Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev
Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev features a crunchy panko crust that gives way to juicy chicken and a molten center of garlic-parsley butter. The balance of aromatic herbs, gentle heat from cayenne, and rich butter makes each bite luxurious without feeling heavy. Serve for a special dinner or a celebratory meal when you want timeless comfort with a polished finish.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 13 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 27 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 29
- Heart Health
- 66
- Metabolic
- 33
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 27
- Performance
- 30
- General Wellness
- 1
Gather all the ingredients.
- 2
Grind the garlic and a pinch of salt together in a mortar and pestle until smooth; add the parsley and mix well. Pound the butter into the garlic mixture with the pestle until fully combined. Wrap the butter mixture in plastic wrap; refrigerate until cold, at least 15 minutes.
- 3
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place 1/4 of the butter mixture in the center of the wider end of each chicken breast.
- 4
Fold the narrower end of each chicken breast up over the butter to form a tight pocket around it; gather the sides of each chicken breast toward the center to shape a round ball. The top of each chicken ball should be smooth and the bottom gathered. Tightly wrap each chicken ball in plastic wrap; set on a plate and chill in the freezer until the gathered bottoms hold together and are slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
- 5
Whisk the flour and 2 teaspoons salt together in a shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs together in another shallow bowl. Pour the panko bread crumbs into a third bowl.
- 6
Remove the chicken breast balls from the plastic wrap. Gently press them into the flour mixture to coat; shake off any excess flour. Dip into the beaten eggs, then press into the bread crumbs. Place the breaded chicken on a plate; cover with plastic wrap, and return to the freezer to chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
- 7
Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Working in batches, place the chicken, gathered-side down, in the hot oil and cook until lightly golden, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle salt and cayenne pepper over the top.
- 8
Bake in the preheated oven until you can hear the butter begin to sizzle on the baking sheet, 15 to 17 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- 9
Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Calories 1852.06 kcal High 93%
- Protein 68.17 g Good Source 136%
- Carbohydrate 103.83 g 38%
- Total Fat 130.79 g High 168%
- Saturated Fat 26.85 g High 134%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 301.01 mg High 100%
- Sodium 334.36 mg Moderate 15%
- Dietary Fiber 4.04 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 2.73 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 83.91 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 4.82 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 98.85 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin A 175.78 mcg Moderate 20%
- Vitamin C 13.01 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin D 0.52 mcg Low Source 3%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev is made with 11 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Chicken Breast. Each serving provides about 1852.06 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Breast, Eggs. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev?
- About 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1852.06 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev healthy?
- Chef John's Classic Chicken Kiev has an easyChef Pro health score of 36/100. Per serving, it provides 1852.06 calories and 68.17 g of protein, or 136% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 334.36 mg (15% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 26.85 g (134% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required