Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Nuggets (20 oz): Protein, Calories & Labelgrade
Labelgrade: B- 72 / 100 — Boneless chicken breast first, unbleached wheat flour breading, no soy protein extenders. Protein density sits mid-pack among major brands; sodium is the highest of the four chicken nuggets we've graded, which pulls the overall to B-.
The short answer
A 20 oz (567 g) bag of Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Nuggets contains roughly 80 grams of protein total — 12 g per 5-piece serving, across about 7 servings per bag (USDA FDC 2020041). The Labelgrade is B- (72 / 100): clean ingredient list with real boneless chicken breast first and no soy protein extenders, but sodium per serving (500 mg) is the highest of the four major chicken nuggets we’ve graded, and protein density is mid-pack.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B- | 71 / 100 | 14.1 g of protein per 100 g — slightly below Tyson (15.6) and Applegate (14.3), above Great Value (12.0) |
| Ingredient quality | B | 78 / 100 | Real chicken first, unbleached wheat flour breading, no soy extenders, no phosphate additives — a cleaner formulation than budget brands |
| Sugar load | A+ | 97 / 100 | Only 1 g of sugar per serving |
| Sodium load | C- | 53 / 100 | 500 mg per serving, ~588 mg per 100 g of nuggets — the highest of the chicken nugget brands we’ve graded |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0 g of fiber, typical for breaded chicken |
| Protein per dollar | N/A | — | Will add when we have verified retail pricing |
| Overall | B- | 72 / 100 | Cleaner ingredient list than Great Value, less protein-dense than Tyson, with the highest sodium of the four brands graded |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Protein density (per 100 g) | Sodium per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perdue Simply Smart (this product) | 12 g | 14.1 g | 500 mg (highest) |
| Tyson Chicken Nuggets (29 oz) | 14 g | 15.6 g | 470 mg |
| Applegate Chicken Nuggets (16 oz) | 12 g | 14.3 g | 340 mg (lowest) |
| Great Value Chicken Nuggets (32 oz) | 9 g | 12.0 g | 430 mg |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | ~31 g per 100 g | 31.0 g | ~75 mg |
Perdue ties Applegate on per-serving protein (12 g) and edges out Great Value on density. Tyson narrowly wins density. Applegate wins on ingredient cleanness and lowest sodium. Plain chicken breast is roughly 2× denser than any breaded option.
Whole-food equivalent
The 12 g of protein in one Perdue serving (5 nuggets, 85 g) equals the protein in about 39 g of plain cooked chicken breast — roughly 1.4 oz. That swap saves about 115 calories, 9 g of fat, and 425 mg of sodium per serving.
Scope
This page covers the 20 oz (567 g) frozen Perdue Simply Smart Lightly Breaded Chicken Nuggets (UPC 072745806773, USDA FDC ID 2020041). Perdue’s Simply Smart line is distinct from their conventional chicken nuggets, organic line, and various Italian-style breaded products — those have different formulations. Always check the actual package label.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Boneless chicken breast with rib meat, water, unbleached wheat flour. Contains less than 2% of salt, sugar, yeast extract, sea salt, dehydrated garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, spices, yeast, celery seed extract.
| Nutrient | Per Serving (85 g (5 pieces)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Protein | 12g |
| Total Fat | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 10g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 1g |
| Sodium | 500mg |
| Cholesterol | 45mg |
| Calcium | 20.4mg |
| Iron | 0.722mg |
Where to buy
Links below are affiliate links. Buying through them may earn Labelgrade a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure. The Labelgrade score is not affected by affiliate relationships — see methodology.
Search links are convenience links that may not land on the exact product variant we covered. Always verify the package label (size, UPC) before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in Perdue Simply Smart Chicken Nuggets?
12 grams of protein per 5-piece (85 g) serving — about 80 grams of protein per 20 oz bag, across roughly 7 servings (USDA FDC 2020041).
How many calories per serving?
180 calories per 5 nuggets — the lowest per-serving calorie count of the four major chicken nugget brands we've graded.
How does Perdue compare to Tyson on protein?
Tyson Chicken Nuggets are slightly denser: 15.6 g protein per 100 g vs Perdue's 14.1 g. Per serving, Tyson delivers 14 g (5 pieces, 90 g) vs Perdue's 12 g (5 pieces, 85 g). The gap is real but small.
Are Perdue Simply Smart Nuggets healthier than other Perdue products?
The Simply Smart line markets itself as lightly breaded with fewer additives. The USDA-listed ingredients support that: chicken first, simple wheat-flour breading, no phosphate additives or soy protein concentrate. Per gram of food it's still a breaded fried product, but the formulation is cleaner than the budget-brand alternative (Great Value).
How much sodium per serving?
500 mg per 5 nuggets — about 22% of the FDA's 2,300 mg daily limit. That's the highest sodium load of the four major chicken nuggets we've graded, and the main reason Perdue scores B- rather than B.
Are they gluten-free?
No. The breading contains unbleached wheat flour. Perdue does sell gluten-free chicken products in other product lines.
Sources
- USDA · ID 2020041 · accessed 2026-05-27
- MANUFACTURER · accessed 2026-05-27
Last verified: 2026-05-27