The Best Protein Bars
While I don’t eat protein bars every day, I do find them to be a convenient addition to meals or quick snacks I can take with me anywhere. The problem with protein bars is that there are literally hundreds to choose from! If you’ve visited a grocery store lately, chances are you’ve been met with a wall of protein bars and energy bar options to sort through. That’s why I wanted to create a list of the best good-for-you protein bars to buy.
In this post, I’m helping you cut through the mass of options by sharing nine of my favorite protein bars vetted and enjoyed over the years. While I haven’t tasted every single protein bar out there, I have tasted quite a few. Here’s what I recommend, based on taste, nutrition, ingredients, certifications, and protein quality.
My Process For Selecting The Best Bars
This best protein bar review started by inspecting ingredients on bar wrappers and websites.
I eliminated bars that contain
unwanted additives
those that have high amounts of added sugar, highly processed carbs, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols (such as erythritol) that leave a yucky aftertaste in my mouth
I focused on bars that contain
short and wholesome ingredient list
high-quality ingredients that supply energy
solid and well-balanced macronutrient content (calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and sugars)
a good amount of protein from the best protein sources.
Most importantly, the bars I selected had to taste good, have good chewy and crunchy textures, and be something I would actually want to eat in order to meet daily protein goals. In short, me and my teammates ate a lot of protein bars and inspected a lot of protein bar wrappers to get to these top picks.
Favorite Whey Protein Bar: G2G
Stand-Out Features: These bars are substantial and offer a significant amount of protein (the most protein of any bar in this round up), which is enough to be a big snack, pre- or post-workout fuel, or even a small meal replacement. These bars should be refrigerated. They’re certified gluten-free and made using certified gluten-free oats.
Grams Of Protein: 18 grams from whey protein isolate
Extra Macro Information: about 300 calories, 14 g total fat (3 g saturated fat), 25 g carbs (4 g fiber, 15 g sugars from honey and brown rice syrup)
Flavors: There are 8 flavors and I like them all, though peanut butter chocolate chip, mocha, and peanut butter jelly are the favorites.
My Go-To Bar Of Choice: RXBar
Stand-Out Features: These bars are made from minimal whole food ingredients, most of which are listed right on the front of the wrapper (egg whites, almonds, cashews, or peanuts, dates, and sea salt). I like that they’re sweetened naturally with dates and have a pleasant chewy texture and many flavors that I enjoy. I find these bars to be similar to a LaraBar but with more protein and fiber, and they are a Paleo-friendly choice, since they don’t contain grains or dairy.
Grams Of Protein: 12 grams from egg whites and nuts
Extra Macro Information: 180-210 calories, 6-9 g total fat (1-2.5 g saturated fat), 22-24 g carbs (3-6 g fiber, 13-18 g sugars from dates and chocolate)
Flavors: There are 7 flavors of the original RX protein bar. My favorites are Peanut Butter Chocolate and Chocolate Sea Salt.
Top Pick For Keto Dieters: EPIC
Stand-Out Features: The Epic Bar is unique among protein bars, in that it is a meat-based bar. It’s a great choice for people who are looking for a bar that doesn’t contain common allergens, such as grains, gluten, wheat, eggs, nuts and nut butters, or soy. It’s also one of the few keto and Paleo-friendly bars available and very low-carb and low-sugar for protein bars. Most flavors are unsweetened and those that do have some sweetness to them are sweetened with apple juice concentrate. I love to incorporate these bars as an easy addition to on-the-go lunches and as post-workout snacks.
Grams Of Protein: 7-12 grams from sustainably-raised meats, such as grass-fed beef, grass-fed bison, grass-fed venison, and 100% natural chicken and pork
Extra Macro Information: 90-170 calories, 4-11 g total fat (2-5 g saturated fat), 1-8 g carbs (0-3 g fiber, 0-6 g sugars from apple juice concentrate)
Flavors: These bars have 10 great savory flavors, including Bison Bacon Cranberry, Chicken Sriracha, Beef Barbacoa-Inspired, and Beef Apple Bacon.
Favorite Plant-Based Bars: Aloha Bars
Stand-Out Features: There’s a lot to love about this Hawaii-based company that also sells protein powder and protein drinks in addition to great-tasting protein bars. The company gives back in many impressive ways, which shine through in their annual impact report. I also love that this company is employee owned, certified B Corp, and Climate Neutral Certified. These bars are free from gluten, dairy, soy, stevia, and sugar alcohol sweeteners. They also offer an impressive 6 to 10 grams of fiber per bar.
Grams Of Protein: 14 grams from brown rice and pumpkin seed and seed or nut butter
Extra Macro Information: 220-260 calories, 9-13 g total fat (1.5-7 g sat fat), 22-26 g carb (6-10 g fiber, 3-5 g sugar from cane sugar, tapioca syrup, and monkfruit)
Flavors: I love every flavor of Aloha Bars, especially seasonal flavors like peppermint white chocolate and maple sea salt. Some year-round favorites are peanut butter cup, chocolate espresso, chocolate chip cookie dough, and lemon cashew.
Nut-Free Protein Bars: 88 Acres
Stand-Out Features: I love these bars that offer protein simply from seeds without using any protein isolates. They’re a good nut-free option made from a really short ingredient list of whole foods, which is so nice and rare to see in protein bars. These bars are free from the top nine allergens, including gluten, soy, dairy, and nuts. They’re also lower in carbohydrate and higher in fat than other bars.
Grams Of Protein: 12 grams from pumpkin seeds
Extra Macro Information: 260-280 calories, 19-21 g total fat (3.5-4.5 g sat fat), 15 g carb (2-3 g fiber, 7-10 g sugar from maple syrup and brown rice syrup. The bars with chocolate also have cane sugar)
Flavors: The protein bars come in 4 delicious flavors, and I like the Chocolate Cherry the best. 88 Acres also makes Seed + Oat bars that have less protein (6 grams per bar) but also taste great.
Created By Registered Dietitians: Zing
Stand-Out Features: I have loved Zing Bars for many years. These 100% plant-based protein bars are nutritionally balanced, contain up to 5 grams of fiber, are dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy protein-free, and contain some of the lowest amounts of added sugars.
Grams Of Protein: 10 grams from nuts, rice protein, and almond protein
Extra Macro Information: 220-230 calories, 12-14 g total fat (2.5-4 g saturated fat), 21-22 g carbs (4-5 g fiber, 6-7 g sugars from tapioca syrup, organic sugar, and agave)
Flavors: These bars have a nice crispy texture and are less dense than other bars. They come in a few different varieties, such as chocolate-covered bars (our favorite), nekkid bars (no chocolate coating), and kids mini size (100-calorie bars). The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Mint, and Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond are favorites.
Best Tasting: Honey Stinger Nut + Seed Bars
Stand-Out Features: You may know Honey Stinger for its energy chews and gels, but the company also makes some good protein bar options. The company is known for fueling endurance athletes and creating energy products that are sweetened with honey. I especially like the Honey Stinger Nut & Seed bars as a protein bar that tastes so good, a lot like a salted nut roll or candy bar, and has healthy fats. I also like that these bars don’t contain any inulin, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. The bars also contain added vitamins A, C, E, and D.
Grams Of Protein: 14 grams from whey protein powder, milk protein isolate, nuts, and seeds
Extra Macro Information: 260 calories, 15-16 g total fat (3 g saturated fat), 21 g carbs (1-2 g fiber, 16 g sugars from honey and cane sugar)
Flavors: The Nut + Seed bars come in two delicious flavors: Almond Pumpkin and Peanut Sunflower
A High-Quality Plant-Based Bar: GoMacro
Stand-Out Features: There’s a lot that I love about GoMacro MacroBars, first and foremost the many certifications they have and the high-quality ingredients used in these bars. Plus, there are 3 nut-free options available for those with nut allergies. These certified organic bars are also certified vegan, non-GMO, soy free, and FODMAP friendly, too. While these aren’t the highest protein bars, they offer a good balance of nutrients and can help you increase your daily protein intake when worked in as a healthy snack or meal addition. These bars were developed by a mother-daughter team, and I love that the packaging is more sustainable.
Grams Of Protein: 10-12 grams from organic sprouted brown rice protein and organic pea protein
Extra Macro Information: 270-290 calories, 9-12 g total fat (1-3 g saturated fat), 36-39 g carbs (2-3 g fiber, 11-14 g sugars from brown rice syrup)
Flavors: There are 14 flavors of the organic vegan protein bars. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, and Banana Almond Butter, Blueberry Cashew Butter are favorites.
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Easy-To-Digest Crispy Protein Bars: MEZCLA
Stand-Out Features: I like the light and crispy crunch to these, which is a lot like eating a rice crispy treat, just not as soft and gooey. I find that Mezcla bars digest easily instead of feeling “heavy” in my stomach like some other bars do. I also like that they are subtly sweet and don’t have any funky or chalky aftertaste, since they’re sweetened with just a little cane sugar and tapioca syrup. These 100% vegan bars are gluten free and soy free. Mezcla stands for “mixture” in Spanish.
Grams Of Protein: 10 grams from pea protein, quinoa, and nuts
Extra Macro Information: 170 calories, 5-7 g total fat (2-3 g sat fat), 19-20 g carbs (2-3 g fiber, 5-8 g sugar from cane sugar and tapioca syrup)
Flavors: I really like the flavor combinations, especially the Matcha Vanilla, Pistachio Chocolate, and Maple Blueberry.
BONUS: 4 Great Options For Kids
I often tuck snack bars into my kids’ backpacks and keep them on hand for when that hunger hits and I need a convenient, healthy protein snack for my kids. Here are a few dietitian-approved protein bars that me and my dietitian colleagues buy for our kids.
GoMacro Kids MacroBar: My kids love these small bars, which come in 5 flavors and contain 100-110 calories, 4 grams of protein, and just 6 grams of sugar each. I also appreciate that they don’t have any artificial flavors, preservatives, or highly processed sweeteners.
Perfect Bar Snack Size: These small bars are easy to find and make a good healthy snack for kids and adults. Each bar contains 120-150 calories, 5-6 grams of protein, and 7-8 grams of sugar. These bars are based on peanut butter and come in three flavors.
Clif Kid ZBar Protein: My kids like these bars, which are easy to find and a good size for older kids and teens. Each bar contains 130 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 9 grams of sugar, and there are four kid-friendly flavors.
Aloha Bars Mini: These 100- to 110-calorie bars are just like the full-size Aloha bars but in a smaller package that I like for small snacks for myself or giving to my kids. Each mini bar has 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of sugar.
