A typical 1 cup drained and rinsed serving of canned pinto beans contains 11.9 grams of protein (7.04 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 24% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 24% of the calories in canned pinto 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 pinto beans ranks 36th by protein per serving, and 294th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against canned black-eyed peas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (canned black-eyed peas has 11.4 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 169 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #173797 - "Beans, pinto, mature seeds, canned, drained solids, rinsed in tap water" (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
Canned pinto beans protein FAQ
How much protein is in canned pinto beans per 100 g?
Canned pinto beans has 7.04 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup drained and rinsed serving (169 g) provides 11.9 g.
Is canned pinto beans a complete protein?
No. Canned pinto 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.
How much of the Daily Value does a serving of canned pinto beans cover?
A 1 cup drained and rinsed serving of canned pinto beans contains 11.9 g of protein, about 24% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Is canned pinto beans a good source of protein?
Canned pinto beans is a good source of protein, and about 24% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against canned black-eyed peas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (canned black-eyed peas has 11.4 g per 1 cup).