| Measure | Black beans | Pinto beans |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 1 cup cooked (172 g) | 1 cup cooked (171 g) |
| Protein per serving | 15.2 g | 15.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 8.86 g | 9.01 g |
| Calories per serving | 227 kcal | 245 kcal |
| Protein density | 27% of calories | 25% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 30% | 31% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete | Incomplete |
| Category | Legumes & beans | Legumes & beans |
Compare foods · Black beans · Pinto beans
Protein comparison
Black beans vs Pinto beans: which has more protein?
Black beans gives you 15.2 g of protein per 1 cup cooked; pinto beans gives you 15.4 g per 1 cup cooked. On equal weight it is 8.86 g against 9.01 g per 100 g. The full side-by-side, from the same USDA-sourced records as the rest of the site:
The verdict
On equal weight this is close to a tie: black beans has 8.86 g of protein per 100 g and pinto beans has 9.01 g. Per typical serving they are also nearly even: 15.2 g per 1 cup cooked of black beans against 15.4 g per 1 cup cooked of pinto beans.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in black beans and protein in pinto beans pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Black beans vs Pinto beans FAQ
Which has more protein, black beans or pinto beans?
Pinto beans has more protein per 100 g: 9.01 g against 8.86 g. Per typical serving, black beans provides 15.2 g (1 cup cooked) and pinto beans provides 15.4 g (1 cup cooked).
Is black beans or pinto beans more protein-dense?
Black beans is the more protein-dense of the two: about 27% of its calories come from protein, against 25% for pinto beans.
Are black beans and pinto beans complete proteins?
No. Neither black beans nor pinto beans is a complete protein on its own; pairing them with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
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