Pure Protein
Chewy Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar‑style chocolate chip bar with 20g of protein at 200 calories and just 3g of sugar. It leans on a soy‑and‑whey blend and modern sweeteners to keep the texture soft and the macros tight—at a very approachable price.
When to choose Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip
Best for budget‑minded gym‑goers and busy snackers who want a low‑sugar, protein‑forward bite that eats like a treat. Skip if you avoid soy/dairy, prefer short‑ingredient‑list bars, or don’t tolerate sugar alcohols well.
What's in the Pure Protein bar?
Pure Protein’s Chewy Chocolate Chip is a soy-and-whey blend that packs 20g of protein—near the top of the category—dressed up with real chocolate cues from chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa (some Dutch-processed).
The sweetness leans modern: sugar alcohols and glycerin do the heavy lifting with a tiny assist from sucralose, which keeps sugars low while the texture stays soft.
Carbs skew engineered rather than whole-food (think maltitol, maltodextrin, and some tapioca starch), and fats stay modest, coming from fractionated palm kernel oil, canola, cocoa butter, a bit of butterfat, and almond butter.
Translation: a protein-forward, low-sugar bar built more like a confectionery-style protein bar than a whole-foods snack, with the chips delivering that chewy chocolate bite.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes from a blend led by soy protein isolate, joined by membrane-filtered dairy proteins (whey concentrate/isolate and milk protein isolate) plus a dose of hydrolyzed collagen. The soy and dairy provide complete, highly digestible amino acids; collagen boosts grams and chew but isn’t a complete protein on its own. At 20g, it’s near the high end for bars, and the isolates are typically low in lactose—but not suitable for anyone with milk or soy allergies.
Fat
59LOWFat is modest at 5g and sourced from fractionated palm kernel oil (a saturated, structure-setting fat used in chips/coatings), canola oil (mostly unsaturated), cocoa butter, a touch of butterfat, and almond butter. The mix tilts toward saturated fats for texture, but the total amount is small. If you’re watching saturated fat, most of it likely rides in with the palm- and cocoa-based components.
Carbs
1820MIDThe 18g of carbs are designed more for sweetness and texture than for whole-food energy. Sugar alcohols (chiefly maltitol) and glycerin keep the bar soft and temper blood-sugar rise compared with table sugar, while maltodextrin and some tapioca starch provide quick-burning carbs. Expect a steady sweetness with a bit of fast energy; sensitive stomachs may notice GI rumbling from sugar alcohols if multiple bars are eaten.
Sugar
34MIDOnly 3g of sugar because sweetness largely comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol), a tiny amount of sucralose, and glycerin rather than fruit or syrups. These are highly refined and generally lower-glycemic than sugar, but they still add some calories and can cause gas or loose stools for some people at higher intakes. Any remaining sugar likely comes from small amounts of table sugar and the chocolate components.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories—below the category average—most energy comes from protein plus bulk sweeteners and refined starches, with a smaller contribution from fat. Because sugar alcohols deliver fewer calories per gram than sugar, they help keep the total down. The overall split looks like a true protein bar: protein-forward, moderate carbs, light fat.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 10% DV, courtesy of added calcium carbonate and the dairy proteins. Otherwise, this bar isn’t built as a multivitamin stand-in—iron and potassium appear in smaller amounts, largely from cocoa and protein ingredients.
Additives
This is a modern, additive-assisted formula: sugar alcohols and glycerin for sweetness and softness, soy lecithin to keep chocolate smooth, and xanthan gum to steady the texture. These are highly refined ingredients that make the bar chewy and shelf-stable rather than crumbly. If you prefer pantry-simpler recipes, this reads more confectionery than whole-food.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Skim cow milk
Cattle hides, pig skins, fish skins
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat starch
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Pure protein > Kirkland Signature protein bars. The pure protein bars actually taste like candy bars to me. The Kirkland Signature protein bars have a texture like chewing on soft leather. That's a no for me!”
“I'm eating a lemon cake Pure Protein bar right now and I can attest that it absolutely slaps. It is a flavor that seems like it could get old quick though. Regardless they have a ton of flavors and the consistency of the bar is pleasing to say the least. 20g of protein with 190 calories isn't too bad either.”
“I buy Pure Protein Bars at Costco. They are my favorite. I find the Kirkland Bars to be too chewy. I have not tried the others you have shown here. I also like the Robert Irvin Bars.”
Main Praise
Value, taste, and protein density carry this bar. Across tens of thousands of Amazon ratings (averaging around 4.
5 stars) and multiple third‑party reviews, people keep coming back to the same trio: it tastes like a dessert‑leaning snack, delivers 20g of protein, and does it for roughly 200 calories.
Several reviewers point out it’s satisfying enough to bridge a long afternoon or a post‑workout gap without feeling heavy. The texture—soft, chewy, studded with actual chocolate elements—lands squarely in the “candy‑bar style” camp, which is exactly what many folks want from a protein bar.
Dietitians in roundups also call out the strong protein‑to‑calorie ratio and note that it’s gluten‑free, widening its appeal. And compared with many competitors, the price is friendly for daily use rather than just special occasions.
Main Criticism
Taste can be polarizing and flavor‑dependent: while plenty call it sweet and satisfying, others find certain chocolate varieties a bit chalky or “mid,” and a few report odd aromas in isolated cases.
The chew is dense—some say it sticks to the roof of the mouth and is best with water nearby. Ingredient‑wise, the bar leans engineered: sugar alcohols and sucralose keep sugars low, which some appreciate, but those same sweeteners can bother sensitive stomachs, especially if you eat more than one.
Fiber is modest, so it’s not the most balanced standalone meal. Finally, this bar contains milk, soy, peanuts/tree nuts, and collagen—so it’s not vegetarian and not for anyone with those allergies.
The Middle Ground
Here’s the split-screen reality. If you want a protein‑first, low‑sugar bar that’s easy on calories and your wallet, this nails the brief; that’s why so many reviewers treat it as a daily driver.
If you’re chasing a farm‑to‑pantry ingredient list or you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, you’ll likely side with the critics who call it chalky, too dense, or fussy on the stomach. Redditors are famously blunt: one called the brand’s chocolate line “mid” yet still buys them for the macros; another swears it “tastes like a candy bar” compared with store‑brand rivals.
The nutrition analysis explains the divide: sugar alcohols and glycerin keep sugars low and the texture soft, but they also introduce that particular sweetness and can cause GI grumbles for some.
No fish ingredients appear in this recipe, despite a few isolated “off‑aroma” anecdotes online; those reports aren’t consistent and don’t define the broader experience. Practical tweaks help—sip water to cut the density and pair the bar with a piece of fruit or yogurt to add fiber and freshness.
What's the bottom line?
Pure Protein’s Chewy Chocolate Chip is a confectionery‑style protein bar with serious macro chops: 20g of protein, 200 calories, and 3g of sugar. It’s the kind of bar you can keep in your gym bag or desk drawer and actually look forward to eating, especially if dessert‑leaning bars are your thing. The tradeoffs are clear: a longer, more engineered ingredient list, sugar alcohols that won’t suit every stomach, and a texture some find dense or slightly chalky.
If your priority is efficient protein at a friendly price—and you’re fine with modern sweeteners—this is an easy go‑to. If you prefer simpler ingredients or have soy/milk sensitivities, look elsewhere. For most people, the smart move is to treat it like a tasty protein assist rather than a standalone meal: enjoy the chips and chew, add a fruit for fiber, and let the bar do what it does best—deliver dependable protein without blowing your calorie budget.