Chicken is one of the most popular and commonly consumed meats in the world. From fried chicken to chicken soup, chicken wings to chicken parmesan, there are endless ways to enjoy this versatile protein. But with so many different breeds, preparation methods, and regional styles, one important question remains: what is the most delicious chicken in the world?
What Makes Chicken Taste Good?
There are a few key factors that impact chicken’s flavor and texture:
Breed
Some chicken breeds are prized for their particularly delicious meat. Breeds like Plymouth Rock, Cornish, and Wyandotte are well-known for producing tasty, juicy meat. Heritage breeds like Jersey Giant and Orpington also have superior flavor. The breed affects the amount of fat content, which contributes to juiciness and flavor.
Diet
What a chicken eats affects its flavor. Chickens fed a diet rich in vegetables and grubs will produce more flavorful meat than chickens fed only grain. Pasture-raised chickens that roam and forage in an open pasture have a diet closer to their natural food sources, which leads to better tasting meat.
Butchering and Cook Method
How the chicken is prepared, cut, and cooked has a big impact on texture and moisture. Chickens that are air-chilled after slaughter retain more moisture than water-chilled chicken. Frying, roasting, grilling, smoking, etc will all produce slightly different flavors. Typically slower, gentler cooking methods result in a more tender, juicy interior.
Seasonings and Sauce
While the chicken itself offers inherent flavors, marinades, rubs, and sauces can take it to the next level. Buttermilk-marinated fried chicken, lemon chicken, peri peri chicken, chicken tikka masala – seasonings and sauces can dramatically enhance flavor.
The Most Famous Chicken Dishes Around the World
Now let’s explore some of the most beloved, renowned chicken dishes around the world:
USA – Fried Chicken
Fried chicken may have originated in the American South, but it has become a beloved staple across the country. From Nashville hot chicken to chicken and waffles, fried chicken is juicy, crispy comfort food. Top contenders include Thomas Keller’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Willie Mae’s Scotch House Fried Chicken, and Arnold’s Country Kitchen Fried Chicken.
Mexico – Chicken Mole
Chicken mole incorporates chili peppers, chocolate, spices, chiles, and more to produce a rich, savory sauce. It originated in the state of Puebla but remains popular throughout Mexico. Signature chicken mole dishes include Mole Poblano with a deep reddish-brown sauce and Mole Verde with a bright green sauce.
India – Butter Chicken
Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is an aromatic curry dish made with ginger, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and spices. Marinated chicken legs and thighs are cooked until tender and then simmered in the fragrant, creamy tomato sauce. It’s one of the most famous Indian chicken dishes.
Thailand – Chicken Pad Thai
Pad thai features stir-fried rice noodles with chicken, shrimp, scrambled eggs, tofu, garlic, tamarind, fish sauce, peanuts, and bean sprouts for a sweet and savory combination of flavors and textures. Chicken is often used as the protein.
Philippines – Chicken Adobo
This famous Filipino dish involves chicken braised in a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns and bay leaves. The vinegar preserves the chicken, while the seasoning provides a savory, tangy flavor. Chicken adobo has many regional variations but remains a classic Filipino dish.
Japan – Chicken Karaage
This dish of bite-size Japanese fried chicken is marinated in a combination of soy sauce, sake, and ginger before being fried to crispy perfection. It’s served as an appetizer or main course with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime. The chicken stays juicy on the inside while developing a savory, crispy exterior.
Morocco – Chicken Tagine
A tagine refers to a slow-cooked Moroccan stew, named after the clay pot it’s cooked in. Chicken tagines combine chicken with spices like cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and paprika, along with ingredients like olives, preserved lemons, apricots, and chickpeas. The chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender after the gentle cooking process.
Peru – Pollo a la Brasa
This classic Peruvian roast chicken features chicken marinated in garlic, cumin, oregano, paprika, oil, vinegar, and other spices. It is rotisserie roasted for several hours, allowing the chicken skin to become ultra crispy and the meat inside to baste in its own juices. It is served simply with lime wedges and salsa criolla on the side.
France – Poulet Rouge Fermier
Poulet Rouge Fermier refers to free-range and corn-fed Red Label chickens from France. The breed and diet results in deep, gamey chicken flavor and firm yet tender meat. These chickens are prized as the highest quality and are roasted simply with herbs or thyme-butter basting.
Factors in Determining the World’s Most Delicious Chicken
We’ve explored some of the most beloved global chicken dishes, but how can we determine which chicken truly reigns supreme in flavor? Here are some factors to consider when seeking the best tasting chicken in the world:
Breed
Some chicken breeds have become famous for their superior flavor, like Bresse chickens from France, which is known as the gold standard of chicken. Seeking out premium heritage breeds can lead to better flavor.
Diet
Pasture-raised, free-range chickens that get to roam and forage in their natural environment, eating grubs, grass, and berries, will likely taste better than a conventionally farmed chicken fed an unnatural grain diet.
Freshness
Fresh, never-frozen chicken will retain more flavor and moisture compared to chicken that was previously frozen. Locally raised chickens that don’t travel long distances will tend to be fresher.
Cooking Method
Classic cooking methods like roasting, frying, grilling, etc allow the chicken’s natural flavors to shine. Deep frying in high quality oil can lead to an extra crispy exterior and moist interior.
Marinades and Sauces
The right combination of marinade, rubs, or sauces can complement chicken’s flavor but shouldn’t overpower the natural tasting chicken. A simple brush of olive oil, lemon, garlic and herbs can go far.
Reputation
Some chicken dishes have gained legendary status and reputations, like the roast chicken from Los Angeles restaurant Zuni Cafe or the fried chicken prepared by acclaimed chef Thomas Keller. Their reputations speak to their outstanding flavor.
The World’s Most Delicious Chicken Dishes
Taking into account all these criteria, here are top contenders for the most delicious chicken dishes around the world:
| Dish | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Roast Chicken | Zuni Cafe, San Francisco | Simply seasoned free-range, air-chilled chicken roasted in a wood-fired oven |
| Poulet de Bresse | Bresse region, France | Considered the finest chicken in the world, from the Bresse breed and diet |
| Toriwasa | Japan | Premium chicken dressed with laquerware and roasted over charcoal |
| Ayam Bakar Taliwang | Lombok, Indonesia | Charcoal-grilled chicken marinated in a spicy chili paste |
| Pollo a la Brasa | Peru | Garlic and cumin marinated roast chicken cooked on a rotisserie |
| Chicken 65 | India | Spicy deep-fried chicken with curry leaves, garlic, chili and yogurt |
| Jerk Chicken | Jamaica | Chicken seasoned with spicy jerk sauce and grilled over pimento wood |
Conclusion
While fried, roasted, or grilled chicken from around the world all have their merits, the Poulet de Bresse from France stands out as perhaps the most delicious and flavorful chicken. The Bresse chicken breed, diet, artisan butchering, and cooking methods result in unmatched taste and texture. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the chicken beholder. The preparation method, freshness, cut of chicken and personal taste preferences will all play a role in one’s ultimate choice for the world’s most delicious chicken. From crispy deep fried chicken to fall-off-the-bone braises and curries, juicy grilled chicken to savory roasts, part of the fun is tasting all the varietals of this universally loved protein.