Chicken-Fried Steak vs Fried Chicken: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)
Chicken-fried steak and fried chicken are compared nutritionally.
Fried chicken is higher in protein at 33.4 g compared to chicken-fried steak's 12 g. Chicken-fried steak has more calories at 280, while fried chicken has 187.
Chicken-fried steak and fried chicken are popular comfort foods, each with distinct nutritional profiles. This comparison examines their calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content per 100 g.
What Is the Difference Between Chicken-Fried Steak and Fried Chicken?
Chicken-fried steak is a breaded and fried cut of beef, typically served with gravy. It is a Southern dish known for its rich flavor and hearty texture. Fried chicken is chicken that has been battered or breaded and deep-fried until golden brown. It is a widely enjoyed dish, known for its crispy exterior and juicy meat.
Chicken-Fried Steak vs Fried Chicken: Nutrition Side by Side
The following table presents a side-by-side comparison of chicken-fried steak and fried chicken based on their nutritional values.
| Nutrient (per 100 g) | Chicken-fried steak | Fried chicken breast |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 280 kcal | 187 kcal |
| Protein | 12 g | 33.4 g |
| Carbs | 14 g | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 1 g | 0 g |
| Fat | 19 g | 4.7 g |
| Fiber | 0.8 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 79 mg |
Which Is Better, Chicken-Fried Steak or Fried Chicken?
For weight loss: Fried chicken has fewer calories at 187 compared to chicken-fried steak's 280. This makes fried chicken a better choice for those focused on calorie reduction.
For muscle and protein: Fried chicken provides significantly more protein at 33.4 g, while chicken-fried steak contains only 12 g. This makes fried chicken more suitable for muscle building.
For low-carb or low-sugar: Fried chicken has very low carbohydrates at 0.5 g and no sugar, while chicken-fried steak contains 14 g of carbs and 1 g of sugar. Fried chicken is preferable for low-carb diets.
How to Track Chicken-fried steak and Fried chicken Accurately
Portion sizes and macro content can be easily misjudged, leading to inaccurate dietary assessments. 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 and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary recommendations. Values are per 100 g: Chicken-fried steak from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries), Fried chicken from USDA FoodData Central.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which has more protein?
Fried chicken has more protein at 33.4 g compared to chicken-fried steak's 12 g.
Which has fewer calories?
Fried chicken has fewer calories at 187, while chicken-fried steak has 280 calories.
What is the fat content of chicken-fried steak?
Chicken-fried steak contains 19 g of fat per 100 g.
What is the sodium content in fried chicken?
Fried chicken has a sodium content of 79 mg per 100 g.
How much sugar is in chicken-fried steak?
Chicken-fried steak contains 1 g of sugar per 100 g.
What is the fiber content in fried chicken?
Fried chicken contains 0 g of fiber per 100 g.
Key Takeaways
- Chicken-fried steak: 280 calories, 12 g protein, 14 g carbs.
- Fried chicken: 187 calories, 33.4 g protein, 0.5 g carbs.
- Chicken-fried steak: 19 g fat, 1 g sugar, 500 mg sodium.
- Fried chicken: 4.7 g fat, 0 g sugar, 79 mg sodium.
- Chicken-fried steak has 0.8 g fiber, fried chicken has 0 g fiber.
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