You don’t need to eat meat or cheese to get enough protein. Beans, dairy-free yogurt, and sorghum are a few plant-based protein sources. Consider these options if you’re limiting your meat intake in general or following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Plant-based proteins are healthy and can help reduce the intake of saturated fat and cholesterol, which are associated with cardiovascular risks.1 Here are 20 vegan and vegetarian protein sources and tips on adding them to your diet today at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

1. Peas

Protein: 7.9 grams (g) per cup2

Legumes are a great source of plant-based protein, and peas are no exception. One cup of peas contains 7.9g of protein, compared to 8.23g in reduced-fat milk.23

You can enjoy cooked peas as a side dish. Different types of peas also make great additions to soups or casseroles at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

2. Beans

Protein: 2g to 41.9g per cup4

There are many varieties of beans: black, white, pinto, heirloom, and more. All bean types have high amounts of protein. For example, one cup of red kidney beans contains about 14g of protein—more than the 8g of protein in a cup of cow’s milk at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Beans are a flavorful addition to soups, salads, and burritos. They can also be used in dips or desserts like cookies and brownies.

3. Chickpeas

Protein: 14.5g per cup6

Chickpeas are a versatile plant-based protein and legume also referred to as garbanzo beans. In addition to having protein, chickpeas are low in calories and high in fiber. The Top 20 Sources of Vegetable and Vegan Protein.

You can toss chickpeas into salads, eat them oven-roasted and salted as a crispy snack, or puree them into hummus.

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The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources

4. Black-Eyed Peas

Protein: 12g per cup7

Black-eyed peas are a hearty member of the pulse family, including beans, lentils, peas, and chickpeas. In addition to protein, one cup of black-eyed peas provides the following nutrients at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources:

• B vitamins
• Calcium
• Fiber
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin A
• Zinc

Add black-eyed peas to salads, soups, stews, stir fry, or nearly any dish that calls for beans.

5. Tempeh and Tofu

Protein: 16.9 to 21.8g per one-half-cup89

Foods made from soybeans are some of the best sources of plant-based protein. Tempeh and tofu, for example, contain protein, antioxidants, and sometimes calcium at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Tempeh and extra-firm tofu may be prepared similarly—they may be baked in nugget form or sauteed in a stir fry. Smooth, silken tofu can also be used in smoothies or dips, while soft tofu can be used in pastas or sandwiches.

6. Edamame

Protein: 13.5g per one cup11

You can get your soy servings straight from the soybean still in the pod. This plant-based protein contains nutrients like fiber, folate, magnesium, and potassium at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Try edamame as a snack, an appetizer before dinner, or added to salads or pasta—minus the shell. Boiled edamame can also be served hot or cold and sprinkled with salt.

7. Non-Dairy Milks

Protein: 0.5g to 8g per cup13

Milk alternatives aren’t only for people with lactose intolerance. Soy, almond, oat, and other milk alternatives can be great plant-based protein sources.

You can generally substitute milk alternatives in foods or drinks that call for regular dairy milk. For example, add pea milk to coffee, cereal, creamy soups, sauces, or other recipes.

8. Plant-Based Cheese

Protein: 3g to 9g per 3 ounces (oz)1415

Like many dairy products, cheese also has dairy-free or plant-based alternatives. Sometimes, the cheeses may be fortified with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B12 and D or calcium at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Consider using plant-based cheeses on sandwiches or as salad toppings. You can also exchange these types of cheese for your pizzas and pasta.

9. Dairy-Free Yogurt

Protein: 3g to 10g per serving171819

Other dairy-free alternatives beyond milk and cheese include dairy-free yogurts. There are yogurts made with nuts—like almonds and cashews—pea protein, soy, and coconut, offering the same probiotic benefits as their traditional counterparts at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Use non-dairy yogurt just as you would in parfaits, overnight oats, smoothies, or mixed with fruit and nuts as a healthy breakfast or snack option.

10. Nuts and Nut Butters

Protein: 3.36g to 5.78g per serving21222324

Nuts and nut butters can be a valuable part of a plant-based diet. Other than their protein content, they also have healthy fats and nutrients such as vitamin E or selenium at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Fruit and crackers pair well with various nuts or nut butters. You can also add nuts to baked goods and oatmeal and nut butters to smoothies.

11. Hemp Seeds

Protein: 9.5g per three tablespoons25

Consuming hemp seeds may increase your protein, essential fatty acid, and essential amino acid intake. Their taste resembles that of sunflower seeds.26

You can find hemp in some cereals and trail mixes. They can also be added to smoothies, pesto, or baked goods.

12. Chia Seeds

Protein: 7g per tablespoon27

Chia seeds are another high-protein, plant-based food. They have additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

You can sprinkle chia seeds over salads, stir them into yogurt or oatmeal, or blend them into smoothies. When soaked in a liquid, these seeds plump up and take on a gelatinous texture, forming a rich and creamy pudding-like treat.

13. Sesame and Sunflower Seeds

Protein: 5g to 6.4g per one-quarter cup2829

Sunflower seeds and sesame seeds are good plant-based protein sources. Sesame seeds also have iron and calcium, while sunflower seeds have vitamin E and folate.30

Like many other seeds, these seeds can be included in various meals and snacks. You might use sunflower seeds in salad dressings or as salad toppings. Sesame seeds may be an ingredient for oil and baking or made into tahini, a type of paste at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

14. Quinoa

Protein: 8.4g of protein per cooked cup31

Most grains contain small amounts of protein. Uncooked quinoa—technically a type of seed—is unique because it contains a lot of protein per serving. It also contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs for growth and repair but cannot produce, making it a complete protein at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Quinoa is amazingly versatile. You can add the seed to soup or vegetarian chili. You can also serve quinoa with brown sugar and fruit as a hot breakfast cereal or toss the seeds with vegetables and a vinaigrette to make a nourishing salad.

15. Sorghum

Protein: 20.4g per uncooked cup32

Sorghum is another protein-rich grain source originating in Africa. In addition to protein, the grain contains nutrients like fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

You can add this grain to salads or soups. Another way to eat sorghum is to pop it like popcorn for a snack.

16. Leafy Greens

Protein: 2g to 5.7g per serving3334

People may not consider leafy greens another plant-based protein source, but they can be. Some vegetables contain significant amounts of protein, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fiber at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Add leafy greens like kale and spinach to increase your protein intake to smoothies. Greens are often the base for salads, but you can also try them as a solo side dish or in soups or casseroles.

17. Seitan

Protein: 21g per one-third cup35

Seitan, which is manufactured from essential wheat gluten and seasoned with salt and savory flavors at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources, is another well-liked meat substitute for plant-based diets.

Seitan looks like duck meat and tastes like chicken. You can try using it in any recipe that calls for poultry.

18. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Protein: 1g per tablespoon36

Certain versions of chocolate may have protein. Beyond protein, unsweetened raw cocoa powder also contains fiber.

For a healthy hot cocoa, use unsweetened plant-based milk and a small amount of an all-natural sweetener, like pure maple syrup or date sugar. Add cocoa powder to air-popped popcorn (along with a bit of sugar, allspice, and cayenne pepper) for a sweet and spicy whole-grain treat at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

19. Plant-Based Protein Powders

Protein: 20g per serving3738

Powders made from peas and almonds, among other plant-based proteins, are available if you need an alternative to whey protein. Some blends combine protein from whole grains—like brown rice, buckwheat, millet, and seeds—and legumes at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources.

Protein powders are an easy way to boost the protein content of smoothies, pancakes, savory soups, and treats like puddings or frozen pops. Look for plain, unsweetened versions. You can sweeten protein powders with an all-natural option like maple syrup and control the amount you add.

20. Nutritional Yeast

Protein: 8g of protein per serving39

Nutritional yeast is another way to get protein. Fortified nutritional yeast is a staple in plant-based diets as a reliable source of vitamin B12 at The 20 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Protein Sources. Vitamin B12 helps produce energy, forms red blood cells, and synthesizes DNA.40

You can sprinkle nutritional yeast, typically sold in a shaker resembling parmesan cheese, onto popcorn, cooked veggies, or potatoes. You can also use nutritional yeast in plant-based soups or homemade nut “cheese” recipes, like cashew queso.