Tyson Chicken Nuggets (29 oz): Protein, Calories & Labelgrade
Labelgrade: B- 74 / 100 — Solid protein content (14g per serving) with a clean wheat-flour breading and zero added sugar. The lower sodium and fiber sub-scores reflect that this is a breaded frozen product — convenient but not a whole food.
The short answer
A 29 oz (822 g) bag of Tyson Chicken Nuggets contains roughly 126 grams of protein total — 14 g per 5-piece serving, across about 9 servings per bag (USDA FDC 2617888). The Labelgrade is B (75 / 100): respectable protein-per-serving with a simple wheat-flour breading, but sodium and fat are typical of breaded frozen chicken, and protein density per gram of food is about half that of plain chicken breast.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B- | 73 / 100 | 15.6 g of protein per 100 g of nuggets — solid for a breaded product, but well below plain chicken breast (31 g/100 g) |
| Ingredient quality | B | 77 / 100 | Real chicken first, simple wheat-flour breading, no added preservatives flagged in USDA data; breading is set in vegetable oil; sodium per 100 g is high |
| Protein per dollar | N/A | — | Pricing varies by retailer — we’ll add this once we’ve sampled retail pricing |
| Overall | B | 75 / 100 | Reasonable convenience protein. Not whole food, but not heavily processed by frozen-chicken standards |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Protein density (per 100 g) | Sodium per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyson Chicken Nuggets (this product) | 14 g | 15.6 g | 470 mg |
| Great Value (Walmart) Chicken Nuggets | 9 g | 12.0 g | not reported |
| Applegate Chicken Nuggets | 12 g | 14.3 g | not reported |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | ~31 g per 100 g | 31.0 g | ~75 mg |
Tyson has the highest protein density of the three branded nuggets in the comparison set, with Applegate close behind and Great Value notably lower per gram. All three are roughly half as protein-dense as plain chicken breast — the breading and added fat dilute the protein-to-weight ratio.
Whole-food equivalent
To match the 14 g of protein in one Tyson serving (5 nuggets, 90 g), you’d need only about 45 g of plain cooked chicken breast — roughly 1.6 oz. That’s also about 120 fewer calories, 15 g less fat, and 395 mg less sodium than the equivalent serving of nuggets (USDA FDC 2617888 vs. SR Legacy chicken breast).
Scope
This page covers the 29 oz (822 g) fully-cooked frozen Tyson Chicken Nuggets sold in US grocery (UPC 023700014498, USDA FDC ID 2617888). Tyson sells multiple chicken nugget products under different SKUs (Anytizers, Red Label foodservice, Plant-Based Nuggets, and other sizes from 13.24 oz to 32 oz) — those have different ingredients and nutrition profiles. Manufacturers periodically reformulate, so always check the actual package label for the most current numbers.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Chicken, water, salt, and natural flavor. Breaded with: wheat flour, water, wheat starch, white whole wheat flour, salt, contains 2% or less of the following: yellow corn flour, corn starch, dried onion, dried garlic, dried yeast, brown sugar, extractives of paprika, and spices. Breading set in vegetable oil.
| Nutrient | Per Serving (90 g (5 pieces)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 270 |
| Protein | 14g |
| Total Fat | 17g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 470mg |
| Cholesterol | 39.6mg |
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 a 29 oz bag of Tyson Chicken Nuggets?
About 126 grams of protein total — 14 grams per 5-piece serving, across roughly 9 servings per bag (USDA FDC 2617888).
How many calories per serving?
270 calories per 5-piece (90 g) serving.
How many servings are in the 29 oz bag?
About 9 servings per 29 oz (822 g) package, at 90 g per serving.
Are Tyson Chicken Nuggets a good source of protein?
They contain 14 g of protein per serving — about 28% of the FDA Daily Value (50 g). That qualifies as a 'good source' under FDA nutrient content claim rules. For protein density per gram of food, plain chicken breast (31 g/100 g) is roughly twice as protein-dense.
How much sodium is in one serving?
470 mg of sodium per serving — about 20% of the FDA's daily limit of 2,300 mg.
Do Tyson Chicken Nuggets contain added sugar?
No. The label reports 0 g of total sugars per serving, though the breading contains a small amount of brown sugar (less than 2% of the breading mix).
Are they gluten-free?
No. The breading lists wheat flour, wheat starch, and whole wheat flour, so these are not gluten-free.
Sources
- USDA · ID 2617888 · accessed 2026-05-27
- MANUFACTURER · accessed 2026-05-27
Last verified: 2026-05-27