Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
A 1 cup cooked serving of black beans contains 15.2 g of protein - a very good source of protein, about 30% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup cooked (172 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 15.2 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 8.86 g |
| Calories per serving | 227 kcal |
| Protein density | 27% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 30% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Legumes & beans |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #173735 |
A typical 1 cup cooked serving of black beans contains 15.2 grams of protein (8.86 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 30% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Around 27% of the calories in black beans come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 54 legumes in the database, black beans ranks 19th by protein per serving, and 246th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against chickpeas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (chickpeas has 14.5 g per 1 cup cooked).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by volume at 172 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
A plant protein that is lower in one or more essential amino acids - pair it with grains or other plants across the day.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #173735 - "Beans, black, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Black beans has 8.86 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup cooked serving (172 g) provides 15.2 g.
No. Black beans is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 cup cooked serving of black beans contains 15.2 g of protein, about 30% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Black beans is a very good source of protein, and about 27% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against chickpeas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (chickpeas has 14.5 g per 1 cup cooked).
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