Best High Carb Gluten-Free Protein Bars

Highest Carb Protein Bars that are Gluten Free and Paleo
Ranking of highest carb protein bars filtered by: Gluten Free, Paleo
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By Protein Bar Nerd
October 17, 2025

Rankings Overview

  1. 1. Send
    Banana Bread

    It’s the rare banana-bread protein bar that actually reads like banana bread—bananas, dates, and nuts lead the way—then adds 10 grams of pea protein with zero sugar alcohols.

  2. 2. RXBAR
    Coconut Chocolate

    Whole-food protein bar that pulls its 12g protein from egg whites and its sweetness from dates rather than sugar alcohols, all in an honest coconut‑chocolate bite.

  3. 3. Real Food Bar
    Peanut Butter Chip

    A plant-based peanut‑butter‑chip bar that skips stevia and sugar alcohols for agave and real chocolate chips—plus a quiet dose of kale and sweet potato—so 15g of protein tastes like actual food, not a diet bar.

  4. 4. Exo
    Cookie Dough

    One of the few cookie‑dough bars powered by crickets—complete protein, a natural B12 bump, and 160 calories—without the ‘bug’ taste.

  5. 5. Caveman Foods
    Chocolate Salted Carmel

    A dessert-leaning, dairy-free bar built on egg‑white protein and real sugar (no sugar alcohols) that wins on taste without the chalk.

  6. 6. Atlas
    Space

    It’s the rare 20g dairy‑protein bar that keeps sugar at just 2g without sugar alcohols, leaning on monk fruit and real raspberries—and it even tucks in a small dose of KSM‑66 ashwagandha.

  7. 7. Yes
    Macadamia Chocolate

    Protein bar that refuses protein powders: Yes Bar Macadamia Chocolate gets its modest 4g of protein entirely from nuts and seeds and delivers a soft, macadamia-studded, dark-chocolate chew with zero sugar alcohols.

  8. 8. IQBAR
    Lemon Blueberry

    It’s the rare low-carb, plant-based bar that actually tastes like real lemon and blueberries—and quietly delivers 100% of your daily vitamin E without sugar alcohols.

  9. 9. Primal Kitchen
    Peanut Butter

    Primal Kitchen’s Peanut Butter bar is the rare dairy‑free, egg‑white–powered PB bar that skips sugar alcohols, keeps sugar to 2 grams, and leans on fats and fiber for steady, keto‑friendly energy.

  10. 10. EPIC Provisions
    Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar

    A real‑meat protein bar—smoky bison and bacon brightened by cranberries—that eats like refined jerky, not dessert.

Compare Best High Carb Gluten-Free Protein Bars

BarCarbsProteinFatCaloriesSugarIngredientsAdditives
Send
Banana Bread
28101023014161
RXBAR
Coconut Chocolate
231282001480
Real Food Bar
Peanut Butter Chip
24151121011191
Exo
Cookie Dough
211471602192
Caveman Foods
Chocolate Salted Carmel
1710101908171
Atlas
Space
1820102102153
Yes
Macadamia Chocolate
164152209250
IQBAR
Lemon Blueberry
1012121802161
Primal Kitchen
Peanut Butter
109152002162
EPIC Provisions
Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar
8781306112

Under the Microscope

1.

Send

Banana Bread

Send Banana Bread protein bar product photo
Product image of Send Banana Bread protein bar
10g
Protein
10g
Fat
28g
Carbs
14g
Sugar
230
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:16

What's in the Banana Bread Send bar?

Send’s Banana Bread keeps things recognizably kitchen-made: bananas and dates for the base, warm Ceylon cinnamon, and a nut-and-seed trio of cashews, walnuts, and hemp hearts, with crunchy cacao nibs. The protein is plant-based, led by pea protein, and the energy leans carb-forward because the fruit does the heavy lifting.

Fats come mostly from nuts and seeds, plus a touch of coconut, giving you predominantly unsaturated fats (including some plant omega‑3 ALA). There’s just one functional additive—sunflower lecithin, an emulsifier used at tiny amounts—and the reishi and cordyceps are present for culinary nuance rather than clinical dosing.

Protein
10
15
Fat
10
9
Carbs
28
20
Sugar
14
4
Calories
230
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: A clean, real‑food recipe that tastes like banana bread and delivers steady, stomach‑friendly energy—no sugar alcohols, no odd fillers, just dates, bananas, nuts, and a gentle plant‑protein boost.

Main criticism: Critics call out a drier, crumbly chew and a modest 10-gram protein count for the price, and note that the reishi and cordyceps are culinary, not clinically meaningful.

Bottom Line

Reach for it when you want real-food energy with modest protein—pre-climb, post-spin, mid-hike, or to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. Great for vegan and gluten‑free eaters who prefer fruit-and-nut bars over ultra-processed, low‑carb options.

2.

RXBAR

Coconut Chocolate

RXBAR Coconut Chocolate protein bar product photo
Product image of RXBAR Coconut Chocolate protein bar
12g
Protein
8g
Fat
23g
Carbs
14g
Sugar
200
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:8

What's in the Coconut Chocolate RXBAR bar?

RXBAR Coconut Chocolate keeps the ingredient deck to eight familiar foods: egg whites for protein; dates to bind and sweeten; almonds, cashews, coconut, and real chocolate for flavor, plus sea salt and natural flavors.

That simple recipe explains the macros—12g of high‑quality egg‑white protein, 23g carbs led by fruit instead of syrups, and 8g fat from nuts, coconut, and the cocoa butter naturally present in chocolate.

At 200 calories, it lands squarely in snack territory, and the sweetness is higher than many bars because it leans on dates and chocolate rather than sugar alcohols. Coconut and chocolate do the heavy lifting, while the nuts keep it satisfyingly dense.

Protein
12
15
Fat
8
9
Carbs
23
20
Sugar
14
4
Calories
200
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans love the real‑food formula—egg whites and dates, no artificial sweeteners—and a coconut‑chocolate flavor that feels like an honest treat with steady, satisfying energy.

Main criticism: The dense, sticky chew and a modest 12g protein turn off folks who want a soft cookie‑like bite or a 20g gym bar.

Bottom Line

Great for dairy‑free protein seekers who want a real‑food bar as a post‑workout bridge or afternoon snack, and who don’t mind a dense, chewy texture.

3.

Real Food Bar

Peanut Butter Chip

Real Food Bar Peanut Butter Chip protein bar product photo
Product image of Real Food Bar Peanut Butter Chip protein bar
15g
Protein
11g
Fat
24g
Carbs
11g
Sugar
210
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts, Peanuts
Diet:Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:19

What's in the Peanut Butter Chip Real Food Bar bar?

Real Food Bar’s Peanut Butter Chip reads like a pantry you know: pea protein for muscle, peanut butter and peanuts for chew, and dairy‑free chocolate chips for the finish. Macros stay balanced—15g protein sits mid‑pack, 24g carbs skew higher for fast fuel, and 11g fat from nuts adds staying power.

A cassava‑derived binder called soluble tapioca fiber, plus a little rice starch, keeps everything cohesive without relying on sugar alcohols. Sweetness comes from organic agave and the cane sugar in the chips, rounded with vanilla.

Additives are minimal—just a touch of sunflower lecithin to help the chocolate behave—and there are even dried greens and sweet potato tucked in to keep it from veering into candy‑bar territory.

Protein
15
15
Fat
11
9
Carbs
24
20
Sugar
11
4
Calories
210
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Reviewers love the real‑ingredient philosophy—actual chocolate chips, recognizable nut butters, and plant protein without a stevia or sugar‑alcohol aftertaste—plus a chewy, substantial texture and a mission‑minded brand that feels human.

Main criticism: Taste and texture split the room: it’s dense and peanut‑forward with 11g of real sugar, not a crispy, ultra‑low‑sugar dessert bar—and peanut or coconut allergies are a hard stop.

Bottom Line

Peanut-butter-and-chocolate fans who want a dairy-free, soy-free protein snack with 15g of protein and a steady, chewy bite—great for a mid-morning holdover or pre‑/post‑workout fuel.

4.

Exo

Cookie Dough

Exo Cookie Dough protein bar product photo
Product image of Exo Cookie Dough protein bar
14g
Protein
7g
Fat
21g
Carbs
2g
Sugar
160
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Soybeans
Diet:Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:19

What's in the Cookie Dough Exo bar?

This Cookie Dough bar builds flavor the old‑fashioned way—sunflower butter, oat flour, vanilla, and real semi‑sweet chips—then quietly slips in modern nutrition.

Its 14 grams of protein come from a cricket–pea–egg trio that covers amino acids without dairy, and it keeps sugar low by leaning on two modern sweeteners: allulose (a low‑calorie sugar typically made from corn) and monk fruit (an intense, no‑calorie extract from a small gourd).

The result is a tidy 160 calories with a notable bonus: vitamin B12 shows up in meaningful amounts thanks to the cricket flour. If you’ve written off alternative proteins, this reads more cookie than science project.

Protein
14
15
Fat
7
9
Carbs
21
20
Sugar
2
4
Calories
160
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Reviewers say it tastes surprisingly normal—soft, chewy cookie dough with real chips, low sugar, and enough substance to keep you full, with a sustainability story many appreciate.

Main criticism: The dense, RXBAR‑like chew and uncoated style can read dry for some, and the price feels premium next to mainstream whey bars.

Bottom Line

Dairy‑free protein seekers and the ingredient‑curious who want a lighter, lower‑sugar snack that still tastes like a treat—and are open to sustainable insect protein. If you avoid all animal products, note it contains crickets and egg whites.

5.

Caveman Foods

Chocolate Salted Carmel

Caveman Foods Chocolate Salted Carmel protein bar product photo
Product image of Caveman Foods Chocolate Salted Carmel protein bar
10g
Protein
10g
Fat
17g
Carbs
8g
Sugar
190
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Tree Nuts, Coconuts, Sesame
Diet:Paleo, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:17

What's in the Chocolate Salted Carmel Caveman Foods bar?

Caveman Foods’ Chocolate Salted Carmel keeps its promise simple: chocolate–caramel flavor over a crunchy base of nuts and seeds, held together by clean, dairy‑free egg‑white protein. The macros read snack, not meal—10g of protein at 190 calories—with fats coming mostly from whole seeds and coconut and a touch of palm kernel oil for structure.

Sweetness comes from tapioca syrup and cane sugar, buffered by soluble tapioca fiber (a cassava‑derived binding fiber) so the energy bump feels smoother than candy. The ingredient list is short and mostly whole‑food, with just one classic additive—sunflower lecithin—to keep the chocolatey bits cohesive.

Protein
10
15
Fat
10
9
Carbs
17
20
Sugar
8
4
Calories
190
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Taste leads the applause: real nut‑and‑seed texture, clean sweetness without sugar alcohols, and complete, dairy‑free protein that satisfies as a grab‑and‑go snack.

Main criticism: The trade‑offs show up in lighter protein (10g), a sweetness some find too strong for daily use, non‑keto macros, and a chocolate layer that can soften in heat with occasional batch variability.

Bottom Line

Best as a snack for dairy‑free eaters who want a candy‑adjacent bite with real crunch and 10g protein. Great pre‑workout or as an afternoon bridge; less ideal if you need keto macros or 20g+ protein.

Other Flavors

6.

Atlas

Space

Atlas Space protein bar product photo
Product image of Atlas Space protein bar
20g
Protein
10g
Fat
18g
Carbs
2g
Sugar
210
Calories
Allergens:Milk, Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Keto, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:15

What's in the Space Atlas bar?

Atlas Space is built on a grass‑fed dairy core—whey isolate and concentrate plus milk protein isolate—bound with almond butter and a touch of coconut oil. Instead of grain syrups or cane sugar, most carbs come from a refined soluble fiber, with real raspberries for tartness and monk fruit finishing the sweetness.

That fiber is typically made from corn or cassava and isn’t well digested, so it adds bulk and helps keep blood sugar steadier than regular sugar while monk fruit supplies the sweet.

The macros lean protein‑forward with moderate fat: 20g protein, 210 calories, 2g sugar. A short list of three functional additives keeps texture and sweetness in line without resorting to sugar alcohols.

Protein
20
15
Fat
10
9
Carbs
18
20
Sugar
2
4
Calories
210
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans praise the sweet‑spot macros—20g complete protein at 210 calories—paired with a low‑sugar approach that skips sugar alcohols and delivers a soft, subtly sweet bite.

Main criticism: Critics cite batch‑to‑batch texture swings and a monk fruit aftertaste, note the premium price, and some avoid the added ashwagandha altogether.

Bottom Line

Reach for Space if you want a not‑too‑sweet, dairy‑based, low‑sugar bar that prioritizes clean ingredients and satiety. It fits best as a post‑workout protein hit or a steady mid‑day snack for low‑carb eaters who are fine with monk fruit and a touch of botanicals.

7.

Yes

Macadamia Chocolate

Yes Macadamia Chocolate protein bar product photo
Product image of Yes Macadamia Chocolate protein bar
4g
Protein
15g
Fat
16g
Carbs
9g
Sugar
220
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts, Sesame
Diet:Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:25

What's in the Macadamia Chocolate Yes bar?

Instead of whey or soy, this bar leans into whole-food richness with plant protein from macadamias, cashews, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, plus a touch of sesame. Most of the energy comes from those nuts-and-seeds fats, with coconut butter and dark chocolate giving it a chocolatey, cookie-like feel.

Sweetness and structure come from maple syrup and coconut blossom nectar, and the chocolate is sweetened with coconut sugar rather than sugar alcohols. Cinnamon and vanilla round it out.

It is a short, pantry-style label with no additives or emulsifiers.

Protein
4
15
Fat
15
9
Carbs
16
20
Sugar
9
4
Calories
220
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Taste and ingredient quality lead the love: indulgent macadamia-and-dark-chocolate flavor, soft cookie-like chew, and a clean, vegan, gluten-free, paleo label with no sugar alcohols.

Main criticism: For 220 calories you get just 4g of protein and a softer, denser texture that some find fruit-forward and less crunchy than the photos suggest.

Bottom Line

Best for a clean-ingredient, plant-based chocolate-nut snack during coffee breaks, travel, or pre-hike nibbles when you can live with 4 grams of protein. Not the pick for post-workout recovery or a standalone meal.

8.

IQBAR

Lemon Blueberry

IQBAR Lemon Blueberry protein bar product photo
Product image of IQBAR Lemon Blueberry protein bar
12g
Protein
12g
Fat
10g
Carbs
2g
Sugar
180
Calories
Allergens:Tree Nuts, Coconuts
Diet:Keto, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:16

What's in the Lemon Blueberry IQBAR bar?

IQBAR’s Lemon Blueberry leans fully plant-based: pea protein brings the lift, almonds and a bit of coconut oil keep you satisfied, and real blueberries plus lemon make the flavor snap. Digestible carbs are kept low with a prebiotic fiber blend and stevia, so sweetness stays up while sugars stay down.

There’s a functional flourish in the mix—lion’s mane—and the almond-plus–added-vitamin E combo nets a full day’s vitamin E. The helpers are kept light and purposeful, aimed at texture and sweetness rather than filler.

Protein
12
15
Fat
12
9
Carbs
10
20
Sugar
2
4
Calories
180
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Fans love that the lemon really pops, the blueberry reads like fruit, the soft-meets-crunch texture works, and it stays satisfying at 180 calories without using sugar alcohols.

Main criticism: If stevia or pea protein tastes off to you, the flavor may read artificial; 12g protein can feel light for recovery, and the added fibers may unsettle sensitive stomachs.

Bottom Line

Best for plant-based or keto-curious snackers who want a steady-energy, under-200-calorie bar with real lemon-blueberry flavor—not a 20g protein meal replacement—and who are fine with stevia.

9.

Primal Kitchen

Peanut Butter

Primal Kitchen Peanut Butter protein bar product photo
Product image of Primal Kitchen Peanut Butter protein bar
9g
Protein
15g
Fat
10g
Carbs
2g
Sugar
200
Calories
Allergens:Eggs, Tree Nuts, Coconuts, Peanuts
Diet:Keto, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:16

What's in the Peanut Butter Primal Kitchen bar?

Peanut butter leads the way, and the label reads like a pantry: peanuts, vanilla, sea salt, and a little honey. For protein, Primal Kitchen uses eggs and egg whites—complete and dairy‑free—backed by peanuts, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and almonds.

The build is fat‑forward and lower in carbs: 15 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs, just 2 grams of sugar, with prebiotic tapioca fiber (a soluble fiber from cassava) and a hint of monk fruit for sweetness.

Additives stay minimal—two small helpers, sunflower lecithin to keep things blended and rosemary extract to protect the oils.

Protein
9
15
Fat
15
9
Carbs
10
20
Sugar
2
4
Calories
200
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Clean, pantry‑style ingredients with gentle sweetness (honey plus monk fruit), slow‑steady energy, and whey‑free complete protein from egg whites.

Main criticism: Polarizing taste and texture with only 9 grams of protein—some find it bland or chalky, and the refined tapioca fiber can be noticeable for very sensitive stomachs.

Bottom Line

Choose it if you want a low‑sugar, keto‑leaning, dairy‑free snack that tastes like peanut butter first and a protein bar second—steady afternoon fuel rather than a dessert.

Other Flavors

10.

EPIC Provisions

Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar

EPIC Provisions Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar protein bar product photo
Product image of EPIC Provisions Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar protein bar
7g
Protein
8g
Fat
8g
Carbs
6g
Sugar
130
Calories
Allergens:None
Diet:Paleo, Gluten-Free
Total Ingredients:11

What's in the Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar EPIC Provisions bar?

EPIC’s Bison Bacon Cranberry is built from actual meat, not powders: bison for the base, a ribbon of uncured bacon for smoke, and tart dried cranberries to wake it up. The macros stay modest—7g protein, 8g carbs, 8g fat, 130 calories—so this reads as a savory snack rather than a meal replacement.

Carbs come mostly from cranberry pieces sweetened with apple juice concentrate, which delivers fruit‑derived sweetness (it still counts as added sugar). Fat is naturally occurring from the bison and bacon; there are no seed oils.

And that “uncured” label? It’s still cured—celery powder supplies nitrite for safety—supported by a pinch of encapsulated lactic acid to keep acidity and microbes in check.

Protein
7
15
Fat
8
9
Carbs
8
20
Sugar
6
4
Calories
130
210

What are people saying?

Main praise: Smoky‑savory flavor and a short, readable ingredient list make this a go‑to escape from candy‑sweet protein bars.

Main criticism: Polarizing and a bit salty/chewy for some, light at 7g protein, and the apple‑juice‑sweetened cranberries keep it off strict low‑sugar plans.

Bottom Line

Best for savory snackers, hikers, and paleo/gluten‑free eaters who want a light, real‑food bite between meals; not for anyone chasing 20g of protein in one bar.