Cornish Hen vs Chicken Breast: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Cornish hen has 22.3 g of protein, while chicken breast has 31.0 g. Cornish hen has 259 calories, whereas chicken breast has 165 calories.

Cornish hen and chicken breast are popular poultry options, each offering different nutritional benefits. Understanding their calorie and protein content can help inform dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Cornish Hen and Chicken Breast?

A Cornish hen is a young chicken, typically weighing about 2 pounds, known for its tender meat and rich flavor. It is often roasted whole and served as a delicacy. Chicken breast is a lean cut of meat from the chicken, prized for its high protein content and low fat. It is commonly used in various dishes due to its versatility.

Cornish Hen vs Chicken Breast: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Cornish hen and chicken breast nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Cornish hen (roasted)	Chicken breast (roasted, skinless)
Calories	259 kcal	165 kcal
Protein	22.3 g	31.0 g
Carbs	0 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	18.2 g	3.6 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	64 mg	74 mg

Which Is Better, Cornish Hen or Chicken Breast?

For weight loss: Chicken breast is lower in calories with 165 calories compared to Cornish hen's 259 calories.

For muscle and protein: Chicken breast provides more protein at 31.0 g, while Cornish hen offers 22.3 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both Cornish hen and chicken breast contain 0 g of carbs and sugar.

How to Track Cornish hen and Chicken breast Accurately

It can be easy to misjudge portion sizes and macronutrient content when preparing poultry dishes. 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 from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Chicken breast has more protein at 31.0 g compared to Cornish hen's 22.3 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Chicken breast has fewer calories at 165 compared to Cornish hen's 259.

What is the fat content of Cornish hen?

Cornish hen contains 18.2 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in chicken breast?

Chicken breast has 74 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Do both have carbs?

Both Cornish hen and chicken breast have 0 g of carbs.

How much sugar is in Cornish hen?

Cornish hen contains 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Cornish hen has 259 calories per 100 g.
• Chicken breast has 165 calories per 100 g.
• Cornish hen provides 22.3 g of protein.
• Chicken breast provides 31.0 g of protein.
• Both contain 0 g of carbs and sugar.
• Cornish hen has 18.2 g of fat, while chicken breast has 3.6 g.