| Measure | Lentils | Split peas |
|---|---|---|
| Typical serving | 1 cup cooked (198 g) | 1 cup cooked (196 g) |
| Protein per serving | 17.9 g | 16.3 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 9.02 g | 8.34 g |
| Calories per serving | 230 kcal | 231 kcal |
| Protein density | 31% of calories | 28% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 36% | 33% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete | Incomplete |
| Category | Legumes & beans | Legumes & beans |
Compare foods · Lentils · Split peas
Protein comparison
Lentils vs Split peas: which has more protein?
Lentils gives you 17.9 g of protein per 1 cup cooked; split peas gives you 16.3 g per 1 cup cooked. On equal weight it is 9.02 g against 8.34 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: lentils has 9.02 g of protein per 100 g and split peas has 8.34 g. Per typical serving, lentils delivers 17.9 g (1 cup cooked) to split peas's 16.3 g (1 cup cooked), a difference of 1.6 g.
For the full breakdown of each food, see the protein in lentils and protein in split peas pages, each with its USDA FoodData Central record id.
Quick answers
Lentils vs Split peas FAQ
Which has more protein, lentils or split peas?
Lentils has more protein per 100 g: 9.02 g against 8.34 g. Per typical serving, lentils provides 17.9 g (1 cup cooked) and split peas provides 16.3 g (1 cup cooked).
Is lentils or split peas more protein-dense?
Lentils is the more protein-dense of the two: about 31% of its calories come from protein, against 28% for split peas.
Are lentils and split peas complete proteins?
No. Neither lentils nor split peas 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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