Food database · Meat & poultry
Protein content
12.2 g of protein in 3 oz (85 g) of meatballs, or 5 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 5 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 14.4 g |
| Protein per serving | 12.2 g in 3 oz (85 g) |
| Calories from protein | 20% |
| Protein to fat | 0.6 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in meats, per 100 kcal | 125th of 133 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 360th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 24% per serving |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
One 3 oz, 12.2 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of meatballs brings 5 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 125th of the 133 meats in this database and 471st of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 14.4 g per 100 g ranks 123rd in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in meatballs 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 meatballs: 22.2 g of fat per 100 g against 14.4 g of protein, a ratio of 0.6 to 1.
Set against bratwurst, another meat entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.6 g more protein (bratwurst has 11.6 g per 1 link).
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 85 g, and it covers about 24% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Breadcrumb and egg binder dilutes the meat, so protein per ounce lands below plain ground beef.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 14.4 g | 286 kcal |
| 3 oz (serving used here) | 85 g | 12.2 g | 243 kcal |
| 3 pieces | 56 g | 8.1 g | 160 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein meats per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
14.4 g. The 3 oz serving used on this page weighs 85 g and so carries 12.2 g.
5 g. That figure divides its 14.4 g of protein per 100 g by its 286 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Yes. The protein in meatballs supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
About 24%. One 3 oz serving has 12.2 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #171638 (Meatballs, frozen, Italian style), 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.