Cheese vs Chicken Thigh

Side-by-side macro comparison. Cheese vs Chicken Thigh per their standard serving sizes.

Cheese

per 1 oz (28g) cheddar

113 cal
7g Protein
0.4g Carbs
9g Fat
Full Cheese macros →
vs

Chicken Thigh

per 100g cooked

209 cal
26g Protein
0g Carbs
11g Fat
Full Chicken Thigh macros →

Macro Comparison Table

Macro Cheese Chicken Thigh Difference
Calories 113 cal 209 cal -46% Cheese
Protein 7g 26g -73% Cheese
Carbs 0.4g 0g 0% Cheese
Fat 9g 11g -18% Cheese

Differences shown relative to Cheese. Positive = Cheese has more.

Quick Take

Cheese delivers 113 calories per serving with 7g protein, 0.4g carbs, and 9g fat. Chicken Thigh delivers 209 calories with 26g protein, 0g carbs, and 11g fat. The most meaningful difference: Cheese saves 96 calories per serving — meaningful over a week of meals. For protein density per calorie, Chicken Thigh wins at 50% of calories from protein.

When to Pick Each

For Cutting / Weight Loss

When cutting on a tight calorie budget, Cheese gives you 96 more calories of headroom per serving — that's room for an extra snack, more vegetables, or a higher-protein second portion. If protein density matters more (which it does for preserving muscle on a deficit), Chicken Thigh delivers more grams of protein per calorie consumed.

For Bulking / Muscle Gain

For muscle gain, you want calories AND protein. Chicken Thigh brings 209 calories — useful when you're chasing a surplus and struggling to eat enough. Chicken Thigh delivers 26g of protein per serving, which directly feeds muscle protein synthesis. The best pick depends on whether you need more total calories or more usable protein.

For Keto / Low-Carb

Both Cheese and Chicken Thigh are keto-friendly with under 10g carbs per serving.

Frequently Asked

Which has more protein, Cheese or Chicken Thigh?

Chicken Thigh has more protein: 26g vs 7g per serving. That's a difference of 19g.

Which has fewer calories, Cheese or Chicken Thigh?

Cheese has 113 calories per serving vs 209 calories in Chicken Thigh — a difference of 96 calories.

Is Cheese or Chicken Thigh better for keto?

Chicken Thigh is the better keto choice at 0g carbs per serving vs 0.4g carbs in Cheese.

Is Cheese or Chicken Thigh better for weight loss?

For weight loss, Cheese gives you more calorie flexibility (96 cal less per serving). For preserving muscle during a deficit, Chicken Thigh delivers more protein per calorie. Most people on cuts benefit from Chicken Thigh.

Which Is Better for Your Goal?

🔥 Weight Loss

Chicken Thigh

Higher protein-to-calorie density + lower absolute fat = more satiety per calorie.

💪 Muscle Gain

Chicken Thigh

Higher absolute protein per serving better supports muscle protein synthesis.

🥑 Low-Carb / Keto

Chicken Thigh

Lower carbohydrate content fits keto and low-carb macros without burning your carb budget.

Both fit most balanced diets. These verdicts reflect macro-only comparisons — taste, satiety, cost, and personal preference also matter.

Find Your Personal Macros

The "right" food depends on your individual macro targets. Calculate yours in 60 seconds:

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Related Comparisons

Other ways Cheese and Chicken Thigh stack up:

Full Cheese guideFull Chicken Thigh guideAll comparisons