High-Protein Products That Actually Taste Great courtesy of retailers
“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”
This story is part of a series on navigating the world of peak protein, from the latest packaged products to emerging research. Read the rest of the stories here.
IF WE’RE BEING honest, the number of packaged foods that currently have the word “PROTEIN” slapped across the branding is kind of ridiculous. And we say that as Men’s Health, where we’ve boasted about the muscle-building, stomach-filling benefits of protein long before General Mills started dusting their Cheerios with pea protein.
Within the last five years, we’ve seen a steady rise “high-protein” products that run the supposedly good-for-you gamut. High-protein chips. High-protein candy bars. High-protein cinnamon buns. These protein-enhanced products all tempt you with flavors that sound way more delicious than a protein shake. (Admittedly, not hard to do.) And to push the idea that they fit into your healthy diet, they often print their protein amounts and lack of carbs right there on the front of their flashy packaging.
But are any of these high-protein packaged products actually good for you? We read the Nutrition Facts Panels and found that, no, many of them are little more than health-haloed ultra-processed food. That said, there are some solid options out there.
And are they actually delicious? We taste-tested more than 50 varieties and found that, no, many of them are … not. That said, there is some pretty tasty stuff to be had.
These 14 products hit that sweet spot of having both.
High Protein Iced Coffee, Mocha Latte
Coffee is mandatory in the morning routines of many, and this creamy Mocha Latte from Slate is a delightful way to kick off the day and snag 20 grams of protein. Looking for an afternoon pick-up? This will deliver it without the jitters.
Hearst Owned
Power Cakes Mix
These protein pancakes help you breakfast like a beast. All they require is water, but mixing it up with some eggs and milk pumps up each flapjack to 18 grams of protein. And while they might not kill your pancake craving, they bring a pleasant whole grain taste and fill you up.
Fusilli Italian Protein Pasta
Lupini beans, on their own, are dense little buggers that taste slightly nutty. They ratchet up the protein in this satisfying spiral-shaped pasta, and also lend a hearty backbone of flavor. The corkscrews are wound just right, too, equally capable of trapping pesto and whatever you like to throw into your pasta salad.
Hearst Owned
Instant Protein Oatmeal
Soooooo many high-protein packaged products lean on psuedo-sugars such as monk fruit, stevia, and sucrolose. These all keep the total added sugar count low, but also spike the aw gross aftertaste factor. Quaker’s version contains 12 grams of protein and uses real sugar (and not that much at 11 grams per pack), and just adds protein powder. It tastes like childhood.
Hearst Owned
Protein Pretzels, Garlic Parmesan
The Dill Pickle and Honey Mustard flavors are also great, but this one is a clear standout. Dusted with garlicy goodness, these mini pretzels have the perfect amount of snap to make a satisfying afternoon snack—bonus: 8 grams of chickpea protein.
Hearst Owned
Clear Protein Drink, Prickly Pear
Yes, really. Protein water. This stuff packs 20 grams of protein, and does contain stevia and another non-nutritive sweetener, but never sits heavy in the stomach or even too-sweet on the tongue. Credit the flavor on that last point. It’s slightly tart, slightly tangy—sort of like a dialed down margarita.
Hearst Owned
Mac & Cheese Assortment (12 Pack, Variety)
Squeeze the real cheddar cheese sauce over the wheat-chickpea shells, stir, and then gobble up 14 grams of protein and (bonus!) seven grams of fiber per serving. All that, plus my 2-year-old daughter loves them just as much as I do. It’s an even better family dinner with a little ground beef or chopped bacon stirred in.
Frozen Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, Vanilla Bean
The ingredients list is simple. The sugar is real. The flavor is a cross between the salty kick or cottage cheese and the easygoing sweetness of vanilla ice cream. And the protein count? At 13 grams per serving? Come on.
Hearst Owned
Protein Ramen Cup Noodles, Roasted Chicken Flavor
The tangles of thick noodles come enriched with pea protein, which boosts the total count of the nutrient to 20 grams per serving. The broth heats up rich and the tiny rehydrated vegetables complete the whole cup of noodles experience.
Tortilla Style Protein Chips, Chili Lime
These Taki dupes are baked, which means they’re a little lighter and crispier on the crunch front. There’s a little heat, but an equal dose of tart citrus. And, somehow, they contain 20 grams of protein. Try them crushed up as a breading for seared cod.
Hearst Owned
Overload Protein Bars, Cookie Commotion
Okay, technically these qualify as a protein bar. But in practice, think of them as a high-protein cookie, just in bar form. They’re chocolatey like an Oreo, marshmallow-y like a s’more, and studded with goodies like a kitchen-sink cookie. Plus, each out has 20 grams of protein.
Hearst Owned
20G Protein, Vanilla
This breakfast add-on helps you sneak 20 grams of protein in easy, but it’s also great blended into a smoothie. Stevia keeps the added sugar at zero grams. If you want to balance out that tang, add in the mellow sweetness of bananas, cherries, or blackberries.
Hearst Owned
Protein Granola (Variety)
Peanuts, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds—this stuff isn’t as much granola as it is a straight-up hiking fuel. The nuts balance out the monk fruit sweetener and drive up the protein count to 14 grams per serving.
Protein Balls Mint Chocolate Chip
If you’re looking for a nice way to end a meal—or start a run—these orbs of rolled oats and protein powder offer up a minty finish at three and a half grams of protein a pop.
You Might Also Like