Boneless skinless chicken breasts are packed with protein while being lower in fat and calories than dark meat chicken or chicken cooked with the skin on. Smoked chicken breasts make an excellent lean protein source for any meal.

A simple chicken breast is well known as a healthy entree, but most people don't realize that chicken legs are also a healthy choice. Dark meat chicken, found in the legs and thighs, contains iron-rich myoglobin.

Chicken pieces with the bone stay moister than boneless cuts during cooking. However, the bone adds thickness to the meat, so it requires more cooking time to reach the ideal 165-degree internal temperature.

Frozen chicken patties are a fully-cooked chicken product that you prepare by simply heating in the oven or microwave. You can jazz up plain chicken patties by adding toppings and switching up your bread choices. Since chicken patties are relatively high in fat and calories, serve the sandwich with a healthy side dish.

Whether you’ve formed a recent friendship with a chicken farmer, or you’ve acquired a backyard flock yourself, knowing how to cook freshly butchered chicken is important for your dish to turn out well. Immediately after chickens are slaughtered, a process called rigor mortis begins.

Roasting or baking is one of the few safe ways to cook a chicken directly from its frozen state. Roasting it thaws and starts cooking it fast enough to prevent potentially dangerous rapid bacterial growth; never slow-cook a whole frozen bird.

Although canned soup is convenient and adds flavor and creaminess to a chicken-and-rice bake, it's possible to make a flavorful rice bake without the added fat, sodium and preservatives found in most canned soups.

The gizzard and heart of a chicken, usually called giblets, and the neck are typically removed from the bird before cooking and discarded. In many cases, they are removed before purchase, packaged in plastic and stored inside the abdominal cavity of the chicken.

Fried chicken is a classic favorite. While many recipes call for shortening, you don't have to make a special store run -- or spend lots of money -- to make fried chicken at home.

Chicken can be baked in the oven without using oil or butter. Use juice, wine and/or chicken stock in the baking dish instead, to flavor and moisten the chicken. Use chicken with or without skin. However, skipping the skin can cut calories and fat from your meal.

Cooking chicken breast is a tasty way to incorporate some of the recommended daily protein into your diet. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that each person is different in the amount of protein they need in their daily diet.

Kabobs are typically grilled, but you can also cook skewered meats and vegetables under the broiler for a quick indoor meal. The broiler in your oven heats much faster than the grill, especially if you typically use a charcoal grill.