30 Best High-Protein Snacks to Buy, According to Dietitians
These store-bought snacks are nutritious and filling.

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Fueling up with a healthy protein-dense snack can be just what you need to avoid the dreaded mid-afternoon slump and maintain your energy levels. Protein is an important macronutrient that our body needs in relatively larger amounts compared to other nutrients. It's essential for helping your cells grow and repair and can be found in a variety of foods from animal-based products like chicken to vegan sources like edamame. Our registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab reviewed over 100 high-protein snacks to find the best options that excel in nutrition and taste.
Our top picks:
Meeting your protein needs is typically easy to achieve if you are eating a variety of foods. A mix of protein from foods that came from plant and animal sources is ideal. Protein is an essential part of a balanced meal, and can be incorporated into a snack for added satiety to keep you full. Depending on your level of physical activity, most healthy adults should aim for about 0.8 to 1.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. You can convert your body weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2.
When seeking out the ultimate satisfying snack combinations, our dietitians rigorously analyzed nutrition facts labels, ingredient lists and flavor profiles of the best high-protein snacks on the market. We even had real-life taste testers sample the products for feedback on flavor, texture, consistency and more, because nutritious snacks should still taste great. There is no set definition for a high-protein snack, but our experts say that it is important to aim for at least six grams of protein per serving. Our tester panel also provided feedback on wanting lower-calorie high-protein snack options, so we capped our picks at around 200 calories or less per serving.
When considering which high protein snack to purchase, it's also important to pay attention to ingredient lists, added sugar levels and sodium counts. Opting for snacks with at least three grams of fiber per serving will provide for a more filling snack as well. Looking for other nutritious snack options? Check out the winners of our best snack awards.
Laura Iu, R.D., is a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counselor, yoga guide, and owner of Laura Iu Nutrition, a private practice in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University and completed her internship in dietetics at Weill Cornell & Columbia Medical Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She went on to work in New York City’s top hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital and NYU Langone Health. She believes that true health is all encompassing — physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing — not an external measure via shape or size.


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