Head-to-head comparison

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

On paper, Chicken Thigh (skinless) and Scallops (seared) solve a similar problem — protein intake — but they get there differently enough to be worth a direct look.

Chicken Thigh (skinless)

26.0gprotein / 100g

209 cal · 10.9g fat · $ · Quality 0.92

Scallops (seared)

20.5gprotein / 100g

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

Chicken Thigh (skinless) delivers a clearly higher protein density than Scallops (seared) — 26.0g vs 20.5g per 100g, a gap of 5.5g that adds up fast across multiple servings.

On protein quality specifically, Chicken Thigh (skinless) scores higher — high-DIAAS complete animal protein — compared to Scallops (seared), which is lit_estimate, complete animal protein.

Chicken Thigh (skinless) is also the cheaper option ($ vs $$$$$), which matters if you're eating either one regularly rather than occasionally.

Chicken Thigh (skinless)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (1950mg vs Scallops (seared)'s 1650mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

With protein content this close, cost is the more useful tiebreaker: Chicken Thigh (skinless) delivers a similar protein profile to Scallops (seared) at a noticeably lower price per serving.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gChicken Thigh (skinless)Scallops (seared)
Protein26.0g20.5g
Calories209111
Fat10.9g0.8g
Carbs0.0g2.4g
Fiber0.0g0.0g
Quality score0.920.85
Relative cost$$$$$$
Prep time25 min6 min

Frequently asked

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

Chicken Thigh (skinless) has 26.0g 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 209.