Best Keto Meal Replacement Shake
5 Keto Meal Shakes Reviewed
94 Hours of Research
48 Reviews Examined
3 Experts Interviewed
Published by David Williams
As an engineer, David loves technical product comparison and analyzing the data to assess top products.
Table of Contents
Eating healthy meals isn’t always an option. We can’t always find the time to cook a healthy meal between work or school, family, maintaining a social life, and running errands.
The great news is, meal replacement shakes have been designed to help us solve this very question. Instead of worrying about each meal, we can replace some of them with a shake, get the nutrients we need, and go about our day.
The problem is, picking the best keto meal replacement shake can be challenging because there are too many options on the market. To that end, we’ve put together a list of your top five keto options.
What to Look For In Meal Replacement Shakes
1. Calories
Since the goal of a meal replacement shake is to replace a meal, it should offer somewhere between 400 and 600 calories. Otherwise, you might not get enough energy to fuel yourself until your next meal. (1)
2. Protein
Any good keto shake should include some protein because the nutrient is essential for our health. Protein builds muscle, aids development, and supports our well-being. A dose of 20 to 35 grams is what you should aim for.
3. Carbs
Since ketogenic dieting aims to limit carb intake, your meal replacement shake should be almost entirely carb-free. Some keto shakes offer plenty of fiber, which bumps the total carb content on the label. But since your body doesn’t use fiber as fuel, you shouldn’t worry about them. Instead, look at the total carbs, which you can calculate by removing the fiber from the carb content. For example, if a product has 21 grams of carbs but 19 are fiber, it only has two grams of net carbs. (2)
4. Fats
Any good keto meal replacement shake will be high in fats because the nutrient provides your body with the majority of energy it needs. Since you can only consume so much protein daily and avoid carbs, fats are the last nutrient that can fuel you.
5. Nutrients
Ideally, your keto meal replacement shake should include helpful nutrients supporting your health, fitness performance, and training recovery. Examples include:
BHB – a type of ketone
- Creatine
- Fish oil
- Carnitine
- Magnesium
- Chromium
- Sodium
- Vitamin D
6. Taste
Taste is also important to consider. It’s beneficial to test out different products to see what you enjoy most. (3)
The Five Best Keto Meal Replacement Shakes
PhenQ
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
Ample K
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
HLTH Code
Ingredient Quality
Price
Overall Score
1. PhenQ Complete Meal Shake
PhenQ is one of the best-tasting, and nutritious keto meal replacement shakes on the market today. With a balanced dose of fats, protein, and micronutrients, PhenQ combines quality and affordability into one.
Total calories: 269 per dose
Protein: 16 grams of vegan protein
Carbs: only trace amounts
Fat: 13 grams of healthy fat
Other nutrients: 24 key vitamins and minerals
Taste: Many users love the taste of the PhenQ meal shake. Some have even said that PhenQ offers some of the best-tasting chocolate they’ve ever had.
Brand Overview
PhenQ Complete Meal Shake is a meal replacement shake developed by PhenQ Brands. The company predominantly focuses on weight replacement supplements but recently ventured into the nutritional market. It made a name for itself for researching, testing, and perfecting each product.
Like all its other products, the PhenQ meal replacement shake has gained popularity among users. This keto-friendly shake boosts your metabolism and helps you lose weight while providing the energy you need to power through your day.
Highlighted features:
Contains 13 essential Vitamins & Minerals:
- Taste great
- Contains healthy fats from MCT oil
- Gluten-free
- Keto-friendly
- Non-GMO
- It has 16 grams of whey Protein
- Sugar-free
- 269 calories per serving
- Comes with KSM-66 Ashwagandha
Pros
- It tastes great
- It's priced affordably
- It's full of critical micronutrients for our health
- 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee
Cons
- It's a bit low on calories
- You can only buy it through their official website
Features:
It has 269 calories per serve, which is a little on the low side. However, each scoop has 16 grams of vegan protein and 24 essential vitamins and minerals.
What makes it unique is the three scientific-based ingredients: Ashwagandha extracts, InnoSlim, and Reishi mushroom. They work together to provide enough energy, reduce fatigue, lower appetite, and improve your body’s endurance levels.
Customer Experience:
When buying anything, it’s crucial to consider what other customers think. Fortunately, the vast majority of users who have tried PhenQ love it. People appreciate its taste and how it gives them enough energy to power through their day.
We scrolled through platforms like TrustPilot, Facebook, and Reddit and saw numerous positive reviews. For instance, reviewers on TrustPilot raved about its taste and health benefits.
One user said that PhenQ Complete Meal Shake is the best product in the market. He added that he had lost around 42 pounds and has since changed his eating habits. His closing remarks were, “it’s worth the investment.”
Another buyer said she was struggling with mental fatigue while at work. After a month of using PhenQ, she said she had more energy and could think more clearly. She also noticed that she wasn’t as hungry as before, which helped with her weight loss goals.
We also read comments on Reddit and saw that people often use it as a meal replacement for breakfast or lunch. PhenQ has an excellent reputation among its users, and people seem happy with its taste and health benefits. In fact, the internet has nothing but good things to say about the shake.
However, despite the thousands of positive reviews, we also found a few complaints here and there. Some people complained about the price, saying it was a bit too expensive, but still found it worth the investment.
2. Ample K
Ample K is another excellent option because the meal replacement offers a good dose of protein, plenty of fats, and lots of energy per serving.
Calories: 400 or 600 per dose
Protein: 25 or 34 grams
Carbs: 11 or 15 grams (4 or 5 grams of net carbs)
Fats: 28 or 45 grams
Other nutrients: fiber and probiotics
Taste: It has a smooth and creamy taste of macadamia nuts.
Brand Overview
Ample K is a meal replacement shake created by Ample Meal. Founded in 2015 by former CrossFit® box owner Connor Young the company seeks to provide an all-natural whole-food solution to the modern meal replacement shake.
According to the brand, great taste, a healthy lifestyle, and convenience shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. That’s why they created the Ample K keto meal replacement shake designed to help you lose weight, feel great, and have more energy throughout the day.
Highlighted features:
- Made from all-natural ingredients
- Keto and paleo-friendly
- No sugar added
- Non-GMO
- Low-carb
- Soy-free
- Travel friendly
- It contains 400 or 600 calories per dose
- It has 25 or 34 grams of protein
- It has 11 or 15 grams of carbs (4 or 5 grams of net carbs)
- It comes with 28 or 45 grams of fats
- Has fiber and probiotics
Pros
- It comes in two portion sizes, depending on what you need
- It offers lots of healthy protein and fats
- It tastes great for a high-fiber meal replacement drink
- It comes in multiple bottle sizes that offer bulk packet option
Con
- It's a bit more expensive to get
Features:
It comes in two portions, 400 or 600 calories, and you can choose between 25 or 34 grams of protein. The shake also contains 11 or 15 grams of carbs, 4 or 5 being net carbs.
Plus, it comes with 28 or 45 grams of healthy fats, including MCT oil, which is great for ketosis. It also has fiber and probiotics to keep you regular.
Customer Experience:
We set out to find what customers think of Ample K and were quite surprised by the number of positive reviews. For instance, the Ample K had an average 5/5 star rating from over 530 reviews on the brand’s website. Most people said it was the best-tasting meal replacement shake they’ve ever had.
Many customers also said it helped them lose weight and have enough energy throughout the day. A few even said they used it as a post-workout shake and were happy with the results. One customer wrote he has been using Ample for the last year because of his friend’s suggestion, and he does not regret it.
The only complaints we could find were about the price. Some people thought it was a bit expensive, but most still found it worth the investment.
3. HLTH Code
HLTH Code is praised for its fantastic in the form of vanilla or chocolate macadamia. The product also offers plenty of protein and fats while having only two grams of net carbs.
Calories: 400
Protein: 27 grams
Carbs: 13 grams (2 grams net carbs)
Fats: 27 grams
Other nutrients: up to 50 percent daily value of 25 vitamins and minerals
Taste: With an overwhelming number of positive reviews, HLTH Code is often praised for its fantastic taste. The product comes in two flavors: creamy vanilla and chocolate macadamia.
Brand Overview
HLTH Code is an American-based company headquartered in Woodlands, Texas, founded in 2020 by two brothers. While the brand is relatively young, it has already made a name for itself in the nutrition supplements market. It claims to have developed the world’s healthiest meal replacement shakes.
HLTH Code is your solution to an easy weight-loss process. According to one of the brothers Dr. Ben Bikman, they got inspiration from their family members’ struggles with health issues. So what can you expect to find in the meal replacement shake?
Highlighted Features:
- Well-balanced quantities of healthy fat (coconut oil powder, medium-chain triglycerides powder, olive oil powder, cocoa butter fat
- It consists of Egg albumins
- Perfect for your gut and digestive enzymes
- GMO-free
- Vegetable fiber
- Natural flavors
- Apple cider vinegar powder
- No artificial flavors
- Has no additives
- Rich in proteins (egg whites, whey protein concentrate, and grass-fed collagen)
- Ideal for keto enthusiast
- American made
HLTH Code meal replacement shake is an excellent fat-burning formula. It’s a good meal shake for maintaining a ketogenic lifestyle.
It comes with a perfect protein ratio to facilitate weight loss. Moreover, it contains healthy fats that nourish the body and provide energy.
Pros
- The product has no added sugars
- It offers a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Offers decent amounts of fiber, protein, and healthy fats
Cons
- The product is based on whey concentrate, which might cause stomach distress for some
- It contains a small number of synthetic ingredients
Features:
This meal replacement shake comes with a good macronutrient profile. It has 27 grams of protein, 13 grams of carbs (2 of which are net carbs), and 27 grams of healthy fats. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals, providing up to 50 percent of the daily value.
Customer Experience:
HLTH Code has an overwhelming number of positive reviews. Customers love the creamy vanilla and chocolate macadamia flavors, terming it fantastic. They also appreciate that it’s a whey protein concentrate, which is easy to digest.
The shake has a 5/5 star rating on the brand’s website from over 1861 reviews. One customer said it really helped him reduce his weight, and he liked the taste of the shake. He also mentioned that making a shake with HLTH CODE powder is very easy.
On Amazon, the shake had 4.4/5 stars from over 218 reviews. One customer called it a delicious, low-carb meal replacement shake that helped her lose weight. She added that she would recommend it to anyone trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The only complaints were about the price and the small serving size. Some people also thought the product was too sweet. However, these were minority opinions.
4. Ambronite Keto Meal Shake
The Ambronite keto shake is full of beneficial nutrients, including digestive enzymes, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Calories: 400
Protein: 18.3 grams
Carbs: 4.7 grams (1.2 grams net carbs)
Fats: 31.2 grams
Other nutrients: 20 essential vitamins and minerals, BCAAs, and 200 mg natural digestive enzymes
Taste: Despite the difficulty of producing a plant-based, keto-friendly meal replacement shake, Ambronite tastes delicious.
Brand Overview
Ambronite is a Finnish company founded in 2013. They specialize in meal replacement drinks that provide your daily nutrients needs in 2 minutes. Since its inception, it has aimed to make healthy eating accessible to every busy professional.
Ambronite believes in sustainable habits and wants to make a difference in people’s lives and the planet. For those reasons, they created a meal replacement that is all-natural and provides you with the vital nutrients your body needs.
Highlighted Features:
- 100% organic and natural ingredients
- Non-GMO
- No added sugars or sweeteners
- Gluten-free
- Lactose-free
- Vegan
- Keto-friendly
- Complete Plant Protein (pumpkin seed protein, sunflower seed protein, and pea protein
- MCT powder (acacia fiber and coconut oil)
- Nutritional yeast
- Mineral salt
- Natural digestive enzyme
- ProbioVita™
- Live bacterial cultures
Pros
- It's a fantastic vegan option
- It offers natural enzymes and branched-chain amino acids
- It has a beneficial macronutrient profile
- Helps the digestive system
Cons
- It contains xylitol, which not everyone likes
- It has small amounts of maltodextrin, which the body converts to glucose
Features:
The Ambronite keto shake has beneficial nutrients, including digestive enzymes, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also a good source of healthy fats and protein.
Like a-true keto diet shake, it has a low carb content. In fact, it only has 1.2 grams of net carbs per serving. Additionally, it comes with BCAAs and digestive enzymes to help you absorb all the nutrients.
Customer Experience:
The shake did not have many reviews on the brand’s website, but the few we found were positive. There were 40 customer comments, with most of them being 4 and 5 stars. Only two were three stars and below.
Customers appreciated the creamy texture, great taste, and clean ingredients. They also said it was very filling and helped with weight loss. On the other hand, some customers didn’t like the price and found it too expensive.
One customer said she was trying to go keto, and this product helped her a lot. She also liked that it was easy to mix and had no aftertaste. Another said he liked the shake’s taste, texture, and consistency. He also found that it suppressed his appetite well.
Since the reviews were few, we couldn’t find any trends. However, the general sentiment was positive.
5. Ketond Keto Protein
Ketond is a viable option because it offers a balanced nutritional profile, tastes well, and lacks artificial ingredients.
Calories: 200 per scoop
Protein: 11 grams
Carbs: 3 grams (1.5 grams net carbs)
Fats: 16 grams
Other nutrients: 14 essential vitamins and minerals
Taste: While we don’t have direct experience with the Ketond Keto Protein, the customer reviews are largely positive. People seem to love both flavors (vanilla and chocolate), and the protein’s mixability is also good.
Brand Overview
Ketond is a US-based company making high-quality, clinically proven ketone supplements. The company founders are a team of athletes and health enthusiasts who come together to create an all-natural way to enhance sports performance and lose weight.
It aims to promote ketogenic diets and help people achieve their fitness goals. With its keto protein, it wants to show that keto is more than a fad diet; it’s a sustainable way of eating.
Highlighted Features:
- The product is 100% grass-fed whey-based protein
- It has no artificial sweeteners or flavors
- It’s GMO and gluten-free
- Contains high Caprylic acid (C8) and Capric Acid (C10) content
- Contains a Vitamin blend (Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, and E)
- 16g fat content (Saturated fat and Trans fat)
- Dietary Fiber
- Minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium
Pros
- It has no artificial ingredients
- It offers an excellent taste
- It provides a respectable 400 calories per serving (two scoops)
- Improve mineral absorption
- Increase Blood Ketones
- Increase energy
- Reduce body fat while maintaining muscle
- Supports a healthy gut biome
- The shake has no Lauric acid (C12), often associated with GI distress
Con
- As a protein product, we imagined it would offer more of the nutrient per serving
Features:
Ketond Keto Protein is a grass-fed whey protein powder that’s GMO and gluten-free. Each serving provides 11 grams of protein and only 3 grams of carbs (1.5 grams net carbs).
It’s also a good source of healthy fats, with 16 grams per serving. Plus, it has a decent amount of essential vitamins and minerals.
Customer Experience:
Like its Ambronite Keto Meal Shake counterpart, Ketond Keto Protein doesn’t have many reviews on the brand’s website. The few we found were positive, with most being 4 and 5 stars.
Customers liked the product because it was an excellent source of protein, had a great taste, and was easy to mix. They also found that it suppressed their appetite, helped with weight loss, and improved their energy levels. However, some customers didn’t like the price and found it too expensive.
One reviewer said it was the best protein powder he’s ever tried. He also said it helped him lose weight and would recommend it to others. Another reviewer said she loved the taste of the chocolate flavor and that it was very filling.
With only 66 comments on Amazon, the shake had 3.9/5 stars. 57% of customers gave it a 5-star rating, while 10% gave it four stars. Only 5% rated it three stars and below.
Although the reviews are few, people who have tried them seem to like them. Both products have a similar set of features and benefits. So, it really comes down to price and taste preference.
Conclusion:
There are many keto meal replacement shake brands on the market. But not all of them will suit your needs. Before buying a powder shake, it’s crucial to consider what you want out of it. And also knowing the difference between a meal replacement shake and a protein shake. They serve different purposes, and knowing the difference is important.
In our experience as reviewers, we found these five brands to be the crème de la crème. But most are single flavor buys, and not the variety pack. They all have similarities, such as being low in carbs and calories, but they also have their own unique selling points that make them stand out from the rest. Overall, they all offer the overall leading benefits, and that’s why we recommend them.
Click to see our recommendation for best vegan shake, and also our our complete review of the top ranked meal replacement shakes.
David Williams
A diet and fitness enthusiast, David is an ex-Army Airborne Ranger and Infantry soldier with decades of fitness and wellness experience. A West Point graduate with a degree in engineering, he focuses on technical research related to fitness, nutrition, and wellness. He loves the beach, and spending time with his wife and daughters.
References
- Link, R. (2021). How many calories should you eat per day to lose weight? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-many-calories-per-day
- Gotter, A. (2020). Keto diet: Benefits and nutrients. Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319196
- Liem, D. G., & Russell, C. G. (2019). The influence of taste liking on the consumption of nutrient rich and nutrient poor foods. Frontiers. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2019.00174/full
