Chicken Breast vs Chicken Thigh: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Chicken breast contains 31.0 g of protein and 165 calories, while chicken thigh has 24.8 g of protein and 179 calories. Chicken breast is higher in protein and lower in calories.

Chicken breast and chicken thigh are popular poultry choices, each offering distinct nutritional profiles. Understanding their differences can help in meal planning and dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Chicken Breast and Chicken Thigh?

Chicken breast is the lean meat from the breast of the chicken, known for its high protein content and low fat. It is commonly used in various dishes for its versatility. Chicken thigh is the meat from the upper leg of the chicken, which tends to be richer in flavor and higher in fat compared to chicken breast. It is often preferred for its juiciness.

Chicken Breast vs Chicken Thigh: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of chicken breast and chicken thigh, highlighting their nutritional differences.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Chicken breast (roasted, skinless)	Chicken thigh (roasted)
Calories	165 kcal	179 kcal
Protein	31.0 g	24.8 g
Carbs	0 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	3.6 g	8.2 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	74 mg	106 mg

Which Is Better, Chicken Breast or Chicken Thigh?

For weight loss: Chicken breast has 165 calories per 100 g, while chicken thigh has 179 calories. Choosing chicken breast may be more beneficial for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Chicken breast offers 31.0 g of protein per 100 g, compared to 24.8 g in chicken thigh. Therefore, chicken breast is better for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both chicken breast and chicken thigh contain 0 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of sugar. They are suitable options for low-carb diets.

How to Track Chicken breast and Chicken thigh Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easy to misjudge, impacting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use, not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein, chicken breast or chicken thigh?

Chicken breast has 31.0 g of protein, while chicken thigh has 24.8 g of protein. Therefore, chicken breast has more protein.

Which has fewer calories, chicken breast or chicken thigh?

Chicken breast contains 165 calories, whereas chicken thigh contains 179 calories. Thus, chicken breast has fewer calories.

What is the fat content in chicken breast and chicken thigh?

Chicken breast has 3.6 g of fat, while chicken thigh has 8.2 g of fat. Chicken breast is lower in fat.

How much sodium is in chicken breast compared to chicken thigh?

Chicken breast contains 74 mg of sodium, whereas chicken thigh contains 106 mg of sodium. Chicken breast has less sodium.

Are there any carbohydrates in chicken breast or chicken thigh?

Both chicken breast and chicken thigh contain 0 g of carbohydrates. They are both carb-free options.

What is the sugar content in chicken breast and chicken thigh?

Both chicken breast and chicken thigh contain 0 g of sugar. They are suitable for low-sugar diets.

Key Takeaways

• Chicken breast has 165 calories per 100 g.
• Chicken thigh has 179 calories per 100 g.
• Chicken breast contains 31.0 g of protein.
• Chicken thigh contains 24.8 g of protein.
• Chicken breast has 3.6 g of fat.
• Chicken thigh has 8.2 g of fat.