Food database · Legumes & beans
Protein content
9.3 g of protein in 2 tbsp (36 g) of reduced-fat peanut butter, 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 | 25.9 g |
| Protein per serving | 9.3 g in 2 tbsp (36 g) |
| Calories from protein | 20% |
| Protein to fat | 0.8 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in legumes, per 100 kcal | 43rd of 54 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 134th of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 19% per serving |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
One 2 tbsp, 9.3 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of reduced-fat peanut butter brings 5 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 43rd of the 54 legumes in this database and 475th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 25.9 g per 100 g ranks 3rd in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in reduced-fat peanut butter 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 reduced-fat peanut butter: 34 g of fat per 100 g against 25.9 g of protein, a ratio of 0.8 to 1.
Set against green peas, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.7 g more protein (green peas has 8.6 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 36 g, and it covers about 19% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Fat removed from reduced-fat peanut butter is usually replaced with added sugar and starch.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 25.9 g | 520 kcal |
| 2 tbsp (serving used here) | 36 g | 9.3 g | 187 kcal |
The USDA record lists no other household measure for this food; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein legumes per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Quick answers
25.9 g. The 2 tbsp serving used on this page weighs 36 g and so carries 9.3 g.
5 g. That figure divides its 25.9 g of protein per 100 g by its 520 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
No. On its own, the protein in reduced-fat peanut butter is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
About 19%. One 2 tbsp serving has 9.3 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #172458 (Peanut butter, smooth, reduced fat), 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.