Chicken Thigh (skinless) vs String Cheese

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

Chicken Thigh (skinless)

per 100g cooked

209 cal
26g Protein
0g Carbs
11g Fat
Full Chicken Thigh (skinless) macros →
vs

String Cheese

per 1 stick (28g)

80 cal
7g Protein
1g Carbs
6g Fat
Full String Cheese macros →

Macro Comparison Table

Macro Chicken Thigh (skinless) String Cheese Difference
Calories 209 cal 80 cal +161% Chicken
Protein 26g 7g +271% Chicken
Carbs 0g 1g -100% Chicken
Fat 11g 6g +83% Chicken

Differences shown relative to Chicken Thigh (skinless). Positive = Chicken Thigh (skinless) has more.

Quick Take

Chicken Thigh (skinless) delivers 209 calories per serving with 26g protein, 0g carbs, and 11g fat. String Cheese delivers 80 calories with 7g protein, 1g carbs, and 6g fat. The most meaningful difference: String Cheese saves 129 calories per serving — meaningful over a week of meals. For protein density per calorie, Chicken Thigh (skinless) wins at 50% of calories from protein.

When to Pick Each

For Cutting / Weight Loss

When cutting on a tight calorie budget, String Cheese gives you 129 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 (skinless) delivers more grams of protein per calorie consumed.

For Bulking / Muscle Gain

For muscle gain, you want calories AND protein. Chicken Thigh (skinless) brings 209 calories — useful when you're chasing a surplus and struggling to eat enough. Chicken Thigh (skinless) 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 Chicken Thigh (skinless) and String Cheese are keto-friendly with under 10g carbs per serving.

Frequently Asked

Which has more protein, Chicken Thigh (skinless) or String Cheese?

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

Which has fewer calories, Chicken Thigh (skinless) or String Cheese?

String Cheese has 80 calories per serving vs 209 calories in Chicken Thigh (skinless) — a difference of 129 calories.

Is Chicken Thigh (skinless) or String Cheese better for keto?

Chicken Thigh (skinless) is the better keto choice at 0g carbs per serving vs 1g carbs in String Cheese.

Is Chicken Thigh (skinless) or String Cheese better for weight loss?

For weight loss, String Cheese gives you more calorie flexibility (129 cal less per serving). For preserving muscle during a deficit, Chicken Thigh (skinless) delivers more protein per calorie. Most people on cuts benefit from Chicken Thigh (skinless).

Which Is Better for Your Goal?

🔥 Weight Loss

String Cheese

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

💪 Muscle Gain

Chicken Thigh (skinless)

Higher absolute protein per serving better supports muscle protein synthesis.

🥑 Low-Carb / Keto

Chicken Thigh (skinless)

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 Chicken Thigh (skinless) and String Cheese stack up:

Full Chicken Thigh (skinless) guideFull String Cheese guideAll comparisons