The Best Protein Chips for Low Carb Snacking

Eating the best keto chips shouldn’t feel like punishment for being on a diet. In two separate taste tests, we shopped for an assortment of low carb chips and protein chips and tried them against one another to find the tastiest keto friendly chips out there. What we didn’t do is compare these to actual potato chips or corn chips—keto chips are their own thing and, in a vacuum where carb-loaded chips simply don’t exist, they’re not bad! 

Snacks—even keto friendly snacks—should always be fun. That said, a lot of keto friendly foods are pretty bad. I’m no food scientist, but based on experience, I presume that attempting to accurately create low carb versions of carb-loaded foods, like bread, bagels, and cereal, is a tall order. 

Chips are friendlier territory for keto-food-producing pioneers. What do we want from chips? Crunch. Salt. Diversion. Keto chips can do all of that, albeit in very different ways with varying degrees of success. We tried everything from chips made with chicken and egg whites to chips made with something generically referred to as a “protein blend” to find the best keto chips you can buy.
Note: Our previous favorite line of keto friendly chips, Hilo, appears to have been discontinued. Bring them back, PepsiCo!

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Best Classic Flavor

Quest Sour Cream & Onion Protein Chips (4g net carbs)

Walmart

We tried these keto friendly chips as part of our recent sour cream and onion chips taste test, and while they didn’t make enough of an impression to rank among regular ol’ potato chips, they’re pretty good. The seasoning actually tastes like both sour cream and onion, and if you’re used to the texture of Baked Lay’s, these low carb chips aren’t that much of a departure, despite being made with dairy proteins instead of potatoes. You’re looking at 19g protein and just 4g net carbs per serving, so if you’re missing sour cream and onion chips, these are definitely among the best protein chips you can buy.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Diet-y

Atkins Protein Chips Ranch

Instacart

The two big boys in keto friendly chips are Atkins and Quest. Both use the aforementioned “protein blend,” but Atkins Protein Chips have a slightly better texture than Quest’s. Atkins Protein Chips are a little thicker and they have the sensation of being more fried. They come in three flavors, but we were only able to get our hands on ranch. They’re good, but they do lean a little sweet thanks to the milky flavor of the protein blend from which they’re made.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Keto Tortilla Chips

Quest Tortilla Style Protein Chips Loaded Taco (4g net carbs)

Walmart

While you can totally get used to the crumbly, ancient-parchment-esque texture of Quest’s potato-style chips (like the sour cream and onion chips above—we like them!), the brand’s tortilla-style protein chips are thicker and more chip-like, with a delicate, crispy crunch. We especially loved this highly convincing taco flavor, which reminded me a lot of Lay’s Loaded Taco Chips—you can really taste a lot of elements, from seasoned beef to cheese to cool sour cream. They’re the best keto chips if crunchy tacos are off the menu for you at the moment.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Meaty

Wilde Protein Chips Sea Salt & Vinegar

Instacart

I’ll admit it: Chips made with chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth do not sound good. But if you can get past the weird ingredients list, these keto friendly chips are surprisingly tasty. Wilde chips actually kind of taste like crispy chicken skins, and the sea salt and vinegar flavoring is a nice counterpart to the meaty, almost gamey taste of the chips themselves. 

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Spicy

Wilde Protein Chips Chicken and Waffles (9g carbs)

Instacart

In the void left by Hilo’s departure from the market, Wilde officially makes the best protein chips at the grocery store. They’re light and crispy, and we really like the savory chicken flavor—and this chicken and waffles flavor really works. You get a lot of nice sweet maple syrup flavor up front, but as you chew you can taste the savory chicken flavor of the chips. They’re really surprising despite being really weird. They’re the only low carb chips I was compelled to take home. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: HiLo Life Ranch (discontinued), HiLo Life Nacho Cheese (discontinued), HiLo Life Spicy Salsa (discontinued), Quest Spicy Sweet Chili Protein Chips, Quest Ranch Protein Chips, Quest Nacho Cheese Protein Chips, Flock Chicken Skin Crisps BBQ, Flock Chicken Skin Crisps Nashville Hot Chicken