Steak vs Chicken: The Main Difference Between Them

If you're still not sure what to have for dinner tonight, choosing your protein is one of the best places to start. Steak and chicken are two of the most popular options and can make a simple and flavorful meal in as little as half an hour. However, if you're having trouble choosing between steak and chicken, it can be difficult to get started.

The flavor difference between steak and chicken is crucial. While beef is rich and full-flavored, chicken is comparatively lighter and leaner. However, they are each highly versatile meats that can be used in a variety of different dishes.

If you're still having trouble choosing between steak and chicken, see which of the factors below is most important to you.

Table of Contents

• Flavor and Texture
• Nutrition
• Preparation
• Cost
• Frequently Asked Questions

Flavor and Texture

Both steak and chicken offer a rich, meaty flavor, though they're far from interchangeable. See exactly how each of them differs here.

Taste

Steak has an earthier, fattier, and almost nutty flavor, which comes from its higher fat content when compared to chicken. Different cuts of steak all have slightly different flavors, but generally, those with the best fat marbling are the richest.

Chicken is leaner by comparison and has an overall lighter flavor than steak. The breast has less fat and is milder, while the thigh has a more robust poultry taste.

Tenderness

One of the biggest factors in a cut of meat's tenderness is how it's prepared. With both steak and chicken, an overcooked cut will tend to be dry and tough. However, steak is a bit more temperamental in this regard and is much less reliant on preparation to get a nice, tender bite.

Chicken thighs are some of the most reliably tender pieces of meat you can get at the grocery store. Since they have a high fat content, the meat self-bastes while cooking.

Food Pairings

Since steak has a heavier flavor, it is a better match for more robust sides. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts are a natural match for a steak. It also goes well with the bold flavor of blue cheese, which is a common accompaniment to many steaks.

Chicken, on the other hand, is better paired with lighter, fruitier flavors like citrus and herbs. Lemon, lime, thyme, and basil are all good options worth considering. Chicken is also commonly paired with light cream sauces, where its subtle flavors can come through.

If you're considering wine pairings, steak generally pairs better with red wines, while chicken is a better match for white wine.

Nutrition

Both of these meats are chock full of protein, which makes them a good centerpiece for any meal. However, they also have many nutritional differences to take into account. Learn more about them here.

Fat Content

The fat content of steak or chicken depends a lot on the specific cut of your choosing. The leanest of them all is chicken breast, which has only 3.6 grams of fat per 100-gram serving. A chicken thigh, by contrast, has more than double that at 8 grams of fat per serving.

Depending on the cut, steak can have anywhere from 6 grams of fat per serving to a whopping 22 grams of fat per serving. However, it's important to keep in mind that much of this fat is rendered out of the steak during cooking. This, combined with careful trimming, can help cut down on a steak's fat content.

Vitamins and Minerals

Both steak and chicken are high in zinc, iron, and phosphorus; however, steak has a higher quantity of all three. In fact, steak is generally more nutritious than chicken overall, which can make it a good option when you're overcoming an illness.

Is chicken high in iron? Find out here.

Calories

Because of steak's higher fat content, it is also more calorie dense than chicken. On average, steak has 271 calories per 100-gram portion, or 27 calories per gram. Chicken, by contrast, has only 239 calories per portion, or 24 calories per gram.

Preparation

When choosing between steak and chicken, preparation is one of the most important factors. If you're not very experienced in the kitchen, you may want to stick with chicken, as it's more versatile and easy to work with.

Versatility

Both of these meats are actually highly versatile, as evidenced by the fact that they show up in sandwiches, tacos, pasta, and a range of other dishes. Overall, chicken is probably seen in a greater variety of dishes because it has a more mild flavor.

Simplicity

While the ease of cooking either type of meat depends largely on the part of the animal you're using, most people would agree that chicken is easier to work with. While breasts can sometimes dry out, chicken thighs are moist enough that even novice cooks can sear them perfectly without much hassle.

Beef, by contrast, has dozens of different cuts, which each require different preparation. If you try to cook a New York Strip like a Ribeye, you'll end up with a dry and overdone piece of meat.

Rawness

Keeping the above in mind, there is one advantage steak has over chicken in terms of preparation: it can be eaten rare. While raw steak can carry some health risks, rare or medium-rare beef is delicious and perfectly safe. Chicken, on the other hand, can make you seriously ill if it's underdone.

Cost

Cows are larger animals and cost substantially more to raise than chickens. This cost is passed on to the consumer, which is why beef is usually more expensive than chicken. Though unlike chicken, beef has a range of different cuts, each with its own average price.

Take a look at the average prices of some of the most common cuts of beef compared to the cost of chicken below:

• Ground Chuck: $4.87 per pound
• Sirloin Steak: $11.65 per pound
• Chuck Roast: $7.39 per pound
• Chicken breast: $3.59 per pound
• Whole chicken: $1.52 per pound

Frequently Asked Questions