Short Ribs vs Brisket: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Brisket has 331 calories and 25.9 g of protein, while short ribs have 250 calories and 28.8 g of protein. Short ribs are lower in calories.

Short ribs and brisket are popular cuts of beef, each with unique flavors and textures. This comparison highlights their nutritional differences per 100 grams.

What Is the Difference Between Short Ribs and Brisket?

Short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the lower portion of the rib cage. They are known for their rich flavor and tenderness when cooked properly. Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef. It is known for its tough texture that becomes tender when slow-cooked.

Short Ribs vs Brisket: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table presents a side-by-side comparison of short ribs and brisket, focusing on their nutritional content.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Beef short ribs (braised)	Beef brisket (braised)
Calories	250 kcal	331 kcal
Protein	28.8 g	25.9 g
Carbs	0 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	14.9 g	24.5 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	75 mg	64 mg

Which Is Better, Short Ribs or Brisket?

For weight loss: Short ribs contain 250 calories per 100 g, while brisket has 331 calories. Therefore, short ribs are the better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Short ribs provide 28.8 g of protein per 100 g, compared to brisket's 25.9 g. Thus, short ribs are higher in protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both short ribs and brisket contain 0 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar. They are suitable for low-carb or low-sugar diets.

How to Track Short ribs and Brisket Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when enjoying these rich cuts of meat. 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 only, not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Short ribs have 28.8 g of protein, while brisket has 25.9 g. Therefore, short ribs have more protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Short ribs contain 250 calories, whereas brisket contains 331 calories. Thus, short ribs have fewer calories.

What is the fat content in brisket?

Brisket has 24.5 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sodium is in short ribs?

Short ribs contain 75 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Do both cuts have sugar?

Both short ribs and brisket contain 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the carbohydrate content in short ribs?

Short ribs contain 0 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Short ribs: 250 calories per 100 g.
• Brisket: 331 calories per 100 g.
• Short ribs: 28.8 g of protein per 100 g.
• Brisket: 25.9 g of protein per 100 g.
• Both cuts have 0 g of carbs and sugar.
• Short ribs have 75 mg of sodium, while brisket has 64 mg.