| Measure | Chicken breast | Chicken thigh |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 3 oz cooked (85 g) | 3 oz cooked (85 g) |
| Protein per serving | 26.4 g | 21.1 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 31 g | 24.8 g |
| Calories per serving | 140 kcal | 152 kcal |
| Protein density | 75% of calories | 55% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 53% | 42% |
| Protein quality | Complete | Complete |
| Category | Meat & poultry | Meat & poultry |
Compare foods · Chicken breast · Chicken thigh
Protein comparison
Chicken breast vs Chicken thigh: which has more protein?
Chicken breast gives you 26.4 g of protein per 3 oz cooked; chicken thigh gives you 21.1 g per 3 oz cooked. On equal weight it is 31 g against 24.8 g per 100 g. The full side-by-side, from the same USDA-sourced records as the rest of the site:
The verdict
Chicken breast has more protein on equal weight: 31 g per 100 g against chicken thigh's 24.8 g, a lead of 6.2 g. Per typical serving, chicken breast delivers 26.4 g (3 oz cooked) to chicken thigh's 21.1 g (3 oz cooked), a difference of 5.3 g.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in chicken breast and protein in chicken thigh pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Chicken breast vs Chicken thigh FAQ
Which has more protein, chicken breast or chicken thigh?
Chicken breast has more protein per 100 g: 31 g against 24.8 g. Per typical serving, chicken breast provides 26.4 g (3 oz cooked) and chicken thigh provides 21.1 g (3 oz cooked).
Is chicken breast or chicken thigh more protein-dense?
Chicken breast is the more protein-dense of the two: about 75% of its calories come from protein, against 55% for chicken thigh.
Are chicken breast and chicken thigh complete proteins?
Yes, both. Chicken breast and chicken thigh each supply all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so either can carry a meal's protein on its own.
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