It’s hard to eloquently describe what the best protein bars have in common. Most of them could best be classified as sweetened globs. We don’t mean this in a negative way; in fact, several of us on staff here at Bon Appétit would count these things as integral to our diets. Because as much as our livelihoods revolve around cooking and, well, real food, at the end of the day we still have desk jobs and we’re perennially short on time. Nothing beats the convenience of a protein bar when you need some fuel for your morning commute, a quick pick-me-up between meetings, or a filling snack to tide you over when those 3 PM hunger pangs strike.
Our top picks
- The bar with the simplest ingredients: RxBar
- The bar with the most protein: David
- The most filling protein bar: Quest Protein Bar
- The best vegan protein bar: Aloha
- The best low-carb protein bar: IQBar
- The best high-carb protein bar: GoMacro MacroBar
- For those seeking a superfood kick: Send
- For people who’d rather be eating a candy bar: Barebells Protein Bar
- The best snack bar that happens to have protein: Truvani The Only Bar
- The bar for overnight oats lovers: Mush
- The bar with the best texture: NuGo
- For dessert lovers: Trubar
- The bar that’s a high protein crispy treat: Promix
That’s why we set out to find the best protein bars—both sweetened globs and not—for every type of protein bar eater. We tasted our way through bars of all kinds, and in so doing found over a dozen we can vouch for. And while the texture and taste of even the best protein bars is not entirely…natural, not all of them are the stereotypical PowerBar of the ’90s. The taste profiles of protein bars in 2025 are so varied that even the most epicurean among us can find an energy bar we like. Whether you’re into bars full of whole foods that taste practically homemade, or you’d rather your protein bar look and taste as much like a candy bar as possible, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for the 13 bars we recommend, which include a variety of protein sources that will keep you full. Most have upwards of 10 grams of protein, and we’ve included bars with varying amounts of fat and carbohydrates—because while some prefer a high-fat diet for that good ketosis, others need more carbs to literally keep us running.
The bar with the simplest ingredients: RxBar
RxBar Nut Butter and Oat Protein Bars, Variety Pack
Nutrition and ingredients
Protein source: Egg white
Nutrition info: 200 cal, 12 g protein, 7 g fat, 25 g total carb
Ingredients: Peanut butter flavor: Dates, Peanuts, Egg Whites, Peanut Flour, Natural Flavors,
