How many calories are in turkey breast?

A typical turkey breast steak (around 150g) contains approximately 177 kcal. Per 100g, plain raw turkey breast provides 118 kcal with 24.1g protein and just 2.2g fat. This makes it one of the leanest mainstream protein sources — slightly leaner than chicken breast (115 kcal, 3.3g fat per 100g) with marginally more protein.

Is turkey breast better than chicken breast?

Nutritionally they are very similar. Turkey breast is slightly leaner (2.2g fat vs 3.3g per 100g) and slightly higher in protein (24.1g vs 21.5g). Both have virtually zero carbs and zero glucose impact. The main practical difference is price and availability — chicken breast is more widely available and often cheaper per kilogram. From a SpikeSaver perspective, both are equally excellent choices.

Is sliced turkey breast processed?

Yes. Deli-sliced turkey breast is NOVA 3 (processed) at minimum. Even Tesco's own-brand roast turkey slices contain added salt, pushing salt content from 0.19g/100g (raw) to over 0.82g/100g. Budget brands go further, adding thickening agents (carrageenan/E407a), acidity regulators, and stabilisers. For the cleanest option, buy raw turkey breast and cook it yourself — the only ingredient will be turkey.

What is the glycemic index of turkey breast?

Turkey Breast has a glycemic index of 0, which is classified as Low GI. Turkey breast contains zero carbohydrates, so it has no measurable glycemic index.

Glucose: Very LowNOVA 1

Nutritional Information for Turkey Breast

Turkey breast is one of the leanest protein sources available, delivering 24-25g of protein per 100g with virtually zero carbohydrates and only 1.7-2.2g of fat. From a SpikeSaver perspective, fresh turkey breast has zero glucose impact — no carbs means no blood sugar response. It is nutritionally very similar to chicken breast but slightly leaner and higher in protein. The main thing to watch is deli-sliced and processed variants, which add salt, stabilisers, and acidity regulators that push them to NOVA 3.

Nutrition per 100g

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Energy	118 kcal / 499 kJ	177 kcal
Protein	24.1g	36.2g
Carbohydrates	0.3g	0.5g
of which sugars	0.1g	—
Fat	2.2g	3.3g
of which saturated	0.6g	—
Fibre	0.5g	—
Salt	0.19g	—

Serving size: 1 turkey breast steak (~150g) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Glucose impact

Glycemic Index

Very Low

Glucose risk

Turkey breast contains virtually zero carbohydrates (0.1-0.5g per 100g) and zero meaningful sugars. It has no measurable effect on blood glucose levels. This makes it one of the safest foods for anyone managing blood sugar, identical in glucose impact to chicken breast.

Processing level

NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

A plain raw turkey breast fillet or steak is an unprocessed single-ingredient product — just turkey. No additives, no preservatives, no flavourings. However, deli-sliced turkey breast (such as Tesco Finest Roast Turkey Breast or Tesco Deli Roast Turkey Breast) moves to NOVA 3 as it is cooked, salted, and may contain stabilisers. Budget sliced turkey from some brands adds thickening agents (E407a), acidity regulators (E325), and stabilisers (disodium diphosphate), pushing them into NOVA 3-4 territory.

Turkey Breast at Tesco

Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Tesco British Turkey Breast Steaks 380G

£5.20*NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Tesco Mini Turkey Breast Fillets 400G

£5.10*NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Tesco British Turkey Breast Mince 2% Fat 500G

£4.50*NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Tesco Finest Roast Turkey Breast 120g

1 UPF marker

£5.50*NOVA 3 (processed)

Tesco Deli Roast Turkey Breast 120G

1 UPF marker

NOVA 3 (processed)

*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.

What to watch for when shopping

Plain raw turkey breast fillets and steaks are always NOVA 1 — just turkey. The danger zone is the deli counter and pre-sliced section. Tesco's own deli turkey breast products are relatively clean (NOVA 3 due to cooking and added salt), but budget third-party brands can contain thickening agents (E407a — carrageenan), acidity regulators (E325), and stabilisers like disodium diphosphate. Check salt content: fresh turkey has 0.19g/100g salt, but sliced deli turkey jumps to 0.82-0.83g/100g — over four times higher. Turkey breast mince at 2% fat is an excellent lean alternative to beef mince.

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