Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
A 1 cup cooked serving of white beans (cannellini) contains 17.4 g of protein - a very good source of protein, about 35% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup cooked (179 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 17.4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 9.73 g |
| Calories per serving | 249 kcal |
| Protein density | 28% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 35% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Legumes & beans |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #175203 |
A typical 1 cup cooked serving of white beans (cannellini) contains 17.4 grams of protein (9.73 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 35% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Around 28% of the calories in white beans (cannellini) 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, white beans (cannellini) ranks 5th by protein per serving, and 198th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (lentils has 17.9 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 179 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #175203 - "Beans, white, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without 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
White beans (cannellini) has 9.73 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup cooked serving (179 g) provides 17.4 g.
No. White beans (cannellini) 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 white beans (cannellini) contains 17.4 g of protein, about 35% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
White beans (cannellini) is a very good source of protein, and about 28% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against lentils, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (lentils has 17.9 g per 1 cup cooked).
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