How much cholesterol is in chicken?
A 3 oz (85 g) serving of roasted skinless chicken breast contains about 72 mg of cholesterol, according to USDA FoodData Central. That is 24% of the 300 mg Daily Value used on nutrition labels. Dark meat has more: about 110–113 mg in the same portion of thigh or drumstick.
So chicken is a moderate source of cholesterol. It has less than eggs or shrimp, about the same as lean beef and pork, and far less than chicken liver.
For scale: half a roasted chicken breast without skin weighs about 86 g once cooked and has about 73 mg of cholesterol, roughly a quarter of a 300 mg daily goal.
Cholesterol in chicken by cut
Values are for 3 oz (85 g) of roasted chicken, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy).
| Chicken, roasted, 3 oz | Cholesterol | % Daily Value | Saturated fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast, meat only | 72 mg | 24% | 0.9 g |
| Breast, meat and skin | 71 mg | 24% | 1.9 g |
| Wing, meat only | 72 mg | 24% | 1.9 g |
| Drumstick, meat only | 110 mg | 37% | 1.3 g |
| Drumstick, meat and skin | 110 mg | 37% | 2.3 g |
| Thigh, meat only | 113 mg | 38% | 2.0 g |
| Thigh, meat and skin | 113 mg | 38% | 3.5 g |
| Wing, meat and skin | 120 mg | 40% | 4.2 g |
| Giblets, simmered | 376 mg | 125% | 1.1 g |
| Liver, simmered | 479 mg | 160% | 1.8 g |
Two patterns stand out. Dark meat has about 50% more cholesterol than white meat. And chicken liver is in a different league: one 3 oz serving has more than the full Daily Value.
Does chicken skin have cholesterol?
It does, but taking it off changes saturated fat far more than cholesterol. USDA data shows 3 oz of roasted breast has about the same cholesterol with or without skin (71 mg against 72 mg). The saturated fat roughly doubles, from 0.9 g to 1.9 g.
Skin on its own has about 24 mg of cholesterol and 3.2 g of saturated fat per ounce. Since saturated fat tends to raise LDL cholesterol more than dietary cholesterol does for most people, removing the skin is still one of the most useful changes you can make.
Fried chicken
Frying adds little cholesterol to the meat itself: fried breast meat has about 77 mg per 3 oz. Breading, batter, and frying oil add fat and calories, and fried chicken is usually eaten with the skin. Check the nutrition information for restaurant fried chicken, which varies widely.
Is chicken high in cholesterol compared with beef, fish, and eggs?
Per serving, chicken breast is about even with lean red meat on cholesterol. The difference between them is saturated fat.
| Food, cooked | Serving | Cholesterol | Saturated fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large egg | 1 egg | 186 mg | 1.6 g |
| Shrimp | 3 oz | 161 mg | under 0.1 g |
| Chicken thigh, skinless | 3 oz | 113 mg | 2.0 g |
| Chicken breast, skinless | 3 oz | 72 mg | 0.9 g |
| Ground beef, 85% lean | 3 oz | 71 mg | 4.5 g |
| Top sirloin steak, lean | 3 oz | 71 mg | 2.1 g |
| Pork loin chop, lean | 3 oz | 71 mg | 1.8 g |
| Turkey breast | 3 oz | 60 mg | 0.6 g |
| Salmon, farmed | 3 oz | 54 mg | 2.0 g |
If you are choosing between chicken breast and 85% lean ground beef, the cholesterol is a wash, but the beef has about five times the saturated fat. Fish such as salmon has a bit less cholesterol than chicken and brings omega-3 fats. For a wider view, see our cholesterol content of common foods and our guide to cholesterol in shrimp.
Is chicken good or bad for cholesterol?
For most people, skinless chicken is one of the better protein choices if they are watching their cholesterol. It is low in saturated fat and has a moderate amount of dietary cholesterol. The way you cook and serve it decides much of the rest.
Some research has compared white meat with red meat directly. A 2019 randomized trial in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that, when saturated fat was held equal, diets based on red meat and on white meat (mainly chicken and turkey) raised LDL cholesterol by similar amounts. Diets based on plant protein gave lower LDL than both. The lesson is that saturated fat and overall diet matter more than the type of meat alone.
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines set no numeric limit on dietary cholesterol and focus on keeping saturated fat under 10% of daily calories. If your clinician has given you a cholesterol target, our guide to how much cholesterol per day shows how to work with it.
How to eat chicken with less cholesterol and saturated fat
- Choose breast over thigh when you are counting cholesterol: 72 mg against 113 mg per 3 oz.
- Remove the skin before eating to cut saturated fat roughly in half.
- Roast, grill, poach, or air-fry instead of deep-frying.
- Watch the sauce. Cream sauces, butter, and cheese toppings can add more saturated fat than the chicken itself.
- Keep liver and giblets occasional. A 3 oz serving of liver has 479 mg, more than a day's Daily Value.
- Mind the portion. Restaurant chicken breasts often weigh 6–8 oz cooked, two or more standard servings.
Track chicken in your daily cholesterol
Because the cut and portion change the number so much, logging "chicken" as one food can be misleading. A small skinless breast and a plate of wings are very different days.
In Cholesterol Tracker, search the specific cut, such as "chicken thigh, roasted," and set the weight. Snap a photo to estimate a mixed plate, or scan the label on packaged chicken. The help guide explains each logging method, and our roundup of the best apps to track cholesterol compares other options.
Frequently asked questions
Is chicken breast high in cholesterol?
No. A 3 oz serving of roasted skinless chicken breast has about 72 mg of cholesterol, or 24% of the 300 mg Daily Value, according to USDA FoodData Central. It is also low in saturated fat, at about 0.9 g, which makes it one of the leaner protein choices.
Do chicken thighs have more cholesterol than breasts?
Yes. Roasted skinless thigh meat has about 113 mg of cholesterol per 3 oz, compared with about 72 mg in breast meat. Thighs also have about twice the saturated fat. Both can fit a balanced diet, but breast is the lower choice if you are counting cholesterol.
Does chicken have more cholesterol than beef?
Skinless chicken breast and lean beef have almost the same cholesterol per 3 oz, about 71–72 mg. Chicken thigh has more, about 113 mg. The bigger difference is saturated fat: 85% lean ground beef has about 4.5 g per 3 oz, against 0.9 g in chicken breast.
Is it OK to eat chicken every day with high cholesterol?
Many people with high cholesterol eat chicken often. Choosing skinless breast, cooking it without butter or deep-frying, and keeping portions near 3–4 oz keeps saturated fat low. Mixing in fish, beans, and other plant proteins also helps. Ask your clinician about your own targets.
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: Chicken, broilers or fryers, roasted cuts, liver, and giblets (SR Legacy)
- Bergeron N et al. Effects of red meat, white meat, and nonmeat protein sources on atherogenic lipoprotein measures. Am J Clin Nutr, 2019
- Carson JAS et al. Dietary Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk: A Science Advisory From the AHA. Circulation, 2019
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
Not medical advice. This article explains dietary cholesterol in food. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Ask a qualified healthcare professional about your blood cholesterol and personal targets.
