Price: $22 for 10 bags ($2.20 per bag)
Nutrition: 130 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 3g Carbs, 17g Protein

Quest has been on a roll with their savory protein snacks lately. Their protein chips are fantastic, and their protein cheese crackers are surprisingly reminiscent of Cheez-Its.
So when I saw there Quest Spicy Protein Puffs at Target, I was pretty excited to give them a try.
Protein puffs seem to be the latest trend in the protein snack world. Everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon, and you’ve likely come across puffs in some capacity by now, but in my experience, they often fall way short.
Instead of something light & airy like a true cheese puff, you’re often left with something very crunchy that tastes like… well, protein.
Quest has knocked it out of the park with some of their other protein snacks, so let’s see if they can move the needle on what protein puffs typically are.

First off, the macros are impressive. One bag contains 130 calories, 4.5g fat, 3g carbs, and a solid 17g of protein. Those are better macros than a protein bar, so if they taste halfway decent, that is more than worth it.
When you open the bag, you’ll notice these puffs are tiny – much smaller than your typical cheese puff.

The texture is exactly what you’d expect from protein puffs: crunchy, but harder than traditional cheese puffs. If you’ve had other protein puffs before, you’ll know exactly what to expect here.
They are technically puffy, but not at all light & airy.
Now, let’s talk flavor. It’s… interesting.

If you’re expecting something like a Flaming Hot Cheeto, you absolutely need to shift your expectations.
Despite being labeled as “spicy,” they’re not in the same league as Quest’s Hot & Spicy Chips. I’d rate these at about a 5/10 on the heat scale.
I assumed these would cheesy, but there is no cheese flavor to be found here aside from the flavor that comes through from the whey protein. It’s more of a generic “spicy” flavor with hints of pepper and tomato, but not a whole lot else.
Unfortunately, like most protein puffs I’ve tried, these do have that characteristic whey protein taste. Since the puff is mainly made up of protein, that flavor is expected, but there’s not a lot here to mask it.

If you’re looking for a savory, crunchy protein snack, these aren’t necessarily a bad option. If you’re bored with protein bars, these are a fun way to switch things up. And, since it’s a bagged snack, it will last you much longer than a protein bar.
But these Spicy Protein Puffs just don’t live up to the high bar set by Quest’s other savory snacks.
If you’ve tried their chips or crackers, you’ll likely find yourself disappointed by these puffs. There is nothing to set these apart from other puffs out there, and they are certainly not on the elite level that I would place the Quest Chips on.
I’ll finish the bags I bought because the macros are fantastic, and they do satisfy that craving for a crunchy, savory snack. But when it comes time to restock, I’ll be reaching for those Quest chips instead.
If you’re a fan of protein puffs or just want to switch up your protein intake, you can give these a shot. But if you’re new to Quest’s savory snacks, I’d recommend starting with their chips or crackers instead. Those are the real MVPs in their lineup.