Protein content
A 1 cup cooked serving of pasta contains 7.2 g of protein - a good source of protein, about 14% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 1 cup cooked (124 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 7.2 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 5.8 g |
| Calories per serving | 196 kcal |
| Protein density | 15% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 14% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Grains |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #169737 |
A typical 1 cup cooked serving of pasta contains 7.2 grams of protein (5.8 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 14% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 15% of the calories in pasta come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. 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 111 grains in the database, pasta ranks 17th by protein per serving, and 374th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against wild rice, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (wild rice has 6.5 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 124 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #169737 - "Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added 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
Pasta has 5.8 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup cooked serving (124 g) provides 7.2 g.
No. Pasta 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 pasta contains 7.2 g of protein, about 14% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Pasta is a good source of protein, and about 15% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against wild rice, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (wild rice has 6.5 g per 1 cup cooked).
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