Nutritional Yeast vs. Chicken Breast

Nutrition comparison of Nutritional Yeast 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 nutritional yeast versus cooked chicken breast (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in nutritional yeast and chicken breast:

  • Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in calories, potassium and protein.
  • Nutritional yeast has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin B12.
  • Nutritional yeast is a great source of iron.
  • Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of dietary fiber.
Detailed nutritional comparison of nutritional yeast 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: Nutritional Yeast (Leavening agents, yeast, baker's, active dry) and Chicken Breast (Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Nutritional Yeast src
Image of Chicken Breast src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in calories. Nutritional yeast has 97% more calories than chicken breast - chicken breast has 165 calories per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 325 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, nutritional yeast is much lighter in protein, much heavier in carbs and lighter in fat compared to chicken breast per calorie. Nutritional yeast has a macronutrient ratio of 41:42:17 and for chicken breast, 79:0:21 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Nutritional Yeast Chicken Breast
Protein 41% 79%
Carbohydrates 42% ~
Fat 17% 21%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Nutritional yeast is high in carbohydrates and chicken breast has less carbohydrates than nutritional yeast - nutritional yeast has 41.2g of total carbs per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

dietary fiber

Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of dietary fiber and it has more dietary fiber than chicken breast - nutritional yeast has 26.9g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

Protein

protein

Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in protein. Nutritional yeast has 30% more protein than chicken breast - chicken breast has 31g of protein per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 40.4g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Chicken breast and nutritional yeast contain similar amounts of saturated fat - chicken breast has 1g of saturated fat per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 1g of saturated fat.

cholesterol

Nutritional yeast has less cholesterol than chicken breast - chicken breast has 85mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and nutritional yeast does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Nutritional yeast and chicken breast contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - nutritional yeast has 0.3mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and chicken breast does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin A

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

Vitamin D

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

Vitamin E

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

Vitamin K

Chicken breast and nutritional yeast contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - chicken breast has 0.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 0.4ug of Vitamin K.

The B Vitamins

Nutritional yeast has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin B12.

Nutritional Yeast Chicken Breast
Thiamin 10.99 MG 0.07 MG
Riboflavin 4 MG 0.114 MG
Niacin 40.2 MG 13.712 MG
Pantothenic acid 13.5 MG 0.965 MG
Vitamin B6 1.5 MG 0.6 MG
Folate 2340 UG 4 UG
Vitamin B12 12.07 UG 0.34 UG

Minerals

calcium

Nutritional yeast has 100% more calcium than chicken breast - chicken breast has 15mg of calcium per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 30mg of calcium.

iron

Nutritional yeast is a great source of iron and it has 109% more iron than chicken breast - chicken breast has 1mg of iron per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 2.2mg of iron.

potassium

Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in potassium. Nutritional yeast has 273% more potassium than chicken breast - chicken breast has 256mg of potassium per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 955mg of potassium.

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, chicken breast has more linoleic acid than nutritional yeast per 100 grams.

Nutritional Yeast Chicken Breast
linoleic acid 0.017 G 0.59 G
other omega 6 ~ 0.06 G
Total 0.017 G 0.65 G



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 Nutritional Yeast or Chicken Breast .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Nutritional Yeast (Leavening agents, yeast, baker's, active dry) and Chicken Breast (Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted) .

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FAQ

Does chicken breast or nutritional yeast contain more calories in 100 grams?
Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in calories. Nutritional yeast has 100% more calories than chicken breast - chicken breast has 165 calories in 100g and nutritional yeast has 325 calories.

Is chicken breast or nutritional yeast better for protein?
Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in protein. Nutritional yeast has 30% more protein than chicken breast - chicken breast has 31g of protein per 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 40.4g of protein.

Does nutritional yeast or chicken breast have more carbohydrates?
By weight, nutritional yeast is high in carbohydrates and chicken breast has fewer carbohydrates than nutritional yeast - nutritional yeast has 41.2g of carbs for 100g and chicken breast has no carbs..

Does chicken breast or nutritional yeast contain more potassium?
Both chicken breast and nutritional yeast are high in potassium. Nutritional yeast has 270% more potassium than chicken breast - chicken breast has 256mg of potassium in 100 grams and nutritional yeast has 955mg of potassium.