The Best Beef Protein Powders

The most important thing to look for in a beef protein powder is a clean ingredients list. The product you choose should be free of inflammatory substances (such as artificial flavors, synthetic colors, and unnecessary fillers and flow agents). It should be third-party tested for contaminants (like heavy metals, mold and pesticides). And it should be derived from grass-fed and grass-finished cattle, rather than from conventional grain-fed animals.

The options below check off all of those boxes:

• Equip Prime Protein: Arguably one of the cleanest, simplest and most delicious beef protein powders on the market that features HydroBeef (beef protein isolate). 
• Noble All-In-One Protein: A delicious mix of beef protein isolate, beef organs and bovine colostrum that offers pure nose-to-tail nutrition.
• Ancestral Supplements Ancestral Protein: A delicious mix of bone broth protein, bone matrix, beef organs and mushrooms that honors our ancestral roots.
• PaleoPro Paleo Protein Powder: A paleo and keto-friendly protein powder featuring a nutritious combination of beef and egg white protein.
• Lineage Provisions Animal-Based Complete: A complete grass-fed beef protein powder with maple syrup, beef organs, fruits and bovine colostrum.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, I’d like to acknowledge that beef protein isolate (the type of beef protein used in most powders) has a Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS) of 92-100% — well below that of whey protein concentrate and isolate, which can top out at 110%. 

DIAAS measures how well essential amino acids are absorbed in the small intestine, reflecting the true digestibility and amino acid quality of a given protein source. 

Despite beef protein isolate’s slightly lower DIAAS, I prefer it over whey because I seem to tolerate it better, and it more closely reflects my dietary preferences. In other words, humans have been consuming the muscle meat of ruminants for far longer than they have been drinking their milk, and I’d argue most people’s guts do better with beef than whey protein (I know mine does). 

Equip Prime Protein

As I explained in my review of the product, I love Equip’s Prime Protein because it’s available in an unflavored version that contains only a single ingredient: beef protein isolate. That’s as clean as it gets. But even the flavored versions contain only a handful of ingredients that I have no issue exposing our kids to. 

My wife and kids love mixing Prime Protein with raw milk or greek yogurt, but I prefer mixing it with homemade raw milk kefir. That said, we’ve also enjoyed it mixed with filtered tap water (when we ran out of milk) and everyone liked it that way too.

There isn’t much to complain about with Prime Protein except that Equip uses stevia as a sweetener, which some people try to avoid because there is evidence that it can negatively impact the gut microbiome.

On the flip side, Prime Protein is one of the least-expensive products in this round up, making it an attractive choice if multiple family members consume it on a regular basis.

Shop Equip Prime Protein

To save money, you can sign up for a recurring subscription, which brings the price down to $1.81 per serving. You can also use my promo code MK15 and get an extra 15% off. When combined with a subscription, that lowers the price per serving down to a very reasonable $1.69.

Prime Protein is also available on Amazon.

Noble All-In-One Protein

Noble’s beef protein powder is a favorite among our kids because it’s absolutely delicious. I love it because, in addition to beef protein isolate, it contains both a freeze-dried beef organs mix (liver, heart, kidney, spleen and pancreas) and bovine colostrum to boost its micronutrient profile. In other words, it’s an excellent choice if you value the benefits of true nose-to-tail nutrition.

At the Kummer house, we like mixing a scoop of Noble beef protein into 8 ounces of raw milk or homemade kefir, and we have it with breakfast or anytime we feel like we need an extra boost in protein.

While Noble is one of our favorites, it’s not perfect. First off, it’s fairly expensive (especially if the entire family consumes it on a regular basis) and it contains a few ingredients not everyone likes. 

For example, some people are sensitive to xanthan gum (an emulsifier that helps ensure the powder blends smoothly into liquid), and some people don’t like stevia (a sweetener). Neither of those ingredients are show stoppers for me, but I wouldn’t mind if Noble decided to remove xanthan gum and used monk fruit instead of stevia.

Overall, Noble All-in-One is a solid beef protein supplement our kids and I enjoy regularly. You read my full Noble protein review to learn more about my experience with the product.

Shop Noble All-In-One Protein

If you want to give Noble a try, make sure to use code MICHAEL to save 15%. Alternatively, you can sign up for a subscription and save 10% of the sticker price. 

Noble is also available on Amazon for the same price (but you can’t use my discount code if you buy it there).

Ancestral Supplements Ancestral Protein

Ancestral Supplements’ beef protein powder stands out from the competition because instead of regular beef protein isolate (made from muscle meat, skin and cartilage tissue), the company leverages beef bone broth protein. Additionally, this product contains a comprehensive mix of beef organs, bone matrix and fungi for broad micronutrient coverage.

Much like other protein powders, we prefer mixing Ancestral Protein with raw milk, kefir or Greek yogurt. That combo tastes good and further increases the protein content of the meal.

I’m a huge fan of Ancestral Supplements, but it’s worth mentioning that this powder is on the sweeter side compared to some of the other brands I’ve tried. The more pronounced sweetness is likely due to the monk fruit extract they use instead of stevia; the former is my preferred non-caloric sweetener but it tends to be sweeter than stevia. 

Additionally, I should point out that when you mix the powder into a liquid and then refrigerate it, it jellifies due to the bone matrix (as shown in the photo below).

While that doesn’t alter its nutritional properties, you won’t be able to drink it once that happens. I’m bringing that up because some people (including my wife) like to bring a shake to the gym in a cooler so they can have it right after their workout. That’s not really possible with Ancestral Protein. 

It’s also worth noting that the amino acid composition of bone broth protein is more similar to that of collagen rather than beef protein isolate. As a result, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Ancestral Protein if your primary goal is building muscle tissue. 

Lastly I should mention that Ancestral Protein contains fungi, which some advocates of a pure carnivore or even animal-based diets (e.g., Dr. Paul Saladino) recommend avoiding due to their natural defense chemicals and mycotoxins. I have mixed feelings about mushrooms and don’t consume them often, but I do realize that throughout human history we probably consumed them on a more or less regular basis. 

Overall, I like Ancestral Protein because it contains a unique mix of micronutrients and adaptogens but wouldn’t mind a less-sweet version.

Shop Ancestral Protein Powder

You can also find Ancestral Protein on Amazon.

PaleoPro Paleo Protein Powder

I stumbled across PaleoPro many years ago when I first embarked on a paleo diet and fell in love with the idea of combining beef and egg white protein into a clean supplement. The advantage of combining two different sources of animal-based proteins is that it provides a better amino acid coverage and broader absorption time frame. 

For even broader amino acid coverage, you can mix PaleoPro’s beef and egg protein powder with raw milk, thereby allowing you to harness the benefits of three different animal-based protein sources. However, if you don’t tolerate dairy, you can easily mix this protein powder with filtered water or other liquids.

As far as the downsides of PaleoPro are concerned, it’s worth mentioning that some of the proteins found in egg whites (e.g., ovalbumin and ovomucoid) can irritate the gut. So if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or similar digestive issues (like I used to), you might have to steer clear of this product. 

It’s also worth mentioning that this beef protein powder contains sunflower lecithin, which can cause inflammation when consumed in higher amounts. I don’t consider that an issue in the amounts found in protein powders, but if you want to play it safe, you might want to consider another product.

Lastly, this is among the priciest protein powders in this roundup and it can get expensive if you consume it daily.

Overall, Paleo Protein Powder is an excellent supplement for anyone following a paleo or ketogenic diet and who is not sensitive to egg white protein.

Shop PaleoPro Paleo Protein Powder

You can also find PaleoPro Paleo Protein Powder on Amazon.

Lineage Provisions Animal-Based Complete

What I like about this beef protein powder is that it’s a perfect representation of the animal-based framework I follow. It has no funky substances and is packed with many of the ingredients we consume on a regular basis, including beef, organs, colostrum and a variety of sweet fruits. 

One of the things I was most excited about was to see how this unflavored powder would taste in comparison to the other (flavored) powders on this list. To my surprise, Animal-Based Complete didn’t taste terrible considering the inclusion of plain beef protein isolate and organs. 

Don’t get me wrong, it won’t win any taste contests. But it tasted better than I thought it would when mixed with filtered water. Still, I highly recommend mixing the powder into a smoothie (or at least with raw milk) to improve its flavor profile. 

Depending on what dietary framework you follow, you could argue that (besides the cost per serving), the main downside of this product is the inclusion of carbs from maple syrup and powdered fruits. I like organic maple syrup on my sourdough pancakes as much as the next guy, but I still try to limit my consumption of simple sugars. 

Specifically, after a workout, I stick to protein and fat and usually delay my carb intake to later in the day. That’s why I prefer that any protein powders I consume regularly contain no carbs.

Overall, I consider Animal-Based Complete an excellent choice if you follow a Dr. Paul Saladino-style animal-based diet that can include a fair amount of sugars from maple syrup, honey, raw dairy and sweet fruits. If you’re leaning more towards a low-carb animal-based diet or even a carnivore diet, I’d choose one of the other products in this round up.

Lastly, I should also mention that Animal-Based Complete jellifies when refrigerated after mixing it with a liquid (as does Ancestral Protein). So it’s not an ideal choice for a chilled post-workout shake.

On a side note, I think it’s hilarious that Lineage Provisions mentions “no whey, no bloat” in the product’s description but then recommends mixing it with raw milk (which is an obvious source of whey and casein, albeit in an undenatured form).

Shop Lineage Provisions Animal-Based Complete

If you want to give Lineage Provisions a try, make sure to use code Michael10 to get 10% off your purchase. Unfortunately, Lineage Provisions doesn’t sell its protein powder on Amazon as of this writing.

Quick Takes on the Most Popular Beef Protein Powders

These products didn’t make it into my best-of list. But considering their popularity, I wanted to give you my quick analysis. 

1. MuscleMeds Carnivor Beef Protein. A classic example of what gives dietary supplements a bad reputation. It’s absolute junk food filled with artificial and inflammatory ingredients, such as sucralose, artificial flavors, endocrine-disrupting colors and more. I wouldn’t touch this product with a stick.
2. True Nutrition Grass-Fed Beef Protein Isolate. True Nutrition allows you to create your own supplement by selecting the individual ingredients. One of the ingredients they offer is grass-fed beef protein isolate. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t reveal anything about the source of the beef protein or whether or not it’s from grass-finished cattle. While purchasing from them might save you a couple of dollars, you’d have to do more research to confirm the product you want to order meets your requirements.
3. Active Stacks Beef Protein Powder. I haven’t tried this beef protein powder but considering it’s made with HydroBeef (the same beef protein isolate Equip Foods uses), cocoa powder and stevia leaf extract, I’d have no issues recommending it. However, considering it’s more expensive than Equip’s Prime Protein and appears to be less tasty (the company advises not to drink it with plain water), I’d go with Equip.

Summary and Final Thoughts

To wrap up, beef protein powders provide a convenient and effective way to boost your daily protein intake, especially for those who prioritize clean, animal-based nutrition. 

While whey protein may slightly edge out beef in terms of digestibility scores, the unique nutrient profile and tolerability of beef protein make it a valuable addition to an animal-based diet. However, if you’re a fan of whey protein, consider mixing beef protein powder in 8-16 ounces of raw milk to improve the powder’s taste profile and to reap the benefits of both protein types.

You can get some idea for good whey options in my list of the best natural protein powders, which includes some of the beef proteins mentioned in this article as well as why, egg and others.

Whether you’re aiming for improved recovery, sustained energy, or just filling protein gaps, a high-quality beef protein powder can be an excellent addition. Just be mindful of ingredient lists and consider your goals, such as gut health, taste preferences, or additional nutritional benefits like colostrum or organ content.

Michael Kummer

Michael Kummer is a healthy living enthusiast and CrossFit athlete whose goal is to help people achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society.