Is Shrimp High in Protein?

Yes. Shrimp carries about 18g of protein per 3 oz cooked, and it does that with very little fat or carbohydrate alongside it, which is most of why it shows up so often in low-carb, high-protein cooking.

The actual numbers

Per 3 oz cooked, shrimp runs about 18g of protein for around 100 calories, most of that calorie count coming from protein itself rather than fat. That’s a leaner profile than most cuts of chicken or beef, even though the total protein number is a bit lower.

Where it shows up in real cooking

Shrimp cooks fast and takes on flavor well, which is most of what this site’s shrimp recipes lean on: the grilled shrimp skewers and the shrimp and cauliflower rice stir-fry both use it as the main protein, not a garnish.

FAQ

Does shrimp have more protein than chicken?

Slightly less. Chicken breast runs about 26g of protein per 3 oz cooked against shrimp’s 18g, but shrimp carries noticeably fewer calories to get there, so the protein-per-calorie ratio is close between the two.

Does the size of the shrimp change the protein number?

Not meaningfully. Jumbo, large, or medium shrimp all carry a similar protein density by weight, the size just changes how many shrimp make up a 3 oz serving.

See everything tagged seafood, or browse the full Foods High in Protein reference list for how it stacks up against other options.