The 6 Best Protein-Packed Snacks You Should Be Buying, According to a Food Editor

I don’t think I fully understood the importance of protein until I started working at EatingWell. Protein is not just about building muscle; it’s a vital nutrient that can help you stay satisfied. Not to mention, protein is amazing for your hair, skin and immune health, and eating enough of it can help keep you energized and cognitively sharp throughout the day.

So when I can, I try to consume sources of protein in my diet with every meal—and in between. I love snacking, so healthy snacks are a necessity in my day. And there are plenty of snacks, from prepackaged goodies to easy-to-throw-together handfuls, that have a solid source of protein in each serving.

I could probably write a top 50 list of my favorite snacks, but I narrowed it down to six that are packed with protein to help keep me nourished on busy days.

Chomps Beef Jerky

Last year, I tried Chomps beef jerky snack sticks for the first time, and it’s been my go-to ever since. I appreciate that it's made with simple ingredients—I didn’t think beef jerky sticks could taste fresh before biting into a Chomps Original Beef Stick. It’s so easy to pack and has become a camping must-have for me. And of course, the best part is the 10 grams of protein in each serving. This brand is available at Trader Joe’s, Costco, Target and Wegmans. Alongside the Original Beef, I also love the zesty-flavored Italian Style Beef Sticks.

Planters Dill Pickle Cashews

Cashews are, no competition, my favorite nuts. I love them dipped in chocolate—like in my Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters recipe—and I’m a big fan of their subtle, creamier taste. Also, research has shown that cashew consumption can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and support skin health.

I recently visited Pittsburgh in July for their annual pickle festival (fittingly called Picklesburgh) and scarfed down endless dill-flavored goodies. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered that Planters has Dill Pickle Cashews in their lineup. And all I can say is, wow. Each handful is a burst of pickle-y goodness—clearly I’m at a loss for words. With 4 grams of protein per serving, this snack is one I look forward to when I have it in my pantry.

Justin’s Cinnamon Almond Butter

Almond butter is an easy, fiber-packed and protein-packed spread you can add to your routine. Eating almond butter every day can help boost your intake of heart-healthy fats and gut-healthy fiber. If you’re a first-time almond butter shopper, I definitely recommend Justin’s almond butter products. They're a little pricier than the store-brand varieties but, in my opinion, entirely worth it for the perfectly smooth texture and simple ingredients.

My favorite flavor is Justin’s Cinnamon Almond Butter, and even this sweeter option is low in added sugar with just 3 grams per serving—alongside 6 grams of protein per serving. I love adding this cinnamon almond butter to sliced apples and rice cakes for a fibrous crunch.

Yoplait Protein Vanilla Yogurt

Since taste-testing Yoplait’s new line of high-protein yogurts, they’ve been on the top of my grocery list. I love the Yoplait Protein vanilla flavor as it’s fully customizable; topping it off with blueberries and granola is one of my favorite healthy breakfasts. But they’re also great as-is for an easy grab-and-go snack, boasting 15 grams of protein per cup. I am also a fan of popping one of these single-serve yogurt cups in the freezer for a deliciously cooling low-sugar dessert. Yummy frozen yogurt with zero effort? Sign me up!

Nice Sweet & Spicy Trail Mix

Back to salty snacks: I love savory trail mix, but sometimes they can be fairly low in satisfying nutrients to help me feel my best midday. On a typical Walgreens run, I discovered their Nice Sweet & Spicy Trail Mix, and tasting it is an idyllic experience. The combination of sweetened peanuts with Cajun-seasoned corn sticks is a prime example of “swicy.” And thanks to the nut variety in this mix, each handful has about 5 grams of protein for a nutritious choice. If you don’t have a Walgreens nearby, you can easily make a sweet-and-spicy snack mix at home by customizing our Homemade Trail Mix recipe with your go-to seasonings.

Park Street Deli Hummus

Hummus checks all the boxes as a healthy snack you should always have stocked in your refrigerator. A chickpea-based dip, it’s fiber-rich, protein-rich and is bursting with an incredible tanginess when paired with dippable veggies. It’s easy to make at home (especially with one of our highly rated recipes), but for days when I just don’t feel like whipping up hummus, I have my prepackaged favorite stocked. Park Street Deli Hummus, available at Aldi, is by far the best-tasting packaged hummus I have ever had. 

My favorite one is the Dill Pickle flavor—but don’t go running to buy it, as it’s been impossible to find lately. I’ve been gravitating toward the Garlic-Topped Hummus and the Spicy Hummus varieties while I continue to search for my beloved pickle hummus. Each tablespoon of Park Street Deli hummus has 1 gram of protein, so I usually eat 3 tablespoons with bell peppers and carrots for a heartier snack plate to keep me full until dinnertime.