This list of high protein low carb snacks is here to keep you happy, satiated and full between low carb meals!
Protein is an important addition to most low carb meal plans — it helps keep you full longer, fuels your cells and doesn’t spike your blood sugar — which is exactly what your body needs come snack time!
Sadly, these high protein low carb snacks can be hard to find in a world where sugar/carb filled options line the shelves — which is why I put together this guide of the tastiest high protein low carb snacks you can find, so you’re never tempted by the wrong stuff again!
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Ultimate List of High Protein Low Carb Snacks
Whether you’re in a rush or you have some time to kill, there are plenty of high protein low carb snacks to choose from, and this list is here to prove it!
I broke these high protein low carb snacks into two sections, so you can find what works best for you: low carb recipes that require more time (but can be made as part of your low carb meal prep!) and snacks you can grab on the run:
Low Carb Snacks to Buy
Here’s a list of the tastiest and most convenient low carb snacks to buy!
I love stocking up on nonperishable high protein low carb snacks to store in the pantry — they’re great to have on hand, and eliminate the “I got too hungry” excuse! Stash some nonperishables in your bag when you’re heading out, and always pack a few high protein low carb snacks when you’re traveling.
Pst, you may have trouble finding some of these high protein low carb snacks at your local grocery store — check out my list of where to buy them below…
Tuna
On it’s own, tuna may not sound super appetizing, but you can easily stir in some mayo, pickles and red onions for a tasty treat! Serve it up with some low carb crackers and you’ll be a happy camper.
Total Carbs: 0g
Net Carbs: 0g
Protein: 24.8g
Protein Shake, Whey
Low carb protein powder is a staple in my kitchen — I use a handful of these best tasting protein powder options for everything, from smoothies to soul bread!
Mix it into water or milk for quick and easy high protein low fat foods.
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 25g
Cottage Cheese, Full Fat
Cottage cheese is great on it’s own, or with some low carb fruits mixed in. I often order this as a side to scrambled eggs in lieu of toast.
Total Carbs: 7.6g
Net Carbs: 7.6g
Protein: 25g
Protein Shake, Vegan
When it comes to high protein snacks vegetarian / vegans may enjoy, plant based protein powder is one of the best choices. Drink it on it’s own, or add it to any recipe that calls for protein powder.
Total Carbs: 5g
Net Carbs: 2g
Protein: 22g
Salami
Delicious, but definitely not one of the high protein low carb low fat snacks. I love buying the snack packs of salami wrapped around mozzarella for on the go treats (TJ’s sells them now!).
Total Carbs: 0.3g
Net Carbs: 0.3g
Protein: 2.7g
Low Carb Protein Bar, Cookie Dough
I’ll be honest, these low carb protein bars aren’t my favorite (flavor/ingredient list wise). But when you’re in a pinch, they’re great to have on hand.
Whenever traveling outside of the US, I pack a few of these and take a bite when I’m craving something sweet.
Total Carbs: 21g
Net Carbs: 4g
Protein: 21g
Pepperoni
Enjoy pepperoni on it’s own, or make pepperoni chips and no crust pizza bites with them!
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 16.4g
Low Carb Greek Yogurt
One of my favorite high protein low carb snacks is low carb Greek yogurt! I add some erythritol, nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes or berries as a topping. BE SURE TO READ LABELS before purchasing low carb yogurt — many products claim to be Greek yogurt, but still contain a ton of carbs and added sugar. I always buy Fage or Trader Joe’s brand.
Total Carbs: 6.1g
Net Carbs: 6.1g
Protein: 17.3g
Beef Jerkey
This is another product you want to read the labels on, as low carb beef jerky can be hard to find! (Most jerkies contain tons of added sugar, check out my guide for some low carb brands). I always buy mine on Amazon.
Total Carbs: <1g
Net Carbs: <1g
Protein: 32g
Epic Bar, chicken sriracha
These aren’t my favorite (flavor wise) — but due to their nutritional profile, they deserve a spot on this high protein low carb snacks list! I’ve purchased these bars from Whole Foods before, Amazon also sells them.
Total Carbs: 2g
Net Carbs: 0g
Protein: 13g
Cheese Chips
Who doesn’t love cheese chips?! Especially when you don’t have to make them yourself… grab this multipack, or something similar, for high protein low carb snacks on the go!
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 10g
Low Carb Protein Bar, Salted Caramel
These are the TASTIEST low carb protein bars money can buy! Although they may be higher in carbs than some low carb eating plans will allow for — check them out to see if they work for you.
Also, they’re SO TASTY I suggest buying one at a time (they’re dangerous to have sitting around the house!).
Total Carbs: 9g
Net Carbs: 8g
Protein: 13g
Epic Bar, venison sea salt + pepper
Flavor-wise, these are my favorite Epic bars, have you tried any of their flavors before?
Total Carbs: 2g
Net Carbs: 2g
Protein: 12g
Edamame
Another high fiber and protein snack, these edamame snack packs are great to satiate your salty/crunchy cravings!
Total Carbs: 8g
Net Carbs: 2g
Protein: 11g
Protein Chips
These protein chips are shockingly delicious! I first grabbed a bag at Costco, then found these much more convenient snack packs on Amazon.
Total Carbs: 10g
Net Carbs: 6g
Protein: 10g
Pumpkin Seeds, roasted
You can buy pumpkin seeds just about anywhere. Try roasting and adding your own seasoning for a tasty treat! (low carb taco seasoning perhaps?)
Total Carbs: 3.5g
Net Carbs: 1.6g
Protein: 9.8g
Meat Sticks, Sausage
Meat sticks are often lower in carbs than jerky (again, to be safe always read the labels!) — and these meat sticks are definitely a family favorite. Duke’s comes in all sorts of tasty and unique flavors (some are higher in carbs than others). I’ve purchased these from a few gas stations, but they’re easiest to find online.
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 6g
Deli Meat
Quick, easy, and great when you’re at home — chicken, turkey, roast beef, whatever you have on hand will do!
Total Carbs: 0.35g
Net Carbs: 0.35g
Protein: 16.8g
Meat Sticks, Chicken
Another tasty flavor of Duke’s meat sticks, for those avoiding red meat.
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 7g
Low Carb Snacks Recipes
These low carb snacks take a bit more time to prep, but are SO worth it!
Start your week off right by making some high protein low carb snacks ahead — hard boil some eggs, make your own chicken salad and have them portioned out and ready to grab for when the week gets busy.
Low Carb Smoothie
This low carb smoothie uses protein powder, low carb milk, blackberries and coconut for a tasty way to start the day.
Total Carbs: 8g
Net Carbs: 3g
Protein: 13g
Sugar Free Ice Cream
Who woulda thought sugar free ice cream could be loaded with protein? The secret ingredient in this recipe is protein powder, plus avocado (hence the color) to give it a super creamy consistency.
Total Carbs: 5g
Net Carbs: 2g
Protein: 12g
Hard Boiled Eggs
Make a batch at the beginning of the week for easy low carb snacks on-the-go!
Total Carbs: 0.5g
Net Carbs: 0.5g
Protein: 6.3g
Parmesan Crisps
Parmesan is higher in protein than most cheeses, and makes for delicious low carb chips! I topped these parmesan crisps with everything but the bagel seasoning — feel free to add a slice of pepperoni, jalapeño, or whatever suits your cravings!
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 6g
Deviled Eggs
A tasty and upgraded way to enjoy some protein packed eggs.
Total Carbs: 1g
Net Carbs: 1g
Protein: 6g
Low Carb Chicken Salad
At it’s core, low carb chicken salad is made of chicken, mayo and whatever you decide to add in. Follow this canned chicken salad recipe if you’re craving pickles, or try this rotisserie chicken salad recipe if you love bacon and cheddar!
Total Carbs: 2g
Net Carbs: 2g
Protein: 9g
Craving Buster: Salty High Protein Low Carb Snack Ideas
High protein low carb snacks are an awesome tool to help combat cravings. When I’m in the mood for something salty, I reach for these low carb snack ideas instead of something “naughty”!
- Cheese Chips
- Edamame
- Protein Chips
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Salami/Pepperoni
- Hard Boiled Eggs
Craving Buster: High Protein Low Carb Sweet Snacks
Sweets are my weakness, and these low carb sweet snacks have helped me through many-a-cravings!
- Sugar Free Ice Cream
- Low Carb Smoothie
- Low Carb Greek Yogurt (with erythritol and berries)
- Low Carb Protein Bar
Where to Buy These Healthy Low Carb Snacks
Some of these high protein low carb snacks are easy to grab from the store, while others can be hard (and expensive) to find!
Here are the top places I’ve had luck finding healthy low carb snacks:
- For the easy to find items, stocking up at Costco. (Especially those high protein low carb snacks with a longer shelf life!) Meats, cheeses, low carb nuts and low carb protein powder are MUCH less expensive here.
- I also grab a lot of these snacks on Amazon — they have the best selection of specialty high protein low carb snacks! For example, it’s hard to find low carb beef jerky and meat sticks at most stores, so I always grab them on Amazon!
- Trader Joes sells inexpensive keto nuts, seeds and cheeses! I also love their Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.
Tips For Bringing Low Carb Snacks On The Go
As I mentioned above, keeping low carb snacks on the go handy is important, because getting too hungry can result in an accidently splurge.
Since my house is fully prepped with these high protein low carb snacks, I often eat a combination of them for low carb lunches on busy days! Here’s how I prep my fridge and pantry:
Pantry
Jerky, meat sticks, protein powders nuts and seeds are no brainer high protein low carb snacks to stash here.
Fridge
Stock up on cottage cheese, Greek yogurt (sometimes you can find individual portions of these which are great when you’re busy), cheese, and deli meat.
Cheese Drawer
Empty your cheese drawer and stash these high protein low carb snacks here for grab and go options. Make some of the recipes above during your weekly low carb meal prep — portion them out, and toss them in your drawer.
Looking For Some No Carb Snacks?
If you’re saving up your carbs for meals, try some of these no carb snacks! Many of them are also on this high protein low carb snacks list, while other are higher in fat and didn’t make the cut.
Why Low Sugar Snacks Are KEY!
Here’s a deeper dive into what these low sugar snacks do to our bodies, and why high protein foods are so important!
Protein is a vital component in most low carb meal plans. To put it simply, protein makes you what you are and keeps you that way — in other words, it makes up our body parts/tissues, and regulates important bodily functions.
As far as macronutrients go, protein is the best suppressor of ghrelin, i.e. the “hunger hormone” which makes you feel hungry — meaning when you eat high protein low carb snacks, your body takes significantly longer to become hungry again.
This may not come as a surprise, but consuming carbohydrates suppresses ghrelin, at first, then spikes it with a vengeance — making you hungrier than you were before your meal!
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for high protein snacks weight loss or high protein snacks bodybuilding, I hope you found the high protein low carb snacks you were looking for on this list!
Let me know in the comments below if I left forgot your favorite high protein low carb foods. What’s your favorite snack from this list?
Carolyn Morley
Thank you for putting this out in the open to be able to keep a person on their diet. It makes it easier to follow the diet.
Lindsey
You’re welcome Carolyn 🙂 Enjoy! 🙂
Chai
Thank you !!! Big help for me. Since I have pretty bad heartburn I need to change my diet eating
Lindsey
You’re welcome Chai! I’m so glad this helps you 🙂 Goodluck on your low carb journey! 🙂