Chicken Breast vs tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

Side-by-side nutrition comparison per serving. See which fits your goals better.

Chicken breast and tuna are the two most popular high-protein foods in fitness culture, and their nutritional profiles justify the hype. Chicken breast delivers 22.5g protein at 165 calories per 100g, while tuna edges ahead with an impressive 29.1g protein at 198 calories. Per serving, tuna packs roughly 30 percent more protein, making it the denser option.

Tuna's fat content (8.21g) includes significant omega-3 fatty acids that chicken breast lacks entirely. However, the mercury conversation is unavoidable — regular tuna consumption needs to be balanced against mercury accumulation, which is why most guidelines suggest limiting tuna to two to three servings per week. Chicken breast carries no such restriction.

The convenience factor also matters: canned tuna requires zero cooking and travels well, making it the ultimate desk-lunch protein. Chicken breast requires cooking but offers far more culinary versatility. Most meal-preppers benefit from having both in rotation — tuna for no-cook days, chicken breast for batch-cooked meals.

Pro tip

Upgrade canned tuna by mixing it with Greek yogurt instead of mayo, adding diced celery, a squeeze of lemon, and everything bagel seasoning. You get an extra 5g protein from the yogurt while cutting significant calories from mayo.

Quick Verdict

Best for weight loss

Chicken Breast

Best for muscle gain

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

Best for low-carb

Chicken Breast

Macro Comparison

Chicken Breast: 100g (100g)  |  tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids: 100g (100g)

CaloriesLower is better for weight loss

165

Chicken Breast

vs

198

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

ProteinHigher supports muscle growth

22.5g

Chicken Breast

vs

29.1g

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

CarbsLower for low-carb diets

0g

Chicken Breast

vs

0g

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

FatLower for calorie control

1.93g

Chicken Breast

vs

8.21g

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

Protein Efficiency

What percentage of calories come from protein — higher is better for staying lean.

55%

Chicken Breast

59%

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids

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Per 100g Comparison

NutrientChicken Breasttuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids
Calories165198
Protein22.5g29.1g
Carbs0g0g
Fat1.9g8.2g
Fiber0g
Sugar0g
Sodium65.8mg416mg
Cholesterol72.7mg18mg
Saturated Fat0.35g1.53g
Potassium330mg207mg
Vitamin A23mcg
Vitamin C0mg
Calcium3.94mg13mg
Iron0.35mg1.39mg

Which Should You Choose?

For weight loss

Choose Chicken Breast. With 165 calories and 22.5g protein, it gives you more protein per calorie — keeping you full while cutting calories.

For muscle gain

Choose tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids. tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids delivers 29.1g protein per serving — 6.6g more than Chicken Breast.

For low-carb diets

Choose Chicken Breast with 0g carbs per serving.

Rotating between chicken and tuna keeps your protein high while naturally managing mercury exposure. Sunn tracks your weekly fish intake so you can hit omega-3 targets without overdoing it.

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Common Questions

Is Chicken Breast or tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids better for weight loss?

For weight loss, Chicken Breast is the better choice. Chicken Breast has 165 calories and 22.5g protein per serving, while tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids has 198 calories and 29.1g protein. Lower calories with higher protein helps you stay full while eating fewer calories.

Which has more protein, Chicken Breast or tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids?

tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids has more protein per serving. Chicken Breast provides 22.5g and tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids provides 29.1g of protein.

Can I eat both chicken breast and tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids together?

Yes! Combining chicken breast and tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids gives you 363 calories and 51.6g protein. This combination can work well as part of a balanced meal.

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