Ball Chicken

Butter-Ball Chicken is a rich, creamy North American comfort food dish featuring bite-sized chicken pieces cooked in a velvety, butter-based sauce, often with a hint of sweetness or tang. It's a popular potluck or family dinner staple, typically made with chicken breast or thighs, butter, cream, and sometimes a touch of honey or mustard. The name playfully references the luxurious, buttery coating that envelops each piece.

🍳 View the full Butter-Ball Chicken recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is high in protein from the chicken but also very high in fat due to the butter and cream sauce, making it a calorie-dense meal. It provides a good amount of protein and key minerals like selenium and phosphorus, with a rough ballpark of 450-550 calories per typical serving.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	450 kcal
Protein	30 g
Carbs	15 g
Fat	30 g
Fiber	2 g
Sugar	3 g
Sodium	850 mg
Potassium	400 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Calcium	100 mg
Vitamin A	80 mcg RAE
Vitamin C	5 mg
Niacin (B3)	8 mg
Phosphorus	250 mg
Selenium	20 mcg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, it's a prime example of mid-20th century North American 'cream of' cuisine, showcasing a love for rich, convenient, and indulgent sauces. Nutritionally, the high fat content from butter can aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) present in the dish.