How Much Chicken Is 80 Grams of Protein?

A lot of people around the world like to eat chicken for protein. It’s easy to see why chicken is an important part of many diets—it has lean meat and can be used in many ways. But as you plan your meals and keep track of your macros, an important question comes up: how much chicken is 80 grams of protein? Let’s break it down.

Why Is Protein Important?

Before you figure out how much chicken has 80 grams of protein, it’s helpful to know why protein is important. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should eat protein:

• Builds and repairs tissues – Protein provides the amino acids needed to maintain and build new muscle bone skin and blood cells. Consuming adequate protein enables these tissues to renew themselves.

• It helps you keep your weight in check because protein makes you feel full for longer after eating. This can assist with appetite control and weight loss.

• Boosts metabolism—When your body breaks down protein, it burns more calories than when it breaks down carbs or fat. Eating more protein can give your metabolism a little boost.

• Maintains muscle mass – Protein is essential for building and retaining lean muscle, especially when paired with strength training. More muscle means a more efficient metabolism.

• Improves performance – Active individuals have higher protein needs to optimize exercise performance and recovery. Protein intake around workouts is particularly important.

• Healthy aging – Higher protein intakes have been associated with maintaining strength, function and mobility in older adults as muscle mass naturally declines with age.

Clearly, protein should be a priority in your diet. Consuming around 0.8-1 gram per pound of body weight daily is a good target for most adults. Next, let’s look at how chicken stacks up as a high-quality protein source.

Chicken Nutrition Facts

Chicken breast is a lean cut of meat that packs a solid protein punch without too much saturated fat. Here are some key nutrition facts about chicken breast according to the USDA:

• 100 grams of chicken breast contains around 31 grams of protein.

• Chicken breast is very low in fat and carbs – 100 grams provides just 3 grams of total fat and 0 grams of carbs.

• It is an excellent source of niacin, selenium, vitamin B6 and phosphorus.

• Chicken breast is lower in calories than many other protein sources. 100 grams has 165 calories.

So chicken breast offers an optimal ratio of high protein with minimal fat, carbs and calories. But how much chicken should you eat to obtain 80 grams of this high-quality protein?

How Many Grams of Chicken Has 80 Grams of Protein?

Let’s break this down step-by-step:

• There are 31 grams of protein in 100 grams of chicken breast.
• To get 80 grams of protein, we need to determine how much chicken equals 80 grams of protein.
• Using simple math: 100 grams chicken has 31 grams protein. 80 grams protein ÷ 31 grams protein per 100 grams chicken = 258 grams of chicken breast has 80 grams of protein.

Therefore, approximately 258 grams of chicken breast contains 80 grams of protein.

To put 258 grams into perspective:

• 258 grams is just over 1/2 pound or 9 ounces of raw chicken breast.
• A chicken breast half is around 6 ounces or 170 grams. So you’d need about one and a half chicken breasts.
• When cooked, chicken loses about 25% of its weight due to moisture loss. So 258 grams raw chicken shrinks to about 200 grams cooked.

Below is a simple chart showing key amounts of chicken breast with corresponding protein content:

As you can see, 258 grams cooked chicken breast provides 80 grams of protein, making it an excellent high-protein food choice as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Tips for Reaching Your Protein Goal

Here are some tips to easily consume 80+ grams of protein from chicken and other lean protein foods:

• Prepare larger chicken portions – aim for 8-12 ounce cooked servings to maximize protein intake.

• Enjoy chicken at breakfast by adding it to eggs, omelets or smoothies.

• Snack on chicken strips, turkey jerky or Greek yogurt.

• Include a protein source in every meal and snack throughout the day.

• Mix up your protein choices – alternate chicken with fish, beef, pork, beans, dairy and vegetarian options like tofu.

• Use a food tracking app to monitor your daily protein consumption if desired.

Consuming adequate protein provides tremendous health benefits and helps maintain lean muscle mass. Chicken breast is an excellent high-protein food that can help you meet daily protein targets. About 258 grams or 9 ounces of chicken supplies 80 grams of satisfying protein.

How Much Protein in Chicken? Breast, Thigh and More

A 4-ounce serving of cooked, skinless chicken breast contains approximately 30-35 grams of protein.