Chicken tikka masala vs palak chicken: calories and protein compared
Short answer: for fat loss pick chicken tikka masala; for muscle gain chicken tikka masala does more. The numbers are per usual serving, so check the serving sizes in the table.
| Per serving | Chicken tikka masala | Palak chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 1 katori · 200 g | 1 katori · 200 g |
| Calories | 276 kcal | 323 kcal |
| Protein | 29 g | 26 g |
| Carbs | 5 g | 7 g |
| Fat | 15 g | 22 g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 10.4 g | 8.1 g |
| Calories from fat | 50% | 62% |
What the numbers say
- Palak chicken has 47 kcal more a serving than chicken tikka masala. One serving of palak chicken has the calories of about 1.2 servings of chicken tikka masala.
- Chicken tikka masala has more protein: 29 g vs 26 g.
- For protein per calorie, chicken tikka masala wins with 10.4 g per 100 kcal.
Which to pick
- Losing fat: Chicken tikka masala, because it gives more protein for each calorie, which keeps you full and protects muscle.
- Building muscle: Chicken tikka masala, because it brings more protein a serving.
- Either way: the cooking fat moves both numbers most. Halving the oil or ghee is the easiest cut.