When it comes to pantry staples, one of the firsts items on our list of must-haves is peanut butter. Whether we’re on our weekly grocery run, preparing for a weekend getaway or planning ahead in the case of a disaster, our favorite jar (or jars) of peanut butter are never far when we need them most. They come in handy when you don’t even know you need them, similar to the way the best microwaveable popcorn does.
Peanut butter is often thought of solely as a partner to jam and the glue that holds two pieces of bread together to make a sandwich, but it’s much more than that. We love spreading peanut butter on our favorite fruit, including apples and bananas. Heat a small bowl of peanut butter to create a delicious dip or dessert topping. Add some protein to vegetables, like celery, or dress up a dull base, like crackers or rice cakes. Even throw it in a breakfast smoothie. The possibilities are endless.
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and a delicious way to get both adults and kids to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet. We also love packing peanut butter sandwiches on days when the weather is warm and we don’t have access to a fridge or ice pack. Sweaty deli meats are a friend to no stomach, but peanut butter never lets us down, regardless of the temperatures outside.
The world of peanut butter is honestly quite vast but we’ve chosen a number of our favorite brands that we think you’ll love to dip, spread and eat straight from the jar just as much as we do.
Related Stories
1. Justin’s Classic Peanut Butter
BEST OVERALL
Justin’s is a two-ingredient, naturally delicious peanut butter brand just about all peanut lovers can get behind. It contains no junk other brands are known for and doesn’t even contain any added sugar. Additionally, each jar is totally gluten-free, non-GMO and Kosher to ensure most people can snack on it. You might be thinking, since there are only two ingredients, does it even taste good? The answer: hell yeah it does. The PB inside is totally creamy, flavorful and decadent, perfect for spreading on toast, bananas, apples and more.
2. Crazy Richard Peanut Butter
RUNNER UP
Recently, we’ve been a whole lot more interested in treating our bodies better than they ever have been. Like, yeah, fattier peanut butter (especially the ones we were so used to growing up with) are still delicious, but there are so many healthy PB alternatives to choose from that taste just as good. Why not ditch the Skip and give ’em a try? One that we’re kind of obsessed with right now is Crazy Richard’s peanut butter. Each jar is made from 100% Georgia peanuts, acting as a low-carb, all-natural way to add protein into your family’s diet. It’s drippier than most peanut butter, which also sets this apart from a lot of the options on our list.
3. 365 Everyday Value Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter
BEST CRUNCHY
Our favorite crunchy PB comes straight from the 365 Everyday Value brand at Wholefoods. Each jar is totally organic and has just the right amount of crunch to bring your peanut butter sandwiches to a whole new level. Since this is a value brand, expect a much more affordable price than the majority of crunchy peanut butter options on the market. Just because it’s cheaper though, don’t expect a worse quality concoction. It does have some added sugar, so for those of you salty peanut butter lovers, this might not be for you.
4. Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
BEST FOR PB&J
You can’t go wrong with Jif. It’s something you’ve known since you were little. Hell, it’s something your mom’s known since she was little. Jif has been an American in-house staple for decades at this point and holds a special place in our heart — especially their creamy PB. Slap this spread right on two slices of bread, throw some jam on one slice, put the pieces together and cut diagonally. Bam, your childhood reimagined.
5. Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter
BEST JUNK FOOD
We tried so hard to leave Skippy out but we couldn’t. Just like Jif, Skippy was a household commodity throughout our childhood. As adults, we’ve kind of ditched her for other brands due to just how unhealthy she is. Skippy has 15 servings per container and one serving size alone is 190 calories — 140 of those calories being from fat. Yeah, it’s not the best for you, but man, it is good. In adulthood, Skippy is a great peanut butter when you’re cheating on your diet. Throw it on top of ice cream, create a sugary icing for a cake or cookies, make the milkshake of your dreams. Maybe just ditch the fruit and morning toast.
6. Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Peanut Butter
BEST GROCERY BRAND
If you have never been to Trader Joe’s, what the hell are you waiting for? It’s quite literally the best grocery chain in the United States, and they have the best grocery brand peanut butter on the market. Made from unblanched peanuts, TJ’s creamy salted peanut butter is simple and delicious. Each jar has only two ingredients: peanuts and salt. So, for those of you worried about what’s going into your PB jars, don’t. The PB is buttery smooth and spreads so well. Both kids and adults alike will love it.
7. Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolatey Dreams Peanut Butter
BEST CHOCOLATE
Alright, hear us out, if you’re a fan of salty peanut butter, you will NOT enjoy Peanut Butter & Co.’s Dark Chocolatey Dreams PB. It’s just a fact. But, if you like your peanut butter on the sweeter side, this is the chocolate/peanut butter combo of your dreams. Dark Chocolatey Dreams has a flavor that falls between your average sweet peanut butter, a Hershey Kiss and Nutella. It’s sweet, spreadable, dippable and delicious.
8. PBfit All-Natural Organic Peanut Butter Powder
BEST POWDER
Alright, PBfit isn’t technically peanut butter. Like, you can’t spread it on anything. Instead, it’s a powder you can place into smoothies, milkshakes, bread, pancakes, waffles and more for that extra added boost of protein. It has a natural, peanuty flavor with 8g of protein per serving, so this is exceptionally great for those working on their fitness. It’s only made with three ingredients: organic peanuts, organic coconut palm sugar, and salt, making it gluten-free and 100% all-natural. Your protein shakes are about to taste so much better.