A Traditional Whole Animal Food Worth Rediscovering
Chicken hearts have been enjoyed across cultures for generations. Nutrient dense, flavorful and surprisingly easy to prepare, they are also a popular whole food option for pets.
Traditional Whole Food
Chicken hearts are part of a long tradition of using the whole animal rather than allowing nutrient rich cuts to go to waste.
Nutritional Highlights
Naturally rich in protein, iron and B vitamins, with naturally occurring nutrients including CoQ10.
Easy to Prepare
Grill on skewers, sauté with butter and garlic, roast, or add to soups and stews for a rich, meaty bite.
Popular for Pets
Chicken hearts are commonly used as whole food treats or as part of thoughtfully prepared diets for dogs and cats.
Learn More About Chicken Hearts
Chicken Heart Nutrition
Chicken hearts are a nutrient dense animal food that naturally provides protein, iron and several B vitamins, including vitamin B12.
They also contain naturally occurring CoQ10, along with minerals such as selenium and zinc. Their concentration of nutrients is one reason heart and other organ meats have traditionally been valued as part of whole animal eating.
Why Traditional Diets Included Chicken Hearts
In many traditional food cultures, using the whole animal was simply part of everyday cooking. Hearts, livers and other nutrient rich cuts were incorporated into meals rather than discarded.
Chicken hearts have been grilled over open flames, threaded onto skewers, sautéed, simmered in soups and added to slow cooked dishes in cuisines around the world.
Cooking Tips
Chicken hearts have a firm, meaty texture and are easy to work with once trimmed and seasoned.
- Grill: Marinate and thread onto skewers before grilling.
- Sauté: Cook with butter, garlic, onions and herbs for a simple preparation.
- Roast: Season and roast for an easy hands off option.
- Soups and stews: Add to broths and slow cooked dishes for additional richness.
Chicken Hearts for Pets
Chicken hearts are popular with pet owners because they are a nutrient dense animal food that dogs and cats often find highly palatable.
They naturally contain protein, taurine and other nutrients found in animal tissue. Depending on your pet's feeding plan, chicken hearts may be served cooked, dehydrated as treats, or incorporated into a properly balanced whole food diet.
Because individual animals have different nutritional needs, larger dietary changes should be made with guidance from a veterinarian or qualified animal nutrition professional.
Storage & Handling
Keep chicken hearts refrigerated or frozen according to the package instructions. Thaw frozen hearts in the refrigerator and handle them using the same food safety practices used for other raw poultry.
Keep the product cold until you are ready to prepare or portion it.
Windy Meadows Family Farm
What began in 2001 as one family's desire to enjoy truly good chicken again grew into something much bigger.
Mike and Connie Hale built Windy Meadows alongside their eight children on 42 acres in East Texas. Over the years, many of those children have returned to the farm as adults, helping care for the birds, manage processing, serve customers, and carry the family's work into the next generation.
Their chickens are moved to fresh pasture every day, giving them new ground to forage while receiving carefully sourced non GMO feed. Processing takes place right on the farm in their USDA inspected facility, allowing the Hale family to remain closely involved from pasture to finished product.
For us, Windy Meadows represents what local food is supposed to feel like: a real family, deeply connected to their land and taking responsibility for the food they raise for other families.
See Windy Meadows in Action
Take a closer look at the farm and see how their chickens are raised on pasture in East Texas.