10 Best Tasting Protein Bars
While taste is incredibly important, we also made sure to select brands that are low in sugar (to avoid crashing) and also contain balanced levels of carbs and fat that provide that slow burn of energy to fuel you throughout the day.
The options that we selected for our list are packed with nutritional goodness and also come in a wide variety of flavors to appease everyone.
In this list, we have selected some of our favorite, good-tasting protein bars to help you reach your nutritional goals without stepping foot into the kitchen!
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Ease of Use
Typically we eat protein bars as a convenience food when we're in a rush between workouts and home life, or after a run to help recover.y
Because of this, we felt it was important to look at how easy or difficult each product was to consume. As you probably know by now, a lot of protein bars can have a texture that makes them difficult to chew and/or swallow, and if the flavor isn't good, you may have to force yourself to eat it.
That's actually the whole point of this buying guide, to bring you the best tasting protein bars, as well as bars with a packaging that is easy to open, a texture that makes them easy to chew and swallow, and a taste that's enjoyable.
Effectiveness
Everybody is different and reacts differently when it comes to nutrition, but there are some things we all have in common and the need for protein is one of them.
By analyzing the ingredients and protein to carb ratio for each option on our list, as well as reading reviews from thousands of people from all different walks of life who have eaten these bars, we were able to rate each one on how effective it is at replacing your protein stores so you can start to quickly recover from your run.
Product Purity
As runners and athletes, we tend to be pretty conscious of what we put in our bodies.
This buying guide is all about protein bars that taste good, and in order to make what is usually a fairly unenjoyable product taste good, brands add refined sugar, palm oil, and other ingredients that aren't all that healthy. And that's ok.
Still, it's nice when you can find a product that tastes great and doesn't have any, unnatural, unhealthy ingredients in it. We looked at the ingredients of each product on the list and scored it according to how pure and healthy the ingredients are.
Value
We looked at the overall cost of each product, how much it weighs, the nutrition it offers, and whether or not it's available for purchase in bulk.
Most protein bars are somewhat similar in cost, but even so, it's important that you're getting the best deal for your money and if you're on a budget, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to determine which of the best tasting protein bars on our list are going to offer you the most bang for your buck.
10 Best Tasting Protein Bars
1. RXBAR
Do long ingredient labels make you a little uneasy? What users love most about RXBARs is that all of the ingredients are listed on the front of the label. It fuels your day with simple ingredients such as peanuts, egg whites, and fruit. We even checked the back of the label to find that the ingredients list often contains 5-6 simple and all-natural ingredients, just like the front of the packaging suggests.
Read moreThe Peanut Butter Chocolate bar consists of egg whites, peanuts, dates, and natural chocolate flavoring- and nothing else! This super-simple formula is able to fit into a wide variety of diet plans that include Paleo, Whole-30, and all gluten-free diets. Plus, it has a lower calorie count when compared to other protein bars out there on the market.
Sure, it boasts fewer ingredients, but how does it taste? Generally, users found that this simple bar lacks that over-processed and artificial taste that can linger on your tongue for days. Many found that it has a fig newton-type texture, and isn’t bogged down with a lot of artificial sweeteners that can potentially upset your stomach.
If you are in the market for something simple that blends easily into your specific dietary needs, this is a great option. One bar packs in around 12 grams of protein, which is the equivalent of around 2 large eggs. It costs a little bit more than most, but we feel that it is well worth the extra cost for simple ingredients that you can pronounce!
2. Clif Builder's
This is one of the ever-popular Clif Bars. These are probably the best-tasting of among all Clif products, with a somewhat unusual mint chocolate flavor. They have 20g of protein per bar, non-GMO ingredients, loads of added vitamins and minerals and are soy-based.
Read moreReally delicious! These are sweet and creamy with a nice refreshing mint kick to complement the creaminess of the filling and the sweetness of the chocolate. It’s not too sweet, so you can easily grab one for breakfast or as a snack. The texture is pretty good too, with no graininess and a nice creaminess which is often missing from protein bars.
20g of protein and 270 calories per bar, 21g of sugar and absolutely packed with added vitamins and minerals. If you’re looking for something fairly natural, this is a decent option with the added nutrition and the lack of artificial sweeteners. There is quite a lot of sugar in this, but it’s nowhere near as bad as some others on the market.
These protein bars come in at a pretty decent price! Moreover, there are no GMO ingredients used to make the product.
3. RBar Energy Bar
These bars boast only 3-6 ingredients that squash hunger while boosting energy levels. With quite a few unique flavors, snack time just got a little more exciting. What makes the RBar stand in the dense market of energy bars is not what is found in the bars, but what is left out. Many of these bars only contain three simple ingredients that taste impossibly fresh.
Read moreWhat’s also important to note is that these bars are non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. For runners that only want to fuel their bodies with pure ingredients, you will want to grab for an RBar either pre or post-run.
By utilizing nuts and fruit, you get high-end nutrition in a small package that you can toss into a gym bag or tote to ensure that your hunger monster doesn’t spiral out of control.
What we also love about these bars is that their test kitchen is always rolling out new flavors. Some of their newer flavor options that are not included in the variety box include unique blends such as coconut almond, honey nut protein, and acai berry almond protein.
4. Barebells
Is texture a real deal-breaker for you? If you hate overly dry or incredibly crunchy bars, this option from Barebells is worth checking out. It is packed with a high level of protein to help you reach your daily protein intake, and boasts a bright flavor and chewy, moist texture that will trick your brain into thinking you just ate an indulgent candy bar!
Read moreOne bar provides users with an impressive 20 grams of protein, which is on the high end of the protein spectrum. It also contains anywhere between 175-210 calories (depending upon that flavor that you select), which makes it an ideal snack or meal-replacement option.
While it is packed with all of the macros and protein needed to fuel your day, users cannot get over the great taste. It isn’t overly dry, and it is chewy (without sticking to your teeth!) It comes in high-end and unique flavors that include caramel cashew (our favorite!), white chocolate almond, or hazel nougat.
Clocking in at around 2 grams of sugar per bar, Barebells is a great option to help you reach your protein goals while keeping your overall sugar content low. The real hero when it comes to this option is that it has a unique taste and flavor that will get you excited about mealtime again!
5. Pure Protein
This option from Pure Protein packs a powerful punch while keeping the sugar content low. While it may look and even taste like a candy bar, it is low in sugar to prevent you from crashing later on in the day. It is also packed with a host of slow-burning vitamins and nutrients to help fuel you through your busy day.
Read moreThe most notable feature of this bar is that it is low in sugar and high in protein, micronutrients, and calories. This option works great as a meal-replacement bar that feels filling and won’t leave you reaching for snacks later in the day. Each bar packs in around 200 calories, which is great for those that want to use these as a pre-workout meal.
We also like that one bar provides users with an impressive 20 grams of protein per serving, which breaks down to just over 3 eggs. It also provides users with only 16 grams of carbs per serving. The high protein count with fewer carbohydrates means that this bar breaks down slowly in your system to give you sustained energy that will make your feel full and prevent you from snacking.
Whether you are looking for a low-calorie meal replacement bar that packs in all of the vitamins and nutrients from a nutritious meal, or you are simply looking for a quick and easy way to bolster your protein intake, this option is a great choice. Users love that it tastes great, and comes in at a price point that won’t break the bank!
6. Grenade Carb Killa
This has 23g of protein from mainly milk-based sources. It has a triple-layered caramel flavor and a nice crunchy texture. There’s also a little bit of a cookie dough vibe going on with these, both in taste and texture. It has only 1g of carbs.
Read moreWith three layers of tasty caramel, crunchy crispies and a chocolate coating, this is certainly a yummy one. It’s somewhat similar to a Snickers, and the caramel is really rich which complements the crunch and savory flavor of the nuts.
23g of protein with 210 calories is pretty impressive, and the low carb approach may appeal to some. That said, keep in mind that this protein bar is artificially sweetened. There are some unnatural ingredients here, but not as many as with some other protein bars.
This brand is quite pricey, but it gives you a high-quality product that is guaranteed to increase your performance.
7. ONE Protein
Packed with flavor, protein, and nutrients, this is a protein bar you're not gonna be able to get enough of. Guilty-free but not taste-free, this protein bar taste just like a doughnut. You get the soft chewiness of a great protein bar with a lot of protein and less sugar and fillers.
Read morePacked with 20 grams, it offers a solid formula that tastes good and gives you the extra protein you need without all the sugar and calories.
The Maple Glazed Doughnut option is our favorite and it comes at an average price. If you buy in bulk, you get to pay less so don't miss on the opportunity to do so!
8. FITCRUNCH
These bars are designed by world-famous chef Robert Irvine from the TV show Restaurant Impossible. Since they're designed by a chef, you know that they taste good and pack a hefty 24 grams of carbs into each bar with just 6 grams of sugar and 130 calories.
Read moreOver and over again reviewers remarked on how good these taste and how great the texture is. They are billed as being the world's first six-layer protein bar and people love how the different textures all meld together for a great eating experience.
These do have a few ingredients that aren't that natural and as a side note, several people recommended not ordering in the summertime because they may melt. We didn't find any reports of serious side effects other than the melting mentioned above but that's not the bar's fault.
These are about the average price for a high-quality protein bar.
9. PureFit
These ones are a particularly tasty peanut butter chocolate chip flavor containing soy-only protein, which makes them perfect if you happen to be vegan or lactose intolerant. They have quite a unique texture, almost like cookie dough, but still with the nice density which is so common in protein bars. They have a protein content of 18g per bar.
Read moreThese have a lovely flavor! Like most of the best protein bars on the market, they replicate a candy bar flavor, which makes them not only healthy but also a delicious, guilt-free snack. Many users have commented that they actually prefer these to standard candy bars.
These don’t have as much protein as some others on this list, but otherwise, nutritionally they are fantastic. They are vegan-friendly with no whey content and are gluten-free and non-GMO. They have no artificial sweeteners and omit a whole load of the additives and extras that you might find in other protein bars.
They are a little pricey, but not outrageously so because these protein bars are affordable to most.
10. Larabar
This Gluten-free coconut option is one of the tastiest on our list. This brand is known for their great taste and is highly popular among all runners and athletes.
Read moreIf you don't like coconut then you won't like this one. However, if you're looking for something to quench your sweet tooth, then this is your ideal option.
Although it includes pieces of nuts, it is generally smooth and soft. However, some flavors have the gummy texture because of the additions, but still rich in flavor.
These protein bars are highly affordable and taste great. They are also highly nutritious and guarantee great results.
Sources
- Best sources of protein, Health Forum ,
- What would happen if you didn't eat any protein at all?, User Platform ,
- Protein Intake And Performance For Runners, Fitness Publication ,
- Protein After Running?, Health & Fitness Publication ,