Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
A 1 cup serving of canned black beans contains 16 g of protein - a very good source of protein, about 32% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup (180 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 16 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 8.87 g |
| Calories per serving | 241 kcal |
| Protein density | 26% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 32% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Legumes & beans |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #2707363 |
A typical 1 cup serving of canned black beans contains 16 grams of protein (8.87 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 32% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Around 26% of the calories in canned 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, canned black beans ranks 11th by protein per serving, and 224th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against canned lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (canned lentils has 15.5 g per 1 cup).
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 180 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #2707363 - "Black beans, from canned, no added fat" (Survey (FNDDS), published 10/31/2024). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Canned black beans has 8.87 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (180 g) provides 16 g.
No. Canned 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 serving of canned black beans contains 16 g of protein, about 32% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Canned black beans is a very good source of protein, and about 26% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against canned lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (canned lentils has 15.5 g per 1 cup).
Related