Lentils (cooked)
9.0gprotein / 100g116 cal · 0.4g fat · $ · Quality 0.63
Black Beans (cooked)
8.9gprotein / 100g132 cal · 0.5g fat · $ · Quality 0.6
Lentils (cooked) edges out Black Beans (cooked) by less than half a gram of protein per 100g (9.0g vs 8.9g) — statistically a wash for practical meal planning.
Protein quality is essentially matched between the two — both land in a similar tier for amino acid completeness.
Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.
These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Lentils (cooked) or Black Beans (cooked) works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.
Full nutrition comparison
| Per 100g | Lentils (cooked) | Black Beans (cooked) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 9.0g | 8.9g |
| Calories | 116 | 132 |
| Fat | 0.4g | 0.5g |
| Carbs | 20.1g | 23.7g |
| Fiber | 7.9g | 8.7g |
| Quality score | 0.63 | 0.6 |
| Relative cost | $ | $ |
| Prep time | 25 min | 90 min |
Frequently asked
Which has more protein, lentils (cooked) or black beans (cooked)?
Lentils (cooked) has 9.0g of protein per 100g compared to Black Beans (cooked)'s 8.9g.
Which is lower in calories?
Lentils (cooked) is lower in calories per 100g, at 116 vs the other's 132.