How Many Calories for Chicken?
1 medium chicken breast fillet (~175g) of chicken contains around 201 calories (115 kcal per 100g). Chicken is classified as NOVA 1 (unprocessed).
Calories by preparation
| Method | Calories | NOVA |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled breast (skinless, 100g)Leanest option — nearly pure protein | 165 | 1 |
| Roasted breast (skin-on, 100g)Skin adds ~30 kcal/100g | 197 | 1 |
| Fried chicken (battered, 100g)Batter nearly doubles the calories vs grilledBatter coating typically contains modified starch, flavourings, and raising agents — NOVA 4 | 260 | 4 |
| Chicken quesadilla (1 portion ~200g)Tortilla and cheese add most of the caloriesShop-bought tortilla wraps are typically NOVA 3-4 depending on ingredients | 490 | 3 |
Nutrition per 100g
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 115 kcal / 486 kJ | 201 kcal |
| Protein | 21.5g | 37.6g |
| Carbohydrates | 0g | 0g |
| of which sugars | 0g | — |
| Fat | 3.3g | 5.8g |
| of which saturated | 0.8g | — |
| Fibre | 0g | — |
| Salt | 0.18g | — |
Serving size: 1 medium chicken breast fillet (~175g) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
Glucose impact
Very Low
Glucose risk
Chicken breast contains zero carbohydrates and zero sugars. It has no measurable effect on blood glucose levels. This makes it one of the safest foods for anyone managing blood sugar, whether diabetic or simply trying to avoid glucose spikes.
Processing level
A plain raw chicken breast fillet is an unprocessed single-ingredient product — just chicken. It has no additives, no preservatives, and no flavourings. However, many chicken breast products at Tesco are cooked, sliced, stuffed, or breaded, which pushes them to NOVA 3 (processed) or NOVA 4 (ultra-processed) depending on the additives used.
Chicken at Tesco
Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
5 UPF markers
*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.
What to watch for when shopping
Plain raw chicken breast fillets are always NOVA 1. The danger zone is the cooked and prepared section — breaded chicken, stuffed chicken, flavoured chicken slices, and chicken kievs can contain modified starch, dextrose, flavourings, and emulsifiers that push them to NOVA 3-4. If the ingredient list is longer than one word, check it carefully. Budget tip: Tesco British Chicken Breast Fillets 650G at £4.74 (£7.29/kg) is the best value plain option.
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