Keto Protein Bars: Your Best and Worst Options (Ranked)

Protein bars are quick, convenient, and nutritious (if you buy the right ones).

In this article, you’ll learn:

Protein on the Ketogenic Diet

However, there’s much debate about protein on the ketogenic diet. 

Some say it’s essentially turned into the equivalent of chocolate cake in the body via gluconeogenesis. The theory here is that excess protein is essentially converted to carbs, kicking you out of ketosis.

That myth has largely been debunked, but the question still stands: how much protein do you need on keto?

Protein 101

Amino acids are found in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, as well as plant-based sources like beans, legumes, soy, nuts, and seeds. You do not need to eat animal products to get the necessary amount of protein in your diet [5].

There are three types of amino acids: essential, nonessential, and conditional. 

• Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body, but are supplied to the body by food [6].
• Nonessential amino acids are made by the body from essential amino acids or from breaking down proteins through digestion [7].
• Conditional amino acids are needed by the body in times of sickness or stress [8].

Most people following the ketogenic diet don’t adhere to these guidelines. 

How Protein Affects Ketosis

Many people limit carbs and protein and eat tons of fat, fearing too much protein will kick them out of ketosis. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it may not be the best way to approach keto.

Carbs are the only macronutrient that really messes with ketosis. That’s why you should limit your carbs and find the amount of carbs that works for you.  

Protein doesn’t interfere with ketosis. As long as you’re eating high fat, you can eat high protein, too. Remember the keto food pyramid:

Not only does protein give your body necessary nutrients, but it can help you reach your keto goals. Protein is more satiating than fat, so people on low-protein diets tend to overeat, stalling weight loss [11]. By increasing your protein intake, you can eat less and still feel full.

Protein also has fewer calories than fat (four calories per gram versus nine, respectively) [12]. You can lower your caloric intake by switching out some of your daily fat for protein, which can increase your weight loss or break a weight loss plateau.

A word of warning: Adding more protein to your diet may be helpful, but watch out for any extra calories that come with it. Remember, you won’t lose weight if you’re taking in more calories than you're burning. Aim to eat the right amount of protein for your diet, not too little or too much. 

To learn how the keto diet can help you lose weight, check out our comprehensive keto weight loss guide. 

With that said, check out some great keto protein bars below, as well as ones to avoid.

The Best Keto Protein Bars (Ranked)

There are tons of great keto-friendly protein bars out there. All of these have at least 15g protein, fewer than 5g carbs, and are less than 250 calories. They’re perfect when you’re on-the-go or short on time.

The numbers beside the bars are the grams of net carbs (green) and protein (blue) in each bar. To calculate net carbs, just subtract the grams of fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates. It’s that easy.

1. Grenade Carb Killa Protein Bar

It’s hard to argue with 22g protein and only 2g net carbs. If you’re looking for the most protein with the fewest carbs, the Grenade Carb Killa is the bar for you. 

2. NaturesPlus KETOslim High Protein Bar

There’s not a lot of difference between first and second on this list. Only 1g protein, in fact. Any bar that packs a punch and is still keto-friendly gets a big thumbs up, and the NaturesPlus KETOslim High Protein Bar certainly does.

3. Quest Nutrition Protein Bar

Not only are Quest Nutrition Protein Bars keto-friendly, but compared to some boutique keto protein bars, they’re easy to find, too. These Quest bars can be found in grocery stores, gas stations and drug stores, as well as online. With over 20 flavors to choose from, you can find the perfect bar for you.  

4. Primal Thin Protein Bar

This bar is almost too good to be true. 20g protein and only 1g net carbs is insane. Whether you’re rounding out your macros for the day or trying to add extra protein to your diet, the Primal Thin Protein Bar is a great option.

5. ThinkThin High Protein Bar

The bars on this list are so incredible, it’s easy to overlook how impressive 20g protein and only 2g net carbs really is. The ThinkThin High Protein Bar is one of the best keto protein bars out there.

6. PowerBar Protein Plus Reduced Sugar Bar

Typical PowerBars aren’t very keto-friendly, but the PowerBar Protein Plus Reduced Sugar Bar is a whole new story. Just double check you get the reduced-sugar version to avoid an extra 19g net carbs.

7. InstaKetones GoBHB Per Protein Bar

Any bar with 15g protein and fewer than 5g net carbs is a great keto-friendly option. The InstaKetones GoBHB Per Protein Bar has BHB in each bar, giving you an extra boost of sugar-free energy.

Keto On-the-Go

For some people, adding more protein into their diet isn’t the goal. Sometimes you just want a quick, convenient, on-the-go snack that won’t wreck your macros or throw you out of ketosis. Luckily, there are plenty of great keto bars that are high in fat and low in carbs.

The numbers beside the bars are the grams of  net carbs (green) and fat (blue) in each bar. With so many options out there, you can be sure to find a keto-friendly bar that keeps your macros and your taste buds happy.

Keep in mind that even with the most keto-friendly bar, you’ll get more nutrients from meals you prepare yourself. These keto bars are great, but they shouldn’t replace real food.

Keto Protein Bars that are Decent in a Pinch

1. ZenoBar Keto Low Carb Energy Bar

ZenoBar claims to be low carb, and for most diets, it is. But on keto, 15g carbs goes a long way. If you’re new to keto or stuck in a weight loss plateau, an extra 15g net carbs won’t do you any favors.

2. Pure Protein Bar

Pure Protein Bars advertise the amount of sugar (3g) on the packaging to make it seem low carb. Don’t forget that carbs exist outside of sugar. A product may be low in sugar, but high in carbs. Double check the ingredients to make sure it’s as low carb as it claims to be.

3. Atlas Bar

Depending on the flavor, Atlas Protein Bars are 10-13g net carbs. It isn’t a ton, but for a lot of keto dieters, that’s almost half the daily amount of carbs. If you’re trying to round out your carb or protein macros, this bar could be perfect. But watch out if you’re trying to limit your carbs for the day.

Keto Protein Bars to Avoid

1. MET-Rx Big 100 Colossal Protein Bar

28g protein is great, but 50g net carbs is more than twice most keto dieters have in a day. There are better choices out there.

2. Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bar

Gatorade is known for its sport and recovery drinks, but there are plenty of keto protein bars with 20g protein and only a few grams of carbs.

3. CLIF BUILDER’S Protein Bar

These bars are everywhere, from grocery stores to gas stations. And while 20g protein is great, 28g net carbs is too much for most keto dieters.

4. PowerBar Protein Plus Bar

The original on-the-go snack bar isn’t too bad, but it’s unlikely to win over too many keto dieters with 21g net carbs.

5. BSN Protein Crisp Bar

This BSN bar could be considered keto in a pinch, but you’d have to stay really strict for the rest of the day to not miss your macro goals for the day.

Best Make-it-Yourself Bars

1. KetoLogic® Nutty Chocolate Energy Balls

These nutty chocolate energy balls (or bars if you shape them that way) have over 7g protein and 27g of fat. They’re packed with almonds and pecans and bursting with flavor. You’ll want to make this recipe more than once.

2. Keto No Bake N’oatmeal Fudge Bars

8g protein in any bar is great, but 8g protein and 30g fat takes this bar above and beyond. And if that wasn’t enough, the dairy-free fudge will keep you coming back to this recipe again and again.

3. Four-Ingredient Keto Protein Cups 

Four ingredients, five minutes and you’re done. These homemade keto protein cups are easy to make and offer 9g protein, 10g fat, and only 2g net carbs per serving. That sounds almost too good to be true.

4. Homemade Macadamia Protein Bars

We love macadamia nuts. If you haven’t tried FBOMB Macadamia Nut Butters, you’re missing out. These protein bars use only a few customizable ingredients, so you can add your own flavors, protein powder, or anything else you want. Plus, they only have 1g net carbs. Impressive.

5. Homemade Keto Bars

These homemade keto bars are as close to the real thing as possible. They can be made in less than 30 minutes, have only 3g net carbs and are full of coconut and chocolate. It doesn’t get much better than that.

On keto, protein shouldn’t be the enemy. Adding extra protein into your diet can help you burn body fat and keep you full between meals. There are tons of keto-friendly protein bars that make it convenient and easy to add more protein into your diet. Just remember that even if a bar is advertised as keto-friendly or low-carb, you should always double check the nutrition information to make sure you’re not adding extra carbs into your diet.

References:

[1] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[2] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[3] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm 

[4] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm 

[5] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm 

[6] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[7] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[8] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[9] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002467.htm

[10] https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/how-many-calories-are-one-gram-fat-carbohydrate-or-protein 

[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4190484/

[12] https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/how-many-calories-are-one-gram-fat-carbohydrate-or-protein