Head-to-head comparison

Oats (rolled, dry) vs Lentils (cooked): Which Has More Protein?

Both Oats (rolled, dry) and Lentils (cooked) are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Oats (rolled, dry)

13.2gprotein / 100g

379 cal · 6.5g fat · $ · Quality 0.58

Lentils (cooked)

9.0gprotein / 100g

116 cal · 0.4g fat · $ · Quality 0.63

There's a meaningful protein-density gap here: Oats (rolled, dry) runs 13.2g per 100g against Lentils (cooked)'s 9.0g, roughly 4.2g more per equal weight.

Quality flips the other way, though: Lentils (cooked) has the stronger amino acid profile (incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains) versus Oats (rolled, dry)'s lit_estimate, low in lysine.

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

Oats (rolled, dry)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (850mg vs Lentils (cooked)'s 650mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

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

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gOats (rolled, dry)Lentils (cooked)
Protein13.2g9.0g
Calories379116
Fat6.5g0.4g
Carbs67.7g20.1g
Fiber10.1g7.9g
Quality score0.580.63
Relative cost$$
Prep time5 min25 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, oats (rolled, dry) or lentils (cooked)?

Oats (rolled, dry) has 13.2g of protein per 100g compared to Lentils (cooked)'s 9.0g.

Which is lower in calories?

Lentils (cooked) is lower in calories per 100g, at 116 vs the other's 379.