Butter Chicken vs Chicken Curry

Per 100 g, Butter Chicken has 137 kcal and 10.9 g protein, while Chicken Curry has 122 kcal and 12.5 g protein.

Butter Chicken

137
kcal per 100 g
10.9 g protein

Chicken Curry

122
kcal per 100 g
12.5 g protein

Nutrition compared, per 100 g

Both foods are shown per 100 g so the numbers are directly comparable. A single serving of each is a different size, so serving-for-serving figures would not tell you much.

Nutrient Butter Chicken Chicken Curry Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 137 kcal 122 kcal better 12%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 10.9 g 12.5 g better 13%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 3.7 g 3 g better 19%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 8.7 g 6.5 g better 25%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 1.3 g better 0.5 g 62%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 2.4 g 1 g better 58%
"Better" marks the more favourable value for a general healthy-eating goal, not a judgement about the food overall. Differences under 5% are treated as equivalent.

Which is better for weight loss?

Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry is the lighter choice at 122 kcal per 100 g against 137 for Butter Chicken — about 12% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Butter Chicken a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry is the stronger protein source, with 12.5 g per 100 g against 10.9 g for Butter Chicken. To match that from Butter Chicken you would have to eat roughly 1.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Butter Chicken vs Chicken Curry — common questions

Butter Chicken has more calories — about 137 kcal per 100 g compared with 122 kcal for Chicken Curry.

Chicken Curry has more protein — 12.5 g per 100 g against 10.9 g for Butter Chicken.

Chicken Curry is the lighter choice at 122 kcal per 100 g against 137 for Butter Chicken — about 12% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Butter Chicken a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Chicken Curry is the stronger protein source, with 12.5 g per 100 g against 10.9 g for Butter Chicken. To match that from Butter Chicken you would have to eat roughly 1.1 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 259 kcal and 23.4 g protein per 100 g of each. Indian meals are usually built from pairs like this, and mixing a grain with a protein source generally makes for a better-balanced plate than either on its own.

For most everyday goals Chicken Curry has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Butter Chicken has 137 kcal and 10.9 g protein, while Chicken Curry has 122 kcal and 12.5 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Butter Chicken nutrition & serving sizes
Full Chicken Curry nutrition & serving sizes

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Data source: nutrition values are drawn from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), Vijayakumar et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8(7):103790, used under CC BY 4.0, and derived from the ICMR-NIN Indian Food Composition Tables. Values vary with recipe, oil used and regional style.

General information only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer.