Every 100 kcal of black beans brings 6.7 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 16th of the 54 legumes in this database and 365th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 8.86 g per 100 g ranks 22nd in its group.
Around 27% of the calories in black 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.
Weight for weight, black beans has 16.4 g of protein for each gram of fat (8.86 g against 0.54 g per 100 g).
Set against chickpeas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (chickpeas has 14.5 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 quoted here is measured by volume at 172 g, and it covers about 30% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
A plant protein that is lower in one or more essential amino acids - pair it with grains or other plants across the day.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of black beans
Protein and calories in Black beans for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
8.86 g
132 kcal
1 cup cooked (serving used here)
172 g
15.2 g
227 kcal
The USDA record lists no other household measure for this food; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in black beans
The nine essential amino acids in Black beans, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
0.708 g
1.22 g
80
lysine
0.608 g
1.05 g
69
valine
0.464 g
0.8 g
52
isoleucine
0.391 g
0.67 g
44
threonine
0.373 g
0.64 g
42
phenylalanine
0.479 g
0.82 g
54
methionine
0.133 g
0.23 g
15
histidine
0.247 g
0.42 g
28
tryptophan
0.105 g
0.18 g
12
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.
8.86 g. The 1 cup cooked serving used on this page weighs 172 g and so carries 15.2 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of black beans?
6.7 g. That figure divides its 8.86 g of protein per 100 g by its 132 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in black beans complete?
No. On its own, the protein in black beans is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of black beans?
About 30%. One 1 cup cooked serving has 15.2 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #173735 (Beans, black, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt), 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.