While beef protein might not sound as appetizing as a dairy-based option like whey or a plant-based one like pea, it can provide you with some great health benefits.
As a complete dietary source of protein, beef is an excellent choice for topping your body up with the macronutrient whether it’s before or after a workout.
The red meat is also full of vitamins and minerals to keep the body functioning optimally and is a paleo-friendly option for those looking to avoid dairy.
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Beef Protein Powder
- Best of the Best: MuscleMeds Carnivor Beef Protein
- Runner Up: Olympian Labs Beef Protein
- Best Meal Replacement: Redcon1 MRE
Best Beef Protein Powder Reviews
MuscleMeds Carnivor Beef Protein (👑 Best of the Best)
Our top pick for the best beef protein powder is the Carnivor supplement from MuscleMeds.
This protein powder is an Amazon’s Choice product, which means it meets Amazon’s high standards for quality, and it is also favored by many customers. The first thing you’ll notice about this supplement is that it is available in six delicious-looking flavors, each one perfectly masking the beef and making for a delicious workout shake or smoothie. This is important with beef protein since the last thing you want is to be tasting meat in your shake. The large tub is 4.5lbs and offers up an impressive 56 servings, so based on the assumption that you take one scoop of the powder a day, it should last you around two months.
As the world’s first and #1 selling beef protein according to the brand, you can be sure that you’re getting the best of the best with this supplement. Perhaps the best part of it is how it avoids a common problem that many people experience, which is pain and bloating as a result of consuming dairy. Since whey and casein are dairy-based sources of protein, consuming large quantities of them on a regular basis can lead to digestive issues and discomfort. Since this protein is sourced from beef, this won’t be an issue. As an animal-sourced protein, Carnivor is also ideal for anyone who adheres to a paleo diet. To make it as easy on the stomach as possible, MuscleMeds made sure that the powder was also free from sugar and gluten. So what you might sacrifice in bioavailability from whey, you more than make up for with a more digestive system and diet-friendly option.
MuscleMeds claims that its protein powder is more concentrated than whey protein, too, so you should get more bang for your buck with each scoop. Every serving will have 23g of muscle-building beef protein, so you should find that your muscle gains shoot through the roof once you start taking the supplement on a regular basis. The star ingredient of the power is a clinically tested muscle-building beef protein that has stood the test of time and been sold in vast quantities in bottle form. There are also anabolic muscle-building aminos from the pure beef and ANRTw which recycles aminos and minimizes ammonia. There’s also creatine and BCAAs in the powdered protein, and it has been hydrolyzed to ensure fast absorption.
Features:
- 23g per scoop
- 4.5lbs
- Available in 6 flavors
- Free from fat, gluten, lactose, and sugar
- Hydrolyzed for fast absorption
- Includes creatine, BCAAS, and ANRT
- WHY WE CHOSE IT AS OUR TOP PICK:
- As the original beef protein powder, Carnivor has accumulated a lot of favor over the years and has become well-known for its high-quality.
- It’s not only free from dairy and lactose, but also from fat, gluten, and sugar, which makes it suitable for many dietary needs and preferences.
- There are a variety of flavors to choose from.
- The powder is hydrolyzed to make for fast absorption, so you should get the protein to your muscles in no time at all after a workout.
Here are the reasons we picked MuscleMed’s Carnivor as the top beef protein powder:
Olympian Labs Beef Protein (🥈 Runner Up)
Our runner up pick for the best beef protein powder is the Olympian Labs beef protein isolate supplement.
Another Amazon’s Choice labeled supplement, this large 2.3lbs tub provides 32 servings, which should last you around a month if you take a scoop of protein a day in your shake. There aren’t any flavor options for this protein powder, however, the original flavor has some chocolate mixed in with stevia which should make it palatable in a shake or smoothie.
In each scoop of this beef protein powder, you’ll get a healthy 24g dose of the beef protein isolate, which should be more than enough to supplement and encourage muscle development. You can expect no allergens, no gluten, and a protein powder that is absolutely free from artificial colors, sweeteners, and additives. This should make it suitable for most dietary preferences, and a great option especially for those who are trying to stick to a paleo diet. Many consider this beef protein powder to be one of the cleanest beef protein supplements on the market since it is made from pure beef protein isolate and little else. It is also low in carbohydrates and fats, which makes it an excellent option if you’re trying to cut and lose some weight.
Olympian Labs is a reliable brand, a health supplement manufacturer that started trading in 1992. Due to its extensive experience in the industry, you can expect high-quality in everything they produce, and the many satisfied customers can attest to that. Customers heap praise on this beef protein supplement for how easy it is on the stomach, and how great it tastes with the rich dark chocolate flavor.
Features:
- 2.3 lbs
- Dark chocolate and stevia flavoring
- 24g beef protein isolate
- No artificial colors, sweeteners, or additives
- Non GMO and gluten-free
Redcon1 MRE (⭐ Best Meal Replacement)
If you’re looking for something substantial, that is to say, a beef protein powder that will leave you feeling full, then look no further than Redcon1’s MRE.
While a lot of the time people look to protein powders to make sure their bodies have enough of the macronutrient to build muscle after a heavy workout, they can also be used for other purposes. If you lead a busy lifestyle, for example, then you might consider using protein powder to make a filling meal replacement shake that will help fuel your body and get you through the day. If you don’t have the time to make all the meals your body needs throughout the day, then you should strongly consider giving this beef protein supplement a go.
As for the basic details, this supplement comes in six interesting flavors, which range from banana nut bread to dutch apple pie. The tub it comes in is 7.15lbs which allows for around 25 servings. This may not seem like a lot of servings for the amount of powder, but this is only because a single serving suggestion is four scoops rather than just one. The reason you need four scoops is that this is a meal replacement powder, so you need to make sure your body gets its fill and received all the nutrients it needs to thrive and stay satiated for a while.
Per serving you will get 520 calories, as well as a whole host of nutrients. This includes oat flour, a whole food protein blend including beef, salmon, chicken, egg, rice, and pea protein, whole milk powder, and much more. There’s also a small amount of MCT oil, which is extracted from coconut oil, which provides a source of fats the body can turn to for energy. What you won’t get is whey protein, and a lot of carbohydrates. The main substance of the supplement is sourced from whole foods, which makes this a healthy meal replacement option, especially when compared with the foods we tend to eat when we’re in a rush.
Features:
- 7.15lbs
- Available in 6 flavors
- Meal replacement supplement
- 520 calories per serving
- Includes several whole food sources
- Contains MCT oil
- Low in carbohydrates
- No whey protein
Ultimate Guide
Making the decision to go with beef protein over the more popular whey is a bold choice.
However, it’s one that can bear fruit, especially if you have struggled to digest dairy-based products in the past or are sticking to a paleo diet.
To make sure you make the best decision the first time around, there are several factors that you should take into consideration such as flavor, the ingredients, and more generally what your fitness goals are.
Before we take a look at the specifics though, we’re going to explore the reasons why it can be a good decision to go for beef protein over the more popular types of protein powder out there.
Why Beef Protein?
The biggest reason most people cite for jumping ship from whey protein to beef protein is dairy.
While we’re not going to make out that dairy is a terrible thing to consume, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that many of us don’t do well with it.
What we mean by that is dairy can difficult for a lot of people to digest.
As a result, it can lead to inflammation in the gut and bloating.
That’s quite possibly the number one reason you should pass over whey protein in favor of the animal-sourced beef protein.
This is a line of argument often adopted by those who adhere to diets such as paleo, since the paleo diet is all about eating foods that our ancestors had access to and foods that aren’t processed.
Dairy is simply something that for whatever reason many people’s bodies don’t respond well to.
The reason why a lot of people choose whey protein anyway is because it is more bioavailable than beef protein, so it is easier to get the benefits from this kind of protein.
The other main downside to using beef protein is that it doesn’t make for the most palatable protein shakes, as you might imagine.
But this shouldn’t be too major an issue, given that brands are well aware of this and do their best to mask the red meat’s flavor with all kinds of ingredients.
Flavor
As we just mentioned, flavor is a big deal with beef protein.
Nobody likes the sound of drinking something that is made by mixing in beef powder.
However, this is an issue that beef protein manufacturers are aware of, so you can bet that whatever beef protein you buy the flavor has been carefully crafted to be palatable at the very least.
While you can find whey proteins that are natural, and don’t have additional flavors thrown in, you aren’t likely to find natural beef proteins.
So with that in mind, there’ll be no unflavored option, so you need to give some strong consideration to what flavors you’d enjoy in a protein shake.
Whether you prefer fruit or something sweet like chocolate, you should browse the user review comments on Amazon to see what people have to say about it.
If everyone seems to think that the supplement tastes like beef with a dusting of stevia, then you might want to steer clear.
Fitness Goals
Another thing you’ll want to be clear on when it comes to choosing the best beef protein powder for you is what your fitness goals are.
The type of protein that’s best for someone who’s looking to lose weight will be different than the one which is best for someone looking to pile on muscle mass.
For example, if you’re looking to lose weight, what you might want to consider is investing in a meal replacement powder.
A meal replacement powder, like Redcon1’s MRE, is intended to replace a meal and as such will make you feel full and save you the time and effort required to prepare food.
If you want a meal replacement powder, try to find one which combines various whole food sources, for the best results.
You also want to make sure each serving has as few calories as possible, since this is what will help you reduce your caloric intake and make progress towards your weight loss goals.
If you’re looking for a protein powder to take before and after workouts to enhance muscle development, then you’ll want one which offers up the most beef protein per serving.
You also might like to look out for additional ingredients such as BCAAs, which will help provide your body with everything it needs to thrive.
Nutrition
One of the most important things to look out for on the label of a beef protein powder is the value of things like carbohydrates, fats, gluten, and sugar.
BCAAs
Branched-Chain Amino Acids, commonly shortened to BCAAs are a group of three of the essential amino acids.
Leucine, valine, and isoleucine can help us to build muscle, and improve recovery time, so they are commonly found in health supplements.
There’s also some evidence to suggest that BCAAs can be useful for promoting weight loss and reducing the amount of fatigue or tiredness you feel after physical activity.
As a result, any beef protein powder that has BCAAs included is worth your while.
Carbohydrates
Ideally, you want to find a beef protein powder that is low in carbohydrates, since if you’re adhering to a paleo or keto diet you don’t want to compromise it accidentally.
Fat
A beef protein powder should be low in fat, and fat shouldn’t be necessary since you have all the satiety you could need from the high protein content.
Gluten
Many people are sensitive or intolerant to gluten, whether they are aware of it or not, so it’s a good idea to steer clear if possible.
Sugar or Stevia
Sugar or stevia aren’t ideal, especially in high quantities, but they are sometimes necessary for making a beef protein powder palatable.
Artificial Sweeteners
If you want your protein powder to have some sweetness to it, opt for natural ingredient like sugar or stevia, since artificial sweeteners can be a lot worse for your body.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beef Protein Powder
Is beef protein powder better than whey?
Beef protein isn’t considered to be better than whey, but it does have some benefits over the popular protein powder.
For a start, beef protein is sourced from animals which makes it paleo-friendly, as opposed to whey protein which comes from dairy.
But also, if you have any issues digesting dairy then beef protein can be an excellent alternative that won’t upset your stomach.
What is the best beef protein powder?
We believe that the best beef protein powder is MuscleMeds’ Carnivor protein.
As a pioneer of beef protein powder, MuscleMeds paved the way for all the other beef protein powders and has retained a high bar when it comes to quality.
This beef protein is easy for the stomach to digest has a higher concentration than whey protein, and is hydrolyzed for fast absorption.
Is beef a good source of protein?
Yes, beef is a high-quality source of protein that’s also rich in vitamins and minerals.
In fact, beef is largely made up of the protein macronutrient and has all nine essential amino acids your body needs.
It is considered to be one of the most complete dietary sources of protein, and as a result, it can be great for building muscle.
A Final Word From Energetic Lifestyle
Beef protein may not be the first kind of protein that comes into your mind when you start your search, but it’s well worth considering.
If you’re on the paleo diet or you’re unable to consume large quantities of dairy, then beef protein is an excellent alternative to supplement your protein intake pre or post-workout.
