Is Chicken Thigh More Expensive Than Breast?

A lot of things can affect the price of chicken, the most important being the demand for that particular type of chicken. In the past few years, the price of chicken has jumped dramatically, with the biggest price increase falling upon boneless chicken breasts, which increased by roughly $2 per pound.

Is Chicken Thigh More Expensive Than Breast?

Because of recent price increases to chicken breasts, chicken thighs are currently less expensive, not more expensive, than chicken breasts. This includes both bone-in and boneless chicken pieces.

Chicken thighs that were not more expensive than chicken breasts
Chicken thighs currently won’t cost you as much as chicken breasts.

Price of Chicken Thighs

As of writing, the current average price of chicken thighs is roughly $2.75 per pound for the bone-in thighs, and the boneless, skinless chicken thighs sell for around $5.35 per pound.

  • Bone-in chicken thighs. The chicken thigh is the upper part of the leg that connects to the chicken’s body. It is usually sold with the skin on, which means it usually takes longer to cook than boneless chicken thighs do. Bone-in thighs are very versatile and can be cooked in a skillet, roasted, grilled, or placed in either a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Many cooks also put some type of glaze over thighs, which sticks well thanks to the skin.
  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The reason these are sold at a higher price is because of the processing involved in removing the skin and bones. It’s a part of the leg and can be cooked faster than bone-in chicken. When chicken thighs are boneless and skinless, they are superb when baked, cooked, grilled, or placed in a slow cooker. You can also use these chicken pieces in various recipes for chilis and soups.

Price of Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts that were more expensive than chicken thighs
Chicken breasts work well for many kinds of recipes.

There are usually two ways to sell chicken breasts. Split chicken breasts sell for around $2.30 per pound, while chicken breasts that are boneless sell for around $4.50 per pound.

  • Bone-in chicken breasts. Split chicken breasts include both the skin and the bone. This is a lean cut with a lot of flavor, although it can take a while to cook it thoroughly since the bone is still attached. Split chicken is great when roasted in the oven. When you want to add some type of chicken to stuffing, this is the type you want.
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. This is without a doubt one of the most expensive cuts of chicken there is. It is super-lean, has very little fat, and has a very mild flavor. Boneless breasts are very versatile and can be baked, seared, stir-fried, grilled, or cooked in a slow cooker. Just be careful not to cook it for too long, or it can turn dry. This is because it contains so little fat and comes without the skin.

Can You Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Breasts?

For the most part, you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. The taste and texture are so much alike that interchanging these two chicken parts won’t make much of a difference in your recipe. The only thing you have to remember is that the thighs have a little less protein and a little more fat than the breasts. Other than that, everything is the same and you shouldn’t notice any difference between these two cuts of chicken.

What Part of Chicken Is Most Expensive?

The most expensive part of the chicken is the breasts without bones and without skin. At $4.50 per pound, this is definitely not a cheap chicken piece. Nevertheless, when you want chicken that is extra meaty and is versatile enough to be cooked in a lot of different ways, this is the one you want. While the price of chicken breasts is high, keep in mind that you’re getting a lot of meaty goodness for that price, and you’ll also discover dozens of ways to make the tastiest recipes.

The second most expensive cut of chicken is the chicken wing, which sells for around $3.80 per pound. One possible reason chicken wings are so expensive is their popularity, especially during football season. Demand for chicken pieces always affects the cost of chicken, so it’s easy to understand why chicken wings can be a bit pricey.

What Is the Cheapest Part of the Chicken?

The cheapest part of the chicken are the leg quarters, which consist of both the thigh and the drumstick. On average, chicken leg quarters sell for roughly 89 cents per pound, and they are always sold with the skin on and the bone in. If you’re looking for a type of chicken to cook so that you can include it in nachos, enchiladas, or sprinkled on top of a salad, this is a good type of chicken to choose because it doesn’t matter what it looks like in the end. It only matters that it’s chicken!

Factors That Impact the Price of Chicken

Demand for certain types of chicken always affects their costs. Dark meat, for example, is not as popular as white meat, which is why it tends to cost less. The amount of processing also affects the price of chicken, which is why chicken that is boneless and skinless always costs more. When buying chicken pieces, consider how you’re going to be cooking it and whether or not it will be served alone or as part of a recipe. There are ways to save on the chicken you buy, and it all starts with deciding exactly what you need so that your recipe comes out just right in the end.

2 thoughts on “Is Chicken Thigh More Expensive Than Breast?”

  1. 1.25 per pound on bone-in chicken thighs?

    Where do you shop, the forest?

    Maxi: $15.41/ 1kg$6.99/ 1lb
    Walmart: $7.87/1kg

    Why do you spend time to write a beautifully presented blog that looks legit with bullshit information.

    I hate you.

    • Yes, inflation is moving much more quickly than we realized! We’ve updated those prices to more accurately reflect summer of 2022. But as always, forest is cheapest.

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