Chicken, broilers or fryers, leg, meat and skin, cooked, stewed
Whole food · Poultry Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the savory, fall-off-the-bone meat from a chicken leg (thigh and drumstick) that has been gently simmered in liquid until tender. The stewing process renders the skin silky and the meat juicy, while the collagen melts into a rich, gelatinous mouthfeel. It's a protein powerhouse, delivering over 24 grams of high-quality protein per 100 grams with a substantial dose of healthy fats.
Calorie split: 45% protein · 0% carbs · 55% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its deep, savory flavor and incredibly tender texture that practically melts in your mouth. It's the ultimate comfort food, forming the hearty base of countless global stews and soups.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The skin and dark meat are higher in saturated fat and calories than white meat, which may be a concern for some diets. To mitigate this, you can remove the skin before eating or after cooking to discard the rendered fat. It's also a common poultry allergen.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete protein for muscle maintenance and repair.
- Rich in essential minerals like iron, zinc, and selenium.
- Provides B vitamins, particularly niacin (B3) and B6, for energy metabolism.
- The slow-cooked collagen may support joint and gut health.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The term 'broiler' refers to a young chicken (under 10 weeks old) bred specifically for meat production, prized for its tender texture.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 64.0 g |
| Energy | 220 kcal |
| Energy | 920 kj |
| Protein | 24.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 12.9 g |
| Ash | 0.79 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 11.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 20.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 139 mg |
| Potassium, K | 176 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 73.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.07 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 18.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.19 mg |
| Niacin | 4.6 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.81 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.18 mg |
| Folate, total | 6.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 6.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 6.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 56.4 mg |
| Betaine | 4.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 37.0 ug |
| Retinol | 37.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 124 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.27 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 5.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 3.5 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.10 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.6 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.74 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.0 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.70 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 4.2 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 2.5 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.11 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.04 g |
| Cholesterol | 84.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.27 g |
| Threonine | 1.0 g |
| Isoleucine | 1.2 g |
| Leucine | 1.8 g |
| Lysine | 2.0 g |
| Methionine | 0.65 g |
| Cystine | 0.32 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.94 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.78 g |
| Valine | 1.2 g |
| Arginine | 1.5 g |
| Histidine | 0.71 g |
| Alanine | 1.4 g |
| Aspartic acid | 2.2 g |
| Glutamic acid | 3.5 g |
| Glycine | 1.5 g |
| Proline | 1.1 g |
| Serine | 0.85 g |
FAQ
Is stewed chicken leg meat healthy?
Yes, it's a nutrient-dense food high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals. The healthiness depends on preparation—removing the skin reduces fat, and using low-sodium broth controls salt.
How is stewed different from roasted or grilled?
Stewing uses moist, gentle heat in liquid, resulting in very tender, moist meat. Roasting and grilling use dry, high heat, which creates a firmer texture and a browned, crispy exterior.
Can I use this in a salad?
Absolutely. Let it cool, then shred or chop the meat. It's perfect for hearty chicken salads, adding protein and rich flavor to greens, grains, or pasta salads.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.20 kcal/g · 44% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.41 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.