As parents, we strive to provide our families with both delicious and nutritious meals. When it comes to meat choices, chicken and lamb are two popular options that find their way onto dinner tables around the world. But what sets these two types of meat apart?
The biggest difference between these two meats is that lamb tends to be higher in fat with about 9 grams in a 100-gram serving, while chicken is much lower with about 3.6 grams per 100-gram serving. Both chicken and lamb also differ in flavor, texture, and how they're cooked.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
So, whether you're planning a weeknight dinner or a special family gathering, understanding the difference between these two types of meat will help you prepare a meal that everyone will love. Let's dive in and unravel the secrets behind these two delectable choices: chicken and lamb meat.
Chicken vs. Lamb: What are the Differences?
As mentioned, chicken and lamb are both delicious types of meat that are used in many different recipes. However, each meat offers a different taste and texture. Chicken has a mild and neutral flavor, while lamb has a distinct and rich flavor with a slightly gamey taste. Additionally, chicken tends to be more tender while lamb is slightly tougher with a firmer texture.
Let's take a closer look at each meat and what sets them apart.
What is Chicken?
©iStock.com/voltan1
Chicken meat is widely consumed and known for its versatility, mild flavor, and tender texture. It is one of the most popular and widely available meats worldwide.
Taste and Flavor
Chicken is wildly known for its mild flavor. The mildness of chicken makes it a meat that easily absorbs the flavors of spices, marinades, and sauces used in cooking. Its subtle taste makes chicken a great choice for various recipes, allowing it to complement a wide range of flavors and cuisines.
Texture and Tenderness
It's important to note that different parts of the chicken provide distinct textures. For example, light meat such as the breast tends to be lean and have a smoother texture, while dark meat, like the thighs and drumsticks, is slightly fattier with a firmer texture.
Different Cuts
There are numerous different cuts of chicken that can be cooked and consumed. For instance, a whole chicken can be cooked and served by itself, offering both dark and white meat options. Other common cuts of chicken include the breast, tenderloin, back, wing, leg, drumstick, and thigh. Depending on which cut you choose will determine if you consume light or dark meat.
There are also a few more cuts of chicken that are much less common, but still available. These cuts include the neck, tail, giblets, and feet.
Cooking Methods
Chicken is known for its vast versatility. This tender and mild meat can be grilled, baked, fried, sautéd, roasted, or boiled. It can also be used in numerous dishes including stir-fries, soups, stews, salads, sandwiches, curries, and more.
Chicken is also known for its ability to cook quickly. Generally, chicken cooks relatively quickly compared to most other meats, making it a convenient option for busy households.
It's important to handle and cook chicken properly to ensure food safety. According to the USDA, chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) which helps eliminate any potential foodborne pathogens.
What is Lamb?
©Natalia Lisovskaya/Shutterstock.com
Lamb meat is highly regarded in some parts of the world for its distinct flavor and richness. It's also considered to be the meat from a young sheep (aged a year or less), while mutton refers to the meat from an adult sheep. Like chicken, lamb is an extremely versatile meat that can be used in various dishes.
Taste and Flavor
Lamb has a unique and pronounced flavor that sets it apart from other meats. It's often described as slightly gamey with a rich and savory taste. It's important to note that the flavor of lamb can vary depending on factors such as the animal's diet, age, and breed. For example, grass-fed lamb may have a more herbaceous taste compared to grain-fed lamb.
Texture and Tenderness
Like chicken, lamb meat has a varied texture depending on the cut and cooking method. Some cuts, like the loin or lamb rack, are quite tender, while other areas, like the shoulder or leg, tend to be tougher and require a longer cooking method.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Unlike chicken, however, lamb often contains some marbling, which refers to intramuscular fat. This marbling adds flavor and juiciness to the meat.
Different Cuts
There are several different cuts of lamb that are well-known and popular. As mentioned, cooking methods and texture can vary depending on the cut and where it's located on the lamb.
According to TruBeef Organic, there are 8 popular cuts of lamb. These include the leg of lamb, lamb rack, lamb rib chops, lamb loin chop, lamb shoulder, lamb shoulder chops, lamb shank, and lamb neck.
Cooking Methods
Again, depending on the cut and your personal preference, there are many different ways to cook lamb meat. Like chicken, though, lamb is very versatile and can be grilled, roasted, braised, stewed, and even barbecued. Tougher cuts will require slower cooking methods, like roasting or smoking.
Lamb is prominently featured in many cuisines around the world including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, and North African cuisines. It's also used in dishes such as roasts, stews, kebabs, curries, and more.
Chicken vs. Lamb: Nutritional Value
When considering which meat is healthier, chicken or lamb, there are various different measurements to keep in mind. For instance, both types of meat are high in protein, making them an ideal choice for a high-protein diet. But they do alter in terms of fat and calories.
As a breakdown, a 3.5-ounce (100 g) serving of roasted lamb has 258 calories, 25.6 grams of protein, 16.5 grams of fat, and 0 grams of carbohydrates, sugar, or fiber according to Healthline.
Chicken can be hard to compare as a whole because the nutritional information changes depending on if you're consuming the leaner light meat or the fattier dark meat. In general, Healthline reports that a 3.5-ounce (100 g) serving of chicken breast has 165 calories, 31 grams of protein, and 3.6 grams of fat.
Comparing the numbers side to side shows that chicken breast is lighter in calories and fat, and higher in protein than lamb. Which meat you choose is up to you and your personal dietary guidelines.
Can you Substitute Chicken for Lamb?
In general, yes, these two types of meat can be substituted for each other in various recipes. This of course depends on your personal preference and dietary requirements.
Keep in mind, however, that substituting chicken for lamb and vice versa may alter the flavor and texture of your dish. For instance, because chicken tends to be milder and less flavorful than lamb, you may want to adjust your seasonings or spices when substituting one meat for the other in your dish.
Additionally, chicken has a shorter cooking time than lamb, which may alter how you prepare your dish and how long it takes the meat to finish cooking.
Chicken Recipes
Print
Chicken a la King Casserole
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading…
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked wide egg noodles
1 can (10¾ ounces) reduced fat reduced sodium condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
⅔ cup fat free evaporated milk
6 ounces cubed reduced fat process cheese (Velveeta)
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 cup sliced celery
¼ cup chopped green pepper
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
⅓ cup dry bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
¼ cup slivered almonds
Instructions
1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the soup and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted.
3. Add the chicken, celery, green pepper, and pimientos to the soup mixture.
4. Drain noodles; add to chicken mixture and mix well. Transfer to a shallow 2 qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 400° for 20 minutes.
5. Toss bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over the top. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake, uncovered, for 10 15 minutes or until heated through and golden.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 306
- Sodium: 405mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 72mg
Lamb Recipes
Final Thoughts
- Chicken generally has fewer calories than lamb, making it a great choice for those watching their caloric intake.
- Lamb is lower in protein than chicken, although both still have a considerable amount of protein.
- Chicken is known for its mild tenderness, while lamb has a gamey and rich taste.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between chicken and lamb, it's important to consider their differences in fat content, flavor, texture, and cooking methods. Chicken offers a mild flavor and tender texture, making it a highly versatile meat that easily absorbs other flavors and spices. Lamb, on the other hand, boasts a distinctive and rich flavor, with a slightly gamey taste. Whether you're seeking the delicate taste of chicken or the robustness of lamb, both types of meat offer opportunities to craft delicious and nutritious meals that will be enjoyed by all.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dream79/Shutterstock.com.