How to Find the Best Savory Protein Powder

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Nutrition Coach’s guide on how to find the best savory protein powder for soups, sauces, and other savory dishes.

Last Updated
Jul 26, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Jack, CNC

Jack is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach.

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Disclaimer: This communication is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

Savory Protein Powder

What Is Savory Protein Powder?

Most protein powders come in sweet flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, but there are options for people who prefer a savory protein boost.

Savory protein powder can be added to savory foods, such as soups and sauces, instead of sweet foods like smoothies and shakes.

It is a good option if you want to make protein powder part of your diet, but do not have a sweet tooth.

Some companies make savory protein powders in flavors like chicken soup, which you can use as a soup base.

The problem with many flavored savory protein powders is they are not versatile.

Their strong flavors limit how you can use them.

This is why many people prefer unflavored or neutral-tasting savory protein powders.

You can add them to almost any savory recipe without making it taste like dessert.

Some of my favorite savory dishes to add unflavored protein powder to include:

• Soups and sauces
• Mashed potatoes
• Scrambled eggs

In most cases, adding protein powder to a recipe is easy.

If you notice clumping or a strange texture, however, try the following:

• Do not boil or heat the food after adding the powder as high heat can cause clumping.
• Whisk the powder with a small amount of liquid first to make a smooth slurry.
• Start with a small amount of powder and slowly add more.
• Add extra fat, such as olive oil or butter, to smooth out the texture.

Be ready to do some trial and error, because every recipe is different.

Also note that not all savory protein powders are created equal.

What Is the Best Savory Protein Powder?

As long as you are eating a balanced diet – getting protein from a variety of sources – any type of savory protein powder can help you meet your total daily protein needs.

Ingredients do matter, however.

Many savory protein powders contain ingredients that might indirectly contribute to painful side effects and even long-term gut health problems.

Here are the ingredients in a popular chicken soup-flavored protein powder:

Whey protein isolate, soluble corn fiber, coconut creamer, maltodextrin, natural flavor, xanthan gum, Vitamin & Mineral Blend (magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, D-calcium pantothenate, niacinamide, electrolytic iron, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, dicalcium phosphate, cholecalciferol, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine HCl, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, chromium chloride, cyanocobalamin, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate, sodium selenite), salt and silica

As you can clearly see, many of these ingredients are ultra-processed food additives.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Regularly consuming emulsifiers, thickeners, and other ultra-processed additives might alter the makeup and function of your gut microbiome – the community of microbes living in your digestive tract (North Clin Istanb, 2020).

These shifts, known as gut dysbiosis, have been shown to contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and even certain cancers (J Exp Med, 2019).

Gut dysbiosis is so problematic because it can contribute to a self-reinforcing cascade of problems, including increased intestinal permeability, inflammation, and poor nutrient absorption (Intern Emerg Med, 2023).

It is important to note that much of this research is still emerging, so more studies are needed to clarify these relationships.

That said, the preliminary findings suggest that because protein shakes and powders are something you consume regularly, if not every day, the cumulative effects of small amounts of potentially harmful ingredients is worth taking seriously.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein shakes and powders:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

I also recommend avoiding protein concentrates and isolates.

Most protein powders are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

You therefore might not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

For example, one study shows that regularly consuming protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome (Nutrients, 2018).

Another study shows that it could cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

Although further research is needed, you can play it safe by choosing protein powders made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds.

Our customers find them to be more gut-friendly.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2020.
2. The Journal of Experimental Medicine (J Exp Med). The gut microbiome: Relationships with disease and opportunities for therapy. 2019.
3. Internal and Emergency Medicine (Intern Emerg Med). Gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation: a narrative review. 2023.
4. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
5. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Certified Nutrition Coach and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.