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Home » Recipes » Snacks

Healthy Protein Granola Bars

Published: May 13, 2024 by Megan

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Healthy Protein Granola Bars are low-calorie, gluten-free, balanced, and delicious! An easy higher-protein snack that's chewy and healthy for you! They're gluten-free and low-calorie.

Healthy granola bars on a wire rack with jar of oatmeal in the corner and some oats and chocolate chips on the table.
Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Protein Granola Bar Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How To Make Protein Granola Bars
  • Storing Tips
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Bar and Snack Recipes
  • Healthy Protein Granola Bars

Granola bars are a healthy snack, but often lack protein (remember peanut butter is a fat, not a protein!). We always want meals and snacks balanced with healthy protein sources.

It all started with my recipe for healthy chocolate protein bars! They're delicious and easy to make, truly one of my most popular recipes. This high-protein granola bars recipe is equally delicious. It's also easy to make with simple ingredients, is low in calories, higher in protein, and is gluten-free!

I know you'll enjoy baking this homemade granola bar recipe for a lower-calorie snack! It's one of my favorite snack recipes along with homemade banana pudding and chocolate chia pudding recipe.

Why You Will Love This Protein Granola Bar Recipe

  • Low Calorie: Each bar is 184 calories. The number of calories isn't as important as the balance of protein, fat, and carbs. That balance really has a significant impact on the hormones that control hunger. Having a lower-calorie snack is great but the balance (and satisfaction) is really most important!
  • Higher Protein with Healthy Fat: This recipe adds protein powder to give the homemade granola bars a protein boost. Each bar has 8 grams of protein! And the bar only has 7 grams of fat with only 2 grams of saturated fat (less ideal fat).
  • Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
  • Customizable: You can easily add flavor and make swaps to use ingredients you prefer or have on hand. Just remember that changing the recipe does change the nutrition as well.

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make healthy low-sugar granola bars. You will also need an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish along with a mixing bowl to make the recipe.

Granola protein bar ingredients on a table before mixing.
  • Gluten-Free Quick Oats: Use quick oats instead of rolled oats. I found they didn't work as well with this recipe. The quick oats are more processed and hold together a bit more easily. If you don't need the recipe to be gluten-free you can use any quick oats.
  • Vanilla Protein Powder: I used vegan and gluten-free vanilla protein powder for this recipe. I always recommend you use a protein powder you enjoy. If you don't enjoy the flavor of a protein powder mixed with water and milk, chances are you won't enjoy it in a recipe. So choose something you've had before and know you like! Protein powders I recommend are: Garden of Life Plant-Based, Garden of Life Whey, Orgain, Active Stacks, Collagen, Legion Whey, Legion Plant-Based, Nuzest Clean Lean
  • Ground Flax Meal: A source of healthy fats and fiber. It's important to use ground flax meal and not flax seeds. The ground flax also works to hold the bars together in this recipe and can't be substituted.
  • Nut Butter: You can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or any nut butter you enjoy. Also, if you need it nut-free you can use sun butter (made from sunflower seeds).
  • Vanilla Extract and Cinnamon: Provides a natural sweetness, aroma, and warmth to the granola bars.
  • Honey: Sweetens and provides some stickiness holding them together. You can use a honey-flavored All-u-lose for a lower-carb option or agave instead. Maple syrup doesn't work.
  • Almond Milk: You can really use any milk you prefer.
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: Use semi-sweet, dark, or dairy-free as you prefer.

Remember when you make substitutions and swaps, it will alter the nutritional values from what you see in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog post.

Variations

Here are some quick ideas for changing up the flavor of your homemade protein granola bars.

  • Chopped Nuts: Swap half of the chocolate chips for some nuts or seeds. Chop them up so they mix into the granola mixture better.
  • Dried Fruit: Add raisins or cranberries instead of chocolate for a bit of fruitiness.
  • Chocolate: Use a chocolate protein powder to make chocolate granola bars.

How To Make Protein Granola Bars

Making granola protein bars is easy! You'll enjoy baking this recipe and it's not complicated at all. Here's a look at the main steps. Before you get started, preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside.

Ingredients to make protein granola bars in a bowl.

Step 1: Combine the quick oats, protein powder, ground flax, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the nut butter, honey, milk, and vanilla extract.

Healthy granola bar mixture in a bowl.

Step 2: Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix together fully and then fold in the chocolate chips.

Mixture to make protein breakfast bars pressed into a square pan.

Step 3: Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing it firmly down into the pan. Bake for 18 minutes or until the bars turn golden brown.

Granola bars are removed from pan and drizzled with chocolate.

Step 4: Remove the pan from the oven and cool at room temperature for 20 minutes. While the bars cool, melt 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate in the microwave. Once the bars are cooled, drizzle the top with the chocolate then slice into 10 bars.

A hand reaching in to grab a protein oat bar from a plate.

Storing Tips

  • Storing: These are best stored in the refrigerator in a container or plastic storage bag. The granola bars will get moist sitting out at room temperature and will not hold together as well. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to get away with this.
  • Freezing: You can also freeze these healthy granola bars for up to 60 days. To eat, remove them from the freezer and thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.

Expert Tips

  • Use Quick Oats. These are processed a bit more and simply hold together better when making granola bars with protein. I find the bars don't crumble as easily.
  • Use Parchment Paper. Lining the pan with parchment makes your protein breakfast bars so much easier to remove from the pan. Make the piece a bit larger than the pan so you have edges to grab and pull the entire sheet of granola bars out of the pan.
  • No Mess Drizzle. Place the granola bars on a wire rack placed over a baking pan to drizzle. This way any excess drips onto the pan and makes cleanup easier.
  • Cool Before Removing and Cutting. The bars will still be a bit fragile when they first come out of the oven. As they cool they firm up more.

Recipe FAQs

Is there a way to add protein without using protein powder?

No, not really. Other sources such as yogurt or cottage cheese which I often use to add protein in baked goods, don't work in this high-protein breakfast bars recipe. They simply add too much moisture. I find that protein powder is truly the best option.

Can you pack these protein oat bars to go?

Yes, you can but they truly work best when kept refrigerated. I recommend packing them in a lunch box with an ice pack.

Healthy Protein Granola Bars are Healthy Protein Granola Bars are low calorie, gluten free and delicious! An easy protein snack that's chewy and healthy.

More Bar and Snack Recipes

Here are more healthy snack and bar recipes to try!

  • Chocolate Almond Bites made with oats, almond butter, chocolate, flax and chia seeds are a healthy no-bake snack for those with a sweet tooth. The perfect lunchbox friendly snack bite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie
    Chocolate Almond Bites {GF, Low Cal}
  • This Healthy Banana Mug Cake is perfect for a single serve, low calorie dessert or snack. Made flourless, gluten free and low sugar in the microwave. Gluten Free + Low Calorie
    Healthy Banana Mug Cake {Low Calorie, GF}
  • A hand holding up a chocolate protein donut with sprinkles.
    Fudgy Chocolate Protein Donuts
  • Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!
    Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars

If you tried this protein granola bars recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.

Protein granola bars on a wire rack drizzled with chocolate.

Healthy Protein Granola Bars

Megan Olson
Healthy Protein Granola Bars are low-calorie, gluten-free, balanced, and delicious! An easy higher protein snack that's chewy and healthy for you! They're Gluten Free + Low Calorie.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Cool Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 38 minutes mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10 bars
Calories 184 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Gluten Free Quick Oats
  • ½ cup Vanilla Protein Powder
  • 2 tablespoons Ground Flax Meal
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ cup Peanut Butter unsalted with no added sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ¼ cup Honey
  • ½ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • ⅓ cup Mini Chocolate Chips plus more for the drizzle

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the quick oats, protein powder, ground flax, cinnamon and salt.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, combine the nut butter, honey, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined then add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing it firmly down into the pan.
  • Bake for 18 minutes or until the bars turn golden brown.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and cool at room temperature for 20 minutes. While the bars cool, melt 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate in the microwave. Once the bars are cooled, drizzle the top with the chocolate then slice into 10 bars.

Video

Notes

  • See the ingredients section of the blog post for recommendations for substitutions.
  • These are best stored in the refrigerator in a container or plastic storage bag. The granola bars will get moist sitting out at room temperature and will not hold together as well. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to get away with this.
  • You can also freeze these healthy granola bars up to 60 days. To eat, remove them from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 8gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 121mgPotassium: 132mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Let me know!Let us know how it was!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.

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    5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Tracy Frickey says

    June 12, 2024 at 1:48 pm

    I made these bars and love them. They have become a great snack to have on hand when I need one.

    Reply
  2. Anna Brewer says

    October 15, 2023 at 3:27 am

    Easy and tasty recipe

    Reply
  3. Mandy says

    December 10, 2022 at 1:40 pm

    I really like this recipe, I make them just about every week! The only issue I have is that there is no measurement for the vanilla extract listed.
    I have been using 1 tsp, but not sure if that's right. Other than that, great recipe, but I'm sure some people would want the specific measurements!

    Reply

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Megan is a nutritionist, author of the Low Calorie Cookbook and podcast host of the Dish On Ditching Diets. Megan helps women over 35 stop dieting, heal their relationship with food and lose weight sustainably. Megan lost 80 pounds herself. Here you get healthy, lower calorie recipes!

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