Savory High Protein Snacks Under 180 Calories, Compared by Format
StarKist Chunk Light Tuna wins: 17g of protein for 70 calories in one pouch. For the most per serving, the 5 oz StarKist chicken pouch gives 28g.
Top picks
Best savory snack
StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water17 g protein · 70 cal · 24.3 g per 100 cal
Shelf-stable 2.6 oz pouch, sold in a 24-pack.
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15 savory snacks ranked by protein per calorie
- 15 g6025 g
- 17 g7024.3 g
- 19 g8023.8 g
- 18 g8022.5 g
- 19 g9021.1 g
- 14 g7020 g
- 10 g5020 g
- 10 g5020 g
- 17 g9018.9 g
- 28 g15018.7 g
- 21 g13016.2 g
- 26 g16815.5 g
- 14 g11312.4 g
- 15 g1609.4 g
- 10 g1407.1 g
Pouches
Buy these first. Plain tuna and chicken pouches list 1g of carbs or less. The 5 oz StarKist chicken pouch is the pick when you want one big serving instead of two small ones. Flavored Chicken Creations pouches list 11 to 12g, so plain wins on protein.
Broth
High density, small servings. Most cartons list 8 to 10g, and 8g misses the rule. Bonafide and Kettle & Fire Mushroom Chicken are the two cartons that list 18g and 19g. Powders like Bone Brewhouse top the ranking per calorie and travel better than cartons.
Jerky and sticks
Peppered and original styles beat sweet glazes on carbs. Oberto Thin Style and Grazly sticks lead the format. Plain sticks are the safer blind buy. The full ranking is in beef jerky protein snacks.
Soup
Mostly fails on density. Chicken noodle cans list 13 to 16g protein for 132 to 178 calories, with 12 to 25g of carbs. Campbell's Chunky Split Pea with Ham is the exception: 26g, 12 calories under the cap.
Crunch
Buy snack mix for crunch, not protein. Catalina Crunch and Quest Cheese Crackers list 10g for 130 to 160 calories. Twin Peaks Puffs are the exception. Chip bags are ranked in protein chips under 180 calories.
Sodium
Our catalog doesn't carry sodium, and savory is where it matters most. Check the Nutrition Facts panel on every pack. Less Sodium pouches and unsalted broths exist if you need them.
How we rank
Every product here lists more than 8g protein, 180 calories or fewer per serving. Anything that misses either line is out, with no exceptions.
We rank by protein per 100 calories, using the protein, calories and price on the Amazon listing as last checked on Nov 5, 2026. Listings whose numbers can't all be true are held back until we check the label. Confirm the live listing and the package before you buy.
180cal earns a commission on Amazon purchases. It never changes which products pass or how they rank.
Questions about savory high protein snacks under 180 calories
What is the highest protein savory snack under 180 calories?
Per calorie, StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water wins at 17g protein for 70 calories. Per serving, the StarKist Premium White Chicken 5 oz pouch gives 28g protein for 150 calories.
Is bone broth a real protein snack?
Some are. Bonafide Provisions Chicken Bone Broth lists 18g protein for 80 calories and Kettle & Fire Mushroom Chicken lists 19g for 90. Most cartons sit at 8 to 10g, and an 8g carton misses the rule, so check the label before you count it.
Can canned soup count as a high protein snack under 180 calories?
A few cans pass. Campbell's Chunky Split Pea with Ham lists 26g protein at 168 calories. Most chicken noodle cans list 13 to 16g protein for 132 to 178 calories, with 12 to 25g of carbs.
Is protein snack mix worth buying?
Only if you want crunch. Catalina Crunch Protein Snack Mix and Quest Cheese Crackers list 10g protein for 130 to 160 calories. Twin Peaks Protein Puffs are the exception at 21g for 130 calories.
How much sodium is in savory protein snacks?
Our catalog does not carry sodium, so read the Nutrition Facts panel on every pack. If you are watching it, StarKist sells Less Sodium chicken pouches and Pacific Foods sells an unsalted chicken bone broth.