Every 100 kcal of american cheese brings 4.9 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 68th of the 81 dairy foods in this database and 476th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 18.1 g per 100 g ranks 38th in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in american cheese 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.
By weight, fat outweighs protein in american cheese: 30.7 g of fat per 100 g against 18.1 g of protein, a ratio of 0.6 to 1.
Set against yogurt (whole milk, plain), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.8 g less protein (yogurt (whole milk, plain) has 5.9 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 quoted here is measured by weight at 28 g, and it covers about 10% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
A pasteurized process cheese, not a naturally ripened one.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of american cheese
Protein and calories in American cheese for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
18.1 g
366 kcal
1 oz (serving used here)
28 g
5.1 g
102 kcal
1 slice (3/4 oz)
21 g
3.8 g
77 kcal
1 cubic inch
18 g
3.3 g
66 kcal
1 cup, shredded
113 g
20.5 g
414 kcal
1 cup, diced
140 g
25.3 g
512 kcal
1 cup, melted
244 g
44.2 g
893 kcal
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in american cheese
The nine essential amino acids in American cheese, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
1.72 g
0.48 g
95
lysine
1.52 g
0.43 g
84
valine
1.19 g
0.33 g
66
isoleucine
0.938 g
0.26 g
52
threonine
0.772 g
0.22 g
43
phenylalanine
0.939 g
0.26 g
52
methionine
0.475 g
0.13 g
26
histidine
0.546 g
0.15 g
30
tryptophan
0.232 g
0.06 g
13
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
SampleWhat goal trends look like after a week
109 g
Average per logged day
4 of 7
Days goal met
71%
Complete-protein share
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Sample figures for one made-up week against a 110 g goal, not your data. Red bars met the goal. Your own log fills this in with Premium.
18.1 g. The 1 oz serving used on this page weighs 28 g and so carries 5.1 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of american cheese?
4.9 g. That figure divides its 18.1 g of protein per 100 g by its 366 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in american cheese complete?
Yes. The protein in american cheese supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of american cheese?
About 10%. One 1 oz serving has 5.1 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #170853 (Cheese, pasteurized process, American, fortified with vitamin D), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.