Best Paleo Protein Powders for 2024 (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
Here’s a round-up of the Best Paleo Protein Powders that are made with clean ingredients. These products are all unsweetened, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and perfect for paleo and real food diets.
Benefits of Protein Powder at Breakfast
Protein powders can be a great addition to almost any diet, especially for breakfast foods like smoothies.
Weight Loss Benefits
Protein consumption at breakfast is also thought to help with weight loss efforts. One study even showed that at least 30 grams of protein at breakfast is needed to help preserve muscle tissue during weight loss in women.
It’s actually harder than you think to get at least 30 grams of protein with breakfast, especially if you are on a dairy-free diet like paleo. For example, one whole egg only has 6 gram of protein. I don’t know that many people who can eat 5 eggs in one sitting!
So, one of the best ways to bump up your protein intake with no dairy or whey protein is to use protein powders.
See more of my healthy weight loss tips for women or my list of the best smoothie ingredients for weight loss.
But, the problem is that there are so many protein powders to choose from, and not all of them contain quality ingredients. See my related review of Premier Protein shakes, Orgain Protein Powder, or my article on Why Ensure is Not Healthy.
Why It’s Hard to Find Paleo Protein Powders
Many protein powders may not work with paleo diets either, as they may contain grains, soy, dairy, or other ingredients that are generally excluded in a paleo approach (learn more about paleo versus a keto diet).
In this post, I’m sharing the very best paleo protein powders that are all grain-free, sugar-free, and made using quality ingredients. I have experience with almost all of these as I have been drinking protein smoothies for over 10 years.
I know protein powders can be pricey, so I don’t want you to waste your money on brands that don’t taste good or do not have ingredients that you can tolerate. I’ve tried to include everything you need to know so you can buy the best protein powder for your needs.
At the end of the post, I also answer some frequently asked questions about protein powders and share some of my favorite paleo smoothie recipes.
Best Paleo Protein Powders
I have tried numerous protein powders over the years, and this list includes my hand-picked selection of the Top 10 Best Paleo Protein Powders. Take some time to peruse them all and pick which one fits your needs best.
I’m sure you can find at least one paleo-friendly protein powder that meets your needs. Best of all, none of these have added sugar.
Try blending these into a smoothie or using them to make a homemade protein bar. See my Built Bar review and why you should avoid processed protein bars.
This product is made using grass-fed beef protein, and it is my personal top choice of the best protein powders. Learn more about the benefits of beef protein powder.
While you can get flavored versions such as chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla that are sweetened with stevia, I prefer the unflavored version that I use in my morning dairy-free smoothies.
There are a ton of benefits to using beef protein powder, including that it is free from all the top allergens and is a complete source of protein with high bioavailability and all of the essential amino acids. I consider beef protein as the ultimate paleo protein powder.
I am a big fan of Equip Foods and they have some great products. The powder has a light and fluffy texture. And, even without any sweeteners or flavors, it’s a great-tasting beef protein powder.
One scoop has just 100 calories and 24 grams of protein.
Also, I have an affiliate code to save you money! Use code CLEANEATING to save 15% off your purchase at Equip Foods.com. You can also find it at Amazon.
2. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder
Vital Proteins has done a great job with their collagen-based products, and this unflavored version is great for using in smoothies, hot drinks, or in almost anything with liquid.
Collagen peptides dissolve really easily and are flavorless. Two scoops will get you 18 grams of protein. I love putting this in my Protein Coffee recipe or my Probiotic Smoothie.
Learn more about the benefits of adding collagen to your diet. Essentially, it is a type of protein from animals that can nourish your skin and hair, not to mention your joints as well.
3. Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein
This Bone Broth Protein powder is made from chicken, and one scoop has 20 grams of protein!
This product has a mild flavor and works great in smoothies.
One benefit is that it contains collagen as well as regular animal-based protein. I like it in my Chocolate Cherry Smoothie.
4. It’s Just Egg White Protein Powder
If you can tolerate eggs, then I really like this egg white protein powder. Even though it’s not organic, it’s non-GMO and comes from the United States.
One serving has 13 grams of protein, and the texture is light and fluffy.
Although I have a mild egg sensitivity, I use this for my husband’s morning Detox Smoothie. Remember, AIP Diets do not allow for eggs as they are a highly allergenic food.
This is a new-to-me product that is made with just sweet potatoes and egg whites. This is one of the few products that I would recommend just blending with water or dairy-free milk.
One scoop gets you 9 grams of protein and 22 grams of carbohydrates.
This sweet potato powder would be a great addition to my Sweet Potato Smoothie.
6. Sprout Living Organic Pea Protein Powder
Pea protein has long been a favorite of vegan dieters, but peas are generally okay for paleo diets, too. Read more about why peas are paleo.
This product is super clean, the only ingredient is peas. One scoop will get you 20 grams of protein. Pea protein is one of the best plant-based proteins.
You could also try me recipe for a Lentil Protein Smoothie if you want another legume-based protein.
Try this in my Vegan Avocado Chocolate Smoothie to increase the protein content.
I am a huge fan of hemp seeds and love making homemade hemp milk.
I usually add whole hemp seeds to my Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie, but this hemp protein powder is great when you want a powder version. This hemp seed powder is also vegan and a whole food.
One serving has 15 grams or protein and 8 grams of fiber.
8. Peak Performance Organic Paleo Grain Free Plant Based Protein Powder
This product is one of the few flavored and sweetened protein powders on my list.
But, the ingredient list is really clean and includes hemp seeds and pea protein. One serving has 20 grams of protein.
This product is sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract, two sweeteners that are included on my list of the Best Sugar Substitutes.
9. Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Protein Mix
I am a big fan of Primal Kitchen products, and this protein powder is no exception.
This is another powder that has natural flavors, but the ingredient list is clean and sugar-free. This is a high-quality product. One scoop has 11 grams of protein.
This one would be a great addition to my Strawberry Banana Chocolate Smoothie to help bulk it up. It’s also great in my Weight Loss Green Smoothie.
The last (but not least!) of my top 10 best protein powders is this cricket protein powder.
This is a great product to add to smoothies and it does not have a strong flavor at all. One serving gets you 11 grams of complete protein that is also high in iron.
Insect-based protein supplements are considered animal proteins and are keto and paleo.
Note that people with shellfish allergies should probably avoid cricket and insect protein sources.
Cricket protein is a great option with a low environmental impact. Learn more about the benefits of cricket protein and the best diets for climate change.
FAQs
AIP stands for autoimmune protocol and is a stricter version of paleo that cuts out nuts, seeds, artificial sweeteners including stevia, chocolate, eggs, and nightshades. Learn more about the AIP Diet for Beginners.
The best AIP protein powders include the unflavored versions of Equip Foods Prime Protein, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, and Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein. Unflavored Cricket Protein is also consider safe for AIP (as long as you don’t have a shellfish allergy).
I have a whole list of the best protein powders for pregnancy! I also have a list of the best breastfeeding smoothie recipes if you want ways to use your protein powder.
Based on my research, there are currently no ready to go, individually packaged paleo protein shakes on the market. If you know of one, let me know! There is a fairly decent pre-made shake mix that I think is decent. It is vegan but not paleo. See my reviews of whether Kachava is healthy or not or if Premier Protein is healthy or not.
No, whey protein is not considered paleo because it is made from dairy. Dairy products are not considered paleo, although it’s best to test it for yourself. See my article, Paleo Diet for Beginners for more information.
Yes! This list also includes the best gluten-free and dairy-free protein powders.
Smoothie Recipes Using Paleo Protein Powder
Here are some more of my favorite paleo smoothie recipes that would all be great using any of the protein powders listed above.
- Avocado Chocolate Smoothie
- Orange Banana Smoothie
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
- Weight Gain 1,000 Calorie Smoothie
Don’t Miss These Smoothie Resources!
Conclusions
Whether you’re on a paleo or real food diet, you might need some help increasing your protein consumption to help with satiety and weight management. This list of the top ten best paleo protein powders includes options that meet all types of needs.
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
I’m looking for a plant based protein powder without stevia and without monkfruit. I dislike both of those. Can you recommend one?
Try pea protein (#6 on the list).
Is collagen protein the same as whey/pea/egg? I thought it was different and doesn’t give you the same nutrient value like “real” protein!
It is different in that collagen is not a complete protein, but it still has benefits. You can read this article for more info: https://www.cleaneatingkitchen.com/secrets-about-collagen-protein/
I thought peas were non paleo compliant?
I think they are a “grey” area food. Feel free to avoid if you don’t do well with them.
Why do many of the proteins listed have the strike through font? Do you no longer recommend them? Has something changed about them? I’m just not sure what it means and if I can still rely on the recommendations for those products or if I’m supposed to only, now consider the ones without the strike through.
Hi Megen, sorry about that it was just a technical glitch, it’s fixed now and all the recommendations are unchanged! 🙂