16 Vegan Protein Bars That Are Actually Good For You

Whether you’re out for a hike or just need a quick pick-me-up between meals, protein bars fit the bill. But finding a vegan protein bar that’s tasty and vegan? That’s a little trickier.

Protein bars are everywhere these days, but identifying delicious, nutritious plant-based options takes a little more investigation. Many manufacturers’ recipes include whey protein or honey. Others are packed with sugar and artificial ingredients which destroy any nutritional benefit.

To help you find the perfect on-the-go snack, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite bars that include vegan-friendly protein sources and taste great, too!

First, Why is Protein Important?

Protein is one of your body’s three macronutrients. (Carbohydrates and fats are the others.) Made of amino acids, proteins are the most commonly found molecules in body cells. Our bodies use proteins for almost every cellular activity, including:

Metabolic reactions
Immune response
Cellular repair
Energy
Blood cell creation

Your body can make most of the amino acids it needs, but there are nine we must get through our diets. For vegans, that means eating a variety of plant-based sources of protein like nuts, legumes, soy, seeds and grains.

How Much Protein Do We Need?

In short, it depends. Protein provides energy just like carbs, but our bodies don’t store proteins in the same way. Therefore, you need to eat protein every day to be healthy. The amount you need to consume depends on various factors such as your age, weight, level of physical activity, health issues and other factors. That’s why it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how much protein humans need. The USDA’s Dietary Reference Intake calculator is a useful tool to estimate the amount of protein you need each day as well as fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and calories.

Vegan Protein Sources

Vegans have many options for sources of protein.

Pea protein

Made by extracting protein from yellow peas, pea protein powder is great for any diet. It’s a great source of iron and aid in muscle growth and heart health.

Nuts

Nuts have numerous health benefits and are a great source of protein. Nuts with the highest amount of protein per 28-gram serving include:

Almonds (6 grams)
Pistachios (6 grams)
Hazelnuts (6 grams)
Cashews (5 grams)
Walnuts (4 grams)

Sunflower seed protein

A 1/4 cup serving of sunflower seeds offers 5.5 grams of protein, so these seeds are a protein powerhouse. They are also high in selenium and vitamin E.

Soy protein

Isolated from soybeans, soy protein is an excellent source of protein for anyone following a vegan diet. Naturally cholesterol free and low in saturated fats, soy protein is also a great source of fiber.

Brown rice protein

You may think of rice as a carb, but it’s filled with protein, too. Brown rice can be ground into a powder to use in baked goods, shakes and other preparations. Along with its 5 grams of protein per cup, brown rice protein powder offers a mild flavor that makes it perfect for many recipes.

Hemp protein

Offering beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, hemp protein is made by grinding hemp seeds into a powder. It contains each of the nine essential amino acids our bodies need to function properly. A 1/4-cup serving of hemp protein includes about 15 grams of protein.

Quinoa protein

A cup of cooked quinoa provides about 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Since it offers all nine essential amino acids and is gluten-free, quinoa is a perfect source of protein for people with celiac disease or similar conditions.

Chia seed protein

Chia seeds provide lots of nutritional benefits with very few calories. A one-ounce serving provides 4 grams of protein along with 9 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, 11 grams of fiber but only 137 calories.

Are Plant-Based Protein Bars Good for You?

They certainly can be. Picking the right plant-based protein bar can provide nutritional benefits. Consider what goes into a bar when determining its nutritional value. Nutritious vegan protein bars include unrefined grains, dried fruits, nuts and a binder to hold everything together. Avoid artificial fibers and isolate binders like corn syrup.

Which Popular Energy Bars are Vegan?

Clif Bars: With the exception of the Peanut Butter & Honey variety, all Clif bars are vegan.

Rx Bars: All Rx Bars include pasturized dried egg whites so they are not vegan.

Kind Bars: Most Kin Bars use honey as a binder so they cannot be considered vegan.

Quest Bars: Quest Bars include milk and whey proteins so they are not vegan.

Vegan Protein Bar Brands

GoMacro Bars

Available in a variety of flavors including Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Banana and Almond Butter, full-sized GoMacro bars have between:

280-290 calories
12-14 grams of sugars
11 grams of plant protein

GoMacro Bars

One Plant

Vegan One Plant bars come in flavors like Banana Nut Bread, Carrot Cake and Churro and have:

160-180 calories
1 gram of sugar
12 grams of plant protein

One Plant Protein Bars

No Cow

These bars come in lots of amazing flavors like Lemon Merigue Pie, Sticky Cinamon Roll and Chocolate Glazed Donut. There’s variation between flavors, but most have:

190-200 calories
1 gram of sugar
20-22 grams plant protein

No Cow Vegan Bars

Vega Protein Bars

Chewy and packed with protein, Vega protein bars come in Salted Caramel or Chocolate Peanut Butter and have:

290 calories
16-18 grams of sugar
22 grams plant protein

Vegan Protein Bars

Garden Of Life

Available in four flavors including Chocolate Mint and Sea Salt Caramel, Garden of Life vegan protein bars include:

200-280 calories
1-11 grams of sugar
20 grams plant protein

Garden of Life Protein Bars

Pegan Thin Protein Bar

Flavors include Ginger Snap, Cinnamon Raisin Roll and Fudge Brownie and all varieties include:

170-210 calories
1-5 grams sugar
20 grams plant protein

Pegan Thin Bars

Nugo Vegan Protein Bar

Nugo bars are available in several varieties including a dark chocolate line, cookies and Weight Watcher friendly varieties. Each include:

130-170 calories
1-3 grams sugar
10-17 grams plant protein

Nugo Vegan Protein Bar

Aloha Bar

Gluten- and stevia-free, Aloha bars come in a variety of flavors like Vanilla Almond Crunch and Fudge Brownie and have:

220-260 calories
3-5 grams sugar
14 grams plant protein

Aloha Bar

Larabar

Made with eight or fewer ingredients, Larabar comes in flavors like Lemon Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Cashew Brownie and Apple Cobbler. Each include:

200-220 calories
16-20 grams sugar
11 grams plant protein

Larabar Protein Bars

ProBar

Packed with chia and flax seeds, Pro Bar protein bars come in flavors like Cookie Dough and Chocolate Crunch. Each has:

270-290 calories
14 grams sugar
20 grams plant protein

Probar Vegan Protein Bars

Raw Rev Bar

Vegan and gluten-free, Raw Rev protein bars also come in peanut-free varieties like Birthday Cake. All include:

170-180 calories
2-5 grams sugar
10-15 grams plant protein

Raw Rev Protein Bar

Rise Bar

Rise Bar offers three vegan bars made with pea protein, including: Sunflower Cinnamon, Lemon Cashew & Chocolatey Coconut. All include:

230-280 calories
12-16 grams sugar
15 grams plant protein

Rise Bar

Sol Good

Sol good offers us 4 flavors of their Sunwarrior protein bars. Made with cashew butter, they are super creamy while remaining low in net carbohydrates. All include:

230-250 calories
3-7 grams sugar
15-16 grams plant protein

Sol Good Sunwarrior Bars

Square Organics

Woman-owned Square Organics is a fully vegan company making small but mighty protein bars in a variety of flavors. All include:

210 calories
13 grams sugar
12 grams plant protein

Square Organics Protein Bars

Good! Bars

All good bars are vegan, soy free, and gluten free. They are made to taste more like a indulgent candy bar but without the high sugar content. All include:

210 – 230 calories
10 grams sugar
15 grams plant protein

Good! Snacks Protein Bars

IQ Bars

IQ bars are vegan AND Keto friendly. They come in interesting flavors like Matcha Chai and Lemon Blueberry. All include:

160 calories
< 1 grams sugar
12 grams plant protein

IQ Vegan Protein Bars

Vegan Protein Bar Recipes

Making your own protein bars is a great way to control the ingredients and include your favorite type of plant protein. There are no-bake recipes as well as those that require time in the fridge or on the stovetop. You can even find recipes that sneak in veggies!