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

Chicken wings have 30.5 g of protein and 203 calories, while chicken thighs contain 24.8 g of protein and 179 calories. Thus, wings are higher in protein and calories.

Chicken wings and thighs are popular choices in poultry, each with distinct nutritional characteristics. This comparison examines their calorie counts, protein levels, and fat content per 100 g.

What Is the Difference Between Chicken Wing and Chicken Thigh?

A chicken wing is a part of the chicken that includes the wingtip, wingette, and drumette. It is often enjoyed fried, baked, or grilled. A chicken thigh is the upper part of the chicken leg, known for its rich flavor and tender texture. It can be cooked in various ways, including roasting and grilling.

Chicken Wing vs Chicken Thigh: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of chicken wings and thighs, highlighting their nutritional differences.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Chicken wing (roasted)	Chicken thigh (roasted)
Calories	203 kcal	179 kcal
Protein	30.5 g	24.8 g
Carbs	0 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	8.1 g	8.2 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	92 mg	106 mg

Which Is Better, Chicken Wing or Chicken Thigh?

For weight loss: Chicken thighs have 24 fewer calories than chicken wings, making them a slightly better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Chicken wings provide 30.5 g of protein, compared to 24.8 g in chicken thighs, making wings the better choice for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both chicken wings and thighs contain 0 g of carbohydrates and sugar, making them suitable for low-carb diets.

How to Track Chicken wing and Chicken thigh Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when consuming chicken, as cooking methods can alter nutritional values. 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. This information is intended to assist in understanding the nutritional content of these foods. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Chicken wings contain 30.5 g of protein, while chicken thighs have 24.8 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Chicken thighs have 179 calories, whereas chicken wings have 203 calories.

What is the fat content in chicken wings?

Chicken wings contain 8.1 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in chicken thighs?

Chicken thighs have 106 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Are chicken wings low in carbs?

Both chicken wings and thighs contain 0 g of carbohydrates.

What is the sugar content in chicken thighs?

Chicken thighs contain 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Chicken wings: 203 calories per 100 g.
• Chicken thighs: 179 calories per 100 g.
• Chicken wings: 30.5 g of protein.
• Chicken thighs: 24.8 g of protein.
• Both contain 0 g of carbohydrates.
• Chicken wings have 8.1 g of fat, while thighs have 8.2 g.