A typical 3 oz cooked serving of corned beef contains 15.5 grams of protein (18.2 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 31% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Around 29% of the calories in corned beef 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 133 meats in the database, corned beef ranks 101st by protein per serving, and 237th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against beef tongue, another meat entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.9 g less protein (beef tongue has 16.4 g per 3 oz cooked).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by weight at 85 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Brine-cured brisket, so it carries far more sodium than plain cooked beef.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170200 - "Beef, cured, corned beef, brisket, cooked" (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
Corned beef protein FAQ
How much protein is in corned beef per 100 g?
Corned beef has 18.2 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 3 oz cooked serving (85 g) provides 15.5 g.
Is corned beef a complete protein?
Yes. Corned beef is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
How much of the Daily Value does a serving of corned beef cover?
A 3 oz cooked serving of corned beef contains 15.5 g of protein, about 31% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Is corned beef a good source of protein?
Corned beef is a very good source of protein, and about 29% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against beef tongue, another meat entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.9 g less protein (beef tongue has 16.4 g per 3 oz cooked).