Lamb vs Tandoori Chicken

Per 100 g, Lamb has 164 kcal and 21.4 g protein, while Tandoori Chicken has 130 kcal and 18.7 g protein.

Lamb

164
kcal per 100 g
21.4 g protein

Tandoori Chicken

130
kcal per 100 g
18.7 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 Lamb Tandoori Chicken Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 164 kcal 130 kcal better 21%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 21.4 g better 18.7 g 13%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 0 g better 2 g 100%
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 8.7 g 5.3 g better 39%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 0 g 0.3 g better 100%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 0 g better 0.7 g 100%
"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?

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken is the lighter choice at 130 kcal per 100 g against 164 for Lamb — about 21% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Lamb a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Lamb

Lamb is the stronger protein source, with 21.4 g per 100 g against 18.7 g for Tandoori Chicken. To match that from Tandoori 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. Worth noting the trade-off: Tandoori Chicken is more efficient per calorie (14.4 g of protein per 100 kcal against 13 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Lamb vs Tandoori Chicken — common questions

Lamb has more calories — about 164 kcal per 100 g compared with 130 kcal for Tandoori Chicken.

Lamb has more protein — 21.4 g per 100 g against 18.7 g for Tandoori Chicken.

Tandoori Chicken is the lighter choice at 130 kcal per 100 g against 164 for Lamb — about 21% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Lamb a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Lamb is the stronger protein source, with 21.4 g per 100 g against 18.7 g for Tandoori Chicken. To match that from Tandoori 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. Worth noting the trade-off: Tandoori Chicken is more efficient per calorie (14.4 g of protein per 100 kcal against 13 g), so it is the better pick if you are also holding calories down.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 294 kcal and 40.1 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 Tandoori Chicken has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Lamb has 164 kcal and 21.4 g protein, while Tandoori Chicken has 130 kcal and 18.7 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.

Other comparisons

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.