The 8 Best Peanut Butters of 2023

Best Peanut Butters, Determined by Extensive Taste Testing — The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis

If you have a jar of peanut butter in your pantry, chances are you use it for more than just one thing. It has gone from a simple spread to a widely-used ingredient in baking, sandwiches, dips, and even spicy foods in the 100+ years since jars have been on grocery store shelves. Yet, the one thing that hasn't changed is the peanut itself—proving that for this food, simple is often, the best.

With all the options out there, we decided to put some to the test to determine the most worthy of your purchase and scooped through quite a few protein-rich, nutritious smooth as well as chunky peanut butters to create the list below.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

365 by Whole Foods Market Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Creamy:

Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Crunchy:

Skippy Super Chunk Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Natural:

Skippy All Natural Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Organic:

Maranatha Creamy Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Salty:

Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best Sweet:

Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator Peanut Butter at Amazon

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Best for PB&Js:

Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time Peanut Butter at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQs
How We Tested

Amazon

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What We Like

Smooth
One ingredient
Cheaper

What We Don't Like

Consistency can vary

What makes peanut butter a food we all love? Peanuts, of course—and this PB option from Whole Foods Market’s 365 brand makes the nut the star of the show. We love that organic, dry-roasted, grown-in-the-USA peanuts are the only ingredient and aren’t weighed down with any added sugar, salt, or oil. The result after blending is a super creamy, simple peanut butter. The flavor is mild enough to make it sweet or savory for anything you need it for.

We’ve gone through multiple tubs, and have noticed slight differences between batches of this peanut butter. One may be slightly more grainy than another but is still super smooth with the same flavor.

Keep in mind that this option will likely separate—the label even warns you that the oils do so naturally. One way to avoid this if you don’t want to stir to combine each time is to store it in the refrigerator. The peanut butter will be slightly hard when you take it out, but you won’t need to stir.

Price at time of publish: $5

What Our Experts Say

"I put this peanut butter on toast with a drizzle of honey and in savory sauces made of soy sauce and spices, in addition to pouring and swirling it into homemade banana bread before baking. It’s my favorite pantry staple!" — Amanda McDonald, Commerce Editor

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4.2

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Fluffy, frosting-like texture
Balanced seasoning
Roasted peanut flavor

What We Don't Like

Faint aftertaste

Fluffy, sweet, and salty? This classic childhood favorite has it all while still being incredibly smooth, and that's what has it crowned the best creamy peanut butter in our test. In addition to having well-balanced seasoning and being silky soft, we love Skippy Creamy's roasted taste and strong peanut flavor, which can sometimes get lost in overly sweet peanut butters. In testing, we found it has a light, almost frosting-like texture.

It's worth noting that while this option can sway even natural peanut butter fans, we notice a faint aftertaste that might bother people if they're looking for all-natural peanut butter. In addition, while this pick ranks extremely high when it comes to flavor, it's not the healthiest pick on the list. Just one, 2 tablespoon serving has 16 grams of fat and 3 grams of sugar. Each serving also has 7 grams of protein.

Price at time of publish: $4

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4.2

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Doesn't skimp on the peanuts
Balanced sweet and salty flavor
Thick

What We Don't Like

Might be too chunky for some

It was love at first taste when it comes to Skippy's Super Chunk, Extra Crunchy peanut butter. Just like Skippy's creamy peanut butter, we like the balance of sweet and salty in this crunchy pick, and the peanut pieces (of which there are many) only add more delicious peanut flavor to the spread. The smell gets us, too—and this sense is a big part of taste. Because of this, it is our clear winner among other chunky peanut butter options.

Smooth and chunky peanut butters feel like two separate condiments sometimes, so if you're not 100 percent in love with large hunks of peanuts in your spread, this one may not be the pick for you.

Price at time of publish: $6

Testing Takeaway

"This may be the best chunky peanut butter I've ever had." — Julia Warren, VP of Commerce

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4.2

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

No need to stir
Balance of sweet and salty
Doesn't use hydrogenated vegetable oil

What We Don't Like

Lack of roasted flavor

Skippy sticks to the script with this no-stir natural peanut butter, which takes the hydrogenated vegetable oil and replaces it with palm oil, keeping the peanut butter creamy without needing to stir it every time you want to make a peanut butter sandwich. Once again, we love the balance of sweet and salty, but some may notice a lack of roasted flavor.

This is also a good case of remembering that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean "healthy." This peanut butter has almost the exact same level of fat, sugar, and protein per serving as regular Skippy peanut butter—the only difference is the type of oil used to make it creamy.

Price at time of publish: $2

Testing Takeaway

"Perfection. I want to eat this peanut butter every day. It's sooo good." — Eric Handelsman, General Manager and VP

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4.2

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What We Like

Not overly salted or sweetened
Balanced texture
Minimal ingredients

What We Don't Like

More salty than sweet

Marantha's organic Creamy Peanut Butter is highly rated, but during our test we found that it can have a strong flavor to some, while others may find it a bit bland. Overall, if you want a solid, middle-of-the-road peanut butter that's not overly salted or sweetened (but not entirely unsalted or unsweetened, either), this creamy pick will probably be for you.

We find this to be one of the few peanut butters that tastes saltier rather than sweet, and think the soft, loose, not-too-runny texture would work well on a sandwich or piece of toast. It has four ingredients and is double-grinded to get the smoothest PB possible.

Price at time of publish: $6

Testing Takeaway

"I like this—it's a solid peanut butter. It's not sweet enough for my normal taste, but I think thrown on a good PB&J it would work really well." — Eric Handelsman, General Manager and VP

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4.2

Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Stir Peanut Butter

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Only two natural ingredients
Runny texture great for drizzling
Salty, roasted peanut flavor

What We Don't Like

Needs to be mixed thoroughly

What's more intriguing than peanut butter that was unofficially titled The Spruce Eats team's "Weekend Peanut Butter?" This Trader Joe's peanut butter does require a little bit of elbow grease to mix when you want to use it, but for your trouble, you get a salty, roasted peanut butter with a deep, caramel color.

If you're looking for the best peanut butter with no added sugar, this is also the choice for you. It has just two ingredients: roasted peanuts and salt. We think that its runny texture would do particularly well drizzled over ice cream or as a dip for fruit.

Unfortunately, Trader Joe's does not sell its products online through its store. Luckily many products, including this one, can be purchased through Amazon and delivered right to your doorstep.

Price at time of publish: $10

Testing Takeaway

"I love this peanut butter. It wouldn't be my everyday peanut butter, more like my weekend peanut butter. Not for everyday sandwiches. But most likely to be eaten with a spoon." — Eric Handelsman, General Manager and VP

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4.2

Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator Peanut Butter

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Complements other flavors well
Smooth texture
Sweet yet complex flavor

What We Don't Like

No stick-in-your-mouth feel

Sometimes, you want a peanut butter that's sweet, subtle, and creamy—something to complement the other ingredients of your sweet or savory meal, rather than the star of the show. We like the smooth, creamy texture, but also miss the stick-in-your-mouth feel many people associate with peanut butter. The sweetness of the spread is comparable the flavor you get inside of a peanut butter cup, but isn't overpowering.

Price at time of publish: $5

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4.2

Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time Peanut Butter

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Blends well with other flavors
Thick, chunky texture
Easy to spread

What We Don't Like

Might be too rich for some

If all you need your peanut butter to do is play well in a sandwich, this chunky, sweet spread will be the one to satisfy your PB&J cravings. Through our testing, we found that its thick, extra-chunky texture will blend well with the bread and the jelly, providing just a little bit of bite in an otherwise soft and squishy sandwich.

However, peanut butters that blend well don't always stand well on their own. We tried it on a spoon, and found it to be a little too much—extra salty, extra creamy, extra crunchy, and extra sweet. But if extra is your style, this choice might be the perfect spread for you.

Price at time of publish: $5

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Final Verdict

For a peanut butter that checks all the boxes—organic, one ingredient, smooth, flavorful, cost-effective, and more—go with 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Creamy Peanut Butter. Out of all the sweeter options, we like Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator Peanut Butter the most because the flavor is light and not too overbearing.

What to Look for in Peanut Butter

Variety

Peanut butter comes in two main varieties: smooth and chunky. The smooth kind is creamy and tends to be easier to spread, while chunky has pieces of peanuts incorporated into it. Among those, there are stir and no-stir peanut butters (the latter have oil separation and need to be mixed), natural spreads (which don't contain any artificial ingredients), those with no sugar or sweeteners added, and those that are reduced-fat—which, because the naturally occurring high-fat amount has been removed, usually have more sugars and starches added to boost the flavor. There are also brands that mix peanut butter with another spread, such as jelly, honey, and chocolate.

Ingredients

Natural peanut butters tend to only have two ingredients or less, with peanuts as the main ingredient. When they do have sugar or oil added, they tend to be natural alternatives such as cane sugar (instead of corn syrup) or palm oil (instead of hydrogenated oils). If you prefer a saltier peanut butter, look for kinds with only peanuts and salt added. But if you prefer your variety on the creamier, sweeter side that's easy to spread, your best bet would be the kind with an added sweetener, plus oil to prevent natural separation that would require stirring.

FAQs

Is peanut butter healthy?

Like many foods, the answer to this question revolves more around the quantity of peanut butter. Yes, if you stick to the portion size provided and only consume one serving (~2 tablespoons) of peanut butter, it can certainly be a part of a healthy diet. On the plus side, it’s a plant-based protein that has minimal—if any—cholesterol, usually contains little sugar and carbohydrates, and offers some vitamins and minerals.

On the downside, it’s typically on the higher end when it comes to calories and fat. So, keep in mind that if you’re eating three times the number of servings, you have to multiply everything in the nutrition facts panel by three, and those calories and fat can add up quickly if you’re not being careful of your portion size. The old adage "everything in moderation" is very relevant when it comes to peanut butter.

Does peanut butter go bad?

According to the National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last 6-9 months in your pantry (no need for refrigeration). An open jar can last 2-3 months in the pantry, or 6-9 months in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that oil separation may occur if you opt to not refrigerate your open jar. If you don’t go through jars quickly and find them sitting around for a while, you can help yourself keep track by marking the lid with the date you open it.

Is peanut butter gluten-free?

Peanuts are naturally gluten-free, according to the National Peanut Board. Most peanut butters are gluten-free, as well, but, as you would with any food allergy or sensitivity, you still always want to double-check the packaging before you purchase. Though not likely, it’s possible that a gluten-containing ingredient could be used in peanut butter, or the product could be processed in the same facility that produces gluten-containing products. Take the extra moment in the grocery store to read the label and double-check.

Is peanut butter vegan?

Yes, peanut butter is a plant-based product that is vegan-friendly. Most of the time, peanut butters simply contain peanuts, salt, oil, and sugar. According to PETA, it’s possible, though rare, to find peanut butters that contain honey, so if you’re a strict vegan, it doesn’t hurt to double-check the ingredient list before adding it to your grocery cart.

How We Tested

To compile this list, members of The Spruce Eats team blind taste tested 17 peanut butters back to back and graded each one on overall flavor, texture, usability, ingredients, price, and appearance. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list. We also added information from our own preferences based on what we have tried and loved before and have fact-checked the story to include the most up-to-date information.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

The Spruce Eats editorial and commerce teams served as taste testers for this roundup. The FAQs and What to Look for sections were written by Alyssa Langer, who is a registered dietitian and foodie, always curious about the next food or ingredient craze and hungry to learn and try more. Having worked in cookbook publishing, CPG label data, nutrition writing, and meal kits, her diverse background and varied interests provide a unique perspective that fosters clear, well-researched and trustworthy reviews. She enjoys nut butters of all kinds and reaches for peanut butter constantly, packing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches daily for her husband’s lunches, and using peanut butter as a special treat to motivate her puppy.

Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this article to include the most up-to-date information.

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Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

United States Department of Agriculture. Labeling organic products.
Food and Drug Administration. Gluten-free labeling of foods. Updated August 12, 2020.