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28 Low-Carb, High-Protein Fitness Bars for Muscle Growth

Looking to cut back on carbs while upping your protein intake? These bars are for you.

Whether you're looking to lose belly fat or gain lean muscle mass, a candy bar wouldn't be your top contender come lunchtime. So why would you purchase a protein bar with a nutritional profile similar to a Milky Way? Although many of the fitness bars that line supermarket aisles boast a decent protein content, that shouldn't justify their excessive amounts of sugar and empty carbs. But, hey, you already knew that—that's probably why you're looking for a list of low-carb protein bars.

There are countless reasons you may want a low-carb protein bar: you're seeking a light snack to satisfy cravings on the go, you're following a low-carb or keto diet, you prefer a protein-packed meal replacement, or you want to lose weight. That's right: Increasing your protein intake while decreasing your carb intake has been shown to improve weight loss maintenance over time, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

To help you on your path to a healthy life, we've compiled a list of low-carb, high-protein bars so you get the best of both worlds. And the best part: all of these bars win our taste buds' seal of approval.

Each bar has no more than 19 grams of carbs (6% DV) and no less than 8 grams of protein.

ProSource Peanut Butter

ProSource Peanut Butter

1 bar (42 g): 220 calories, 14 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 85 mg sodium, 9 g carbs (1 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 15 g protein

One of the lowest total carb bars on the market. Bonus: This low-carb protein bar tastes just like a Butterfinger.

$29.88 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Health Warrior Organic Honey Cracked Pepper with Turmeric Pumpkin Seed Bar

Health Warrior Organic Honey Cracked Pepper with Turmeric Pumpkin Seed Bar

1 bar (35 g): 180 calories, 13 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 65 mg sodium, 11 g carbs (2 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 8 g protein

The perfect fix for your sweet and savory cravings.

$14.72 per 12-count, Amazon

 

Bulletproof Lemon Cookie Collagen Bar

Bulletproof Lemon Cookie Collagen Bar

1 bar (45 g): 210 calories, 14 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 125 mg sodium, 13 g carbs (5 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 12 g protein

Build lean muscle with this lemony treat.

$34.95 per 12-pack, Bulletproof.com

 

Primal Kitchen Dark Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar

Primal Kitchen Dark Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar

1 bar (48 g): 230 calories, 15 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 70 mg sodium, 14 g carbs (6 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 15 g protein

Six grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein will quell your tummy rumbles throughout the day.

$24.82 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Epic 100% Grass-Fed Beef, Apple, Uncured Bacon Bar

Epic Grassfed Beef Apple Uncured Bacon Bar

1 bar (43 g): 140 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 290 mg sodium, 4 g carbs (0 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 11 g protein

A whopping 11 grams of protein and only four grams of carbs? We're stocking up.

$27.54 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Detour Simple Caramel Peanut Snack Size

Detour Simple Caramel Peanut Snack Size

1 bar (30 g): 120 calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 130 mg sodium, 12 g carbs (3 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 10 g protein

You had us at caramel and peanut.

$10.63 per 9-pack, Amazon

 

SimplyProtein Chocolate Mint Whey Protein Bars

SimplyProtein Chocolate Mint Whey Protein Bars

1 bar (40 g): 150 calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 25 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (5 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 15 g protein

Indulgent cocoa meets invigorating mint—how can you go wrong?

$23.73 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Atkins Harvest Trail Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

Atkins Harvest Trail Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

1 bar (38 g): 170 calories, 13 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 13 g carbs (9 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 8 g protein

Ditch the sugar-laden trail mix and opt for this Atkins bar instead.

$5.37 per 5-pack, Amazon

 

Power Crunch Triple Chocolate

Power Crunch Triple Chocolate

1 bar (40 g): 205 calories, 13 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 120 mg sodium, 10 g carbs (1 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 13 g protein

Get beach-ready with this triple chocolate treat.

$24.99 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

KIND Protein Crunchy Peanut Butter

KIND Protein Crunchy Peanut Butter

1 bar (50 g): 250 calories, 18 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 17 g carbs (5 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 12 g protein

Rich peanut butter and crunchy peanuts contribute to this bar's solid protein content.

$23.74 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

NuGo Slim Chocolate Mint

NuGo Slim Chocolate Mint

1 bar (45 g): 180 calories, 5 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 230 mg sodium, 17 g carbs (6 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 18 g protein

A Thin Mint with tons more protein.

$21.73 per 12-pack, Amazon

ThinkThin Original Roasted Almond

Thinkthin original roasted almond bar

1 bar (38 g): 110 calories, 12 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 115 mg sodium, 15 g carbs (3 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 9 g protein

The guilt-free antidote to your sweet and salty cravings.

$15.84 per 10-pack, Amazon

 

DNX Peri Peri Free Range Chicken Bar

DNX Peri Peri Free Range Chicken Bar

1 bar (43 g): 60 calories, 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 200 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 13 g protein

Spicy chili pepper and free-range poultry are the perfect match.

$24.88 per 6-pack, Amazon

 

Orgain Organic Peanut Butter Protein Bar

Orgain Organic Peanut Butter Protein Bar

1 bar (40 g): 140 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 130 mg sodium, 17 g carbs (6 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 3 g sugar alcohol), 10 g protein

With 10 grams of plant-based protein and only 3 grams of sugar, this is the bar you'll want to grab and go with.

$19.92 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe

Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe

1 bar (50 g): 180 calories, 4.5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 85 mg sodium, 17 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 4 g sugar alcohols), 21 g protein

All the chocolate you want with less carb guilt.

$13.49 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

ZonePerfect Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk

ZonePerfect Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk

1 bar (40 g): 180 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 150 mg sodium, 18 g carbs (1 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 10 g protein

The solution to your time-crunched mornings.

$28.44 per 30-pack, Amazon

 

No Cow. Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

No Cow Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

1 cookie (50 g): 250 calories, 17 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 210 mg sodium, 17 g carbs (6 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 7 g sugar alcohol), 13 g protein

Better than your go-to bakery.

$22.99 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

Julian Bakery InstaKetone® Bar Orange Burst

Julian Bakery InstaKetones Bar Orange Burst

1 bar (59 g): 140 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 131 mg sodium, 18 g carbs (14 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 15 g protein

All of the orange, none of the sugar.

$29.99 per 12-pack, Amazon

 

GoMacro Thrive Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip

GoMacro Thrive Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip

1 bar (40 g): 190 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 60 mg sodium, 18 g carbs (3 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 8 g protein

With a respectable 5.5 more grams of protein than a Reese's cup, this is the bar you'll want to unwrap.

$27.19 per 12-count, Amazon

 

Nature Valley Salted Caramel Nut Protein Chewy Bars

Nature Valley Salted Caramel Nut Protein Chewy Bars

 

1 bar (40 g): 190 calories, 12 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 200 mg sodium, 14 g carbs (5 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 10 g protein

Chewy. Salty. Sweet. Need we say more?

$3.00 per 5-pack, Amazon

Mighty Bar Grassfed Organic Beef with Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper

Mighty Bar Grassfed Organic Beef with Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper

1 bar (28 g): 90 calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 350 mg sodium, 4 g carbs (0 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 8 g protein

Grass-fed beef is the way to go when you want to lose fat and gain muscle.

$39.99 per 12-count, Amazon

22 Days Nutrition Organic Protein Bar, Fudge Brownie

22 Days Nutrition Organic Protein Bar Fudge Brownie

1 bar (44 g): 160 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 10 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (9 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 15 g protein

It's hard to compete with a pick that's vegan, low in calories and sugar, and high in protein.

$9.99 per 4-pack, Amazon

ThinkThin Chocolate Almond Brownie

ThinkThin Chocolate Almond Brownie

1 bar (40 g): 150 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (5 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 10 g protein

Ditch your coffee shop's caloric brownie and bite into this protein-packed pick instead.

$16.99 per 10-count, Think Thin Protein

 

KRAVE Cranberry Thyme Turkey Bar

KRAVE Cranberry Thyme Turkey Bar

1 bar (35 g): 110 calories, 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 290 mg sodium, 13 g carbs (0 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 10 g protein

Thanksgiving all year around.

$1.96 each, KRAVE

 

Atkins Day Break Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp Bar

Atkins Day Break Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp Bar

1 bar (35 g): 150 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 14 g carbs (8 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 5 g sugar alcohols), 10 g protein

Luscious peanut butter and gooey fudge? Count us in.

$5.79 per 5-pack, Amazon Prime Pantry

Quest Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie

Quest Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie

1 cookie (59 g): 250 calories, 17 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 220 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (9 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 6 g sugar alcohols), 15 g protein

Your new gym bag buddy.

$24.97 per 12-pack, Amazon

ALOHA Mocha Plant-Based Protein Bar

Aloha mocha protein bar

1 bar (58 g): 230 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 85 mg sodium, 19 g carbs (6 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 14 g protein

Crush the 2 p.m. slump with this cacao-infused snack. Like this bar? Try another one of ALOHA's products that we ranked as one of the best protein powders. You'll find it in our guide: The Best and Worst Protein Powders.

$23.74 per 12-pack, Amazon
Olivia Tarantino
Olivia Tarantino is the Managing Editor of Eat This, Not That!, specializing in nutrition, health, and food product coverage. Read more about Olivia