| Measure | Chickpeas | Lentils |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 1 cup cooked (164 g) | 1 cup cooked (198 g) |
| Protein per serving | 14.5 g | 17.9 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 8.86 g | 9.02 g |
| Calories per serving | 269 kcal | 230 kcal |
| Protein density | 22% of calories | 31% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 29% | 36% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete | Incomplete |
| Category | Legumes & beans | Legumes & beans |
Compare foods · Chickpeas · Lentils
Protein comparison
Chickpeas vs Lentils: which has more protein?
Chickpeas gives you 14.5 g of protein per 1 cup cooked; lentils gives you 17.9 g per 1 cup cooked. On equal weight it is 8.86 g against 9.02 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: chickpeas has 8.86 g of protein per 100 g and lentils has 9.02 g. Per typical serving, lentils delivers 17.9 g (1 cup cooked) to chickpeas's 14.5 g (1 cup cooked), a difference of 3.4 g.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in chickpeas and protein in lentils pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Chickpeas vs Lentils FAQ
Which has more protein, chickpeas or lentils?
Lentils has more protein per 100 g: 9.02 g against 8.86 g. Per typical serving, chickpeas provides 14.5 g (1 cup cooked) and lentils provides 17.9 g (1 cup cooked).
Is chickpeas or lentils more protein-dense?
Lentils is the more protein-dense of the two: about 31% of its calories come from protein, against 22% for chickpeas.
Are chickpeas and lentils complete proteins?
No. Neither chickpeas nor lentils 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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