Are you beginning a high-protein food regimen and making an attempt to hit your macros? If you’re in search of a solution to improve protein whereas protecting carbs low, there isn’t a higher possibility on the market than high quality meat protein.
As you intend your menu on the keto food regimen, this meat protein information will make it easier to make the neatest shopping for selections. Plus, discover ways to plan a nutritious diet low in saturated fats and excessive in muscle-building protein.


Leap to:
Meat is scrumptious and nutritious, and you’ll attain your every day protein consumption simply. That being mentioned, not all sorts of animal proteins are the identical. See the meat charts beneath.
- Rooster breast, skinless – 1 cup (245g) = 75.9g protein
- Rooster breast, pores and skin eaten – 1 cup (245g) = 67.2g protein
- Salmon steak – 1 cup (245g) = 62.4g protein
- Floor beef 5% fats – 1 cup (217g) = 59.1g protein
- Floor beef 15% fats – 1 cup (217g) = 56.2g protein
- Prawns – 1 cup (245g) = 58.9g protein
- Tuna – 1 cup (227g) = 57.9g protein
- Pork roast – 1 cup (245g) = 56.7g protein
- Sirloin steak (fats eaten) – 1 cup (245g) = 56.9g protein
- Pork rinds – 1 cup (30g) = 18.4g protein
Dietary values from cronometer.com
Vitamin in meat
One of many well being advantages of a low-carb food regimen that is excessive in meat is that animal protein has all of the important amino acids our our bodies want. Amino acids are important for constructing muscle, the synthesis of hormones, collagen, enzymes, and neurotransmitters corresponding to serotonin.
Protein is the constructing block of muscle, and it is important to our well being, particularly on a high-protein low-carb food regimen.
Meat is extremely nutrient-dense filled with iron, B-complex nutritional vitamins corresponding to thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and the important vitamin B12. Meat protein is a pure supply of vitality and vitamins corresponding to iron and vitamin B12 can improve your pink blood cells and decrease the danger of anemia.
Which meat do you have to keep away from?
Not all meat and meals from animals are nearly as good for you. Some ultra-processed deli meats are excessive in chemical substances, preservatives, components, and salt.
That is why it is vital to decide on high-quality meat, for instance, processed meat like scorching canines doesn’t have the identical well being advantages as a stunning grass-fed steak.
Whereas lean meats corresponding to lean floor beef may be part of your food regimen, do not draw back from consuming fattier cuts of meat both. Diets larger in fat may help you shed extra pounds, keep satiated, steadiness your hormones and a lot extra.
Study extra about the advantages of wholesome fat on this article.
What meat has essentially the most protein?
Meat is made from protein, fats, and water. A high-fat lower of meat usually may have decrease protein. Low-fat meat will usually have larger protein. Meat that has been brined and absorbed a whole lot of water may have decrease fats and decrease protein.
Trying to get essentially the most bang on your buck? Chances are you’ll be shocked to listen to that hen breast has essentially the most protein in it in comparison with all sorts of meat.
It has a powerful 30.9g of protein per 100g/3.5 ounces. However beware of shopping for hen that has been pumped with water.

What’s hen plumping?
Rooster is usually injected with salted water to maintain the hen meat moist, tasty, and tender. Water injected into hen may be 15% – 30% of the hen you’re shopping for. That is known as hen plumping.
Why do they inject hen meat? After they started to breed bigger chickens, the protein of the hen meat elevated however their fats decreased, which made for dry bland tasting hen.
The saline (salted water or brine) they inject into hen meat additionally has pure hen flavors, broth, lemon concentrates, and infrequently corn syrup.
So subsequent time you cook dinner hen and all that soiled water is on the backside of your pan, it is water that has been added to extend the burden, however not the diet, of your meat.
Meat protein: sorts of meat
I’ll cowl the protein quantities in complete meats fairly than processed ones. That is as a result of an important a part of wholesome consuming is consuming actual, complete meals as a substitute of processed meats crammed with pointless carbs and starches, fillers, components, and preservatives.
Let’s take a fast have a look at the preferred sorts of meat and what number of grams of protein every of them has.
Rooster

There are 31 grams of protein per 100g/3.5 ounces of skinless hen breast.
The quantities are related for hen thigh and hen drumstick. There are 28.2 grams of protein in a 3.5-ounce thigh and 27.3g of protein in a drumstick.
Many individuals can discover hen a bit boring, however the appropriate seasoning can change every thing! Listed below are 4 alternative ways to make superb keto hen.
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Rooster breast, skinless | 30.9 | 4.5 | 173 |
Rooster thigh, pores and skin eaten | 28.2 | 13.2 | 239 |
Rooster drumstick, pores and skin eaten | 27.3 | 10 | 206 |
Rooster wings, pores and skin eaten | 23.8 | 16.9 | 254 |
Pork

Lean pork like pork tenderloin is one other wholesome selection. This is how a lot protein is within the various kinds of pork.
Bacon has the best protein as a result of it’s usually cured then dried so a lot of the moisture and water have been eliminated.
- Pork Tenderloin – 29g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Floor pork – 21g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Ham – 23g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Bacon – 42g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Pork ribs – 20g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
If you’re in search of a easy, but scrumptious solution to get pleasure from pork, I extremely suggest this one-pan keto pork chop with butter garlic sauce. It is improbable!
Extra keto pork recipes
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Pork tenderloin, no seen fats eaten | 28.8 | 5.5 | 170 |
Floor pork, 4% fats | 21.1 | 4 | 121 |
Ham, boneless, cured | 22.6 | 9 | 178 |
Bacon, centre lower | 42.4 | 31.4 | 467 |
Beef

Some individuals who have been warned to chop again their saturated fats consumption would possibly wish to eat much less pink meat. Nonetheless, the World Coronary heart Federation truly says fat protects us, carbs are dangerous.
Lean beef can nonetheless be a wholesome a part of your food regimen as they are usually larger in protein, however do not fully neglect the scrumptious fatty cuts.
- Lean floor beef – 27g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Roast beef – 30g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Spherical steak – 26g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Sirloin steak – 27g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
I take advantage of floor beef specifically very often for meal prep. Need to do the identical? Listed below are 20 keto floor beef meals that you could simply meal prep.
Extra keto beef recipes
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Lean floor beef, 5% fats | 27.3 | 6.4 | 174 |
Floor beef, 15% fats | 25.9 | 14.4 | 240 |
Roast beef, no seen fats eaten | 29.9 | 4.5 | 160 |
Sirloin steak, fats eaten | 26.7 | 15.1 | 250 |
Venison

One other identify for deer meat is venison and it’s a full protein supply as properly. There are 26 grams of protein in 3 ounces of venison.
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Venison, floor | 26.5 | 8.2 | 187 |
Venison, wild, steaks | 35.6 | 2.5 | 165 |
Venison, jerky | 33.9 | 22.4 | 404 |
Venison, ribs | 30.2 | 3.2 | 158 |
Turkey

Turkey is one other lean protein that you could get in three alternative ways. This is how a lot protein is in every kind.
- Turkey breast – 30g of protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Floor turkey – 19g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
- Turkey bacon – 29g protein in 100g/3.5 ounces
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Turkey breast, no seen fats eaten | 30.1 | 2.1 | 147 |
Turkey breast, seen fats eaten | 27.3 | 10 | 206 |
Floor turkey, 7 % fats | 18.7 | 8.3 | 150 |
Turkey bacon | 29.5 | 25.9 | 368 |
Seafood

One other tasty solution to eat extra protein is by consuming seafood.
Fatty fish like salmon is improbable for mind and intestine well being. There are 25 grams of protein in a small fillet of salmon.
For my part, cooked shrimp and mussels are among the most scrumptious protein sources discovered within the ocean. There are 23 grams of protein in 100g of shrimp.
Canned tuna is a really versatile kind of seafood that lasts a very long time in your shelf. There are 25 grams of protein in 100g/3.5 ounces.

Extra keto salmon recipes
Per 100g/3.5 ounces | Protein g | Fats g | Energy |
Salmon fillet | 25.3 | 12 | 210 |
Shrimp | 22.8 | 1.7 | 119 |
Crab, canned, drained | 17.9 | 0.7 | 83 |
Tuna, canned, drained | 25.5 | 0.8 | 116 |
Plant-based protein meals
There are additionally a number of high-protein meals that come from vegetation as a substitute of animals. Some individuals desire to eat plant-based protein as a result of it has much less saturated fats, they might assume it’s higher for the setting, they’re heart-healthy, or for moral causes.
Plant proteins are promoted to be helpful on your coronary heart well being in the event you’re not consuming meat. Consuming them can decrease your coronary heart illness threat and even improve weight reduction. And, the excellent news is there are many choices that are not loaded in carbs both!
Nonetheless, the flip aspect is that switching from meat to plant protein can have harmful well being penalties. Most plant-based meat options truly exceeded the every day advisable allowance for saturated fats, sugar, salt.
Plant-based meat options present beneath the every day necessities for Vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and potassium.
Finest vegetarian protein sources

These are the perfect protein charts displaying high-protein low-carb nuts and seeds. You’ll be able to see precisely what number of grams of protein, fats, internet carbs, and energy are in every totally different nut and seed.
Cooked lentils and complete grains are sometimes the most typical various to animal proteins, however they’re each high-carb.
However don’t fret, there are many plant-based meals and plant proteins which have all kinds of amino acids and are wholesome protein meals for low-carb vegetarians.
First, peanut butter has a excessive protein content material. There are 8 grams of protein in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter.
Nuts and seeds are a good way to extend your protein consumption. The preferred varieties are sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Nonetheless, you have to to be conscious of the carb depend – see extra on this article about low carb nuts and seeds.
Excessive-protein fruit and greens

What are the perfect high-protein fruits and high-protein greens?
These protein charts for vegatables and fruits will present you precisely which have the best protein and 14 scrumptious recipes to make use of them.
If you’re on a low-carb vegetarian food regimen, it is advisable to steadiness protein and carbs properly. These simple fruit and greens protein charts will present you tips on how to construct a high-protein low-carb vegetarian meal plan.

Excessive-protein dairy

Dairy protein may be so versatile. It may be utilized in candy and savory recipes and may be eaten as a snack or a part of the primary meal.
If you happen to do not wish to eat meat, however do not thoughts consuming different animal meals, full-fat dairy may help you get sufficient protein in your day and also you additionally get calcium for bone well being.
Cottage cheese is a lean protein that’s versatile and low in energy. Cottage cheese may be loved as a fast protein snack, particularly in the event you stir by means of a tablespoon of peanut butter and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds on your B nutritional vitamins.
Closing ideas
As you may see, all types of meat have a wonderful quantity of protein and important amino acids in them.
When it is advisable to improve your consumption of excessive protein meals, meat like lean pork, darkish meat from hen, or beef gives you important amino acids and make it easier to construct lean muscle.
All the time select high-quality protein from an ethically raised supply that is freed from chemical substances.

Individuals additionally ask
Diary could be a good supply of protein and a fantastic addition to a variety of meals. Liquid dairy merchandise are reasonable protein however strong or semi-solid dairy corresponding to cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt are larger.
You’ll be able to eat lean meat, low-fat yogurt, and whey protein, for instance. The most effective methods to study which totally different cuts provide the finest low-fat meats (corresponding to lean floor beef) with the best quantity of protein, is to start monitoring your every day consumption of protein.
Monitoring apps will present you the fats content material, energy, protein, and totally different amino acids so you may be sure you meet your protein necessities.
One other low-fat protein supply with fewer energy is cottage cheese which is surprisingly a fantastic supply of protein and can be utilized in quite a lot of tasty recipes, candy and savory.
Protein is a very powerful important macronutrient for rising muscle mass as a result of amino acids are the constructing blocks for muscle in wholesome adults BUT you additionally must be lifting weights or doing resistance coaching to make muscular tissues develop.
The most affordable high-protein meat that may be present in all grocery shops must be lean floor beef. It’s low-fat and high-protein and infrequently offered in bulk so you should buy it cheaper and is ideal for affordable meal prep.

References and research
Biochemistry, Important Amino Acids – NCBI
What’s the position of meat in a nutritious diet? – PubMed
What’s hen plumping? – Wikipedia
Water in meat and poultry – USDA