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

Chicken Parmesan contains 206 calories and 19 g of protein, while Chicken Breast has 165 calories and 31 g of protein. Chicken Breast is higher in protein and lower in calories.

This comparison examines the nutritional profiles of Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Breast. Both are popular chicken dishes, but they differ significantly in calories, protein content, and other nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Breast?

Chicken Parmesan is a breaded and fried chicken cutlet topped with marinara sauce and cheese. It is often served with pasta or a side salad. Chicken Breast is a lean cut of poultry that is low in fat and high in protein. It is commonly grilled, baked, or sautéed and is a staple in many diets.

Chicken Parmesan vs Chicken Breast: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Breast's nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Chicken parmesan	Chicken breast (roasted, skinless)
Calories	206 kcal	165 kcal
Protein	19 g	31.0 g
Carbs	7.8 g	0 g
Sugar	2.9 g	0 g
Fat	10.9 g	3.6 g
Fiber	0.9 g	0 g
Sodium	467 mg	74 mg

Which Is Better, Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Breast?

For weight loss: Chicken Breast has 165 calories, which is 41 fewer than Chicken Parmesan's 206 calories, making it a better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Chicken Breast provides 31.0 g of protein, significantly higher than Chicken Parmesan's 19 g, making it preferable for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Chicken Breast contains 0 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar, while Chicken Parmesan has 7.8 g of carbs and 2.9 g of sugar, making Chicken Breast the lower option.

How to Track Chicken parmesan and Chicken breast Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easily misjudged, affecting 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 presented are rounded reference values for educational use only and are not intended as medical advice. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Chicken Breast has 31.0 g of protein, while Chicken Parmesan has 19 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Chicken Breast has 165 calories, whereas Chicken Parmesan has 206 calories.

What are the carb contents?

Chicken Breast contains 0 g of carbs, while Chicken Parmesan contains 7.8 g of carbs.

What is the fat content in each?

Chicken Parmesan has 10.9 g of fat, while Chicken Breast has 3.6 g of fat.

How much sodium is in Chicken Parmesan?

Chicken Parmesan contains 467 mg of sodium.

How much sugar is in Chicken Parmesan?

Chicken Parmesan has 2.9 g of sugar, while Chicken Breast has 0 g of sugar.

Key Takeaways

• Chicken Parmesan: 206 calories, 19 g protein, 7.8 g carbs, 10.9 g fat.
• Chicken Breast: 165 calories, 31.0 g protein, 0 g carbs, 3.6 g fat.
• Chicken Breast is lower in calories by 41.
• Chicken Breast has 12 g more protein than Chicken Parmesan.
• Chicken Breast has 0 g of sugar compared to Chicken Parmesan's 2.9 g.
• Chicken Parmesan has significantly higher sodium at 467 mg.