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In the world of high-protein snacks, Quest holds a legendary status. The early days of high-protein bars and snacks were filled with bars that tasted like regular candy bars and often had nearly as many calories as a protein bar, boosted with chalky protein. Quest was one of the first brands to introduce a bar that was low in calories, high in fiber, and had a great taste.
These popular protein bars come in a wide variety of flavors, which is great for the consumer, but choosing the right one can be difficult. After all, there’s nothing worse than ordering a whole case of protein bars that you don’t enjoy.
Thankfully, we’re here to help. We’ve already covered the best-tasting protein bars, but we wanted to get more specific and find the best Quest Bar. The GGR editorial team conducted a group taste test during a recent trip to our headquarters to find the best Quest Bar flavor, and in this guide, I’m going to share our top picks.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
Taste-Tested by Our Panel of Experts
While we typically test products using our supplement testing methodology, for this guide, we did things a little differently. We weren’t focused on the exact nutritional content, pricing, or third-party testing; we were on a mission to find the best flavor.
Still, the expert testers on our editorial team have diverse backgrounds. We’re a group made up of certified personal trainers, certified nutrition coaches, gym owners, and even an Olympian.
Some of us like sweets, and some of us don’t, so our top picks are based on the average flavor score for each product.
Quest Nutrition Protein Bars
Product Highlights
- Gluten-free
- Low-sugar
- 16 flavor options
- 17-21 grams of protein depending on the flavor
- Low net carbs
Pros
- Great product to keep your macronutrients on target
- Simple, grab-and-go snack
- Gluten-free helps with dietary restrictions
- Low in sugar
- Very filling
Cons
- Chewy texture isn’t for everyone
- Uses sugar alcohols, which can upset digestion
- The company recently changed the formula a bit and several customers didn’t like the change
- Can get too soft if gets too hot (like in a car or gym bag)
Quest Nutrition has been serving the health and protein market since 2010 and they continue to give people high-quality products. They offer some unique flavors in their bars not seen by competitors such as White Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Sprinkled Donut, and Lemon Cake.This is one of the few bars that is actually recommended to stick in the microwave for about 15 seconds to produce a rich, tasty treat. Using a high-quality dairy-based protein, Quest Bars are dense and chewy in texture.These bars fall pretty well right in the middle as far as price point so you don’t have to break the bank to get your protein in consistently. You will want to pay attention to the ingredients as many of the customers who have used Quest for a long time were not fans of the newer formula, although if you don’t have anything to compare it to, you might find you like it just fine.
Best Quest Bar Flavors
Best Overall Quest Bar: Blueberry Muffin
Good for: Those who want our highest-rated flavor
Our taste testers rated the Blueberry Muffin Quest Bar number one, awarding it an average rating of 3.83 out of 5 stars.
Each bar contains chunks of cobbler along with real dried blueberries, the perfect indulgence for anyone who loves pastries but wants a higher-protein option. Each bar contains 20 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber, which means it is as filling as it is tasty.
GGR editorial team member Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC, said, “This has a very pleasant flavor. I like the cobbler and the balance of fruitiness.”
During the blind taste testing, where we attempted to guess each flavor, I have to admit I was thoroughly convinced this was the S’Mores flavor. Regardless, I gave this a 4 out of 5 rating, and I don’t love overly sweet flavors, so I was surprised to learn this was Blueberry Muffin.
It doesn’t have the exact texture of a muffin, of course, but if you like a balance of sweet and fruity, this is a great choice. If fruity flavors aren’t your thing, I suggest giving the S’Mores or Chocolate Chip Cooke Dough a try.
| Total Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 7 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 23 g |
| Fiber Content | 13 g |
| Protein | 20 g |
Best Chocolate Quest Bar Flavor: S’Mores
Good for: Those looking for the best-tasting bar with chocolate flavors
Protein connoisseurs know that vanilla and chocolate are the two staple flavors, and while vanilla is pretty neutral, chocolate flavors can vary widely across brands and flavors. Quest has no shortage of options if you’re looking for a chocolate protein bar, including Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and more. Of the flavors we tested, S’Mores was our top pick.
GGR Senior Editor Amanda Dvorak, ISSA-CPT, gave this bar a strong 5-out-of-5 rating during our blind taste test. She said, “I really liked this one! I can’t put my finger on a flavor, but it was tasty.”
Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC, also commented that he loved the flavor and texture, particularly the crispy graham cracker crunch bits.
This is one of the most popular Quest Bar flavors, and it is the perfect choice for chocolate lovers. It features bits of chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. If you want a pure chocolate flavor, Chocolate Brownie is a great option.
| Total Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 7 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 23 g |
| Fiber Content | 12 g |
| Protein | 21 g |
Best Dessert Quest Bar Flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Good for: Anyone searching for a familiar dessert flavor
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is the first Quest Bar flavor I remember trying, and if you’re craving dessert, it’s an excellent choice.
If I had to pick a personal favorite, this would be it. GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC, also loved this flavor and gave it a 4.5 out of 5, saying it tastes like Nestle cookies.
This one is slightly lower in protein than other options on the list, so if you’re looking to get as much protein as possible, you may want to choose something else. Still, 18 grams of protein is very solid for a bar that tastes like cookies.
As someone who’s consumed countless of these bars over the years, I’ll share my best tip. Toss the bar on a plate and microwave it for 10 to 20 seconds, and the resulting texture and flavor taste like a warm cookie fresh out of the oven. This pairs perfectly with ice cream (or protein ice cream).
If you want something that tastes like dessert but doesn’t have a crunchy texture, the Pumpkin Pie seasonal flavor is very smooth and chewy.
| Total Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 9 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Fiber Content | 8 g |
| Protein | 18 g |
Sweetest Quest Bar Flavor: White Chocolate Raspberry
Good for: Those with a sweet tooth
If you love sweet flavors, White Chocolate Raspberry is the Quest Bar flavor for you.
Beware: This flavor is sweet, so if you’re like me and prefer savory over sweet, it may be a bit too much. That said, it was still extremely popular among our testers and a favorite of many.
Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, gave this bar a 4.5 out of 5, but agreed it was a bit sweet. He said, “I’d like this as a change of pace, but wouldn’t want to have it regularly.”
The raspberry flavor is a bit tart, which does help cut through the sweetness but is a little unexpected. Lauren Strong, CPT, even commented that during the blind taste test, the tartness made her think that this was some sort of lime flavor, while Stephen Sheehan, CPT, thought it was cherry.
If you love white chocolate raspberry desserts, this is the perfect bar for you. However, if you’re a little sensitive to sweet and tart flavors, I recommend choosing a different option, like one of the chocolate flavors.
| Total Calories | 190 |
| Total Fat | 8 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 22 g |
| Fiber Content | 13 g |
| Protein | 20 g |
Most Controversial Quest Bar Flavor: Chocolate Brownie
Good for: Brownie and/or bitter chocolate lovers
This flavor received mixed reviews from our team and was either loved or hated by our testers. Some of us enjoyed it, some found it too bitter, and some couldn’t detect any flavor at all. If you love sweets, this may not be the bar for you, but if you enjoy dark chocolate and bitter flavors, this is certainly worth a try.
This bar received a low rating of 2 out of 5, but don’t let that fool you. One of our testers gave it a 0 out of 5 score, saying he honestly couldn’t taste much flavor, while others awarded it a higher rating of 3 out of 5, saying it was very good but not quite as good as a real brownie.
The consensus is that the chocolate taste is strong and slightly bitter. This isn’t your sweet, fluffy brownie; it’s more like a brownie that skipped the sugar and doubled down on the cocoa powder.
It’s certainly not bad, but I think most people will either love or hate this flavor. It’s bitter, so if you want something sweet, one of the fruity options like White Chocolate Raspberry may be the best choice for you.
| Total Calories | 170 |
| Total Fat | 6 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fiber Content | 15 g |
| Protein | 20 g |
Honorable Mention: Pumpkin Pie
Good for: Pumpkin spice lovers ready to embrace the holiday spirit
Quest Bar has several seasonal flavors, the most popular of which seems to be Pumpkin Pie. When we told the rest of the GGR team we’d done a test, they insisted that Pumpkin Pie is the best flavor, but it hadn’t been released yet when we did our taste test.
Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, the face of Garage Gym Reviews Everything, said, “I’m pretty sure I have tried every flavor available and definitely have my favorites, but the Pumpkin Pie flavor blows all other flavors out of the water in my opinion.”
She also pointed out that they are extremely hard to find, which I also found to be true. I visited three different grocery stores near me and was surprised to find all of them had every seasonal flavor except Pumpkin Pie, saying it was nearly impossible to keep on the shelves. At the time of writing, even Amazon was sold out.
After two days of searching, I finally found a single Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar at a discount supplement store near me, and I can attest that it’s very good.
If you love Pumpkin Pie, this is a must-try. It has strong holiday spices, just like a real pumpkin pie, and a soft, chewy texture that’s very enjoyable.
While we don’t have an official team rating, as not all of the staff tried this, I really enjoyed this one and gave it a 4.5 out of 5. If you don’t like Pumpkin Pie, Quest also has Apple Pie and Peppermint Bark as seasonal flavors, but we haven’t tested those ourselves.
| Total Calories | 180 g |
| Total Fat | 8 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fiber Content | 11 g |
| Protein | 20 g |
Other Quest Bar Flavors
We tested the most popular Quest Bar flavors, but we didn’t have any of the seasonal flavors yet, and we didn’t try every single variation, including the dipped bars. Here are a few other flavors currently available, including seasonal flavors.
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
- Double Chocolate Chunk
- Lemon Cake
- Mint Chocolate Chunk
- Caramel Chocolate Chunk
- Peppermint Bark (Seasonal)
- Apple Pie (Seasonal)
In addition to these flavors of the regular Quest Bar, the company also offers a variety of flavors and variations, like crunchy bars, chocolate-dipped bars, and Quest Hero bars.
Quest also sells other protein snacks, like protein chips, cookies, and even peanut butter cups, so you have plenty of options from Quest if protein bars aren’t your thing.
How We Picked and Tested the Best Quest Bar Flavor
The official Garage Gym Reviews taste test was conducted at our team headquarters, where our editorial team performed a blind taste test.
Each of us was given a number sheet to match the numbers assigned to each Quest Bar, which were cut into pieces and numbered. None of us knew which flavor was on each plate, and we weren’t given a list of flavors ahead of time, so we had to use our best guess.
RELATED: Best High-Protein Bars
For each bar, we guessed the flavor, left our notes and comments, and ranked it on a scale of 1 to 5. We also marked our personal favorites. We didn’t include every bar that we tested in our roundup, as we only wanted to pick our favorite categories, but this is the complete list of what we tested.
After trying all of the Quest Bars and completing our notes, we compared notes to see who guessed the flavor correctly, calculated the best score, and calculated average scores for each of the flavors we tested.
Here are the eight flavors we tested, with their average rank, best and worst scores received from the team, and tasting notes from our staff.
| Flavor | Average Score | Best Score | Worst Score | Tasting Notes |
| S’Mores | 3.62 | 5/5 | 3/5 | “It tastes like a sugar cookie with chocolate chunks.” |
| Birthday Cake | 2.92 | 4/5 | 1/5 | “A classic flavor, and it tastes like protein funfetti cake with sprinkles.” |
| Chocolate Brownie | 2 | 3/5 | 0/5 | “I’m honestly not getting any flavor from it.” |
| Cookies & Cream | 3.25 | 5/5 | 2/5 | “The cookie chunks are flavorful, but the rest is pretty plain.” |
| Chocolate Peanut Butter | 2.92 | 4/5 | 2/5 | “Not my favorite; the peanut butter is weird.” |
| White Chocolate Raspberry | 3.75 | 5/5 | 2/5 | “Very sweet, almost too sweet, and the raspberry is pretty tart.” |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | 3.42 | 4.5/5 | 2.5/5 | “Tastes like Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookies.” |
| Blueberry Muffin | 3.83 | 5/5 | 3/5 | “This has a strong aftertaste, kind of fruity.” |
Why Buy Quest Bars?
If you’re new to protein bars, Quest Bars are a fantastic choice for most fitness goals. Here are some of the main reasons you may want to consider ordering a box.
Low in Calories, High in Protein
For those looking to build muscle and gain weight, each bar contains 18 to 21 grams of protein, depending on the flavor, making it a perfect snack to boost your protein intake. That’s not quite as much as you’d find in a typical scoop of protein powder, but it’s pretty close. The bars use a protein blend made of milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate.
Most Quest Bars are under 200 calories, so they’re easy to fit into many nutrition plans for those looking to lose weight.
RELATED: High-Protein Foods for Muscle-Building
Many protein bars on the market are higher in calories and may be difficult to fit into a diet plan, but Quest Bars are a great choice for nearly any nutrition goal.
Helps Manage Hunger
The best protein bar is one that can work with a variety of nutrition plans and helps keep you full. I asked Anthony O’Reilly, GGR’s Performance Editor and a certified nutrition coach, what he thought about Quest Bars, and he said that they’re a great choice for those on a calorie-restricted weight loss plan.
“Quest Bars are great because you can increase your overall protein intake while having something that tastes like a sweet treat,” said Anthony. “Countless studies have shown us that you’re more likely to stick to a calorie-restricting meal plan if you enjoy the things you eat. We also know that eating makes you feel more full than drinking a liquid, so even though these bars have less protein than a shake, there’s a chance you’ll feel more full after a Quest Bar.”
RELATED: Protein Bar vs Shake
If you’re constantly fighting cravings and hunger, Quest Bars may be your secret weapon.
Great Source of Fiber
Quest Bars are also filling due to the higher fiber content, which also has plenty of benefits.
According to a 2020 study1 published in Nutrients, a high fiber intake is associated with improved metabolic health, a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and improved colon and gut health.
Just be sure to drink plenty of water, as consuming more fiber than you’re used to without water can cause cramping and other digestive issues.
Some users also count net carbs instead of total carbs for specific dietary needs, which is the total carbs minus the fiber content. If you use net carbs, Quest Bars are a great low-carb protein source with a low sugar content.
What to Consider Before Buying Quest Bars
Before you order your next case of Quest Bars, here are the most important things to think about.
Nutrition Content
While every Quest Bar we tried has under 200 calories, the macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat) vary slightly between them depending on the flavor.
This shouldn’t cause any serious issues for most people, as the difference is typically no more than a few grams. However, if you have strict macro targets you’re trying to hit, take a look at the label, as not all Quest Bars have identical macros.
RELATED: What Should My Macros Be?
The actual ingredients in Quest Bars can also vary between flavors, so I recommend checking out the entire nutrition label and ingredient list before ordering anything.
Digestability
We love Quest Bars, but one complaint I’ve heard from nutrition clients over the years is the high fiber content. Even though these are gluten-free protein bars, they contain polydextrose, a prebiotic fiber. Fiber has plenty of health benefits, but for some, Quest Bars can cause a bit of bloating and discomfort, especially if you’re not drinking enough water.
They may also contain sugar alcohols, stevia, sucralose, or ingredients like erythritol, a low-calorie sweetener that may also cause discomfort.
If you’ve ever had digestive issues from high-fiber food sources, you may want to find an individual Quest Bar to test it before ordering a whole box.
Flavor Profiles
Finally, you’ll want to think about what flavors you enjoy and don’t mind eating repeatedly. For example, some of the flavors we tested are very sweet, and testers mentioned that they wouldn’t want to have them on a regular basis.
Thankfully, Quest has a wide variety of flavors, so there’s plenty to choose from, and there’s nothing wrong with trying a new flavor with each order or choosing a variety pack.
Many flavors are also influenced by popular snacks and treats, which can help those looking to cut down on their sugar intake. For example, Cookies & Cream is a great choice for those who love Oreo cookies, while Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup lovers may want to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Quest Bar.
Experts Who Contributed to This Article
Best Quest Bar Flavors: FAQs
Are Quest Bars actually healthy?
Yes. While some may contain artificial sweeteners or other ingredients individuals may wish to avoid, overall, they are low in calories with plenty of protein and fiber, which is beneficial for nearly every type of nutrition plan.
Are Quest Bars a meal replacement?
Depending on your goals, Quest Bars can work very well as a meal replacement or snack. Those looking to build muscle may need something higher in calories, but anyone on a weight loss plan may be able to use Quest Bars as a meal replacement. Speak with a registered dietitian or nutrition coach to determine if using a Quest Bar as a meal replacement is a good choice for you.
Do Quest protein bars help with weight loss?
If used as part of a balanced nutritional plan, yes, Quest Bars can help with weight loss by providing protein and fiber. However, simply adding Quest Bars to your regular nutrition plan won’t do anything, as weight loss is driven by a calorie deficit, not any particular type of food.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Barber, T. M., Kabisch, S., Pfeiffer, A. F. H., & Weickert, M. O. (2020). The Health Benefits of Dietary Fibre. Nutrients, 12(10), 3209.
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