Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces: 13.6g Protein per 2.5 ONZ, Labelgrade B
B 79 / 100 — Strong protein density (19.4g per 100g), very low saturated fat, and effectively zero sugar.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces delivers 13.6g of protein and 90.3 calories per 2.5 ONZ (USDA FDC 1991315). Per 100g that’s 19.4g of protein; per oz, 5.5g. The Labelgrade is B (79 / 100): Strong protein density (19.4g per 100g), very low saturated fat, and effectively zero sugar.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B | 79 / 100 | 19.4g per 100g — strong for this category |
| Ingredient quality | B | 75 / 100 | 11 ingredients, recognizable, no significant additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 98 / 100 | 0.28g per serving (0.4g per 100g) — very low |
| Sodium load | D | 51 / 100 | 315mg per serving (128mg per oz) — meaningful per 100g |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g of sugar — perfect |
| Fiber | C+ | 67 / 100 | 3.71g per serving — good |
| Overall | B | 79 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 25% · ingredients 22% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 12% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
We’re still building out this category. As a benchmark, plain cooked chicken breast contains 31g of protein per 100g (8.8g per oz). Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces delivers 19.4g of protein per 100g (5.5g per oz).
The protein-per-calorie is the real win
Most plant “chicken” has a protein problem: it looks meaty but lands at 8 to 11g per serving, well short of the real thing. Daring doesn’t. By building the pieces on soy protein concentrate rather than a starch-and-flavor matrix, it delivers a genuine 13.6g of protein for just 90 calories — that’s 6.6 calories per gram of protein, which is excellent. For comparison, plain cooked chicken breast runs about 5.3 cal/g and most plant meats are well above 8. The reason this matters: soy protein is also complete, carrying all nine essential amino acids on its own, so you’re not getting a hollow “protein” number that needs a second source to actually count.
The other half of the story is what isn’t here. Saturated fat is 0.28g (an A+), total fat is under 2g, and there’s no sugar and effectively no carbohydrate — net carbs after fiber are zero. That combination, high protein with almost nothing else along for the ride, is genuinely hard to find in this aisle and is why Daring out-grades the meat-mimic burgers and sausages that load up on coconut oil to taste rich. This is a lean protein that happens to be plant-based, not a fat-and-salt indulgence wearing a health halo.
The sodium is the whole catch — cook around it
If this page has one watch-out, it’s salt. At 315mg of sodium per 2.5 oz serving the sodium dimension grades a D (51/100), and it’s single-handedly the reason the overall sits at B instead of A-minus. Nothing else on the panel is a real liability. The pieces are seasoned and salted during manufacturing, so unlike a plain chicken breast you can’t dial it back at the stove — the salt is baked in before you open the bag.
The fix is to treat Daring as the salty component of the plate and build everything around it low-sodium. Pair it with unsalted brown rice or quinoa, pile on roasted or fresh vegetables (which also covers the fiber the pieces don’t bring), and skip adding soy sauce or extra salt to the dish — the product already supplies it. Used that way, the 315mg slots into a normal day without trouble; treated like a blank-canvas protein you season from scratch, it stacks up fast. For anyone on a strict low-sodium plan, that’s the one reason to think twice.
Scope
This page covers Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces (8 OZ/227 g), UPC 860003055021, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 1991315. Daring sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
WATER, SOY PROTEIN-CONCENTRATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORING, SPICES (PAPRIKA, PEPPER, GINGER, NUTMEG, MACE, CARDAMOM)
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 2.5 ONZ
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (2.5 ONZ) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90.3 |
| Protein | 13.6g |
| Total Fat | 1.75g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.28g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1.26g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.71g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 315mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 81.2mg |
| Iron | 2.8mg |
| Potassium | 395mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces (8 OZ/227 g) · UPC 860003055021. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken actually healthy?
For a plant meat, it's about as clean as the category gets. You get 13.6g of protein for 90 calories with almost no fat (1.75g) and effectively no carbs or sugar — a genuinely good protein-per-calorie ratio. The honest catch is sodium: 315mg per serving, which is where most of its grade gets spent. Eat it as the protein in a vegetable-forward meal and it's a smart choice; just don't salt it further.
Why does it score a B and not higher?
The protein density (19.4g per 100g), near-zero saturated fat, and zero sugar would carry it into A territory on their own — those three dimensions all grade A+ or B. What pulls it down to 79 is the sodium load, which grades a D at 315mg per serving. It's a high-protein, low-fat win held back almost entirely by salt.
Is it really made from soy, and is it a complete protein?
Yes — the base is soy protein concentrate, which is what lets Daring hit a real 13.6g per serving where many plant meats fall short. Soy is also one of the few plant proteins that's complete on its own, with all nine essential amino acids, so unlike a pea-only product it doesn't need a second protein to round out the profile.
How do I cook Daring Original Plant-Based Chicken Pieces?
They come pre-cooked, so you're really just heating and browning. Sear them hot and dry in a pan for a few minutes to get color and a firmer bite, then add sauce at the end — toss into a stir-fry, fold into tacos or a grain bowl, or slice cold over a salad. Because they're already seasoned and salted, build the rest of the dish low-sodium to keep the total in check.
What should I pair it with, or use instead?
Pair it with high-fiber, low-sodium partners — roasted vegetables, brown rice, or greens — since the pieces bring protein but no fiber and plenty of salt. If you want an even cleaner-label plant protein, plain tofu or tempeh is fewer ingredients with zero added sodium; if you're not vegan, plain chicken breast beats it on protein density and salt. Daring's edge is the meat-like texture with no cooking learning curve.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 1991315. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.