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Plus the runners-up that we also loved.

Reviewed by Dietitian Madeline Peck, RDN, CDN

Key Points

• EatingWell editors blind-tasted 9 creamy peanut butters to find the best.
• Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter won for its smooth texture and classic flavor.
• The best peanut butters balanced nutty flavor, creaminess and nutrition.

Peanut butter is a staple in many homes, and for good reason: it’s budget-friendly, shelf-stable and nutritionally balanced. It can add protein and healthy fats to a bowl of oatmeal, make apple slices a more satisfying snack or serve as the base for a flavorful sauce or dressing. But with so many different products on the grocery store shelves, it can be hard to know what to choose. Plus, how much do the products actually differ? We set out to answer that question by trying 9 different creamy peanut butters so you don’t have to. Read on for which one we liked the best, plus some runners-up we also loved.

The Best Peanut Butter

Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter

The clear favorite, Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter earned top marks from our tasters. Many of our tasters commented on the smooth and creamy texture, noting that it didn’t stick to the roof of your mouth as much as some of the other products we tried. The flavor also delivers everything you’d expect from a classic peanut butter. “It tastes like peanut butter should,” notes Carolyn Malcoun, editorial director at EatingWell. “It tastes like childhood. It tastes like elementary school lunches and backcountry hikes.” Nutty and toasty with a subtle sweetness, it’s well-balanced without an overly salty finish.

The nutrition for a 2-tablespoon serving of Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter includes:

• Calories: 190
• Carbohydrates: 8 grams (g)
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Total sugar: 4g
• Added sugar: 2g
• Protein: 7g
• Total fat: 16g
• Saturated fat: 3.5g
• Cholesterol: 0 milligrams (mg)
• Sodium: 80 mg

This peanut butter is a good source of protein and unsaturated fats, which makes it a filling addition to meals and snacks. It also offers 3 grams of fiber per serving to help support healthy digestion and heart health. It is lightly sweetened with sugar and molasses, which contribute 2 grams of added sugar per serving. Some added sugar won’t derail a healthy eating pattern, especially if you’re mindful about the portion size you choose. But since added sugar is something most Americans eat too much of, it’s important to consider how this product fits into the rest of your day.

The Runners-Up

Kirkland Signature Creamy Peanut Butter

Kirkland Signature is known for offering high-quality products at a lower price than many name brands—and this peanut butter is no exception. A two-pack of 28-ounce jars costs just $11.69, or about $0.21 per ounce, compared to roughly $0.32 per ounce for similar natural peanut butters.

Flavor-wise, its toasty, nutty notes helped it stand out, and tasters appreciated the balance of salty and sweet. The texture is slightly runnier than some other options, which may make it a bit more challenging to spread.

The nutrition for a 2-tablespoon serving of Kirkland Signature Creamy Peanut Butter includes:

• Calories: 180
• Carbohydrates: 7 grams (g)
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Total sugar: 1g
• Added sugar: 0g
• Protein: 8g
• Total fat: 15g
• Saturated fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 0 milligrams (mg)
• Sodium: 65mg

This peanut butter has slightly more protein than many of its competitors, boasting 8 grams per serving (compared to 7 grams per serving for many others). One of the most notable differences is that the Kirkland Signature Creamy Peanut Butter has no added sugar, and the only two ingredients are dry roasted organic peanuts and sea salt. It also is lower in sodium, with only 65 milligrams per servings. This is a great choice for those who want to support their heart health or who are generally mindful of their sodium and added sugar intake.

Teddie Smooth Peanut Butter

Teddie Smooth Peanut Butter is slightly darker than many of the other peanut butters we tested—a hint at its rich, roasty flavor. It’s also ground a bit more coarsely, giving it more texture than some of the smoother options. Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD, associate general manager at EatingWelladds, “It’s not as smooth as some of the others, but it’s still delicious and has a classic peanut butter taste. I don’t mind a little crunch from the bits of peanut.”

The nutrition for a 2-tablespoon serving of Teddie Smooth Peanut Butter includes:

• Calories: 190
• Carbohydrates: 7 grams (g)
• Dietary fiber: 3g
• Total sugar: 2g
• Added sugar: 0g
• Protein: 8g
• Total fat: 16g
• Saturated fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 0 milligrams (mg)
• Sodium: 125mg

Like Kirkland Signature’s version, Teddie Creamy Natural Peanut Butter is made with just dry-roasted peanuts and salt. It does have slightly more sodium—125 milligrams per serving—which may be worth noting if you’re keeping an eye on your intake. It also provides an impressive amount of protein, fiber and unsaturated fat, which promotes satiety and can help keep you full for longer.

Our Taste Test

For this test, all products needed to be nationally available at major grocers. Products included in the test could not exceed 200 calories, 140 milligrams of sodium and 3 grams of added sugar per serving. Other brands we tested included Skippy, Smuckers, Justin’s, Once Again and Peter Pan. During the test, all labels were covered so each product was tested blind. We tasted the peanut butters on their own so their flavor wasn’t masked by any additional flavors. Each tester made notes about visual appearance, texture and taste and rated each product on a scale of one to five. Rankings were compiled and averaged to determine the top three peanut butters.

Frequently asked Questions

Is peanut butter healthy for you?

Peanut butter can absolutely be part of a healthy eating pattern. It’s a good source of plant-based protein, healthy fat and fiber. Plus, it’s easy to store and versatile to use.

Does peanut butter help increase HDL cholesterol?

Peanut butter is rich in unsaturated fats and also contains fiber, both of which can help increase HDL (also called “good”) cholesterol levels. However, it is calorically dense, so aim to stick to the 2-tablespoon serving size when enjoying it.

Which peanut butter should you choose?

Check the nutrition facts label and opt for peanut butters that are lower in added sugar and sodium. Looking at the ingredients list can also help you determine what is included in the product besides peanuts.

Our Trusted Expertise

Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is a registered dietitian and senior nutrition editor at EatingWell with more than 6 years of experience with the brand. As part of the editorial team, she has tested dozens of products, from canned tuna to non-alcoholic spirits. For this article, other testers included another registered dietitian and food editors.