These Are the 12 Fish That Are Highest in Protein

Yeah, look, theres nothing wrong with chicken except that chicken is really, really boring. Put all the lemon pepper seasoning on the stuff you want, but youre always going to look at that grilled chicken breast as an eat-to-live meal instead of an live-to-eat" one.

Thats why you should eat more fish. Fish has flavor. And it also carries a host of other nutritional benefits, such as omega-3 fatty acids , which can help save your heart. (You do like your heart, dont you?). It also has vitamin D, which can support your immune system.

And fish has protein -sometimes a lot of protein, depending on the fish. Sometimes MORE protein than chicken, even.

This list ranks the highest-protein fish, according to the USDA Nutrient Database. Shop, cook, and eat accordingly.

No lemon pepper seasoning needed.

Yellowtail

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One four-ounce filet of this slightly oily fish has a potent 34 grams of protein for 212 calories. How does that compare to chicken breast ? The same amount (4 oz) has 26 grams of protein and 110 calories. Sure, youre saving like 100 calories, but yellowtail tastes amazing. Broil it, top it with flaky sea salt and freshly squeezed lemon juice, if you dont believe Mens Health. Great sushi bar order too.

Tuna (light, canned in oil)

Yeah, tuna fish! Four ounces contain 33 grams of protein and 225 calories. And dont work yourself up into a panic about the mercury in tuna fish. The FDA recently issued this statement : Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

Anchovy (canned in oil)

So four ounces has 52 grams of protein for 378. THAT SAID, youre definitely not going to eat four ounces unless you want to back out of a date or something. But anchovies are very high in two things: omega-3s and flavor. You could pop them on a pizza, but theyre even better in pasta sauce, where they heighten the flavors of everything else instead of overpowering the dish. Mix two anchovy fillets into your next batch homemade sauce when you add your garlic and onions.

Coho Salmon

This low-calorie, high-omega-3 wild fish houses 31 grams of protein for only 209 calories. Its flavor is intensely fresh and almost sweet, so dont do anything to ruin it. Its great right off the grill with lemon juice, salt, and a little chopped dill.

Trout

Anglers love it; fish counters dont always carry it. But when you see trout (or catch it), savor it. The flesh is supremely tender and takes well to a trip to the smoker. A four-ounce fillet will have 30 grams of protein for only 215 calories.

Snapper

You may see red snapper at your grocery store, but all varieties share a similar nutritional profile: 30 grams of protein and 145 calories for every four ounces. Its a firmer-flesh fish, so it a great option to grill, and its hearty flavor matches well with oil-and-herb-based sauces.

Tilapia

12 Fish That Are Stuffed to the Gills With Protein BusinessInsider USA Images

What tilapia lacks in flavor, it makes up for in an amazing protein-to-calorie ratio. In one fillet, youll find 23 grams of protein for only 111 calories. In the taste department, try marinating this fish and then cooking it in a hot cast-iron pan. When its flaky, its perfect for fish tacos.

Bluefish

Not to be confused with bluefin tuna, raw bluefish is more of light purple than a deep red. Cook the meaty flesh and it turns white and flaky. You may have had it smoked, but its also great quickly pan-fried. Four ounces contains 29 grams of protein and 180 calories.

Pollock

Not the abstract painter. The member of the cod family. Its flaky. Its neutral tasting-which is while youll often find it inside fish sticks. But its also a fast-cooking fish that works well inside a burrito. At 28 grams of protein and 134 for four ounces, its a solid nutritional pick.

Grouper

This fish wont take first prize at a beauty pageant any time soon, but at 28 grams of protein and 134 calories per four ounce serving, its a nutritional winner. Try it pan-seared with blackening spices or Cajun seasoning.

Sardines (canned in oil)

Stop turning your nose up at this omega-3 loaded fish. Consume a four ounce serving and youll take in 28 grams of protein for 236 calories. Pop some on some Triscuits and call it a snack.