13 RXBAR Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best

If you have not yet tried an RXBAR, what are you waiting for? The health-focused brand launched over a decade ago with the simple goal of creating a nutritious protein bar made from ingredients that could actually be pronounced. These days, RXBAR protein bars can be found just about everywhere, along with the brand's nut butters, oats, granola, plant-based bars, and seasonal product offerings.

RXBAR ingredients, some of which are listed right on the front of the package, typically include egg whites for protein, nuts for texture, and dates to bind everything together. A newer line of RXBAR protein bars, called A.M., has introduced several additional ingredients into the mix. Most notably, A.M. bars have oats, seeds, and brown rice in them. They are also sweetened and bound with honey instead of using dates. On all types of RXBAR products, shoppers may also notice that "No B.S." is listed alongside other ingredients. Not sure what you were thinking, but B.S. stands for no bad stuff.

All sassiness aside, the bottom line is that when you bite into an RXBAR, you know exactly what's going into your body. From a product testing perspective, our team was absolutely thrilled to eat our way through several RXBAR flavors, including a few of the A.M. variety. From light and fruity to powerfully peanut buttery, we reviews and ranked them from worst to best.

Unlike many other RXBAR flavors, we aren't big fans of Banana Chocolate Walnut. In defense of the flavor's product developers, they were probably going for the worthy goal of a chocolate chip banana bread-like concoction. While this RXBAR flavor is not dissimilar to the flavor of banana bread, it just doesn't work as well within the bar's dense texture framework. But also, the yellowish-brown color of the bar is –– well, disturbingly reminiscent of something you definitely wouldn't want to eat. Enough said.

Listen, if you really like banana-flavored stuff, go ahead and give it a try. On the plus side, Banana Chocolate Walnut is the only RXBAR that includes walnuts, which are chock full of healthy antioxidants and omega-3s (per Healthline). In fact, eating walnuts can help reduce inflammation in the body and may even reduce your risk of developing cancer. However, walnuts aside, we think that there are better tasting options among the other RXBAR flavors we sampled. If you really want to experience the flavor of banana bread, just bake a fresh loaf at home. (Don't forget to add walnuts.)

Although we totally love strawberries, we are not 100% sold on Strawberry RXBAR, a new "craft batch" flavor. This option involves strawberries (of course), along with three egg whites, six almonds, four cashews, two dates, and natural flavors. On a side note, the latter five ingredients are the base for quite a few other RXBAR flavors as well, including Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate, and Coconut Chocolate. Unfortunately, the addition of strawberry does not particularly elevate this flavor in the same way that additional ingredients (like chocolate and coconut) do for other RXBARs.

To be clear: Strawberry RXBAR don't taste bad, but they do lack much of a wow factor. If you are looking for pure strawberry goodness, we know you can do better. Instead of looking for strawberries in a protein bar, we recommend buying fresh, organic strawberries, using our simple trick for destemming them, and then baking an indulgent treat like strawberry shortcake. You won't regret it.

If you enjoy RXBAR Vanilla Almond Butter (which, incidentally, is delicious), you may also like this bar version of the flavor. Despite some differences in ingredients, Vanilla Almond RXBARs are similarly sweet and satisfying. Of note, the bar variation contains more egg whites, fewer almonds, the addition of cashews, and more dates per serving than the brand's Vanilla Almond Butter. Ultimately, this combo provides 190 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 12 grams of protein per bar.

Vanilla Almond is a good, basic flavor choice –– particularly if you prefer to avoid oats, peanuts, and chocolate for whatever reason. (These three ingredients are heavily featured in our top RXBAR flavors.) Along those lines, individuals following a Whole30 diet should understand that while quite a number of RXBAR are Whole30-friendly, this is not true of all flavors. Products with oats, peanuts, and honey, for instance, are off-limits. Fortunately, you should be good to go with Vanilla Almond.

One final observation: Almonds are a common ingredient in RXBARs. Of the 13 flavors we sampled, almonds are listed in the majority of them. That said, almonds do tend to rise to the surface more in some bars than others. This is especially true with Vanilla Almond, which gives center stage to this powerhouse of a nut.

In the interest of full disclosure, we need to confess that initially, we thought Blueberry RXBARs sounded kind of weird. Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised by the results of product testing. That's right. The flavor's fruity blue concept totally works. Who knew?!

In addition to three egg whites, six almonds, four cashews, and two dates, Blueberry RXBARs also contain blueberries (obviously) and natural flavors. What we liked most, from a flavor perspective, is that the blueberries provided some additional sweetness. We also liked that texture-wise, the dried blueberries added some extra chewiness, which both paired and contrasted nicely with the bar's sticky base and crunchy almonds.

Plus, who doesn't love blueberries? For one thing, they're full of essential vitamins and minerals. For another, eating blueberries can offer anti-aging benefits, help prevent cancer, and even protect your DNA, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Keep in mind that fresh, organic blueberries offer the most health benefits. These little bits of joy can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes, and more –– or, just eaten on their own.

Speaking of blueberries, RXBAR also makes a Blueberry A.M. protein bar. This blueberry flavor variation is quite different from its predecessor. It reminds us of honey-sweetened oatmeal topped with blueberries –– which definitely isn't a bad thing. You should be aware that the ingredient lists on A.M. bar flavors are significantly longer than those of regular RXBARs, yet still full of healthy items. Each Blueberry A.M. RXBAR contains 3 tablespoons of oats, give cashews, two egg whites, two teaspoons of honey, almonds, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, high oleic sunflower oil, coconut sugar, oat fiber, sea salt, natural flavors, and lemon.

All of these ingredients combine to create a heartier bar than traditional RXBARs, with a very different flavor focus (honey-laden) and texture (crispier). Nutritionally, Blueberry A.M. offers 230 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, and 10 grams of protein. This berry tasty bar almost certainly makes a convenient meal option for breakfast on the go, but we can also envision eating them (guilt-free) later on in the day.

We feel comfortable saying that Chocolate Chip does exactly what RXBAR does well: It combines a number of basic ingredients (egg whites, almonds, cashews, and dates), and then adds a powerful flavor enhancement that ups the game. In this case, chocolate elevates the flavor from being potentially bland to something big and beautiful.

Of course, we're not exactly surprised that a little chocolate can go a long way toward pleasing our taste buds. After all, even science shows that chocolate can make you happy. According to Sather Health at UC Berkeley, chocolate contains multiple ingredients and compounds that can lead to feelings of happiness and satisfaction. (Need we say more? We were convinced back at "chocolate.")

Chocolate Chip isn't the only RXBAR flavor that includes chocolate. If you, like us, are a chocolate lover, be sure to try Peanut Butter Chocolate, Chocolate Sea Salt, Coconut Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate A.M. RXBARs. You may also want to explore our best chocolate recipes, which include cookies, cakes, pies, candies, and brownies. Yum!

Similar to Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate manages to up the ante with the addition of chocolate, cocoa, mint, and sea salt to RXBARs standard blend of egg whites, almonds, cashews, and dates. Although it would be wildly inaccurate to compare this flavor to chocolate peppermint candy, the Mint Chocolate RXBAR nonetheless offers a fun spin to the wide world of protein bars. We especially like the large chocolate chips (though more of them would be nice), along with the fresh burst of mint. For 210 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 12 grams of protein, this tasty bar offers a pretty impressive nutritional deal.

Oh, and if you're not already familiar with the story behind mint chocolate chip, here it is: In 1973, a competition was announced to create a wedding dessert for Princess Anne and Captain Mark Philips. A British culinary student, Marilyn Ricketts, won the competition with her mint chocolate chip ice cream entry called "Mint Royale." The rest is minty, chocolatey history.

Although not our absolute favorite RXBAR flavor, Peanut Butter is nonetheless a respectably high pick from our list of winners and losers. The item's packaging lists three egg whites, 14 peanuts, and two dates on the front, along with natural flavors and sea salt on the back. This particularly simple ingredient combo offers a complex nutritional punch with 200 calories, 7 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 12 grams of protein. Go, peanut butter!

From a flavor perspective, we think that the strong peanut presence in this bar does an excellent job of masking the dates, which can come off rather strong in some of the other RXBar flavors. But mostly, we just really like peanut butter (doesn't everyone?) so it came as no big surprise that this flavor held its own during our taste tests. Texture-wise, Peanut Butter is on the softer side of RXBAR's offerings. In other words, hold onto your fillings because the whole eating experience may get a little sticky.

Since coconut and chocolate are undoubtedly a match made in heaven, we quickly found Coconut Chocolate RXBARs to be absolutely delicious. In fact, the sweet, rich flavor blend may make you forget that you are actually eating healthy, whole ingredients. Each bar contains three egg whites, six almonds, four cashews, and two dates, along with chocolate, natural flavors, sea salt, and coconut.

Despite similarities in ingredients with many other RXBAR flavors, the addition of coconut really raises the bar on this one. (Raises the bar — get it?) And those nuts. As with other RXBAR flavors, we always appreciate how well the nuts work together, creating a fun and crunchy texture that contrasts wonderfully with the softer, sticky base. Finally, Coconut Chocolate generally reminds us a bit of German chocolate cake, even though that type of cake is made with pecans. But chocolate and coconut and nuts, oh my! Definitely give this one a try.

Similar to our number one pick (spoiler: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate A.M.), Peanut Butter Chocolate offers a whole lot of that oh-so-yummy chocolate and peanut butter happiness, all wrapped up into a healthy, pocket-sized snack. Containing three egg whites, 14 peanuts, two dates, chocolate, natural flavors, and sea salt, this flavor does an excellent job of satisfying one's sweet tooth, while also providing essential nutrients and energy.

Try eating one of these between lunch and dinner. Not only should this help keep you away from the vending machine, but it should also keep you going strong right past that dreaded late afternoon slump. Maybe they should call it Peanut Butter Chocolate P.M.?

BTW, fans of peanut butter and chocolate may want to check out our chocolate peanut butter haystacks or try making our decadent Peanut Butter pie (be sure to opt for a chocolate crust). If you're having trouble choosing which peanut butter to use, our store-bought peanut butter rankings may help. Hint: There's absolutely nothing wrong with good old Jif Creamy.

We always appreciate a good chocolate and oats combo (no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, anyone?) and that's exactly what is offered here. The Chocolate A.M. RXBAR flavor mentions 3 tablespoons of oats, five cashews, two egg whites, and 2 teaspoons of honey, along with pumpkin seeds, brown rice, chocolate, high oleic sunflower oil, coconut sugar, oat fiber, cocoa, natural flavors, and sea salt on its list of ingredients.

But none of this describes how eating one of these breakfast bars is like digging into a rich bowl of overnight chocolate oats, with none of the preparation or clean-up hassle. Come to think of it, you won't even need to dirty a spoon or bowl. That said, this RXBAR is not a real bowl of oatmeal (obviously). If you want to eat an actual bowl of chocolate oatmeal, consider soaking oatmeal overnight and adding some of our recommended ingredients, including chocolate. Nut butter, for example, goes great with oats. Fresh fruit, including strawberries and blueberries, can also result in a winning combination.

Ah, how we love that dash of sea salt. It's crazy how a little bit of salt can do a whole lot of things for chocolate, right? Many culinary experts recommend adding salt to chocolate for a gourmet salty-sweet flavor combination. Also, adding a coarse variety of salt can lead to all sorts of interesting texture juxtapositions. Furthermore, research suggests that our bodies are wired to respond to calorie-dense triggers, with sweetness signaling to the brain that energy is forthcoming. The body then responds by releasing dopamine, which reduces stress. Salt further enhances this process. So there you have it: salt + chocolate = pure happiness and joy. Who can argue with math? (Actually, don't answer that.)

Chocolate Sea Salt lists three egg whites, six almonds, four cashews, and two dates on the front of its packaging. This sweet-and-salty RXBAR also includes cocoa, natural flavors, and sea salt. Overall, we think it's pretty amazing how just a handful of clean ingredients can come together to form such a delicious, nutritious snack. But it is also clear here how chocolate and sea salt combine to satisfy our taste buds, brains, and bodies. This is what ultimately boosted Chocolate Sea Salt nearly to the top of our RXBAR rankings.

You had us at Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate! In the end, we weren't all that surprised when RXBAR A.M. Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate earned its spot at the very top of our rankings. After all, peanut butter and chocolate have always been a winning combination. For a fulfilled life, make sure to not limit this awesome flavor to just RXBARs. You should also enjoy peanut butter and chocolate together in yummy foods like our salted peanut butter bars and Tagalongs-inspired peanut butter chocolate pie.

When it comes to Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate A.M. RXBARs, the addition of oats and honey to the ingredient mix boosts things up to an entirely new level. Other ingredients include peanuts, egg whites, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, avocado and/or high oleic sunflower oil, coconut sugar, cocoa, and sea salt. The end result is a rich, sweet, pleasantly textured, and extremely satisfying treat that is definitely worth getting out of bed for. Also, if you're tempted to sneak in an A.M. bar later in the day –– well, we won't tell.

Nutritionally, this delicious protein bar offers 230 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein, and no B.S. Here's our own no B.S. bottom line: While we enjoyed trying many of the above RXBAR flavors, there was little competition when it came to choosing our favorite. Be sure to give this one a try.