Tempeh vs Beef: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Tempeh has 20.3 g of protein and 192 calories, while beef has 29.9 g of protein and 188 calories. Beef is higher in protein, while tempeh has slightly more calories.

Tempeh and beef are both popular protein sources, but they differ significantly in their nutritional profiles. This comparison highlights the key differences in calories, protein, and other nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Tempeh and Beef?

Tempeh is a fermented soybean product that is rich in protein and often used as a meat substitute. It is known for its firm texture and nutty flavor. Beef is the meat from cattle, commonly consumed in various forms such as steaks and ground beef. It is a rich source of protein and essential nutrients.

Tempeh vs Beef: Nutrition Side by Side

The following comparison outlines the nutritional values of tempeh and beef side by side.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Tempeh	Lean beef (cooked)
Calories	192 kcal	188 kcal
Protein	20.3 g	29.9 g
Carbs	7.6 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	10.8 g	7.1 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	9 mg	64 mg

Which Is Better, Tempeh or Beef?

For weight loss: Tempeh contains 192 calories, while beef has 188 calories, making beef slightly lower in calories.

For muscle and protein: Beef offers 29.9 g of protein compared to tempeh's 20.3 g, making beef the better choice for protein content.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Tempeh has 7.6 g of carbs, while beef has 0 g, making beef the lower-carb option.

How to Track Tempeh and Beef Accurately

Portion sizes and macro content can be easily misjudged, affecting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Beef has 29.9 g of protein, while tempeh has 20.3 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Beef has 188 calories, while tempeh has 192 calories.

What is the carbohydrate content of tempeh?

Tempeh contains 7.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Does tempeh have sugar?

Tempeh has 0 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the fat content in beef?

Beef contains 7.1 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sodium is in tempeh?

Tempeh has 9 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Tempeh: 192 calories, 20.3 g protein, 7.6 g carbs, 10.8 g fat.
• Beef: 188 calories, 29.9 g protein, 0 g carbs, 7.1 g fat.
• Tempeh has 0 g of sugar and 9 mg of sodium.
• Beef has 0 g of sugar and 64 mg of sodium.
• Tempeh is higher in calories than beef by 4 calories.