14 protein bars that *actually* taste good, approved by nutritionists
The best protein bars are a quick and convenient way of increasing your daily intake, whether you’re looking to build some strength or you simply want to support your overall health and wellbeing.
Of course, most of your protein should come from natural sources such as chicken, white fish, eggs and tofu, but when life is hectic and you’re on the go, these handy snacks are a great way of staying on track.
Unlike the dusty, cardboard-like protein bars of old, these days, there are a whole range of bars, brownies and cookies that provide the optimal amount of the macronutrient and taste delicious, too.
To help you find the ones that deserve a spot in your snack cupboard, we put a range of protein bars from leading brands through their paces at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
The best protein bars 2025
Rushing off to the gym? Here are our winners at glance, but scroll on for in-depth reviews, plus our ultimate guide to protein for women.
Why is protein so important for women?
It’s a common misconception that protein supplements such as shakes and bars are just for bodybuilders and gym junkies (it’s also a myth that they will make you bulky). In fact, there’s plenty of evidence to show that we should all be making sure we’ve getting enough of the macronutrient.
“Proteins are primary functional and structural components within each and every cell of the body, so they’re necessary for muscle growth and repair, as well as maintaining optimal health,” explains Georgia Chilton, senior nutritionist at Fresh Fitness Food.
They’re particularly important for women, she points out. “Protein is key for hormone and enzyme production and therefore regulating the menstrual cycle – plus it supports skin, hair and bone health,” she adds. “This is crucial for menopausal and post-menopausal women, who have an increased risk of osteoporosis.”
As we age, we naturally lose strength and muscle mass (the official term is sarcopenia), with studies revealing that we can lose up to 50% of our muscle mass by the time we reach our seventies. Incorporating enough protein into your diet can help counteract this.
On a plant-based diet? Check out our round-up of the best vegan protein bars and vegan protein powders.
How much protein should I eat daily?
As with anything, protein needs are highly personal and vary from person to person. It depends on a whole host of factors, including activity levels, body weight, genetics and health conditions.
That said, there are some general recommendations that can help you work out what’s right for you. “The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for all healthy people is 0.8g per kilogram of bodyweight,” says Chilton. “For women who exercise regularly, I’d suggest aiming for between 1.2g and 2g of protein per kilogram of body weight.”
If you’re highly active – for example, if you have a physically demanding job and are strength training three or more times a week – then you may want to up that figure to around 2g of kilogram per bodyweight.
Is it better to eat a protein bar before or after a workout?
You may have been told it’s essential to get some protein into your body within 30 minutes of exercise, but Chilton says that’s not necessarily the case. “The timing of protein intake is more relevant to experienced athletes, not the average gym-goer,” she explains. “It’s not necessary to chomp down on a bar the second your workout finishes.”
Instead, she suggests focusing on consuming enough good quality protein across the course of a day. Try to have a balanced recovery meal after your workout, with a good amount of carbohydrates to replenish your energy stores and some protein to help your muscles recover. Then, you can enjoy a protein bar as a sweet treat for an extra protein hit.
How we test
In a bid to sort the delicious from the disgusting, we enlisted the help of sports nutritionists and dieticians – including Sinead Roberts, Tai Ibitoye, Georgia Chilton and Dr Paul McArdle – to find the very best protein bars on the market right now.
They rated each bar on a range of factors, including overall nutritional value and quality of ingredients, with only those that met their high standards going forwards for further testing.
Then, back at the GHI, our expert testing panel made up of editors and food testers, judged each product on flavour, texture, aroma and ease of use. To prevent brand bias, packaging and other identifiable elements were removed.
Feedback from our experts and panel was analysed and each product was awarded an overall score. So, whether you’re looking to build some strength or need a healthy snack to tide you over till dinner, these are the best protein bars to shop right now.
Cookies & Cream Protein Bar
Score: 95/100
Barebells impressed with this delicious and nutritious Cookies & Cream protein bar, which converted the sceptics on our testing team. Everyone raved about the fudgy centre, smooth chocolate casing and crunchy cookie pieces. They also said the soft but chewy texture was “spot on”.
Each bar contains a generous 20g of muscle-building protein and just 1.4g of sugar, making it a top choice after the gym or when you’re simply craving a snack.
Note, it does contain sweeteners (maltitol and sucralose), which can aggravate sensitive guts. But according to our experts, you’d need to consume a fair few bars each day to experience any issues.
Per 55g bar: 194kcal, 20g protein, 17g carbs, 6.8g fat
Loaded Legend Bar
Score: 95/100
It may be lower on the protein front (14g) but our joint top-scorer from Protein Works came out on top for taste and texture. Our panel likened it to a classic supermarket brownie and said the combination of soft, marshmallowy nougat, sweet chocolate and crispy pieces on top was delicious. “It tastes more like a treat than a protein bar,” said one satisfied tester.
Our experts noted that it’s low in sugar (1.4g) and contains an impressive 6.5g of fibre per serving to keep you satisfied until your next meal. We tried the brand’s chocolate fudge offering, but we like the sound of salted caramel and cookies ‘n’ cream, too.
Per 47g bar: 168kcal, 14g protein, 13.5g carbs, 7g fat
Crunch Protein Bar
Score: 94/100
Loaded with 20g of muscle-building protein, plus a sufficient serving of carbs, our winner will help your battered body to rebuild and repair post-activity. Our testers enjoyed the sweet (but not sickly) flavour and found the texture satisfyingly crunchy.
For those who aren’t keen on white chocolate, the range also includes a range of tasty flavours like salted caramel, peanut butter and fudge brownie. Yum!
Per 64g bar: 239kcal, 20g protein, 24g carbs, 11g fat
Carb Killa
Score: 93/100
More proof that recovery can be delicious. Grenade bars have a cult following, and for good reason – they deliver on taste, texture and nutritional value. We tried the popular dark chocolate raspberry flavour, which reminded our testers of a Quality Street, thanks to the creamy chocolate shell and gooey fruity centre. Like our Warrior winner, it serves up 20g of protein, so it’s a great one to slip into your gym bag.
We’re currently working our way through the 12 other flavours, which range from Oreo and chocolate chip cookie dough to lemon cheesecake and dark chocolate mint. Which one will you go for?
Per 60g bar: 219kcal, 20g protein, 18g carbs, 9.7g fat
Eroica Natural Protein Bar
Score: 92/100
If you’re on the hunt for a protein bar without a never-ending ingredients list, this is a great option. The Eroica bar is made from almonds, candied peels, egg white, rice protein, coconut sugar and a mix of fragrant spices, with no artificial ingredients. According to our panel, its flavour and texture resembles fruit cake, with one saying, “it’s seriously moreish” and another describing it as, “better than Christmas cake!”
The hefty 100g bar is made up of two 50g portions – with a decent smattering of carbohydrates and fats to replenish your stores and keep you fuller for longer – so you can ration them out throughout the day. Alternatively, you could just gobble the whole bar after a long hike or gruelling gym session.
Per 100g pack, 409kcal, 20g protein, 43g carbs, 17g fat
Macro Munch Protein Bar
Score: 92/100
Those with a sweet tooth will love this triple-layered salted caramel bar from Bulk, which delivers that optimal 20g of protein to boost recovery. It’s deliciously sweet, with distinct notes of malt and butterscotch, which instantly won over our panel. Unlike many protein bars, which can be on the harder side, this one is soft baked, giving it a wonderfully squidgy, melt-in-the-mouth texture.
A few testers thought it had an artificial aftertaste and the salted caramel flavour wasn’t for everyone, but we can also recommend the chocolate honeycomb and birthday cake varieties.
Per 62g bar: 225kcal, 20g protein, 20g carbohydrates, 8.1g fat
Smart Protein Bar
Score: 92/100
From pre-workout powder to meal replacement shakes, PhD is renowned for its high-quality sports supplements. Unsurprisingly, then, its smart protein bar went down a storm with our testers. This cookie crumble bar is as tasty as it sounds – think crunchy biscuit base, gooey caramel centre and sweet, sweet chocolate. A few panel members said it reminded them of a Twix bar, if that’s your cup of tea.
It has a relatively high fat content (12g), so it’s sure to satisfy your afternoon sugar cravings and prevent an energy crash, while the 20g of protein will help you reach your daily goals. What more could you want?
Per 64g bar: 256kcal, 20g protein, 23g carbs, 12g fat
Chocolate Sweet Coconut Protein Bar
Score: 91/100
This chocolate coconut ON bar gives Bounty a run for its money, with a moist coconut centre, grated coconut shavings and a thick milk chocolate coating. Best of all, there’s no unpleasant chalky aftertaste. “It’s the best protein bar I've ever tried,” said one extremely satisfied tester.
Along with its “heavenly” flavour, it delivers an impressive 18g of the essential macronutrient, plus a good amount of fats to tide you over until dinner. Like our Barebells champion, it’s more like a standard chocolate bar than a protein supplement.
Granted, coconut isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a fan, then we’re certain you’ll love this protein treat.
Per 59g bar: 255kcal, 18g protein, 19g carbs, 12g fat
Protein Bar Extra
Score: 90/100
If you don’t fancy a big snack, but simply want a little something sweet after lunch or a workout, let us introduce you to this pocket-sized Foodspring bar. It contains just 163 calories and offers a respectable 13g of protein to bump up your levels throughout the day.
Panellists enjoyed the moreish chocolate coating, soft centre and nutty pieces and crispies. What’s more, each bar has just 0.8g of sugar, making it a great swap for your 11am chocolate bar.
Per 45g bar: 163kcal, 13g protein, 15g carbs, 7.2g fat
Crispy Layered Protein Bar
Score: 87/100
Myprotein's Layered Bar was a resounding success with our panel. They compared it to the old primary school classic: a rice crispy cake with a satisfyingly crunchy bottom layer, a creamy caramel centre and a soft protein dough, all smothered in silky chocolate.
It doesn’t just taste good, though – it’s brimming with 16g of high-quality whey and soya protein and, unlike your classic Rice Krispie treat, contains just 2.4g of sugar. For those who don’t enjoy the standard dense protein bar texture, it’s a sound choice.
Per 58g bar: 203kcal, 16g protein, 21g carbs, 8.7g fat
Gooey Filled Protein Cookie
Score: 85/100
Give your snack cupboard a boost with Myprotein’s legendary filled cookie, which is an excellent alternative to a bog-standard protein bar. Think chewy, crumbly cookie dough and a sweet, oozing chocolate centre.
The flavour did split opinion among our panel – some found it “totally delicious” while others said the aftertaste was a little bitter and unusual. Ultimately, it will come down to preference.
Nutrition-wise, it packs 20g of protein, along with a decent 5g of fibre to keep you fuller for longer and just 2g of sugar (though it does contain sweeteners). There’s also a double chocolate & caramel cookie, which we can confirm is seriously delicious.
Top tip: warm it up in the microwave for 20 seconds and serve with a dollop of Greek yoghurt for a healthier post-gym dessert.
Per 75g cookie: 257kcal, 20g protein, 39g carbs, 10g fat
Caramel Choco Protein Bar
Score: 83/100
An excellent introduction to the world of protein bars, this Barebells option could almost be mistaken for a genuine chocolate bar thanks to its soft, chewy texture and moreish caramel flavour. “It doesn’t feel like a healthy option at all,” said one satisfied panel member, while another said: “It’s like a delicious gooey treat.”
Each bar dishes up 15g of protein to support muscle recovery, 7g of fibre to keep you going, with just 2g of sugar, but like most protein-enriched snacks, it does contain artificial sweeteners.
We also love the banana dream, coco choco and rocky road varieties. All in all, an excellent swap for your afternoon tea and biscuits.
Per 55g bar: 203kcal, 16g protein, 17g carbs, 9.1g fat
Crispy Wafer
Score: 83/100
The third Myprotein option in our round-up, this little snack proved popular with our panel. “It has a very, very good texture and a great level of crunch,” they noted, adding that it wasn’t too dry or claggy.
We tried the chocolate flavour, which was subtle and sweet. A few panel members found it tasted a bit too artificial, but there’s also peanut butter, cookies & cream and vanilla to try. With 15g of protein, it’s a tasty way of topping up your levels on a busy day, either as a pre-workout snack or post-dinner treat. It’s not too heavy or filling, but very satisfying and genuinely enjoyable to finish.
Per 42g bar: 195kcal, 15g protein, 13g carbs, 9g fat
Designer Protein Bar
Score: 82/100
The team at ESN really knew what they were doing when they created the Designer Protein Bar and its three layers of goodness.
Think 14g of protein encased in smooth chocolate, crunchy, nutty pieces and a melt-in-the-mouth core.
It went down a treat with our testers, who praised the “lovely, balanced flavour”. They also liked that it wasn’t sickly sweet and gave the “soft, creamy texture” an instant thumbs up.
The protein content isn’t the highest in this round-up, but it still makes for a satisfying sweet treat. Just note, it contains animal-derived collagen peptides, so it's not be suitable for vegetarians.
Per 45g bar: 198kcal, 14g protein, 14g carbs, 10g fat
The verdict on the best protein bars
Hitting your protein goal is significantly easier (and tastier) with our winning Barebells protein bar. It contains 20g of the macronutrient and, according to our panel, tastes great, too.
For a treat that's lower in protein but ranks highly on the flavour front, try Protein Works' Loaded Legend bars.
Looking for a bar with an all-natural ingredients list? Consider 33Fuel's Eroica bar, which is made with nuts, egg white, rice protein, coconut sugar and spices.
If you want lots of flavour options, Grenade has 15, including Oreo and white chocolate cookie.
Why should you trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
Kim Hawley is the health and wellness tester at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing for a range of nutrition products, including protein bars, protein powders, pre-workout supplements and electrolytes. She is a level 4 qualified personal trainer and has a nutrition qualification, so she knows exactly what to look for in a protein supplement.
For this test, we also enlisted the help of sports nutritionists and dieticians to help cut through the noise and find the protein bars worth considering.
At the GHI, we've been testing products for over 100 years. Our experts combine their industry knowledge and experience with rigorous protocols to analyse and scrutinise products against their claims.
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