20 Cheeses High in Protein
Powered by USDA Nutrition Data
For those going vegetarian, or simply looking to get more protein in their diet, cheese can be a good choice, but then, which one to buy? Here is a list of 20 kinds of cheese that provide the most protein per oz or half cup.
An ounce of cheese is typically equal to a thin slice of cheese that would cover a piece of toast.
The current daily value (%DV) for protein is 50 grams per day. Cheeses high in protein include ricotta, low-fat cottage cheese, parmesan, romano, non-fat cheddar, gruyere, low-fat Swiss, fontina, and more.
In general cheeses which are low in fat will provide more protein per serving, however, this is not always the case. For more protein foods, see the articles on vegetarian protein foods, beans high in protein, grains high in protein, and nuts high in protein.
List of High Protein Cheese
| Food | Serving | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Ricotta (Source) | per 1/2 cup | 28% DV 14g |
| #2 Low Fat Cottage Cheese (Source) | per 1/2 cup | 24% DV 11.8g |
| #3 Grated Parmesan (Source) | per oz | 20% DV 10.2g |
| #4 Romano (Source) | per oz | 18% DV 9g |
| #5 Non-Fat Cheddar (Source) | per oz | 18% DV 9g |
| #6 Hard Goat Cheese (Source) | per oz | 17% DV 8.7g |
| #7 Gruyere (Source) | per oz | 17% DV 8.5g |
| #8 Low-Fat Monterey (Source) | per oz | 16% DV 7.9g |
| #9 Swiss Cheese (Source) | per oz | 15% DV 7.7g |
| #10 Fontina (Source) | per oz | 15% DV 7.3g |
| #11 Provolone (Source) | per oz | 15% DV 7.3g |
| #12 Edam (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 7.1g |
| #13 Gouda (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 7.1g |
| #14 Tilsit (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 6.9g |
| #15 Low-Fat Meunster (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 6.9g |
| #16 Low-Fat Mozzarella (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 6.9g |
| #17 Cheese (Source) | per oz | 14% DV 6.8g |
| #18 Colby (Source) | per oz | 13% DV 6.7g |
| #19 Blue Cheese (Source) | per oz | 12% DV 6.1g |
| #20 Brie (Source) | per oz | 12% DV 5.9g |
See All 118 Dairy and Egg Products High in Protein
Next ➞Click to View Comments
From the Nutrient Ranking Tool
- Foods High in Protein
- Foods Low in Protein
- Vegetables High in Protein
- Fruits High in Protein
- Vegetarian Foods High in Protein
- Nuts High in Protein
- Grains High in Protein
- Beans High in Protein
- Dairy High in Protein
- Breakfast Cereals High in Protein
- Fast Foods High in Protein
View more food groups with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.
Related
Data Sources and References
Want to organize and understand the foods you eat?
Sign Up to MyFoodData.com
Want to try the site without signing up? Go directly the dashboard.
Want to use MyFoodData.com without ads?
Upgrade to premium for only $10.