Top 10 Foods Highest in Protein

Photo of Daisy Whitbread Written by Daisy Whitbread
BSc (Hons) MSc DipION
Photo of Dr. Patricia Shelton Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Patricia Shelton
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Top 10 Foods Highest in Protein

Protein is a macronutrient that forms the building blocks of the human body. It is necessary for many different functions, including growth and repair of all types of tissues, formation of enzymes and hormones, immune system function, and regulation of fluid and nutrient balance. A deficiency in protein leads to muscle atrophy and impaired functioning of the body in general. (1)

How much protein do you need?

The reference dietary intake (RDI) of protein is between 46 and 63 grams for most adults, with pregnant and lactating women needing up to 65 grams per day. (2) The daily value (DV) for protein is set at 50 grams per day (3), which is an average that works for most people. Athletes or other people looking to build muscle mass may want to consume more protein.

High protein foods include lean chicken, lean pork, fish, lean beef, tofu, beans, lentils, low-fat yogurt, milk, cheese, seeds, nuts, and eggs.

Below is a list of healthy protein-rich foods sorted by common serving size. Use the protein nutrient ranking to sort by 100 gram or 200 calorie serving sizes. For more information, see the lists of vegetarian protein, high protein fruits, and high protein vegetables.

Top 10 Protein Food List

Lean chicken breast1 Lean Chicken Breast
Protein
in a 6oz Breast
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
54.5g
(109% DV)
32.1g
(64% DV)
40.8g
(82% DV)

More Poultry High in Protein

  • 62g (124% DV) in a whole chicken leg
  • 53.9g (108% DV) per 6oz of lean ground turkey
  • 51.2g (102% DV) in a 6oz turkey breast
  • 38g (76% DV) in 1 cup of light chicken meat
  • 31.9g (64% DV) in a chicken thigh
  • 24.5g (49% DV) in a chicken drumstick

See all meats high in protein.

A pork chop2 Lean Pork Chops
Protein
in a 6oz Chop
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
52.7g
(105% DV)
31g
(62% DV)
31.8g
(64% DV)

More Pork Products High in Protein

  • 50.8g (102% DV) in 6oz of broiled pork tenderloin
  • 43.7g (87% DV) in 6oz of ground pork
  • 39.7g (79% DV) in 1 cup of diced lean ham
  • 30g (60%) DV in a 6oz rack of pork ribs
  • 19.2g (38% DV) in 3oz of salami
  • 13.8g (28% DV) per 3oz of spam

See all meats high in protein.

Tuna Fillet3 Tuna
Protein
in a 6oz Fillet
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
50.8g
(102% DV)
29.9g
(60% DV)
32.5g
(65% DV)

More Fish High in Protein

  • 45g (90% DV) in a 6oz salmon fillet
  • 44.5g (89% DV) in a 6oz tilapia fillet
  • 41.4g (82% DV) in a 6oz cod fillet
  • 22.6g (45% DV) in 3oz of canned tuna
  • 19.4g (39% DV) in 3oz of cooked shrimp

See all fish and seafood high in protein.

A steak on a plate4 Beef (Skirt Steak)
Protein
per 6oz Steak
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
48.7g
(97% DV)
28.7g
(57% DV)
21.4g
(43% DV)

More Lean Red Meat High in Protein

  • 60.4g (121% DV) in a 6oz lamb roast
  • 44.8g (90% DV) in 6oz of lean ground beef
  • 28.4g (57% DV) in 3oz of roast beef
  • 24.2g (48% DV) in 3oz of roast buffalo
  • 21.7g (43% DV) in a 3oz beef hamburger

See all meats high in protein.

A block of tofu5 Firm Tofu
Protein
per Cup
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
43.5g
(87% DV)
17.3g
(35% DV)
24g
(48% DV)

More Soy Foods High in Protein

  • 33.7g (67% DV) in 1 cup of tempeh (fermented tofu)
  • 31.3g (63% DV) per cup of cooked soybeans
  • 14g (28% DV) in a 16oz glass of soymilk
  • 9.2g (18% DV) per cup of soy yogurt
  • 7.9g (16% DV) per tblsp of soy protein powder

Note: The amount of protein in tofu can range between 4.8g (10% DV) to 17.3g (35% DV) per 100 gram serving (or a little less than 1/2 cup). See the nutrition comparison of 10 common tofu brands. To find more, use the detailed nutrient ranking of all vegan foods high in protein.

Looking for a brand with this much protein? Try House Foods Tofu.

Lentils6 Lentils
Protein
per Cup
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
17.9g
(36% DV)
9g
(18% DV)
15.6g
(31% DV)

More Beans High in Protein

  • 17.4g (35% DV) per cup of large white beans
  • 16.3g (33% DV) per cup of split peas
  • 16.5g (33% DV) per cup of cranberry beans
  • 15.4g (31% DV) per cup of pinto beans
  • 15.3g (31% DV) per cup of kidney beans
  • 15.2g (30% DV) per cup of black beans

See the top 10 beans and legumes high in protein.

Plain yogurt with raspberries7 Low-Fat Yogurt
Protein
per Cup
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
14g
(28% DV)
5.7g
(11% DV)
20.5g
(41% DV)

More Dairy High in Protein

  • 16.5g (33% DV) per 16oz glass of skim milk
  • 15.4g (31% DV) per 16oz glass of whole milk
  • 8.5g (17% DV) per cup of whole plain yogurt (full fat)
  • 8.4g (17% DV) per 1/4 cup of dehydrated milk
  • 7.9g (16% DV) per 8oz cup of buttermilk

See more vegetarian sources of protein.

Parmesan Cheese8 Grated Parmesan
Protein
per Oz
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
10.2g
(20% DV)
35.8g
(72% DV)
18.2g
(36% DV)

More Cheese High in Protein

  • 14.1g (28% DV) per 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese
  • 12.6g (25% DV) per 1/2 cup of cottage cheese
  • 9g (18% DV) per oz of non-fat cheddar
  • 8g (16% DV) per oz of low-fat Swiss cheese
  • 7.3g (15% DV) per oz of provolone
  • 6.3g (13% DV) per oz of mozzarella

See more vegetarian protein foods.

Squash and Pumpkin Seeds9 Squash and Pumpkin Seeds
Protein
per 1oz Handful
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
8.5g
(17% DV)
29.8g
(60% DV)
10.4g
(21% DV)

More Nuts and Seeds High in Protein

  • 6.9g (14% DV) per oz of peanuts
  • 6g (12% DV) per oz of almonds
  • 6g (12% DV) per oz of pistachios
  • 5.8g (12% DV) per oz of sunflower seeds
  • 5.2g (10% DV) per oz of flax seeds
  • 4.7g (9% DV) per oz of chia seeds

See the list of nuts and seeds highest in protein.

Eggs10 Eggs
Protein
in 1 Large Egg
Protein
per 100g
Protein
per 200 Calories
6.3g
(13% DV)
12.6g
(25% DV)
16.2g
(32% DV)

More Eggs High in Protein

  • 22g (44% DV) in 1 cup of scrambled eggs
  • 17.1g (34% DV) in 1 cup of chopped hard-boiled eggs
  • 12.2g (24% DV) in 2 scrambled eggs
  • 10.1g (20% DV) in a duck egg
  • 3.6g (7% DV) in 1 egg white (chicken)

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A printable list of high protein foods.

High Protein Foods by Nutrient Density (Most Protein per 100 Grams)

FoodServingProtein
1 Spirulina100 grams115% DV
(57.5g)
2 Dry-Roasted Soybeans100 grams87% DV
(43.3g)
3 Grated Parmesan Cheese100 grams83% DV
(41.6g)
4 Lean Veal Top Round100 grams73% DV
(36.7g)
5 Lamb Shoulder Roast100 grams71% DV
(35.5g)
6 Lean Chicken Breast100 grams64% DV
(32.1g)
7 Non-Fat Mozzarella100 grams63% DV
(31.7g)
8 Lean Pork Chops100 grams62% DV
(31g)
9 Tuna100 grams60% DV
(29.9g)
10 Squash and Pumpkin Seeds100 grams60% DV
(29.8g)

High Protein Isolates and Powders (Non-Commercial)

FoodServingProtein
1 Soy Protein Isolate1 tbsp12% DV
(6.2g)
2 Gelatin1 tbsp12% DV
(6g)
3 Egg White Powder1 tbsp12% DV
(5.9g)
4 Spirulina (Dried Seaweed)1 tbsp8% DV
(4g)
5 Non-fat Milk Powder1 tbsp5% DV
(2.7g)
6 Whey Powderper tbsp2% DV
(1g)

Protein for Vegetarians and Vegans

Vegetarian protein foods include tofu, beans, lentils, yogurt, milk, cheese, green peas, nuts, seeds, whole grains, peanut butter, eggs, and white button mushrooms. See the list of vegetarian protein foods.

Vegan protein foods are similar to vegetarian sources, but exclude yogurt, milk, cheese, and eggs, because vegans do not eat any foods that originate from animals. Instead vegans can eat high protein vegetables like lima beans, spinach, and corn. See the list of vegan protein foods.

High Protein Meals

1. Tuna Sandwich
CaloriesProteinFatCarbs
276
(14% DV)
28.4g
(57% DV)
4.7g
(7% DV)
28.5g
(10% DV)

Ingredients: 3oz canned tuna, 1 leaf romaine lettuce, 1 slice of tomato, 2 slices whole wheat bread.
View or Edit this Meal

2. Banana Parfait
CaloriesProteinFatCarbs
420
(21% DV)
16.4g
(33% DV)
17g
(26% DV)
57g
(19% DV)

Ingredients: 6oz of non-fat yogurt, 1/4 cup of uncooked oats, 1oz handful of pumpkin seeds, 1 medium banana.
View or Edit this Meal

3. Chicken Salad
CaloriesProteinFatCarbs
429
(21% DV)
65.1g
(130% DV)
14g
(22% DV)
12.9g
(4% DV)

Ingredients: 6oz chicken breast, 2 cups romaine lettuce, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 oz grated Parmesan.
View or Edit this Meal

4. Tofu Stir Fry
CaloriesProteinFatCarbs
680
(34% DV)
51.1g
(102% DV)
37.1g
(57% DV)
47.5g
(16% DV)

Ingredients: 1 cup firm tofu, 1/2 cup onions, 1 cup broccoli, 1 tsp ginger, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce.
View or Edit this Meal

5. Lentil Curry with Peanuts
CaloriesProteinFatCarbs
672
(34% DV)
28.8g
(58% DV)
30.4g
(47% DV)
77.8g
(26% DV)

Ingredients: 1 cup of cooked lentils, 1/4 onion, 1 tblsp curry powder, 1/5 cup brown rice, 1 tblsp sesame oil, 1oz dry-roasted peanuts
View or Edit this Meal

Make your own meal plans by adding foods to the recipe nutrition calculator.

About the Data

Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.

You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.

Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

About Nutrient Targets

Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.

Some of the most popular targets include:
  • Daily Value (%DV) - The daily value (%DV) is a general guideline for consumption that will prevent deficiency of a particular nutrient in most people. The %DV refers to the percentage of an amount that's found in a single serving of a food. It also accounts for absorption factors. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (%RDA) - The RDA sets an average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals. It's more specific than the daily value, and varies by age and gender. The RDA is set by the US National Institutes of Health.
  • Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) -The reference dietary intake is similar to the recommended daily allowance, but is specific to age and gender. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization.
  • Adequate Intake (%AI) - This value is primarily used in reference to omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The Adequate Intake is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Because there is less evidence to determine the ideal targets for consumption of these nutrients, the specific amount is considered to be less reliable. Using the term Adequate Intake, rather than one of the other terms, helps to emphasize that the ideal intake of that particular nutrient has not yet been scientifically determined.

See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.

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Use the ranking tool links below to select foods and create your own food list to share or print.


View more nutrients with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.

Data Sources and References

  1. Medline Plus on Protein
  2. Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition. National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on the Tenth Edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1989.
  3. FDA Information Page on Protein
  4. U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
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