| Measure | Chicken breast | Lamb shank |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 3 oz cooked (85 g) | 3 oz cooked (85 g) |
| Protein per serving | 26.4 g | 26.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 31 g | 31 g |
| Calories per serving | 140 kcal | 159 kcal |
| Protein density | 75% of calories | 66% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 53% | 53% |
| Protein quality | Complete | Complete |
| Category | Meat & poultry | Meat & poultry |
Compare foods · Chicken breast · Lamb shank
Protein comparison
Chicken breast vs Lamb shank: which has more protein?
Chicken breast gives you 26.4 g of protein per 3 oz cooked; lamb shank gives you 26.4 g per 3 oz cooked. On equal weight it is 31 g against 31 g per 100 g. The full side-by-side, from the same USDA-sourced records as the rest of the site:
The verdict
On equal weight this is close to a tie: chicken breast has 31 g of protein per 100 g and lamb shank has 31 g. Per typical serving they are also nearly even: 26.4 g per 3 oz cooked of chicken breast against 26.4 g per 3 oz cooked of lamb shank.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in chicken breast and protein in lamb shank pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Chicken breast vs Lamb shank FAQ
Which has more protein, chicken breast or lamb shank?
On equal weight they match: both carry 31 g of protein per 100 g. Per typical serving, chicken breast has 26.4 g (3 oz cooked) and lamb shank has 26.4 g (3 oz cooked).
Is chicken breast or lamb shank more protein-dense?
Chicken breast is the more protein-dense of the two: about 75% of its calories come from protein, against 66% for lamb shank.
Are chicken breast and lamb shank complete proteins?
Yes, both. Chicken breast and lamb shank 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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