Head-to-head comparison

Chickpeas (cooked) vs Kidney Beans (cooked): Which Has More Protein?

Both Chickpeas (cooked) and Kidney Beans (cooked) are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Chickpeas (cooked)

8.9gprotein / 100g

164 cal · 2.6g fat · $ · Quality 0.65

Kidney Beans (cooked)

8.7gprotein / 100g

127 cal · 0.5g fat · $ · Quality 0.6

Chickpeas (cooked) edges out Kidney Beans (cooked) by less than half a gram of protein per 100g (8.9g vs 8.7g) — statistically a wash for practical meal planning.

Chickpeas (cooked) also carries the stronger amino acid profile (incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains), while Kidney Beans (cooked) is incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Verdict

These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Chickpeas (cooked) or Kidney Beans (cooked) works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gChickpeas (cooked)Kidney Beans (cooked)
Protein8.9g8.7g
Calories164127
Fat2.6g0.5g
Carbs27.4g22.8g
Fiber7.6g6.4g
Quality score0.650.6
Relative cost$$
Prep time90 min90 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, chickpeas (cooked) or kidney beans (cooked)?

Chickpeas (cooked) has 8.9g of protein per 100g compared to Kidney Beans (cooked)'s 8.7g.

Which is lower in calories?

Kidney Beans (cooked) is lower in calories per 100g, at 127 vs the other's 164.