Low-Calorie Chicken Flavor

5 Low-Calorie Ways to Give Your Chicken Bold Flavor

Boneless, skinless chicken breast is a staple when it comes to dieting. It’s high in protein and low in calories. But, unfortunately, chicken alone is also very low in flavor.

Dieting is already difficult—eating something bland and boring only makes it harder stay the course.  The best way to turn bland chicken into a total flavor bomb is by adding ingredients. But remember, adding ingredients can add sodium and calories!!

In an effort to make it easier to stay on a diet, we’ve gathered the 5 best ways to add flavor with little to no calories, to everyone’s favorite protein, chicken! With these tips, there is no need to fear breaking your diet (plus, these tips are delicious!).

1.  Marinades

Marinating chicken for a few hours (or overnight) not only infuses the normally bland bird with the flavors of your choice, but it also act as a tenderizer.  A good marinade for chicken should have some acidity to it (vinegar or citrus fruit juice is perfect in this situation). These ingredients add tanginess to the chicken and help break down tissue, making poultry extra tender. You can make your own marinade or buy a premade one from the store—just be mindful of calorie content.

2.  Spices

We’ve spoken about using spices before. Combining different spices will add flavor to chicken but also won’t add unnecessary calories. If you’re short on time (or feel like a novice in the kitchen), an option for you is to use premade seasoning mixes. Mrs. Dash’s line of premade mixes all are zero calories and salt free. They also have a line of low calorie, salt free marinades.

3.  Sriracha

Sriracha sauce, commonly referred to as rooster sauce, is perfect if you like your chicken spicy. The spicy garlic chili sauce has gained huge popularity in recent years because of its complex flavor. If you’ve never had it before, just know that the 1 teaspoon serving size (5 calories) goes a long way.

4.  Fresh fruits and herbs

Utilizing garden fresh herbs and sliced fruits is another way to prepare chicken without adding calories. To get the most of these ingredients, it’s best to bake the chicken with the fruits and herbs. Combine ingredients like sliced lemons with sage with the chicken in an airtight foil pouch.  No need to add oil! The ingredients will steam together to keep the chicken moist.

5.  Poaching

Ever eaten boiled chicken before?  We like to compare the taste of boiled chicken to that of sawdust.  That’s why, instead of boiling, we recommend poaching chicken for a low-calorie, delicious meal.  Like the sounds of that?  Check out this delicious poached chicken recipe.

These tips will help you get the most flavorful healthy chicken and keep you on your diet at the same time! The most common misconception about diet food is that it tastes horrible. That’s just not the case—flavorful health food just takes a little effort and creativity!!! Now don’t be chicken—try any of these 5 bold flavors today!