Head-to-head comparison

Beef Jerky vs Turkey Jerky: Which Has More Protein?

Both Beef Jerky and Turkey Jerky are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Beef Jerky

33.2gprotein / 100g

410 cal · 7.0g fat · $$$ · Quality 0.9

Turkey Jerky

30.1gprotein / 100g

290 cal · 3.5g fat · $$$ · Quality 0.9

There's a meaningful protein-density gap here: Beef Jerky runs 33.2g per 100g against Turkey Jerky's 30.1g, roughly 3.1g more per equal weight.

Protein quality is essentially matched between the two — both land in a similar tier for amino acid completeness.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($$$), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Beef Jerky's typical serving also delivers more leucine (2650mg vs Turkey Jerky's 2400mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Beef Jerky or Turkey Jerky works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gBeef JerkyTurkey Jerky
Protein33.2g30.1g
Calories410290
Fat7.0g3.5g
Carbs11.2g12.0g
Fiber0.5g0.5g
Quality score0.90.9
Relative cost$$$$$$
Prep time0 min0 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, beef jerky or turkey jerky?

Beef Jerky has 33.2g of protein per 100g compared to Turkey Jerky's 30.1g.

Which is lower in calories?

Turkey Jerky is lower in calories per 100g, at 290 vs the other's 410.