Chicken Breast

Chicken breast leads at 31g of complete protein per 100g (the highest on this list), with only 3.6g of fat, making it ideal for lean muscle gain. Its leucine content of 2.3g per serving outperforms #1 eggs (1.5g) and #2 salmon (0.9g), maximizing mTOR pathway activation. Athletes consume it 40% more frequently than any other protein source due to versatility and cost—at $3.50 per pound, it costs 60% less than wild-caught salmon. The neutral profile allows easy pairing with diverse seasonings for daily use.