I love to make homemade power bars. They are so much better than store-bought options–better quality ingredients, frugal, no wasteful packaging–and are perfect for quick, nutritious snacks and mini-meals any time of day.
But as much as I enjoy my naturally sweet creations, I’ve long wanted to create a savory power bar, one completely absent of sweet ingredients that is every bit as portable and variable as homemade granola bars, larabars, and clif bars. I know I am not alone on this subject : I’ve received countless requests for just such a bar for years from fellow fitness enthusiasts, backpackers, and snackers, but it took me forever to figure out a feasible, delicious, convenient and affordable way to do it.
Until now.
I am so excited about these bars! They are delicious, a cinch to prepare, frugal, gluten-free, vegan, and perfectly portable for every kind of venture.
One of my star ingredients is familiar–cooked quinoa–but the other key player, unsweetened pea protein powder, requires a bit of explanation. Pea protein powder is a high protein, versatile protein powder made from yellow peas. It is naturally gluten-free, vegan, allergen-free,easy-to-digest, low in calories, and low in fat; it has a fine powdery texture and neutral flavor, which means you can add it to smoothies, soups, baked goods, and more for a boost of protein and overall nutrition.
I’ve been using pea protein powder for a few years, but I want to note that I used Growing Naturals Pea Protein in these bars; the company was kind enough to send me samples of their protein powders and I am loving them! The texture is much finer than any other pea protein I’ve used, and I also love that it is raw (which is not the case for several other pea protein powders).
I use 1/2 cup of the pea protein powder in these bars, but if you want to make an even higher protein bar, simply omit the 1/2 cup oats and add another 1/2 cup of pea protein. Conversely, if you do not have pea protein, you can still make these bars simply by increasing the total amount of oats to 1 cup.
The possibilities for variations with these bars is vast. For example, add different spices or herbs, and use any combination of nuts and seeds that you like. I’ll be sharing some of my own flavor combinations and variations in the days to come.
In the meantime, get busy baking! I know that you are going to love these bars as much as I do!
Savory Power Bars
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 10 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, Gluten-Free if needed
- 1/2 cup unflavored (plain) pea protein powder (e.g., Growing Naturals)
- 1–1/2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachios, chopped
- 1/3 cup roasted, salted almonds, chopped
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Optional: 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast or grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease or spray an 8-inch square baking pan.
- Process the oat flour in food processor until it is a fine flour. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the pea protein powder, cooked quinoa, chia seeds, pistachios, almonds, salt, milk, and (optional) pepper and (optional) nutritional yeast, stirring until blended.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and firmly set at center. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely in the pan.
- Remove bars from pan and cut into 10 bars. Individually wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 4 days, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
Extra-High Protein Bar: Omit the oats and increase the toal amount of pea protein powder to 1 cup. This will result in the following nutrition stats per bar: 156 calories, 13 g protein, 9 g carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 8 g fat.
No Protein Powder Bar: Omit the protein powder and increase the total amount of oats to 1 cup. This will result in the following nutrition stats per bar: 144 calories, 6 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 4 g sugar, 5 g fat.
- Category: power bar, snack
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 g
Would yellow pea flour work? I could grind them on extra fine.
Just looking to use ingredients already in the house.
Thanks for coming up with a savory option; too much sweets, even
natural ones, makes me nuts after a while.
Hi Davette,
I am not sure about the yellow pea flour; the pea protein has a lot of the fiber removed from it, so you may need to adjust the ratios and experiement a bit. I completely agree about the sweet bars getting monotonous! 🙂
Are your carb counts gross or net for these? I am vegan, and have a whole cannister of pea protein that I need to use up, but need to keep my carbs under 100 per day
Hi Robin
They are gross carbs. Hope that helps!
Has anyone tried this with hemp protein or just ground dried peas? I am afraid that it would alter the taste. I am going to try it anyway with 1/2 & 1/2 and experiment with different flavors. Fingers crossed these honey mustard ones turn out good! Thanks for the recipe !!!
I would love to know how your experiment turns out, Alyssa. I have a huge tub of hemp protein that I should get around to using!
I really like this idea about making savory protein bars. I’m definitely going to try them.
DO NOT HEAT HEMP In any form. It turns carcinogenic (cancer causing) and destroys the nutrients. I currently have a protein powder which has hemp and I’m looking for no bake or heat recipes. I’m going to try this pea protein after I finish this one.
Thanks so much for the recipe, Camilla
Hi,
what could I substitute for the quinoa?
Thanks!
Hi Kelsey! You could use a similar size grain like millet, or if you are not going gluten-free, use bulgur (equal amounts for both). 🙂
Hi Camilla,
Do you think chickpea flour would be ok to use instead of pea flour?
It would be worth a try!
How do you determine the protein content of the bars?
Hi Giselle,
Online nutrition calculator software–you enter in each of the ingredients, including the specific brand of protein powder, then you enter how many servings, and it breaks down all of the nutrition information per serving. This is the one I use most often: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
Thanks, Camilla! I just ordered some of same brand from your picture. Hope to make these this weekend. I have lots of quinoa left over from tonight’s dinner! Will let you know how they turn out. Love all your stuff!:) xx
Hi Colleen! Yes, I love it! Both the plain and the flavored. I have used NOW brand, which is fine, and Pure Pea; pure pea is good, but pretty pricey, and a little bit gritty. I’ve been experimenting a lot with Growing Naturals Rice protein , too–I had given up on rice protein powder because the brands I had tried were really, really gritty, but the GN brand is amazing, really light, no grit at all! I wouldn’t steer you wrong! 🙂
HI Camilla, I love the idea of savory protein bars and all of the recipes have so much sugar! I was frustrated and searched for savory ones and found your site. Thank you!
I heard that cooking destroys the protein. And powders should not be cooked or heated as they will lose their protein content. So wanted to know if you could find out after baking them.
Thanks!
Camilla, you like the flavor of that pea protein brand? Trying to find a good one
Fantastic, Stacey!
I made them yesterday; made for a great snack today!
Hilarious, Denise 😉
I must be tired. I read that as “power bras” and wondered how they could be savory. :/
Thanks, Tina!
Will have to try making some!! Looks great Camilla!!
Love it! Cannot wait to experiment more!
Wonderful, Xochitl!
These look great – glad you like the pea protein!
These look great! Think I’ll try to make them over the weekend.
I hope you do try them, Julia! You could ask your son what he wants to add to the mix 🙂
I want to try these. I have made your power cookies and my son who is gluten free loves them.
Oh, I hope you do try them, Julia! You could ask your son what sorts of add-ins he would like best!
I’d love to see this with GARlic in it. Mmmmm… if you want to get savory for real, make it taste like a crouton!
Garlic would be great! Just add 2 or 3 cloves, minced, to the batter–yum!