Fresh Chicken Cuts Guide: Breast, Thighs, Wings and Whole Chicken
Chicken breast, thighs, legs, wings and whole chicken behave differently in the kitchen. Choosing the right cut can make a recipe easier, improve the final texture and help you buy the amount that suits the meal.
Use this guide to choose from our fresh poultry collection for delivery or collection in Malta.
Quick chicken-cut comparison
| Cut | What it is known for | Good choice for |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast | Lean, mild and quick to cook | Grilling, pan-frying, salads, wraps and meal prep |
| Boneless thighs | Tender, flavourful and forgiving | Curries, stir-fries, skewers and traybakes |
| Legs and drumsticks | Juicy dark meat with good flavour | Roasting, barbecue, stews and family meals |
| Wings | Small, flavourful pieces with plenty of surface area | Barbecue, oven baking, sauces and sharing platters |
| Whole chicken | Versatile and useful for several portions | Roasting, Sunday lunch and batch cooking |
| Marinated cuts | Seasoned and ready to cook | Convenient dinners, grilling and quick traybakes |
Chicken breast: versatile and quick
Chicken breast has a mild flavour that works with many marinades, sauces and cuisines. It is suitable for grilling, pan-frying, roasting, stir-fries, salads, pasta and meal preparation.
Our Fresh Chicken Breast is a practical everyday option. For a different farming choice, explore Fresh Free-Range Chicken Breast.
Because breast meat is relatively lean, take care not to cook it longer than needed. Cutting pieces to a similar size also helps them cook evenly.
Boneless chicken thighs: tender and full of flavour
Thigh meat has more natural fat than breast and remains tender in recipes that need a little more cooking time. It absorbs marinades well and works especially well in curries, casseroles, skewers, wraps, stir-fries and traybakes.
Choose boneless thighs when you want convenience without sacrificing the richer flavour associated with dark meat.
Chicken legs and drumsticks: ideal for roasting and the barbecue
Legs and drumsticks are good family-meal cuts because they remain juicy and develop excellent flavour when roasted, grilled or cooked slowly in sauce.
They work with simple seasoning, sticky glazes, spice rubs and Mediterranean-style marinades. Their shape makes them useful for sharing platters and casual barbecue meals.
Chicken wings: made for sauces and sharing
Wings have a high ratio of skin and surface area to meat, making them well suited to crisping and coating. Bake, grill or barbecue them, then serve with BBQ sauce, hot sauce, honey mustard or another favourite glaze.
Browse our condiments and sauces for easy pairings.
Whole chicken: value and versatility
A whole chicken is a natural choice for roasting and can provide several servings depending on its size and the side dishes. Leftover cooked meat can be used in sandwiches, salads, pasta or rice dishes, while the bones can be used according to your preferred stock recipe.
Choose a whole chicken when you want a centrepiece meal or when different diners prefer breast and leg meat.
Free-range and corn-fed chicken
Free-range and corn-fed options give shoppers additional choice in farming method, flavour and price. The best option depends on the dish, your preferences and availability.
For a simple roast, a whole free-range or corn-fed chicken makes an attractive centrepiece. For quick meals, portioned breast or legs may be more convenient.
Marinated and ready-to-cook chicken
Marinated chicken cuts reduce preparation time and make it easy to vary the week's meals. BBQ, garlic and herb, sticky maple, mild curry, lemon pepper and Mediterranean seasonings can move from fridge to grill, pan or oven with minimal preparation.
Check the product label and follow the cooking, storage and allergen information provided for each flavour.
How to choose the right chicken cut
- For quick weekday meals: Choose chicken breast, strips or marinated fillets.
- For curries and casseroles: Boneless thighs or leg meat are flavourful and forgiving.
- For the barbecue: Wings, drumsticks, kebabs and marinated breast all work well.
- For roasting: Choose a whole chicken, legs or a mixed tray of portions.
- For meal prep: Breast and boneless thighs are easy to portion across several dishes.
Buying and storing fresh chicken
Choose the pack size according to the number of diners and how the chicken will be used. Keep fresh chicken refrigerated, prevent raw juices from contacting other foods and follow the use-by date, storage directions and cooking instructions on the product label.
Explore all fresh chicken and poultry, including everyday cuts, free-range options and ready-to-cook marinated products.