When it comes to chicken meat, most people put through a blind taste test will not taste the difference between commercial and free-range chicken.

Another weird expression you must have heard when people try strange meat for the first time they will say, “it tastes like chicken.” But what should chicken taste like? Are some breeds more flavorful than others?

Cornish Cross is by far the most popular commercial chicken breed, whereas French Bresse chickens are regarded as the tastiest in the world. There are 21 chicken breeds that are either primarily utilized for meat production or are dual types that produce both meat and eggs.

We investigated the history of the various breeds and the average dressing weight before slaughtering the chickens. We also indicated how long they would take to be ready for slaughter.

Although taste and flavor are subjective, we included these 21 breeds in the taste profile since we believe most people will love them. Try these breeds for yourself and evaluate their taste and flavor.

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Best Meat Chickens For Maximum Flavor And Taste

Chicken Breeds 21 Best Meat Chickens You Should Try for Flavor and Taste

Looking for chicken meat packed with flavor can be challenging since we don’t all have the same taste preferences. Marbling is the distribution of microscopic flecks of fat within the flesh, which is most common in beef and some poultry.

Meat with more marbling is more tender, juicy, and tasty than meat with less marbling. Meat with more marbling is more tender, juicy, and tasty than meat with less.

Marbling is used in the context of poultry to define the quantity of intramuscular fat within the meat, which can alter the flavor and tenderness of the flesh. This term is not generally used for all chicken breeds.

However, marbling can be considered when selecting birds for meat production in certain more specialized meat breeds, such as the Cornish Cross and the Buckeye.

The Bresse Chicken

Bresse chicken and turkey products are protected by an AOC (Appelation d’Origine Controlee). As a result, they are regarded as the highest-grade table chicken in the world. Bresse hens are only raised in a 1500 square mile area of France from 4 bloodlines. They must meet stringent quality standards to carry the AOC classification.

The hens are fed for 91 days before being slaughtered, and they receive a milk diet the last few days to produce soft, mild-flavored meat. They mature faster than other breeds and can lay 250 eggs each year. However, the American Bresse Chickens come from one bloodline, and some farmers experience a dilution of the genetic makeup of these chickens. They grow slower than Cornish Cross but produce more flavorful meat.

History: Originates from the Bresse region in France and is prized for its meat quality and flavor.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 16-20 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a delicate texture

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Cornish Cross Chicken

The Cornish Cross, also known as a Broiler chicken, is a hybrid breed created by crossing Cornish chickens with Plymouth Rock roosters. Because of its rapid maturation and large size, this breed is an excellent investment with good feed conversion. This is the most common breed used for commercial meat production.

History: Developed by cross-breeding the Cornish and White Rock breeds in the 1950s for commercial meat production.

Dressing weight: 4-8 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 6-8 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: No, they are a hybrid breed and cannot reproduce.

The Buckeye Chicken

The Buckeye is the only pure American breed with a pea comb, which, combined with its stocky build, makes it an exceptionally cold hardy chicken. They are well-known for their meat production as well as their brown eggs.

History: The Buckeye Chicken was created in Ohio in the late nineteenth century for meat and egg production.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 8-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Dorking Chicken

This is an ancient British breed known for its meat production. Dorking is slow growing but produces flavorful meat.

History: Dorking is a British domestic chicken breed. Named after the town of Dorking in the English county of Surrey. An ancient breed valued for its meat.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 16-20 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Orpington Chicken

This large, meaty breed was developed in England for meat and egg production. They are known for their hardiness and docile personality.

History: The Orpington is a British chicken breed. Developed in the late 1800s by William Cook of Orpington, Kent, in southeast England. It was intended to be a breed raised for eggs and meat, but it quickly became a show bird.

Dressing weight: 6-8 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Plymouth Rock Chicken

The Plymouth Rock is a chicken strain developed in the United States. They were first discovered in Massachusetts in the nineteenth century. They were the most popular chicken breed kept in American households for much of the early twentieth century. This chicken is referred to as a “dual-purpose” bird because it can be used for meat and brown eggs.

History: It was developed in the United States in the late 1800s for meat and egg production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Sussex Chicken

Sussex is named after Sussex County, which is located in southern England. It’s one of the UK’s oldest breeds of chicken. Because it can be used for meat and eggs, the Sussex chicken is a popular breed in the United Kingdom.

History: It was developed in southern England and is one of the oldest chicken breeds in the UK

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 6-8 weeks

Flavor profile: Good texture, juicy, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Rhode Island Red Chicken

The Rhode Island Red chicken breed was developed by American farmers. The Rhode Island State Bird is the state’s official symbol. Breeding Asian birds like the Malay with Italian brown Leghorns resulted in the development of the Leghorn, which was first introduced to Massachusetts in the late 1800s. The procedure was carried out in both jurisdictions.

History: Developed in the United States for meat and egg production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The White Leghorn Chicken

The White Leghorn is an Italian breed known for its egg-laying ability. They are not typically used for meat production, but some people do use them for their meat. We included them here since some people like their meat flavor.

History: Originates from Italy and is known for its egg-laying ability.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 8-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Brown Leghorn Chicken

The Brown Leghorn is a strain of the White Leghorn that lays brown eggs. They are not typically used for meat production, but some people do use them for their meat.

History: Originates from Italy and is known for its egg-laying ability.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 8-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Delaware Chicken

The Delaware chicken is an American breed known for its meat and egg production. They are good layers of brown eggs.

History: Developed in the United States for meat production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The New Hampshire Red Chicken

The New Hampshire Red is an American breed known for its meat and egg production. They are hardy and are good layers of brown eggs.

History: Developed in the United States for meat production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Chantecler Chicken

The Chantecler is a Canadian breed developed for cold weather and meat production. They are also good layers of brown eggs.

History: Developed in Canada for cold weather and meat production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 16-20 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich and flavorful, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Freedom Rangers Chicken

The Freedom Rangers is a heritage breed explicitly developed for free-range meat production. They have an excellent feed-to-meat conversion ratio and are known for their foraging ability.

History: Developed specifically for free-range meat production in France.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 10-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a heritage breed and can reproduce.

The Egyptian Fayoumi Chicken

The Egyptian Fayoumi is an ancient breed prized for its meat, eggs, and hardiness. They are good layers and are often used in rural areas.

History: An ancient breed prized for its meat, eggs, and hardiness.

Dressing weight: 2-3 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 10-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Wyandotte Chicken

The Wyandotte chicken is an American breed known for its meat and egg production. They have a distinctive feather pattern and are known for their hardiness.

History: It was developed in the United States in the late 1800s for meat and egg production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Jersey Giant Chicken

The Jersey Giant is the largest purebred chicken breed, known for its size and meat production. However, they are slow growing and are not typically used for commercial meat production. If you are willing to wait and spend more on feed, this is a good size chicken to have.

History: Developed in the United States in the late 1800s as a meat bird.

Dressing weight: 8-12 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 16-20 weeks

Flavor profile: Rich, with a good amount of marbling

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Turken (Naked Neck) Chicken

The Turken (Naked neck) is a unique breed known for its featherless neck. They are a hardy breed used for meat and egg production.

History: A unique breed that is known for its featherless neck.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 8-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Croad Lanshan Chicken

The Croad Lanshan is a Chinese breed known for its meat production. They are fast-growing and have meaty bodies, and produce large eggs.

History: It Originates from China and is known for its meat and egg production.

Dressing weight: 4-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

The Kosher King Chicken

The Kosher King is a hybrid breed developed for the Kosher market. They are fast-growing and have a meaty body type. They are produced from the heritage breeds of Sussex and Barred Rock (aka Plymouth Rock).

History: Developed for Kosher meat production in Israel.

Dressing weight: 4-5 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 10-12 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they can reproduce.

The Ginger Broiler Chicken

The Ginger Broiler is a hybrid breed developed for meat production. They are comparable to the Cornish cross without some issues facing these fast-growing broilers. They have a meaty body type.

History: Developed in the United States for meat production.

Dressing weight: 3-6 pounds

Weeks to slaughter size: 12-16 weeks

Flavor profile: Mild and tender, with a delicate flavor

Can they reproduce: Yes, they are a purebred breed and can reproduce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Breed Of Chicken For Meat?

When selecting a breed of chicken for meat production, factors such as feed conversion efficiency, flesh-to-bone ratio, growth rate, and taste should all be considered. The Cornish Cross, Broiler, and Plymouth Rock are just a few of the most common commercial meat-producing breeds. The Cornish Cross is often regarded as the best meat breed due to its rapid growth rate, effective feed conversion, and high flesh-to-bone ratio.

What Is The Fastest Growing Meat Chicken?

The Cornish Cross is often regarded as the fastest-growing meat chicken due to its genetics, which was designed primarily for meat production. This is because its genetics were developed primarily for meat production. As a result, Cornish Cross hens reach a marketable weight in as little as six to eight weeks on average.

What Chickens Are Best For Meat And Eggs?

Breeds beneficial to meat and egg production include the Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, and Sussex. These breeds are well-known for their fast growth rates, high meat-to-bone ratios, efficient feed conversion rates, and egg-laying ability.

Can Any Chicken Be A Meat Chicken?

While any breed of chicken can be produced for meat, some varieties are better suited for meat production due to genetics created expressly for meat production. These breeds often have faster development rates, higher feed conversion efficiency, and a superior meat-to-bone ratio than egg-producing breeds. Furthermore, some breeds may have superior meat quality, taste, and texture.

Conclusion

When selecting a meat chicken breed, look for breeds with a lot of marbling, fat, well-defined muscles, a varied diet, an excellent flavor history, and personal preference. Taste and flavor are well-known within the Cornish Cross, Plymouth Rock, and Freedom Ranger breeds. However, because chicken has such a distinctive flavor, we recommend you try them all and decide which ones are your favorites.

When selecting a meat chicken breed, look for breeds with a lot of marbling, a lot of fat, well-defined muscles, a varied diet, an excellent flavor history, and personal preference. Taste and flavor are well-known within the Cornish Cross, Plymouth Rock, and Freedom Ranger breeds. However, because chicken has such a distinctive flavor, you should try them all and decide which ones are your favorites.

21 Best Meat Chickens You Should Try for Flavor and Taste