11 Delicious Low-Carb Protein Bars for Keto [Cure Cravings]

low carb protein bar for keto

Are you in a hurry? The best low-carb protein bar for keto is the Perfect Keto Bar.

We all fight with occasional sweet tooth and stressful situations.

But during these times it’s extremely easy to fall of the “right choice” wagon and drive to the cheat meal road.

Fortunately protein bars are there to help out.

In this article I will show you which of them are worth trying out and which are keto-approved.

keto bars keto snacks

Protein bars we cover in this article:

Not All Low-Carb Bars are Keto Friendly

Protein has been shown to help you help keep you full, cure cravings, and has a morale boost when times get though.

Now although most low-carb protein bars out there are probably better alternatives to a can of Ben&Jerry or a Snickers bar, they still have carbs and calories in them.

An average low-carb protein bar, described in this article, has around 4 grams of net carbs per serving. Which is awesome and quite acceptable during the keto diet.

But there are also protein bars with 10+ grams of net carbs – like Bulletproof bars. Yep, the same company who made the “Bulletproof coffee”. 

My point is:

  • If you are just starting out with keto, avoid the higher carb bars in this list.
  • If you feel confident with keto and there’s room in your macros, feel free try out all protein bars in this list.

How Much Protein Should You Eat per Day?

To reach and stay in “optimal” nutritional ketosis, tracking how much protein you consume daily is a big part of the process.

  • Eat too littleprotein, and your body may burn some of your own muscle protein (muscle tissue) for energy.
  • Eat too much protein, and the excess protein is very likely to turn into glucose (sugar) via the process of gluconeogenesis. (1)

This can become an issue on a keto diet, and it can potentially prevent your body from ever reaching “optimal” ketosis. 

Generally, a good range to aim is 1.5-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (0.7-0.9 grams per lb).

How Many Protein Bars Can You Eat per Day?

A general rule of thumb is, no matter what food we are talking about, never go over your daily ‘net’ carb limit.

If you are looking to lose weight and you are on a stricter Keto diet, you most likely can’t afford to eat more than 1-2 bars per day.

  • The standard upper limit for losing weight on keto is 20 net carbs per day, so you wouldn’t have a lot of “wiggle” room there.
  • A healthy keto diet consists of consuming about 7-10 cups of nutrient-dense vegetables per day, and that alone uses most of your daily net carb allowance.

And even though Keto bars usually have keto-friendly and optimized macros, just remember that a healthy Ketogenic diet cannot consist of eating only snack bars.

They are a very good way to satisfy your sweet tooth, and they can be a great addition to an already healthy eating plan, but they can never replace real food.

How to Choose a KetoProtein Bar?

  • Understand the ingredients – The most important thing is being able to understand what the ingredients listed actually are. Next time you are at the supermarket, take a product and just individually google the ingredients that you don’t know.
  • Avoid artificial sweeteners – Although the effect of artificial sweeteners on your health may be debatable, they definitely are not good for your health. Always prefer natural sweeteners like Stevia, Erythritol and Monk Fruit.
  • Avoid fillers – For example Maltodextrin is a common “filler” ingredient in a lot of products that you should avoid on Keto because of its high Glycemic Index which ranges from 85-136 (table sugar has a GI of 68).

Best Low-Carb Protein Bars

1. Perfect Keto Bar

What’s special about it: Made by a leading doctor in the low-carb field.

Dr. Anthony Gustin has created a truly keto-friendly protein bar made of only natural ingredients. 

Perfect Keto Bar is sweetened with natural Stevia, which doesn’t have any effect on your insulin levels.

Also, it doesn’t have the stevia aftertaste, and it has a chalky-like texture.

When you break the bar in half it doesn’t crumble to pieces.

» Check the price of Perfect Keto Bars here

keto bars keto snacks

The good

  • Natural, organic ingredients
  • Keto-optimized macros
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Taste is very good
  • Is research based
  • High in fiber

The bad

  • None

The new Lemon Poppyseed is my personal favorite. It’s not as sweet, and it has a lighter taste than the other two.

Perfect Bars contain no artificial fillers, additives, preservatives, or flavor-enhancers.

» Check the price of Perfect Keto Bars here

Serving size: 1 bar (45g)Calories: 230 Total Fat: 19g Net Carbs: 3g Fiber: 9g Protein: 10g

#2. Onnit Protein Bar

What’s special about it: Contains over 60 healthy plant ingredients including vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Onnit is a well-known brand in the fitness world and their Protein Bar surely stands apart from the crowd in terms of ingredients used.

The Onnit Bar is packed with 11g of fiber per bar – critical for a healthy gut and digestion.

It’s also sweetened with organic Stevia leaf extract.

» Check the price of Onnit Protein Bars here

onnit low carb protein bar keto friendly

The good

  • Contains over 60 plant ingredients
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • High fiber content

The bad

  • More carbs than competitors
  • Can only buy them from their official website

The main downside is that the bar is higher in net carbs as compared to other bars, so it’s not that ideal if you follow a keto diet.

Taste-wise, they all flavors are delicious and have a pretty good texture/consistency.

I tried the Chocolate Mint Fudge, which was chewy, with an interesting mix of chocolate and mint. I really like the chocolate + mint thing.

» Check the price of Onnit Protein Bars here

Serving size: 1 bar (60g)Calories: 240 Total Fat: 8g Net Carbs: 13g Fiber: 11g Protein: 16g

#3. Quest Protein Bar

What’s special about it: There are 23 available flavors – that’s crazy amount to choose from!

Quest Nutrition has been making low-carb products almost a decade now. 

Quest Bars are sweetened with natural Stevia, Sucralose, and Erythritol, all of which are keto-friendly.

These bars are not my first suggestion for keto, but they are still a better alternative to cheat meals, and you can get them from any gas station. 

» Check the price of Quest Protein Bars here

quest protein bar keto

The good

  • Lots of flavors (23) to choose from
  • Whopping 14g of fiber
  • Only 4g of net carbs
  • Very high protein 
  • Uses natural sweeteners

The bad

  • Some flavors contain non-keto ingredients

Fair warning: different flavors have different ingredients, all of which may not be keto friendly. For example corn fiber, honey, milk protein isolate, dried fruit, and palm oil.

Now, other than all that flavors is where Quest Nutrition excels at. My favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

» Check the price of Quest Protein Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (60g)Calories: 190 Total Fat: 8g Net Carbs: 4g Fiber: 14g Protein: 20g

#4. Keto Crave Energy Bar

What’s special about it: It has keto-optimized macros.

The Keto Crave Energy Bar by Zenwise Health is specifically made for people following the keto diet.

One bar has 16g of fat and only 3g of net carbs. The ingredients are natural and keto-friendly.

For example MCT Oil, Organic Cacao and Almond Butter, Chicory Root Fiber.

It also uses organic Stevia as the only sweetener.

» Check the price of Keto Crave Bars here 

keto crave energy bar is a low carb protein bar

The good

  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Keto-optimized macros
  • Great taste and texture

The bad

  • Bars are small in size for their price
  • The packaging is twice as big as the bar, kinda deceptive

The Keto Crave Energy Bar comes in 2 different flavors: Cacao Almond and Cookie Dough. Both of which are not overly sweet, but have a nice cocoa taste.

Their texture is consistent, kind of fudgey, and it’s enhanced by the chopped nuts.

» Check the price of Keto Crave Bars here 

Serving size: 1 Bar (42g)Calories: 210 Total Fat:16g Net Carbs: 3g Fiber: 7g Protein: 12g

#5. Dang Bar

What’s special about it: 100% plant-based keto bar – ideal for vegetarians.

The Dang Bar is another good quality keto-certified snack bar.

It’s strictly made by 100% plant-based, whole food ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut, almond butter, and chia seeds.

Dang bar is sweetened with natural Stevia extract and is free from all artificial ingredients.

» Check the price of Dang Bars here

dang bar low carb protein bar

The good

  • 100% made of plant-based, whole food ingredients
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Keto approved

The bad

  • None

The Dang Bar comes in 3 different flavors: Chocolate Sea Salt, Lemon Matcha, and Almond Vanilla.

I have only tried the Chocolate Sea Salt, which has a rich nutty, chocolatey flavor with just a hint of sea salt. If you like chocolate, you’re gonna love this one.

» Check the price of Dang Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (40g)Calories: 210 Total Fat: 16g Net Carbs: 4g Fiber: 6g Protein: 10g

#6. Keto Bars

What’s special about it: Very simple and natural ingredient list.

The Keto Bars were made by Jon Hart in 2014 who got tired of eating products that tasted like chemicals and claimed to be low-carb but weren’t.

His Keto bars really do have a simple ingredient list: Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Coconut, Erythritol, Water, Salt, Stevia. That’s it.

The texture is like a “no bake” bar or a fat bomb: rich, dense, and it melts in your mouth.

» Check the price of Keto Bars here

keto bar low carb protein bar

The good

  • Simple and natural ingredient list
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Made for keto

The bad

  • The bars sell only in packs of 10

Keto bars come in 3 flavors: Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Mint Chocolate.

» Check the price of Keto Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (47g)Calories: 227 Total Fat: 20g Net Carbs: 3g Fiber: 7g Protein: 6g

#7. Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bar

What’s special about it: Uses grass-fed Collagen protein.

These Collagen Protein Bars are made by the same company that is world-famous for its Bulletproof Coffee.

The company prides itself for using quality, organic ingredients, especially for its grass-fed Collagen protein.

It’s sweetened with organic stevia leaf extract.

But… the macros of the bars are honestly not that well optimized. Serving has 9g of net carbs.

» Check the price of Bulletproof Bars here

bulletproof collagen protein bar low carb protein bar

The good

  • Uses grass-fed Collagen protein
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Good amount of flavors

The bad

  • Quite high in net carbs
  • No fiber

They currently have 6 flavors: Lemon Cookie, Chocolate Chip Dough, Mint Chocolate Chip, Apple Pie, Vanilla Shortbread, and Fudge Brownie.

» Check the price of Bulletproof Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (45g)Calories: 230 Total Fat: 15g Net Carbs: 9g Fiber: 0g Protein: 12g

#8. No Cow Bars

What’s special about it: Completely dairy-free and vegan.

The No Cow Bars are completely dairy-free, low-carb protein bars made specifically for the Vegan community.

The bars each provide 22 grams of plant-based protein (from peas).

They use natural Erythritol, Monk Fruit, and Stevia extract as sweeteners for the bars.

Overall macros are good in the carb department, but could contain more fats per bar (only 3.5g).

» Check the price of No Cow Bars here

now cow low carb protein bar

The good

  • Vegan and keto-friendly ingredients
  • 100% Dairy-free
  • 10 flavors to choose from
  • Very high in fiber

The bad

  • Not keto-optimized, very low amount of fat
  • Chalky bar texture

From the flavor side, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip had little chips in it which give it the whole chocolate chip vibe.

But it also had a somewhat chalky texture, which I honestly don’t mind, but some might find it off-putting.

There are better keto-specific bars for sure, but if you are dairy-sensitive, its a great option.

» Check the price of No Cow Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (60g)Calories: 200 Total Fat: 3.5g Net Carbs: 3g Fiber: 17g Protein: 22g

#9. Atkins Endulge Treat Bar

What’s special about it: Created by the original Atkins company – Robert Atkins.

This bar is produced by Robert Atkins company, the man behind the all-popular, low-carb Atkins diet.

It’s made from all-low-carb ingredients and the brownie bar tastes great.

The main downside is that it contains Maltitol which has quite an impact on your blood glucose and insulin levels.

If you are on a strict keto, then I don’t recommend this. If your diet is more flexible then this is definitely worth a bite. 

» Check the price of Atkins Endulge Bars here

atkins endulge treat bar is low carb protein bar

The good

  • Great choice for a low-carb diet
  • 9g of fiber per serving
  • Only 2g of net carbs

The bad

  • Contains Maltitol and Maltodextrin
  • Not keto friendly

The good news is that they have more than 11 flavors to choose from. 

» Check the price of Atkins Endulge Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (34g)Calories: 120 Total Fat: 4.5g Net Carbs: 2g Fiber: 9g Protein: 3g

#10. InstaKetones Bar

What’s special about it: Provides exogenous ketones.

The InstaKetones Bar is a unique product as it provides a good dose of exogenous ketones (11.7g BHB per bar).

Exogenous ketones will help your body to get into that sweet fat burning mode.

It’s sweetened with natural Monk Fruit which is 100% keto.

» Check the price of InstaKetones Bars here

instaketones low carb protein bar

The good

  • Provides exogenous ketones
  • Uses natural sweeteners
  • Good ingredient list

The bad

  • The worst taste in the world

The bar comes with just one available taste, Orange Burst. And honestly, it tastes pretty much like death. Yes, exogenous ketones don’t taste well, but I really can’t suggest you to try these.

If you want to take exogenous ketones, we suggest you look for a well-tasting exogenous ketone supplement not a exogenous ketones bar.

» Check the price of InstaKetones Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (59g)Calories: 140 Total Fat: 8g Net Carbs: 4g Fiber: 14g Protein: 15g

#11. Stoka Bars

What’s special about it: Made by ketoers for ketoers.

Steve and his wife Moka (hence the name of the bar), who are big keto believers created a quick, natural, and keto-friendly bite. 

The bars are made of almonds based, psyllium husks, cocoa powder, butter powder, and sea salt. 

And it’s sweetened with natural Erythritol and Stevia.

» Check the price of Stoka Bars here

stoka bar is a low carb protein bar

The good

  • Made by ketoers for ketoers
  • Natural and keto-friendly ingredients
  • Whopping 23g of fat per serving
  • Uses natural sweeteners

The bad

  • Only 2 flavors

The Stoka Bars are available in 2 different flavors: Coco Almond and Vanilla Almond.

I have only tried the Coco Almond flavor which had a nutty flavor. The taste reminded me of Almond Roca.

» Check the price of Stoka Bars here

Serving size: 1 Bar (54g)Calories: 260 Total Fat: 23g Net Carbs: 4g Fiber: 5g Protein: 9g

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