15 Best Granola Brands, Ranked

Meet granola, breakfast cereal's trendier sibling. Oh, you've met? It's not much of a surprise since granola has become such a mainstream snack option for anyone looking for a more nutritious yet utterly delicious crunch to sprinkle over their meals. 

Did you know that a doctor invented granola all the way back in 1863? The New York Times reports the man in Danville, New York wanted to experiment with cold cereals to support gut health to lead to overall health, so he used graham flour to create a more wholesome breakfast alternative called "granula." The news site says John Kellogg of cereal notoriety spun the granules of graham flour into something more commercial, and from there, products like cereal flakes evolved and thrived. In the '60s and '70s, hippies and friends reclaimed a more rustic version. Healthier granola got on the map as a down-to-earth, earth-conscious snack. 

Now, granola is fun. You can find so many flavors from sweet chocolate chip to savory rosemary olive oil. And hidden within these crunchy clusters can be all kinds of hearty grains, surprising vitamins, and adventurous mix-ins. This list of the best granola brands will guide you to our favorites by factoring in all of the important aspects. The most important, of course, is taste because while granola can't hold a candle to a Full English Breakfast, it can come impressively close.

Apparently, this is the first granola brand to become a granola bar! Nature Valley began in 1973 with its granola cereal and had an amazing idea to make a portable bar that could be taken when hiking the trails of the great outdoors. The world is very grateful because, as you know, the world of granola bars is now ridiculously expansive. These snacks, however, would not have gone far if the granola they were constructed from left a bad taste in people's mouths. Thanks to Nature Valley's delicious formulas, the brand's healthy granola bars became the way of the future.

When picking a bar to fuel your day, first determine your personal preferences: Do you need it nice and crunchy, jam-packed with protein, or zesty with sweet and salty factors? Once you decide which umbrella you fall under, you can choose your specific Nature Valley granola. You can't go wrong with the Oats & Honey variety because it's extra crunchy with huge chunks of granola goodness. For extra protein, the Oats & Dark Chocolate Protein Granola won't leave you feeling deprived. But the Sweet & Salty Salted Caramel Cashew variety is too intriguing to ignore, isn't it?

Here's another familiar breakfast brand name! Most people know Post, the producer of fun, big-box cereals like Fruity Pebbles, Honeycomb, and, most relevantly, Honey Bunches of Oats. While some of its cereals lean to the dessert side of things (looking at you, Oreo O's), the brand rolled out an option for those who like their breakfasts to taste more like a Monday morning than a Friday night. 

Are you someone who fishes through the box of Honey Bunches of Oats for a higher ratio of bunches to flakes in their bowl? First of all, that leaves someone with a pretty sad, flaky bowl in the near future, and if you're the only one eating it, that someone will be you. Don't set yourself up for disappointment, and get a bag of honey-toasted granola instead. Have all of the best bunches collected in one bag — but better — because this popular granola brand is roasted to buttery perfection and clustered with whole grains, fiber, and vitamins. There's also a pleasant Granola French Vanilla Almond variety, if you're feeling fancy. 

Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's can be much more fun than a trip to other grocery destinations — certainly, the store has a loyal following. With friendly employees, hand-drawn signage, and plenty of new releases and fan-favorite products lining their well-maintained shelves, TJ's has earned its devoted fanbase. There are even YouTube channels and Instagram accounts dedicated to discovering, reviewing, tasting, and "hauling" all the latest and greatest Trader Joe's products.

It's reasonable to expect that the best granola at Trader Joe's would show up to the party in the same high style of all its other products. Try the summery Toasted Coconut Granola, the satisfying and nutrient-dense Almond Butter Granola, or the subtly sweet Pecan and Praline Granola. The most interesting variety, however, is probably the Organic Fruit and Seed Granola, which contains neither oats nor nuts, leaving only ingredients safe for those with allergies or are restricted in their diets. Full of sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds, dried cranberries, raisins, flax seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds, the twist on healthier granola is not lacking in flavor. 

Purely Elizabeth believes that "food can heal," especially when it's a superfood. The creative, vibrant, and jam-packed granola is made with organic ingredients, baked in raw coconut oil, and barely sweetened with coconut sugar. Weaving in ancient grains, this nutritious granola brand is tasty. For a company with the consumer's health always front and center, Purely Elizabeth also makes grain-free granola.

Case in point: Do you actually want to be eating chocolate chip cookies at this very moment? You could buy some Famous Amos and crumble them over your plain Greek yogurt, but Purely Elizabeth has a better idea. You'll want to immediately order the Vanilla Chocolate Chip granola for a much lower dose of sugar and significantly higher levels of vitamins and minerals. Honestly, you'll probably find that it's more delicious than having the cookies themselves. And everyone knows that you should double the vanilla extract in a chocolate chip cookie, right? Well, Purely Elizabeth seems to amp up the flavor!

Ready for some very pourable, immensely delicious granola? Welcome to the Sweet Home Farm, where throughout your stay, you shall not be served any boring meals thanks to its variety of options. When you sit down for breakfast, for example, and see a bowl of granola, you might feel crestfallen that it's not a sizzling plate of flapjacks or a hearty cheese-filled omelet. But after a spoonful, you'll have a new love for the humbler things. 

The Three Sisters brand is guided by basic tenants: "nothing fake, nothing phony, be kind, always be improving, and appreciate great taste." These values come through clearly in its products, including these sweet granolas. You can enjoy the maple pecan, which is infused with real maple syrup and stirred with crisp nuts. Blueberry flax is another great choice to shake things up, and you can't miss with classics like French vanilla or honey nut with almonds. 

KIND is a top pick for both flavor and nutrition, whether you're reaching for a hearty protein bar or a frozen dessert. That four-color label and all-caps name beckon with foods that will satisfy your taste buds and keep hunger at bay. Pair that KIND promise with good, old granola, and you have an obvious match. All the KIND granolas are made with a five-grain blend of oats, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa.

But remember, this isn't just food you toss in your cart because of that high fiber and those "super" grains. Just a taste of the hearty, smooth, and savory Almond Butter Clusters granola will convert any skeptics. Also, while blueberry, strawberry, and apple flavors are common, it can be hard to find good raspberry-flavored products; the zingy, tangy sweetness of raspberries often goes unappreciated. KIND changes that with its raspberry granola, which tosses in chia seeds for added texture and nutrition. Speaking of chia seeds, if you're looking to try a new granola flavor, the maple quinoa variety is a grain game-changer. 

Bear Naked granola is a comforting sight on the grocery store shelves. It's full of nutritious ingredients, consistently delicious, and always the right crisp, crunchy texture to complement a bowl of creamy vanilla Greek yogurt. There's also something so rewarding about that gruff bear silhouette on the bag, who simply must have a heart of gold under his grizzly exterior. Maybe he's just hangry and needs a good snack.

There are lots of ways to eat our pick for one of the best granolas on the market and lots of flavors to love, but a few bags are real standouts. Granola Cacao & Cashew Butter is the sophisticated version of the classic chocolate and peanut butter combo — savory, sweet, and rich. Granola Maple Pecan is like a walk in the woods on a lovely fall day. Toasty notes of maple syrup, robust but sweet molasses, and candied pecans really take it up a notch. Were you a banana bread baker during the darkest days of the pandemic, but now rarely have the time to mix up a loaf? Have it in granola form with the spot-on Granola Banana Nut.