Every 100 kcal of macaroni brings 3.7 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 33rd of the 111 grains in this database and 552nd of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 5.8 g per 100 g ranks 78th in its group.
Around 15% of the calories in macaroni come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. 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, macaroni has 6.2 g of protein for each gram of fat (5.8 g against 0.93 g per 100 g).
Set against wild rice, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (wild rice has 6.5 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 120 g, and it covers about 14% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of macaroni
Protein and calories in Macaroni for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
5.8 g
157 kcal
1 cup cooked (serving used here)
120 g
7 g
188 kcal
1 cup spaghetti not packed
124 g
7.2 g
195 kcal
1 cup packed
151 g
8.8 g
237 kcal
1 cup elbows packed
132 g
7.7 g
207 kcal
1 cup penne
107 g
6.2 g
168 kcal
1 cup shells
105 g
6.1 g
165 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 macaroni
The nine essential amino acids in Macaroni, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
0.434 g
0.52 g
75
lysine
0.131 g
0.16 g
23
valine
0.258 g
0.31 g
44
isoleucine
0.224 g
0.27 g
39
threonine
0.203 g
0.24 g
35
phenylalanine
0.293 g
0.35 g
51
methionine
0.064 g
0.08 g
11
histidine
0.131 g
0.16 g
23
tryptophan
0.081 g
0.1 g
14
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.
Related
Other grains by protein per calorie
Swap for more protein per calorie
Bulgur - 3.7 g per 100 kcal, 5.6 g per 1 cup cooked
Amaranth - 3.7 g per 100 kcal, 9.3 g per 1 cup cooked
5.8 g. The 1 cup cooked serving used on this page weighs 120 g and so carries 7 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of macaroni?
3.7 g. That figure divides its 5.8 g of protein per 100 g by its 157 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in macaroni complete?
No. On its own, the protein in macaroni 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 macaroni?
About 14%. One 1 cup cooked serving has 7 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #169751 (Pasta, cooked, enriched, with added 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.