黄蛋白反应（Xanthoprotein reaction），也称蛋白黄反应，是带有苯环的蛋白质与浓硝酸混合加热后呈现黄色的反应。

反应原理是硝酸对苯环发生硝化作用，生成黄色的芳香硝基化合物，使蛋白质发生变性。浓硝酸滴到皮肤上，过一段时间皮肤就会发黄，数天后死皮褪去，就是因为这个原因。生成的黄色冷却后，若再与碱或氨水接触，则颜色转变为橙黄色。

带有苯环的氨基酸包括：酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸和色氨酸。它们之中，酪氨酸苯环上的羟基活化了苯环，使得黄蛋白反应较容易进行，而苯丙氨酸苯环的硝化却较难发生。以酪氨酸为例，黄蛋白反应的方程序为：

The xanthoproteic reaction is a method that can be used to determine the amount of protein soluble in a solution, using concentrated nitric acid. The test gives a positive result in those proteins with amino acids carrying aromatic groups, especially in the presence of tyrosine. If the test is positive the proof is neutralized with an alkali, turning dark yellow. The yellow colour is due to xanthoproteic acid which is formed due to nitration of certain amino acids, most common examples being tyrosine and tryptophan. This chemical reaction is a qualitative test, determining the presence or absence of proteins.