Big Mac vs. Chicken Breast

Nutrition comparison of Big Mac and Cooked Chicken Breast


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of big mac versus cooked chicken breast (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in big mac and chicken breast:

  • Both big mac and chicken breast are high in calories and protein.
  • Big mac has 58% less cholesterol than chicken breast.
  • Big mac has more thiamin, folate and Vitamin B12, however, chicken breast contains more niacin, pantothenic acid and Vitamin B6.
  • Big mac has signficantly more dietary fiber than chicken breast.
  • Big mac is an excellent source of calcium.
  • Chicken breast has 73% less saturated fat than big mac.
  • Chicken breast is a great source of potassium.
Detailed nutritional comparison of big mac and chicken breast is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Big Mac (McDONALD'S, BIG MAC) and Chicken Breast (Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Big Mac src
Image of Chicken Breast src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Both big mac and chicken breast are high in calories. Big mac has 56% more calories than chicken breast - big mac has 257 calories per 100 grams and chicken breast has 165 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, big mac is much lighter in protein, much heavier in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to chicken breast per calorie. Big mac has a macronutrient ratio of 18:31:51 and for chicken breast, 79:0:21 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Big Mac Chicken Breast
Protein 18% 79%
Carbohydrates 31% ~
Fat 51% 21%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Chicken breast has less carbohydrates than big mac - big mac has 20.1g of total carbs per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

dietary fiber

Big mac has signficantly more dietary fiber than chicken breast - big mac has 1.6g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

sugar

Chicken breast has less sugar than big mac - big mac has 4g of sugar per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

Protein

protein

Both big mac and chicken breast are high in protein. Chicken breast has 162% more protein than big mac - big mac has 11.8g of protein per 100 grams and chicken breast has 31g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Chicken breast has 73% less saturated fat than big mac - big mac has 3.8g of saturated fat per 100 grams and chicken breast has 1g of saturated fat.

cholesterol

Big mac has 58% less cholesterol than chicken breast - big mac has 36mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and chicken breast has 85mg of cholesterol.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Big mac and chicken breast contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - big mac has 0.4mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin A

Chicken breast has more Vitamin A than big mac - chicken breast has 6ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and big mac does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin D

Chicken breast has more Vitamin D than big mac - chicken breast has 5iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and big mac does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin E

Chicken breast and big mac contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - chicken breast has 0.27mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and big mac does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin K

Chicken breast and big mac contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - chicken breast has 0.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and big mac does not contain significant amounts.

The B Vitamins

Big mac has more thiamin, folate and Vitamin B12, however, chicken breast contains more niacin, pantothenic acid and Vitamin B6. Both big mac and chicken breast contain significant amounts of riboflavin.

Big Mac Chicken Breast
Thiamin 0.176 MG 0.07 MG
Riboflavin 0.209 MG 0.114 MG
Niacin 3.384 MG 13.712 MG
Pantothenic acid ~ 0.965 MG
Vitamin B6 ~ 0.6 MG
Folate 46 UG 4 UG
Vitamin B12 0.88 UG 0.34 UG

Minerals

calcium

Big mac is an excellent source of calcium and it has 673% more calcium than chicken breast - big mac has 116mg of calcium per 100 grams and chicken breast has 15mg of calcium.

iron

Big mac has 92% more iron than chicken breast - big mac has 2mg of iron per 100 grams and chicken breast has 1mg of iron.

potassium

Chicken breast is a great source of potassium and it has 41% more potassium than big mac - big mac has 181mg of potassium per 100 grams and chicken breast has 256mg of potassium.




Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Big Mac or Chicken Breast .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Big Mac (McDONALD'S, BIG MAC) and Chicken Breast (Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted) .

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FAQ

Does big mac or chicken breast contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both big mac and chicken breast are high in calories. Big mac has 60% more calories than chicken breast - big mac has 257 calories in 100g and chicken breast has 165 calories.

Is big mac or chicken breast better for protein?
Both big mac and chicken breast are high in protein. Chicken breast has 160% more protein than big mac - big mac has 11.8g of protein per 100 grams and chicken breast has 31g of protein.

Does big mac or chicken breast have more carbohydrates?
By weight, chicken breast has fewer carbohydrates than big mac - big mac has 20.1g of carbs for 100g and chicken breast has no carbs..

Does big mac or chicken breast contain more calcium?
Big mac is a rich source of calcium and it has 670% more calcium than chicken breast - big mac has 116mg of calcium in 100 grams and chicken breast has 15mg of calcium.