Sponsored disclosure: This post is sponsored by Naked Nutrition, and I was gifted 1 tub of beef protein powder. All opinions are my own, and I’m committed to providing honest feedback.
Ever try beef protein powder? As a longtime whey protein girlie, this one is new to me.
So when I got offered to try Naked’s Beef Protein Powder, I was curious. Partly because I was dying to know what beef protein tastes like and partly because I wanted to read the label with my registered dietitian hat on.
Between back-to-back client sessions, frequent gym sessions, and a stomach that doesn’t tolerate artificial junk “food,” my standards for what goes in my protein smoothie are simple: short ingredient list with enough protein to actually make a difference.
Here’s the full breakdown: flavor, nutrition, quality, and the ways to use it.
The Label (what a pregnant RD & mom checks first)
Being 32 weeks pregnant, I’m extra selective about what I put in my body. Plus, I want to share what I want with my 2 year old. I don’t want either of us consuming any junk or artificial colors.
So I was impressed to see Naked’s Unflavored Beef Protein Powder only has ingredients: beef protein isolate and sunflower lecithin. That’s it! No gums, fillers, or added sweeteners doing mystery work. The lecithin is only there to help it mix well. When you read supplement panels for a living, a two-line ingredient list is genuinely refreshing.
A note: Naked Beef Protein Powder also comes in a chocolate and vanilla flavor. While I haven’t tried those, they each have a short ingredient list with no artificial nonsense. Just natural flavors, cocoa powder, and/or salt. They do contain fermented Reb M, which is a zero calorie natural sweetener.
Per one scoop of Naked Beef Protein, you’re getting:
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- 21g protein (complete with all 9 essential amino acids)
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- 17g collagen (more on what that really means below)
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- 90 calories
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- 0g sugar, 0g carbs
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- Dairy-free and lactose-free
Nutrition with an honest clarification
21 grams of complete protein for 90 calories is a pretty strong ratio, especially if you’re trying to lose body fat while building muscle, using a weight loss medication, or just trying to hit a daily protein target without piling on extra calories. For most clients I work with, landing around 20 to 40 grams per meal is the goal, and one scoop gets you there!
Now, let’s talk about collagen. Supplementing with collagen peptides is popular because it’s been shown to improve skin elasticity, joint health, and aids in muscle repair. Naked lists 17g of collagen per serving, and that’s a real perk, but it’s often misunderstood. This is not collagen scooped into the tub as an add-in. Beef bone protein itself is naturally rich in the amino acids that make up collagen in your body (mainly glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline). So you’re getting those structural amino acids built right in, which is a nice bonus if you care about your joints, tendons, and connective tissue. And if you’re active like me, you should care about those things!
Just set your expectations correctly: this behaves like a high-quality protein with a collagen-boosting amino profile. It’s not a muscle-building whey with a separate collagen scoop stapled on.
For pure muscle protein synthesis, whey still has a slight edge because it has higher leucine, an amino acid directly linked to repairing skeletal tissue. But for an all-day, joint-supporting, muscle-supporting protein, Naked Beef Protein smart pick.
Flavor (or, lack there of).
I tried the unflavored beef protein, so I’m not going to oversell it. It is not sweet so if you’re wanting something that tastes like cereal or dessert, tough luck. I personally avoid artificial sweeteners as much as possible, so I actually prefer unflavored supplements. Especially because I’m almost always going to blend it with natural sweeteners like fruit, yogurt, or milk.
If you mix it in water or almond milk, Naked beef protein is drinkable but plain. I’d tell you to forget drinking it as a standalone shake and instead, treat it like a protein boost you stir into things like oats, smoothies, coffee, and baked goods.
Mixability, on the other hand, is solid. I put one scoop in 12 ounces of room temp black coffee and gave it a shake for about 25 to 30 seconds. I got no clumps and no chalky sludge at the bottom of the mason jar. I added ice and almond milk, giving me a simple iced protein coffee to drink on the way to work.
Quality and Sourcing
Okay, this is cool and where the product earned brownie points with me. The protein comes from European beef bones and is processed in Sweden using mechanical and thermal methods only, with no chemical solvents. It’s growth-hormone free, with no rBGH or rBST. Before getting this beef protein, I’ve always recommended Naked’s pea and whey proteins to patients because their products have short, traceable ingredient lists. This product stands true, and I’m not afraid to share my beef protein smoothies with my kiddo because of it.
Ways I’ve Been Eating It
Because it’s unflavored, I find it more versatile than vanilla or chocolate powder. My current favorites:
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- Protein coffee: Stirred into my morning coffee or latte.
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- Cherry smoothie (pictured): Blended with frozen cherries, half a frozen banana, milk, and a spoon of almond butter. The fruit carries the flavor and you’d never know it’s in there.
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- Overnight oats: Whisked overnight oats with cinnamon, cocoa powder, milk, and a little maple syrup.
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- Yogurt boost: Stirred into plain Greek yogurt for a double-protein snack. Top with berries, of course.
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- Savory recipes: When the weather gets cold, I’ll add a scoop to soups, chili, and a pot of sippable bone-broth-style broth. Since it dissolves with hot coffee, I’m hopeful it’ll work the same with meals.
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- Baking: Baked into protein pancakes and muffins.
A Few Honest Notes
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- Don’t use it as a meal replacement. At only 90 calories it’s a protein boost, not a whole meal. Use it to add protein to an existing meal or supplement as a snack.
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- It’s not for everyone. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, this one obviously isn’t for you. Naked has pea and other plant options.
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- Price. It runs about $45 a tub, roughly $2.36 a serving, or less on subscription. It’s not the cheapest on the shelf but when it comes to supplements, I’d rarely suggest the bargain brands anyway. Why? Because they’re full of cheap crap!
Bottom Line
If you want a zero carb protein shake with a no-nonsense ingredient list and 21 grams of protein per scoop, Naked Beef protein powder is dietitian-approved. I love the collagen-supporting amino acid boost for your joints, making it an easy yes for my fellow gym rats who want to build muscle without decoding length ingredient labels. If you try this product, go in with the expectation that it’s a versatile mix-in rather than a dessert shake. You’ll get a lot of mileage out of it that way.
General nutrition information, not personalized medical or dietary advice. Book a consultation with one of our dietitians to see what’s right for you!