Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
A 1/2 cup serving of refried beans contains 6.4 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 13% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1/2 cup (121 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 6.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 5.28 g |
| Calories per serving | 100 kcal |
| Protein density | 25% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 13% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Legumes & beans |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #174296 |
A typical 1/2 cup serving of refried beans contains 6.4 grams of protein (5.28 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 13% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 25% of the calories in refried 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, refried beans ranks 49th by protein per serving, and 414th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against sprouted lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (sprouted lentils has 6.9 g per 1 cup raw).
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 121 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #174296 - "Refried beans, canned, vegetarian" (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
Refried beans has 5.28 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1/2 cup serving (121 g) provides 6.4 g.
No. Refried 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 1/2 cup serving of refried beans contains 6.4 g of protein, about 13% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Refried beans is a moderate source of protein, and about 25% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against sprouted lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (sprouted lentils has 6.9 g per 1 cup raw).
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