Protein content
A 1 cup serving of ricotta (whole milk) contains 18.5 g of protein - a very good source of protein, about 37% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup (246 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 18.5 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 7.54 g |
| Calories per serving | 369 kcal |
| Protein density | 20% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 37% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Dairy |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #170851 |
A typical 1 cup serving of ricotta (whole milk) contains 18.5 grams of protein (7.54 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 37% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Around 20% of the calories in ricotta (whole milk) 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 81 dairy foods in the database, ricotta (whole milk) ranks 6th by protein per serving, and 187th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against greek yogurt (2%), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 1.2 g more protein (greek yogurt (2%) has 17.3 g per 1 container).
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 volume at 246 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Ricotta is made from whey, so its protein profile differs from curd cheeses.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170851 - "Cheese, ricotta, whole milk" (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
Ricotta (whole milk) has 7.54 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (246 g) provides 18.5 g.
Yes. Ricotta (whole milk) 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.
A 1 cup serving of ricotta (whole milk) contains 18.5 g of protein, about 37% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Ricotta (whole milk) is a very good source of protein, and about 20% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against greek yogurt (2%), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 1.2 g more protein (greek yogurt (2%) has 17.3 g per 1 container).
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