how many calories in 150g chicken breast

How Many Calories Are in a 150g Chicken Breast? A Detailed Look

Chicken breast is one of the most popular lean protein choices for those looking to build muscle or lose weight. But with all the conflicting nutrition information out there, how many calories are actually in a 150g serving of chicken breast?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover the truth about the calorie and nutrient content of chicken breast. You’ll learn how skinless vs skin-on, cooking method, and serving size all impact the calories and nutrition chicken breast provides.

We’ll also compare chicken breast to other proteins like beef, fish and plant-based options. This info helps you determine if chicken breast fits your specific fitness goals around muscle gain, fat loss or simply getting enough daily protein intake.

Let’s explore the science-backed facts on calories, protein, fats, vitamins and more found in everyone’s favorite fitness staple – the chicken breast.

Chicken Breast Nutrition Facts Per 100 Grams

Before determining calories in larger portions it’s helpful to understand the base nutrition facts in 100g of cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast

• Calories: 165
• Protein: 31g
• Fat: 3.6g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 0g

As you can see, chicken breast contains a moderate 165 calories per 100g serving. The majority of these calories come from the abundant 31g of protein.

Fat and carbs are low, with chicken breast containing zero carbohydrates. This makes it perfect for low-carb and keto diets.

Total Calories in 150g Chicken Breast

Using the baseline nutrition stats above, we can easily calculate the calories and macros in larger or smaller servings.

For a 150g serving:

• Calories: 165 x 1.5 = 248
• Protein: 31 x 1.5 = 47g
• Fat: 3.6 x 1.5 = 5g
• Carbs: 0g

So a 150g chicken breast contains 248 total calories, with 47g of protein, 5g of fat and zero carbs.

As expected, the protein, fat and calories increased proportionally when looking at 150g vs 100g. But the zero carb count remains constant.

Calories in Chicken Breast with Skin

Skin-on chicken breast contains more total fat and calories due to the high fat content of skin itself.

Here’s the nutrition comparison in 100g of boneless, cooked chicken breast with and without skin:

Skinless Chicken Breast:

• Calories: 165
• Fat: 3.6g

Chicken Breast with Skin:

• Calories: 221
• Fat: 15.5g

The skin adds an extra 56 calories and 12g fat per 100g. So for a 150g serving, skin-on chicken breast would have:

• Calories: 221 x 1.5 = 332
• Fat: 15.5 x 1.5 = 23g

That’s an extra 84 calories and 18g fat compared to skinless. Consider going skinless if limiting calories and fat intake.

Calories Impacted by Cooking Method

Cooking method significantly affects the calorie content of chicken breast. Grilling, roasting, baking or poaching keeps calories lowest:

• Baked: 180 calories per 100g
• Grilled: 170 calories per 100g

Meanwhile, frying or breading chicken breast can double the calories:

• Fried: 290 calories per 100g
• Breaded: 250 calories per 100g

For a 150g serving, fried chicken breast would contain 435 calories vs only 255 for grilled or baked.

Chicken Breast Nutrition Benefits

Beyond just calories, chicken breast provides important vitamins, minerals and nutrients:

• Niacin for energy
• Vitamin B6 for metabolism
• Selenium and phosphorus for thyroid and bone health
• High quality, complete proteins for muscle repair and growth
• Iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium

Chicken breast supports fitness goals like building lean muscle or losing fat when combined with proper training and a balanced diet.

Comparing Chicken to Other Proteins

Here’s how the calories and protein in 150g of cooked chicken breast stacks up against other common protein sources:

• Salmon: 359 calories, 42g protein
• Ground beef (15% fat): 320 calories, 42g protein
• Tofu: 104 calories, 12g protein
• Black beans: 241 calories, 21g protein
• Chicken breast: 248 calories, 47g protein

Per calorie, chicken breast provides more protein than lean red meat, fish or plant-based proteins like beans or tofu. It’s one of the most efficient protein sources.

Chicken Breast for Muscle Gain and Fat Loss

Chicken breast provides the perfect lean protein platform for both building muscle and losing fat:

For Muscle Gain:

• Eat 150-200g portions 2-3x daily
• Pair with starchy carbs pre or post-workout
• Focus on compound lifts and progressive overload

For Fat Loss:

• Eat 150-200g portions 4-5x weekly
• Combine with non-starchy veggies and healthy fats
• Maintain slight calorie deficit through diet and cardio

Chicken breast supports all fitness goals when incorporated properly into your nutrition plan.

Chicken Breast Serving and Portion Size Guide

To hit your ideal protein intake, what does a 150g chicken breast look like on your plate? Here’s a serving size reference:

• Whole chicken breast (bone-in, skin-on): Around 210-280g
• Boneless, skinless breast: Approximately 120-170g
• 1 chicken breast halves: 140-160g
• Palm of your hand or deck of cards: 90-150g

Aim for a palm-sized portion, around half a chicken breast, to get 150g cooked weight, after accounting for moisture loss during cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories in 100g chicken breast?

There are 165 calories in a 100g serving of cooked, boneless, skinless chicken breast.

Is chicken breast good for weight loss?

Yes, chicken breast is an optimal protein for fat loss thanks to being high in protein, low in fat and zero carb.

What’s the protein in 150g chicken breast?

A 150g serving of chicken breast contains 47 grams of protein.

Is 150g of chicken a lot?

150g or about one palm-sized chicken breast is a moderate protein serving that fits well into a fitness focused diet.

Does chicken breast have carbs?

Chicken breast contains zero carbohydrates per serving.

The Takeaway on Chicken Breast Calories and Nutrition

A 150g serving of cooked chicken breast contains 248 calories and 47g of protein. It provides abundant protein with minimal fat and zero carbs.

Chicken breast supports muscle building and fat loss goals. It compares favorably to other animal and plant proteins in terms of protein-to-calorie ratio.

Enjoy chicken breast as a staple in your diet to hit daily protein needs. Just be mindful of portion size, cooking method and pairing with vegetables, carbs and healthy fats to maximize nutritional benefits.

A 150g serving of skinless chicken breast contains approximately 167-180 calories.