Food database · Vegetables

Protein content

Protein in Broccoli

A 1 cup cooked serving of broccoli contains 3.7 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 7% of the 50 g Daily Value.

3.7 g
per 1 cup cooked

Protein breakdown

Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.

Protein 27% of caloriesOther 73%
Protein and calorie figures for Broccoli, per 1 cup cooked serving and per 100 g.
Serving1 cup cooked (156 g)
Protein per serving3.7 g
Protein per 100 g2.38 g
Calories per serving55 kcal
Protein density27% of calories
Share of 50 g Daily Value7%
Protein qualityIncomplete protein
CategoryVegetables
Food typeWhole food
USDA recordFoodData Central #169967
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How much protein is in broccoli?

A typical 1 cup cooked serving of broccoli contains 3.7 grams of protein (2.38 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 7% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.

Around 27% of the calories in broccoli 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 105 vegetables in the database, broccoli ranks 24th by protein per serving, and 564th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against frozen corn, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (frozen corn has 4.2 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 156 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.

Source: USDA FoodData Central #169967 - "Broccoli, cooked, boiled, drained, 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

Broccoli protein FAQ

How much protein is in broccoli per 100 g?

Broccoli has 2.38 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup cooked serving (156 g) provides 3.7 g.

Is broccoli a complete protein?

No. Broccoli is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.

How much of the Daily Value does a serving of broccoli cover?

A 1 cup cooked serving of broccoli contains 3.7 g of protein, about 7% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.

Is broccoli a good source of protein?

Broccoli is a moderate source of protein, and about 27% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against frozen corn, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (frozen corn has 4.2 g per 1 cup cooked).

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