Best protein bars, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Jesse Szewczyk, Matt McCallister, Gwynedd Stuart, Alaina Chou and 3 more. Recommendations come from yahoo.com, bonappetit.com, theguardian.com and sporked.com and 1 other sources.
Snacks & Sweets · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Barebells Protein Bar (Caramel Cashew, Chocolate Dough)
Chosen by- Matt McCallisterChef; 2014 Food & Wine Best New Chef
- Jesse SzewczykSenior test kitchen editor, Bon Appétit
Also chosen by- Jesse Szewczyk · Senior test kitchen editor, Bon Appétit source ↗
- Guardian US blind panel of 22 source ↗
- Gwynedd Stuart · Writer, Sporked source ↗
A Swedish whey-protein bar with 20 grams of protein: chewy nougat and caramel under a milk-chocolate shell. Chef Matt McCallister, who says “it’s difficult to find a decent protein bar, and I’ve tried many,” names the Caramel Cashew one of his two favorites: “It’s pretty awesome.” Szewczyk, Bon Appétit’s senior test kitchen editor: “Barebells are the only protein bars I can confidently say taste ‘good.’” Backup: it placed first in the Guardian’s blind newsroom test (“It tastes like a Twix bar”) and Sporked named it its best bar. Some of the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols.
- 2
RXBAR (Chocolate Sea Salt, original or Nut Butter & Oat)
Chosen by- Anne KearneyChef; 1998 Food & Wine Best New Chef
- Alaina ChouCommerce writer, Bon Appétit
- Sam StoneWriter, Bon Appétit
Also chosen by- Alaina Chou · Commerce writer, Bon Appétit source ↗
- Sam Stone · Writer, Bon Appétit source ↗
- Ali Dominguez · Designer, Delish (blind tasting panel) source ↗
The short-ingredient bar: egg whites, dates, nuts and sea salt, with 12 grams of protein. Chef Anne Kearney: “When I have resorted to needing a protein bump while out and about, I’ll typically grab one from the side pocket of my bag… the chunks of dark chocolate usually become warm and gooey. Yum.” Bon Appétit picked it as the bar you can find anywhere: it tastes “like real whole foods” with no weird aftertaste. Stone: “They’re my secret ally everywhere because they are sold literally everywhere.” Fair warning: the original is very chewy.
- 3
Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Bar (Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)
Chosen by- Guardian US blind panel of 22 (Danielle Renwick, Lauren Gould, Karen Yuan)
- Alaina ChouCommerce writer, Bon Appétit
Also chosen by- Alaina Chou · Commerce writer, Bon Appétit source ↗
- Ali Dominguez · Designer, Delish (blind tasting panel) source ↗
Organic and vegan, with 14 grams of protein from pumpkin-seed and brown-rice protein, sweetened with tapioca syrup and monk fruit. The best organic bar in the Guardian’s blind test (“Like chocolate, specifically chocolate ice cream”), though a few tasters found the finish too carob-y. Bon Appétit’s best vegan bar: chewy “without getting stuck in your teeth” and no artificial aftertaste. Delish tasters compared the brownie flavor to “a fudgy truffle.”
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Questions, answered
- What is the best protein bars, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Barebells Protein Bar (Caramel Cashew, Chocolate Dough), chosen by Matt McCallister (2014 F&W Best New Chef); Jesse Szewczyk (Bon Appétit). A Swedish whey-protein bar with 20 grams of protein: chewy nougat and caramel under a milk-chocolate shell. Chef Matt McCallister, who says “it’s difficult to find a decent protein bar, and I’ve tried many,” names the Caramel Cashew one of his two favorites: “It’s pretty awesome.” Szewczyk, Bon Appétit’s senior test kitchen editor: “Barebells are the only protein bars I can confidently say taste ‘good.’” Backup: it placed first in the Guardian’s blind newsroom test (“It tastes like a Twix bar”) and Sporked named it its best bar. Some of the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols. Source: yahoo.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for protein bars?
- No. 2 is RXBAR (Chocolate Sea Salt, original or Nut Butter & Oat), chosen by Anne Kearney (1998 F&W Best New Chef); Alaina Chou (Bon Appétit); Sam Stone (Bon Appétit). No. 3 is Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Bar (Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip), chosen by Guardian US blind panel of 22 (Danielle Renwick, Lauren Gould, Karen Yuan); Alaina Chou (Bon Appétit). Each card above links to the original source.
- How does MyTastr choose these picks?
- Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.