What is the protein concentration of chicken?

Protein Concentration of Chicken

Chicken contains approximately 22-28 grams of protein per 3-ounce (85g) serving, with chicken breast providing the highest concentration at 27g per 3 oz, followed by turkey at 28g, chicken thigh at 22g, and various preparations ranging from 16.81-32.36g per 100g depending on the cut and cooking method. 1, 2

Protein Content by Chicken Cut

The protein concentration varies significantly by chicken part:

• Chicken breast (raw): 27g protein per 3 oz serving 1
• Chicken thigh (raw): 22g protein per 3 oz serving 1
• Whole chicken parts (raw): Range from 16.81-32.36g per 100g depending on the specific cut 2

These values represent high-quality, complete protein sources with excellent biological value, as chicken is classified among animal proteins that contain all essential amino acids at levels that facilitate tissue growth and repair. 1

Impact of Cooking Methods on Protein Content

Cooking significantly affects the final protein concentration due to moisture loss and weight changes:

• Roasted chicken breast: Shows the highest protein and amino acid content among cooked preparations 2
• Retention rates: Range from 77-91% depending on the cooking method and chicken part 2
• Weight loss: Occurs with all cooking methods, which concentrates the protein content per unit weight 2

The lowest retention rates were observed with roasting (83% for isoleucine in wings, 77% for isoleucine and lysine in legs), while steaming preserved the most protein (91% retention in breast). 2

Protein Quality and Digestibility

Chicken demonstrates excellent protein quality metrics:

• Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER): Chicken breast scores 3.07, ranking among the highest quality proteins alongside eggs (3.24), beef sirloin (3.16), and lamb (3.11) 3
• Digestibility: Ileal protein digestibility in dogs reaches 88.9-90.5%, with essential amino acid digestibility of 91.7-92.7% 4
• Biological value: As an animal protein source, chicken ranks high in biological value with complete essential amino acid profiles 1

Phosphorus-to-Protein Ratio

An important nutritional consideration for certain populations:

• Chicken breast: 7.3 mg phosphorus per gram of protein (196mg phosphorus, 27g protein per 3 oz) 1
• Chicken thigh: 6.7 mg phosphorus per gram of protein (148mg phosphorus, 22g protein per 3 oz) 1

This ratio is relevant for patients with chronic kidney disease who need to monitor phosphorus intake relative to protein consumption. 1

Clinical Context

Chicken serves as a lean, high-quality protein source appropriate for most dietary patterns:

• Animal proteins like chicken provide 75% of essential amino acids in the US food supply 1
• The recommended daily allowance for protein is 0.8 g/kg body weight for adults, which chicken can help meet efficiently due to its high protein density 1
• For patients requiring protein tracking, a 3-ounce serving of chicken breast provides approximately 27g of high biological value protein, making portion estimation straightforward 1, 5

Common pitfall: When calculating protein intake from cooked chicken, remember that cooking methods concentrate protein content through moisture loss, so cooked weights will show higher protein per gram than raw weights. 2