Chicken Thigh (skinless)
26.0gprotein / 100g209 cal · 10.9g fat · $ · Quality 0.92
Tempeh
19.0gprotein / 100g192 cal · 11.0g fat · $$ · Quality 0.85
There's a meaningful protein-density gap here: Chicken Thigh (skinless) runs 26.0g per 100g against Tempeh's 19.0g, roughly 7.0g more per equal weight.
Chicken Thigh (skinless) also carries the stronger amino acid profile (high-DIAAS complete animal protein), while Tempeh is DIAAS-adjusted, complete plant protein.
Budget-wise, Chicken Thigh (skinless) runs meaningfully cheaper per typical serving ($) than Tempeh ($$).
The dietary-restriction question settles this for a lot of people before the macros even matter: Tempeh is vegan, Chicken Thigh (skinless) isn't.
Chicken Thigh (skinless)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (1950mg vs Tempeh's 1450mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.
The real deciding factor is dietary fit, not macros: choose Tempeh if you need it to be plant-based, choose Chicken Thigh (skinless) otherwise — the protein numbers are close enough that diet compatibility should lead.
Full nutrition comparison
| Per 100g | Chicken Thigh (skinless) | Tempeh |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 26.0g | 19.0g |
| Calories | 209 | 192 |
| Fat | 10.9g | 11.0g |
| Carbs | 0.0g | 9.4g |
| Fiber | 0.0g | 9.0g |
| Quality score | 0.92 | 0.85 |
| Relative cost | $ | $$ |
| Prep time | 25 min | 15 min |
Frequently asked
Which has more protein, chicken thigh (skinless) or tempeh?
Chicken Thigh (skinless) has 26.0g of protein per 100g compared to Tempeh's 19.0g.
Which is lower in calories?
Tempeh is lower in calories per 100g, at 192 vs the other's 209.