A more circular food system is proposed to feed the growing human population within planetary boundaries. Exploring the circularity of broiler production shows a high efficiency with low recycling and self-sufficiency. It’s decoupling from feed production causes nutrient disbalances with detrimental environmental impact at both feed and broiler production sites. Broilers high feed quality requirements limit the use of recycled ingredients, and competition with food production limits their contribution to food system resource use efficiency. Feeding more non-competing ingredients has limited potential under current productivity, as high quality non-competing feed is scarce and reducing broiler productivity limits their benefit over other species. A Dutch case study shows broilers play a significant role in a food system redesigned to meet environmental goals and maintain meat consumption. Reducing meat consumption to a level sustained with only non-competing feed further reduced environmental impacts of the Dutch food system, but eliminated broiler production.