Lentils (cooked)
1 cup (198g)Protein per 100g9.0g
Calories per 100g116
Fat per 100g0.4g
Carbs per 100g20.1g
Fiber per 100g7.9g
Leucine (per serving, est.)650mg
Typical cost$
Quality 0.63
incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains
veganvegetariangluten-free
Why Lentils (cooked) shows up in protein-forward diets
Not a complete protein alone — lentils run low in the sulfur-containing amino acid methionine, which is exactly why 'rice and lentils' or 'lentils and toast' are traditional pairings, not just flavor combos.
Serving-size math
A 1 cup (198g) portion delivers 17.8g of protein and roughly 230 calories. Scaled per 100 calories, that works out to 7.76g of protein — useful for comparing against other foods on a calorie-matched basis rather than a weight-matched one.
Prep tip
No soaking needed unlike most dried legumes — lentils cook in 20-25 minutes straight from dry.
Best for
- budget vegan protein
- fiber intake
Frequently asked
How much protein is in lentils (cooked)?
9.0g per 100g, or 17.8g per 1 cup (198g).
Is lentils (cooked) a complete protein?
It's a moderate-quality protein source: incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains.