10+ Clean Protein Snacks for Feel-Good Fuel

10+ Clean Protein Snacks for Feel-Good Fuel

“Clean” can mean many things, but when it comes to protein, the definition is clear: simple, healthy, and nourishing.

Luckily, despite popular assumption, Sasquatch is an expert in cleanliness…for snack foods. To prove it, he’s compiled his favorite clean protein snacks to keep you energized, alert, and strong. 

What Are Clean Protein Snacks?

The best meals are light on ingredients but heavy on flavor. The same applies to clean, protein snacks. 

Rather than using fillers, thickeners, and other chemicals, “clean” foods use whole ingredients, and fewer of them.

Here are our top clean high-protein snacks to keep you energized. 

12 Clean Protein Snacks for Your Daily Fuel-Up

Tired of snacks that are too sugary or artificial-tasting, or that leave you feeling hungrier? Clean protein is the solution, and these are some of the best ways to get it.

1. Jack Link's 3-Ingredient Air-Dried Steak Slices

  • Protein per serving: 31g protein per 2 oz bag of Jack Link's 3-Ingredient Air Dried Beef Steak Slices

If you’re talking about clean protein snacks (which we are), you have to mention Jack Link's 3-Ingredient Steak Slices. Unlike other beef snacks, these slices have an ingredient list so short you can read it faster than Sasquatch can melt back into the fog. As the name suggests, it’s made with three simple ingredients: grass fed and finished beef, salt, and vinegar.

2. Hard-Boiled Eggs

A versatile option! Season with salt, tamari sauce, or curry, or add it to a salad. Wanna get crazy and up your protein? Try wrapping your peeled egg in a turkey slice. Then dip it in mustard or hummus for extra flavor insanity.

3. Cottage Cheese

Think you don’t like cottage cheese? Try blending it until smooth for a better texture. And remember: You don’t have to eat it plain to reap the protein benefits. Make it into a dip by adding garlic, lemon, olive oil, and herbs. That’ll make you the life of the party! 

4. Greek Yogurt

Want a clean protein snack faster than you can say Athens? Greek yogurt has a higher protein concentration than other yogurts. Add fruit and honey for something sweet, or use veggies and herbs for savory. Our favorite: strawberries, bananas, cocoa powder, and crushed peanuts. You’ll see why it’s on every list of the best protein snacks!

5. Legumes

Chickpeas bring the nuttiness, and edamame bring the freshness. Each is a crisp and crunchy protein bonanza. Try tossing with chili oil or going Mediterranean-style with lemon, feta, and tomatoes. You’ll be asking these legumes, “Hey, where have you bean all my life?”

6. Trail Mix

Overly sweet and salty commercial trail mixes may have the protein you want, but that’s negated by all the added sugars and fats. To keep the protein but remove the unwanted sides, make your own mix and adjust the protein content and flavor to your preferences. Try peanuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, and craisins. 

7. Tuna

Tuna is one of the easiest clean protein snacks to keep on hand. It’s a quality source of protein, low in carbs, and ready to eat straight from the can or pouch — no cooking required. But there’s no reason to eat it plain. We love a classic tuna salad sandwich, and we love using it as a protein add-on to a cracker-and-cheese spread.

8. Nuts

Wanna get nuts? No, seriously. They travel well, you can eat them almost anywhere, they taste good, and they’re a naturally whole food. The most protein-rich are almonds, cashews, and pistachios. Add seasonings like honey cayenne, cinnamon maple, cocoa espresso, or sesame soy to shell-abrate good times.

9. Apples & Peanut Butter

Apples are tasty on their own, but they pair with nut butters better than cheese with wine or Sasquatch with a hairbrush. Mix and match your favorite apple varieties with peanut, almond, or cashew butter. 

10. Cheese

Pizza, grilled cheese, meat and cheese — there are endless epic combos. Have you had blue cheese–stuffed dates with crushed nuts or Swiss-wrapped pickle spears with sliced turkey? Try ’em now, and thank us later.

11. Simple-Ingredient Protein Bars

Protein bars are often glorified candy bars marketed as “healthy.” Some contain more sugar than protein and more ingredients than some desserts. However, protein bars with simple, clean ingredients are good protein snacks to keep on hand. Look for bars with nuts, seeds, and grains that deliver 10-20 grams of protein per serving.

12. Chia Pudding

You’ve heard of chia pets, but have you tried chia pudding? Simply soak chia seeds in milk and wait for them to turn into a magical pudding that’s high in protein, fiber, and omega-3s. Add vanilla, maple syrup, cocoa powder, berries, pie spice, or any combination of ingredients — no protein powder needed. 

Clean Protein Snacks To Try Today

Despite our writers’ tendencies otherwise, we tried to keep things clean here. And if you want to eat clean, it’s easy to taste-test snacks to find a new favorite. Naturally, when we want whole foods with half the effort, our go-tos include Jack Link's 3-Ingredient meat snacks. Simply find Jack Link’s near you to try them today.

But we know life can’t be all jerky, all the time. Balance your nutrition with other easy, high-protein clean snacks from this list, like tuna, Greek yogurt, nuts, and cheese. For even more options, see our other clean snack ideas.

More Clean-Snacking Ideas

Check out our other articles on clean and healthy snacks for more ideas.

  • Healthy Snack Ideas

  • Healthy Jerky Snacks to Try

  • Clean Beef Jerky to Try

  • Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Options to Try

  • Protein Low Sugar Snack Ideas

Feel Good, Snack Better With Jack Link's

Stock up on clean protein snacks. Protein is everywhere for those who have eyes to see and stomachs to fill. Shop Jack Link’s online for snacks worthy of your energy.