Head-to-head comparison

Chicken Breast (skinless) vs Scallops (seared): Which Has More Protein?

Both Chicken Breast (skinless) and Scallops (seared) are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Chicken Breast (skinless)

31.0gprotein / 100g

165 cal · 3.6g fat · $ · Quality 0.94

Scallops (seared)

20.5gprotein / 100g

111 cal · 0.8g fat · $$$$$ · Quality 0.85

Chicken Breast (skinless) is in a different weight class here, protein-wise: 31.0g per 100g vs Scallops (seared)'s 20.5g, a 10.5g difference that's more about food category than food quality.

Chicken Breast (skinless) also carries the stronger amino acid profile (high-DIAAS complete animal protein), while Scallops (seared) is lit_estimate, complete animal protein.

Budget-wise, Chicken Breast (skinless) runs meaningfully cheaper per typical serving ($) than Scallops (seared) ($$$$$).

Chicken Breast (skinless)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (2400mg vs Scallops (seared)'s 1650mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

If raw protein density is what you're optimizing for, Chicken Breast (skinless) wins clearly. Choose Scallops (seared) instead if its lower fat, cost, or prep time matters more to you than the extra grams.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gChicken Breast (skinless)Scallops (seared)
Protein31.0g20.5g
Calories165111
Fat3.6g0.8g
Carbs0.0g2.4g
Fiber0.0g0.0g
Quality score0.940.85
Relative cost$$$$$$
Prep time20 min6 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, chicken breast (skinless) or scallops (seared)?

Chicken Breast (skinless) has 31.0g of protein per 100g compared to Scallops (seared)'s 20.5g.

Which is lower in calories?

Scallops (seared) is lower in calories per 100g, at 111 vs the other's 165.