EPIC Provisions
Beef Uncured Bacon Apple Bar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A real‑meat bar built from beef, uncured smoked bacon, and dried apple—no protein powders or added sugar, just a couple of preservation ingredients to keep it safe and shelf‑stable. Savory, minimal, and unmistakably meat‑first.
When to choose EPIC Provisions Beef Uncured Bacon Apple Bar
Best for savory snackers who want a light, paleo‑friendly, gluten‑free bite without dairy or soy—think hikes, road trips, and between‑meeting nibbles. Not a meal replacement; more of a tidy, real‑food protein boost.
What's in the EPIC Provisions bar?
EPIC Provisions’ Beef Uncured Bacon Apple Bar leans into real-food simplicity: beef for the base, uncured smoked bacon for savory depth, and dried apples for a gentle sweetness. The protein is purely meat-based—beef plus pork—so it’s complete and highly digestible, though the total lands on the lighter side at 8 grams.
Carbs are exceptionally low for a bar because there’s no grain or syrup; the few grams you do get come from actual apple.
Most of the energy comes from the bar’s own animal fat (no added seed oils), which helps it feel satisfying while keeping calories among the lowest you’ll see in protein bars.
Flavor-wise, expect bacon-and-smoke with an apple finish—the ingredients read like the taste. One note: the “uncured” bacon uses cultured celery powder (a natural nitrite source) to keep the meat safe and shelf-stable, a standard approach in meat snacks.
- Protein
- 8 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 5 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 130
Protein
815LOWProtein here comes straight from beef and pork (bacon), both complete and highly digestible sources. At 8 grams, it sits well below most protein bars, so think of it as a light, real‑food protein boost rather than a meal replacement. No whey, soy, or plant isolates—just meat—so the quality is excellent even if the quantity is modest.
Fat
99MIDThe 9 grams of fat are intrinsic to the beef and bacon, not added oils. That mix leans toward saturated and monounsaturated fats typical of red meat and pork; there are no seed oils in the mix. This middle‑of‑the‑pack fat level is the main reason the bar feels satisfying despite its small size.
Carbs
520LOWWith only 5 grams of carbs, this bar keeps it simple: nearly all of them come from dried apples. That means naturally occurring sugars rather than syrups or refined starches, and the amount is too small to create a big blood sugar swing for most people. It’s more of a steady, savory snack than a quick carb hit.
Sugar
34MIDThere are 3 grams of sugar, coming from the dried apple pieces—no added sugars, sugar alcohols, or high‑intensity sweeteners. That lands around the middle of the pack for bars, with sweetness tied to a whole‑food ingredient rather than a lab‑made blend.
Calories
130210LOWAt 130 calories (unusually low for this category), most of the energy comes from fat with a smaller share from protein and very little from carbs. Back‑of‑the‑envelope math puts it at roughly 60% fat, 25% protein, 15% carbs. Translation: it’s a light, savory bite rather than a dense meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
No single vitamin tops 10% of daily value on the label, which makes sense for a small, meat‑based bar. You’ll still pick up modest minerals like iron and potassium from the beef and apple, and beef naturally contains vitamin B12 even if it isn’t quantified here.
Additives
Additives are minimal and purposeful: encapsulated lactic acid (to lower pH and protect the meat while adding a faint tang) and cultured celery powder (a plant‑derived nitrite used to preserve “uncured” bacon). They’re refined tools used in tiny amounts to make meat safe and shelf‑stable; if you’re limiting processed/cured meats, keep that context in mind.
Ingredient List
Meat from cattle
Domesticated pigs
Cultivated celery stalks and leaves
Malus domestica fruit
Celery plant extract, fermented
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Epic bars. Done and done. They’re the bees knees.”
“Epic bars are essentially cured meat, and very tasty. They even have a keto selection.”
“those chicken sriracha bars are sooooo tasty. they’re like a “clean” slim jim 🥵”
Main Praise
Fans love that this bar reads like dinner, not dessert. The ingredient list is short and recognizable, and the flavor mirrors it—smoky beef with a gentle apple finish instead of a syrupy, artificial sweetness.
Reviewers across Amazon call out the brand’s bars as a dependable, real‑food way to get protein without whey or soy, and independent roundups from Outside and Shape note that meat‑based bars can be easier on the stomach than ultra‑processed, candy‑adjacent options.
On the trail, it’s a welcome break from sweet snacks, packs cleanly, and actually feels like food. With 130 calories, it’s also a straightforward way to take the edge off hunger without committing to a whole meal.
Main Criticism
Taste is polarizing. Some Redditors call EPIC bars “the bees knees,” while others insist they’re “gross”—that’s the reality of a jerky‑style texture and a savory profile in a category dominated by sweet bars.
Expect salt: like most cured meats, sodium runs higher than average; several reviewers wished for less. A few people find the lactic‑acid tang or the bits of fruit a little odd at first.
And if you’re after a 20g protein hit, 8 grams won’t scratch that itch—you’ll want to pair it with something else or choose a different bar. Price per ounce also comes up; it’s a premium for what’s basically high‑quality meat in a tidy format.
The Middle Ground
So, who’s right: the “bees knees” crowd or the “garbage warmed over” camp? Probably both, depending on what you expect from a protein bar.
If you’re looking for fudge‑like texture and birthday‑cake flavor, this will feel wrong from bite one.
But if you want something that eats like real food, most evidence points in its favor: Outside’s dietitian highlights its gut‑friendliness, Shape praises the clean, readable ingredients, and hikers like CleverHiker appreciate the savory reset in a sea of sugar.
The trade‑offs are clear—sodium you should plan around and protein that’s modest for a “true” protein bar—but the experience is honest. It tastes like its ingredients and fills a very specific niche: savory, portable, simple.
The open question is your palate. If jerky and bacon sound good at 3 p.
m. , you’ll likely be happy; if not, no glowing review will change your mind.
What's the bottom line?
EPIC’s Beef Uncured Bacon Apple Bar is a small, savory, real‑meat snack that punches above its weight in satisfaction, not sheer grams. You get 8 grams of high‑quality protein from beef and bacon, a touch of natural sweetness from dried apple, and none of the syrups or protein powders that make so many bars taste like chemistry projects. The sodium is noticeable—as with most cured meats—so check the label if you’re managing it closely, and consider pairing the bar with water.
In practice, it shines as a bridge snack or a packable companion: toss it in a hiking bag, keep one in the car, or pair it with a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts, or string cheese when you want more staying power. If you crave sweet, cakey bars or need 20+ grams of protein in a single go, this isn’t your hero. But if “smoky beef with a little apple” sounds like the snack you’ve been missing, this is a thoughtful, tidy way to eat it.