The Top 8 Protein Bars, Evaluated and Recommended by Dietitians
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Navigating the protein bar aisle can be a challenge. Packed shelves offering a rainbow of assorted options make finding a bar that fits your nutrition needs and pleases your taste buds even more tricky. Whether it’s a pre-workout boost, a post-lunch pick-me-up, or a convenient protein fix, our experts performed hours of testing to find the right protein bar for you. Our nutrition experts took the bars (literally) into their own hands to ensure the taste, texture, and ingredients were dietitian-approved.
“When choosing the right protein bar for you, you'll want to consider your budget, taste preferences, and any dietary restrictions, plus, read the label to make sure you avoid any ingredients that don’t agree with you,” says sports nutritionist Melissa Boufounos, CHN. Throughout our research, we also considered serving size, calories per bar, source of protein, sweeteners, added sugar, and specific ingredients you may prefer to include or limit. After our in-depth review, here are the best protein bars on the market.
Landing in first place as best overall, RXBAR’s protein bar is made with simple yet wholesome ingredients and delivers a balanced macronutrient profile. Each bar contains whole foods like egg whites and nuts, plus dates for sweetness. With 12 grams of protein, 23 grams of carbs, and 8 grams of fat, this is a nutritionally balanced bar that delivers all three macronutrients on the go.
Our dietitians love that RXBAR clearly and transparently labels its ingredients on the front of the packaging. Plus, the bars are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and added sugars. Our testers love the flavor but noted that the bar can get stuck in your teeth. This is a great option if you need a balanced snack (200 calories from whole foods) to hold you over between meals. However, it isn't the best fit for folks who need a hefty dose of protein in their bar or are specifically looking for a post-workout option.
Nutrition info: 200 calories per bar, Protein 12 g, Carb 23 g, Fat 8 g | Protein sources: Egg whites, almonds | Diet considerations: Gluten-free, kosher | Sweetener used: dates
If you want to refuel after a workout, Honey Stinger’s Almond Pumpkin Seed Nut + Seed bar is our top choice. Testers love the “crunchy, caramel exterior and nougat-type inside” that has a naturally sweet and savory flavor with no artificial aftertaste or grittiness from the protein powder.
Packed with a mix of protein powder, this high-quality, complete protein source (thanks to the whey) promotes muscle recovery. “People make the mistake of looking for more protein than carbs in a post-workout protein bar,” says Boufounos. To optimize muscle recovery, the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends combining protein and carbs. Honey Stinger achieves this by using whole-food ingredients that taste great.
Nutrition info: 260 calories per bar, Protein 14 g, Fat 16 g, Carb 21 g | Protein sources: almonds, whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate, peanuts, pumpkin seeds| Diet considerations: gluten-free, non-GMO | Sweeteners used: honey, cane sugar, tapioca syrup
Finding a plant-based protein bar with a good texture and taste is no small feat. Primarily, plant-based protein sources like pea protein tend to be gritty and the texture doesn't hold up for most people’s preferences. B.T.R. Nation Bars stood up to our test – meeting our standards for taste and texture compared to other vegan protein bars on the market. Plus, the clean ingredient list makes these indulgent bars almost too good to be true.
Each bar packs 10 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and 11 grams of carbohydrates. The plant-based protein sources primarily come from peanuts, pea protein, almond protein, and pumpkin seed protein powder. Plus, sweetened with monk fruit, each bar delivers just 2 g of total sugar. Note that this bar is lower in calories and carbs than other options.
Nutrition info: 150 calories per bar, Protein 10 g, Fat 9 g, Carbs 11 g | Protein source: peanuts, pea protein, almonds protein, pumpkin seed protein | Diet considerations: plant-based, keto and paleo, vegan, gluten-free | Sweetener used: monk fruit extract
KIND has built a reputation for being slightly sweet, oh-so-delicious, and perfectly crunchy every time. Testers call this bar “quintessentially KIND” thanks to its crunchy, candy bar-esque texture and deliciously craveable taste. It tastes exactly like the name—combining dark chocolate with roasted almonds and peanuts.
Plus, these “nut-forward” protein bars deliver 12 grams of protein from plant-based sauces like soy protein isolate, peanuts, and almonds. Each bar also delivers 17 grams of fat and 18 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of added sugars.
Nutrition info: 240 calories per bar, Protein 12 g, Fat 17 g, Carbs 18 g | Protein source: soy protein isolate, peanuts, almonds | Diet considerations: gluten-free, dairy free, kosher | Sweeteners used: glucose syrup, honey, sugar
The CLIF Builder's Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor delivers the right combination of protein and carbohydrates for a pre-workout boost. Most people make the mistake of not eating enough carbohydrates before exercise, which can cause an energy dip and lower performance. With 20 grams of protein per bar from plant-based sources like soy and peas, you will get a hefty dose of muscle-building protein in every serving. Plus, with 11 grams of fat and 29 grams of carbohydrate, this bar is well-rounded across all three macronutrients.
Testers noted the density of this bar—and yes, it’s chock full of energy. That said, with 17 grams of added sugar, it’s best for intense exercise lasting longer than 30 minutes. If you want a smaller energy boost for a shorter workout, you can always opt for half a bar pre-workout and the other half post!
Nutrition info: 290 calories per bar, Protein 20 g, Fat 11 g, Carb 29 g | Protein source: soy protein isolate, pea protein | Diet considerations: vegan, gluten-free; contains soy, nuts, and tree nuts | Sweeteners used: cane syrup, cane sugar, brown rice syrup
The ALOHA Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar is the best organic protein bar, providing a wholesome, chocolatey option for folks who want a USDA Organic protein bar. Plus, each bar contains 14 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat, and 24 grams of carbs, with protein sourced from brown rice protein and pumpkin seeds.
While some bars made with brown rice protein powder have a sandy, gritty texture, we appreciate ALOHA’s formula for being deliciously soft and chewy instead. With 10 grams of fiber from tapioca fiber and just 3 grams of added sugars, these bars will keep you full and satisfied for hours.
Nutrition info: 240 calories per bar, Protein 14 g, Fat 12 g, Carb 24 g | Protein source: peanuts, brown rice protein, pumpkin seed protein | Diet considerations: non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, USDA organic | Sweeteners used: chocolate chips, tapioca syrup, monk fruit
The Perfect Bar earns its spot as the best meal replacement protein bar. It is crafted with real and recognizable foods like peanut butter, milk, eggs, rice, and honey. Each bar provides 17 grams of protein, 19 grams of fat, and 27 grams of carbs, making it a well-rounded breakfast on the run or a hefty snack when you need to be full for longer.
These bars require refrigeration but have no additives and are naturally sweetened with honey. We love the variety of flavors, from simple peanut butter to lemon poppyseed. One tester called this “peanut butter heaven!”
If you want a smaller snack-size option, try the Perfect Bar mini. With 120 calories and 6g of protein per bar, this is an excellent protein-packed pick-me-up.
Nutrition info: 340 calories per bar, Protein 17 g, Fat 19 g, Carb 27 g | Protein sources: peanut butter, milk, rice protein | Diet considerations: gluten and soy-free | Sweetener used: honey
If you’re a fan of savory snacks and want a protein-forward boost with zero sugar and no protein powder, the EPIC Beef Sea Salt and Pepper bar is for you. Unlike other bars on this list, there is no chocolate involved. What you read is what you get when it comes to this EPIC protein bar: beef, garlic, onion, celery, salt, and pepper.
Like jerky, this bar is higher in sodium than other options, providing 25% of the daily recommended value (or 590 milligrams). Our nutrition testers recommend pairing this with plenty of water and enjoying it as a pre-workout snack at least 1.5 hours before or a post-workout protein replenishment (to avoid mid-workout beef burps).
Nutrition info: 130 calories per bar, Protein 11 g, Fat 8 g, Carb 3 g | Protein source: 100% grass-fed beef | Diet restrictions: gluten-free
Popular on social media for their tasty flavors and ability to transform into a tasty, gooey treat via 15 seconds in the microwave, Quest bars offer a whopping 21 grams of protein with only 4g net carbs and 1g sugar. While we want to support these super sweet, craving-crushing bars, we’re not fans of the erythritol, stevia, and sucralose used to sweeten them.
Our testers took one bite of these cult-followed, dairy-free bars and complained of the texture: chalky, hard, and dry. Plus, our nutrition experts weren’t fans of the sweetener combo (monk fruit, stevia, and erythritol), which testers said you can taste in every single bite. Even for the 20 grams of plant-based protein, the texture, taste, and sweeteners aren’t worth it.
Rice krispie treat is what came to mind when we tried out these airy, soft bars. They offered a nice variety to the typically dense, intense mouthfeel of comparable protein bars. Our nutritionists loved the easy-to-read ingredients and lack of artificial sweeteners, as well as the smaller size (150 calories per bar with 15 grams of protein from whey and 16g carbs).
Pinpointing a protein source is key to deciding which bar may be best for your needs. Here are a few to know:
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Eliza Savage is a registered dietitian and the editorial director, commerce, of Verywell Fit and Shape at Dotdash Meredith. She coordinated with Caroline, as well as our testing staff and testers, to determine the best of the best protein bars. As a mom of three and an extremely active individual, she relies on protein bars as a must-have, emergency snack to keep her energy on track and nutrition goals on target. She keeps them in her purse, diaper bag, and car to make sure she always has a protein-packed snack on hand.
As a registered dietitian, Caroline Thomason has 10+ years of experience in the wellness space. Over the years, she has personally tried dozens of protein bars and worked with many clients and colleagues who have strong opinions on these types of products. For this piece, she worked closely with our editorial staff and nutrition and sports experts to get the inside scoop about real-world insights on protein bars in a variety of categories.
