Chicken kiev
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Chicken Kiev is a golden, crispy breaded chicken breast roll concealing a molten core of herbed butter. The first bite delivers a satisfying crunch, followed by a juicy, savory interior where the garlic and parsley-infused butter floods the palate. It's a protein-rich indulgence, with the majority of its calories coming from the satisfying fat of the butter and breading.
Calorie split: 30% protein · 8% carbs · 62% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore Chicken Kiev for its dramatic, buttery reveal and the perfect contrast between the crunchy coating and tender meat. It's a nostalgic comfort food that feels both elegant and deeply satisfying, often serving as a centerpiece for special dinners.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat content, particularly from the butter, makes it a calorie-dense dish that may not suit low-fat diets. The breading can cause rapid blood sugar spikes, and it's often high in sodium. To counteract, pair a modest portion with a large, fiber-rich salad or steamed vegetables to slow digestion and add volume. Opt for baking instead of frying to reduce added fats.
Key benefits
- High-quality protein source for muscle maintenance
- Provides energy-dense calories from fats
- Contains some B vitamins from the chicken
- Garlic and parsley offer trace antioxidants
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Despite its name, Chicken Kiev is widely believed to have been popularized in the United States by Russian immigrants in the 1950s, not in Kyiv itself.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 51.6 g |
| Energy | 280 kcal |
| Protein | 21.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 19.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.10 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.06 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 43.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.66 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 24.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 210 mg |
| Potassium, K | 257 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 644 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.84 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 26.4 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.21 mg |
| Niacin | 7.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.24 mg |
| Folate, total | 19.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 9.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 10.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 26.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 73.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.28 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 83.0 ug |
| Retinol | 81.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 16.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.43 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.70 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 7.4 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.20 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.08 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.20 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.22 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.79 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 4.0 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.5 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.1 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.54 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 6.2 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.1 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.7 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.25 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 106 mg |
FAQ
What's the difference between Chicken Kiev and Chicken Cordon Bleu?
Chicken Kiev is stuffed with herb butter, while Chicken Cordon Bleu is stuffed with ham and cheese.
How do you keep the butter from leaking out while cooking?
Ensure the chicken is tightly sealed, the breading is secure, and it's cooked at the right temperature. Chilling the assembled rolls before cooking helps the butter stay solid longer.
Is Chicken Kiev gluten-free?
Traditional recipes use wheat flour and breadcrumbs. To make it gluten-free, you would need to substitute these with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers.
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 2.80 kcal/g · 30% calories from protein · 0.1 g fiber · 0.1 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: 2.51 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.