What's Better, Chicken Or Steak? (2024)

If you want to build muscle but are worried about putting on weight in your post-workout feast, the science bods at University of Warwick have some helpful tips for you. They've identified foods that stimulate tanycytes — the cells that trigger satiety and make you feel full — in your brain.

Among this list are avocados and mackarel – so far, so good. But it gets better. At the top of the list are the kings of protein – chicken and steak. Great news, if you ask us. But, in a fight between white and red, which meat comes out on top? Which protein steps up to the plate? Here, we give the chop.

Chicken:

2400: The average number of chickens a UK meat-eater will consume in his or her lifetime – that’s 0.6 a week.

Steak:

€3200: The price of the world’s most expensive steak at Parisian butcher’s shop Polmard Éleveur Boucher.

(Related: How safe is your supermarket chicken?)

See Also

3 Ways To Cook Chicken ThighsHow Many Calories in Chicken? Breast, Thigh, Wing and MoreWhy Thighs are Infinitely Better Than Any Other Cut of ChickenChicken Breast vs. Chicken Thigh: Which is Healthier?

Lab Talk

Chicken: More fact than fad, chicken broth’s anti-inflammatory properties really do relieve respiratory infections, says the American College of Chest Physicians.

(Related: 8 of the best ways to eat steak)

Steak: Forget tabloid scare stories. Eating red meat more than three times per week does not damage blood pressure or cholesterol levels, according to Purdue University.

(Related: MH's ultimate guide to cooking steak)

Vital Stats

Chicken, per 200g serving: 215cal, 1g saturated fat, 48g protein.

Steak, per 200g serving: 349cal, 7g saturated fat, 43g protein.

(Related: What happens when I eat too much protein?)

Endorsem*nts

Chicken: On building his X-Men body: “If there is a place in hell for people who eat chickens, I’ve booked a suite bigger than anybody,” – Hugh Jackman

Steak: The detox-devotee on giving in to your blood lust: “I don’t eat red meat, but sometimes a man needs a steak” – Gwyneth Paltrow

(Related: 16 kinds of protein that help you lose weight)

Butcher's Bill

Chicken: Lower cancer risk, more versatile, cheaper, comes in buckets.

Steak: Creatine hit, healthy fats, choice of cuts, extra man points.

The MH verdict: Chicken wins!

As a means of sating your primal urges, steak undoubtedly cuts the mustard. However, it falls fowl of chicken’s superior nutritional profile. Poultry’s lean calorie count and lower cost make it the best buy for muscle-builders. Just make sure you’re armed with Tabasco.

Words: Louee Dessent-Jackson