Does Spinach Have Protein?

Yes. One cup of raw spinach contains about 0.9 g of protein.

Per 100 g, raw spinach contains approximately 2.9 g of protein.

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Protein in spinach by serving

Spinach contains protein, but a typical raw serving is light, so the absolute amount of protein per cup is small.

Serving Protein Calories
1 cup raw · 30 g 0.9 g 7 kcal
2 cups raw · 60 g 1.7 g 14 kcal
3 cups raw · 90 g 2.6 g 21 kcal
100 g raw 2.9 g 23 kcal

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Is spinach a high-protein food?

Spinach does contain protein, but it is not a practical high-protein food by normal serving size.

A cup of raw spinach provides less than 1 g of protein because the leaves are mostly water and the serving is light.

It can contribute a little protein as part of a meal, but protein-rich foods are needed if protein is the main goal.

How much spinach would provide 20–30 g of protein?

These large amounts show why spinach is better treated as a vegetable that contributes some protein, not as a primary protein source.

~20 g protein

700 g

~161 kcal

~25 g protein

875 g

~201 kcal

~30 g protein

1.05 kg

~242 kcal

Nutrition data and methodology

Nutrition and serving values use USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy record 168462 for raw spinach. It reports 2.86 g of protein and 23 kcal per 100 g, with one cup of raw spinach weighing 30 g.

Cooked spinach is more compact because it loses water, so a cup of cooked spinach contains much more spinach by weight and therefore more protein than a cup of raw leaves.

Common questions about protein in spinach

Does spinach have protein?

Yes. Raw spinach contains about 2.9 g of protein per 100 g.

How much protein is in 1 cup of raw spinach?

One cup of raw spinach weighs about 30 g and contains approximately 0.9 g of protein.

Is spinach a good protein source?

Not by normal serving size. A cup of raw spinach has less than 1 g of protein, so it contributes some protein but is not a practical primary protein source.

Does cooked spinach have more protein than raw spinach?

Cooking does not create protein, but it reduces volume and water. A cup of cooked spinach therefore contains much more spinach by weight than a cup of raw leaves and can provide more protein per cup.

How much spinach would you need for 20 g of protein?

At about 2.86 g of protein per 100 g, you would need roughly 700 g of raw spinach to reach 20 g of protein.

How much protein should you eat per day?

Knowing that a cup of raw spinach has about 0.9 g of protein is useful. Knowing how that fits into your own daily protein and macro targets is more useful.