| Measure | Ground beef (90% lean) | Ground chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 3 oz cooked (85 g) | 3 oz cooked (85 g) |
| Protein per serving | 22.2 g | 19.8 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 26.1 g | 23.3 g |
| Calories per serving | 184 kcal | 161 kcal |
| Protein density | 48% of calories | 49% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 44% | 40% |
| Protein quality | Complete | Complete |
| Category | Meat & poultry | Meat & poultry |
Compare foods · Ground beef (90% lean) · Ground chicken
Protein comparison
Ground beef (90% lean) vs Ground chicken: which has more protein?
Ground beef (90% lean) gives you 22.2 g of protein per 3 oz cooked; ground chicken gives you 19.8 g per 3 oz cooked. On equal weight it is 26.1 g against 23.3 g per 100 g. The full side-by-side, from the same USDA-sourced records as the rest of the site:
The verdict
Ground beef (90% lean) has more protein on equal weight: 26.1 g per 100 g against ground chicken's 23.3 g, a lead of 2.8 g. Per typical serving, ground beef (90% lean) delivers 22.2 g (3 oz cooked) to ground chicken's 19.8 g (3 oz cooked), a difference of 2.4 g.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in ground beef (90% lean) and protein in ground chicken pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Ground beef (90% lean) vs Ground chicken FAQ
Which has more protein, ground beef (90% lean) or ground chicken?
Ground beef (90% lean) has more protein per 100 g: 26.1 g against 23.3 g. Per typical serving, ground beef (90% lean) provides 22.2 g (3 oz cooked) and ground chicken provides 19.8 g (3 oz cooked).
Is ground beef (90% lean) or ground chicken more protein-dense?
Ground chicken is the more protein-dense of the two: about 49% of its calories come from protein, against 48% for ground beef (90% lean).
Are ground beef (90% lean) and ground chicken complete proteins?
Yes, both. Ground beef (90% lean) and ground chicken 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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