Look around America — chicken’s everywhere! Whether it’s broiled, baked, fried or floating in our soup, we can’t seem to get enough. In fact, Smithsonian magazine recently called chicken “the ubiquitous food of our era, crossing multiple cultural boundaries with ease.” Still, we don’t often stop to appreciate this delicious protein source. This September, get ready to celebrate National Chicken Month and spend time discovering the past, present, and future of our favorite food.
National Chicken Month timeline
McDonald's introduces their chicken nuggets
Guess which city came up with this. Hint: Ever heard of "Buffalo" wings?
The American creation of chicken Cordon Bleu made its debut as an airline food
The first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was established in North Corbin, Kentucky
National Chicken Month Activities
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Host a chicken potluck
Invite some friends over. The only requirement here is that every dish should incorporate chicken in some way.
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Go out for chicken and waffles
Whether dining out for chicken and waffles on Sunday is part of your weekly routine, or if you've never even tried it before, National Chicken Month is the perfect time order a plate of this sweet (and savory) goodness.
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Learn a new recipe
There are seemingly endless ways to prepare chicken, so during this month, make it a point to learn how to make a recipe you've never tried before. It's always fun to add a new dish to your repertoire.
5 Finger Lickin' Facts About Chicken
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That's a lot of chicken
The average American eats around 83 pounds of chicken per year
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Wildly popular
Chicken is the most widely consumed form of poultry throughout the entire world
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Wings and football
In 2012, over 1.25 billion chicken wings were consumed during Super Bowl weekend
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Chicken soup is good for the soul
For chicken soup manufacturers, cold and flu season generates over half of their revenue
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Americans like their chicken
Over half of the entrees ordered in restaurants are for some form of chicken dish
Why We Love National Chicken Month
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Chicken's easy to find
Check out just about any grocery store or restaurant menu, and you're sure to find chicken somewhere. It's practically always available and affordable.
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Chicken's good for your head
Chicken is high in Vitamin B — which is linked to promoting psychological health. This essential nutrient also helps fight off anxiety, stress, and even memory loss.
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It's tasty
When seasoned properly, chicken is simply scrumptious. People all over the world have their own ways to prepare poultry, so whether you're in the mood for chicken fried rice, chicken marsala, or some crispy fried chicken, your taste buds are in for a treat.
National Chicken Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | September 1 | Friday |
| 2024 | September 1 | Sunday |
| 2025 | September 1 | Monday |
| 2026 | September 1 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | September 1 | Wednesday |
