Snack time with peanut butter? Yes, sir! This one ingredient is as perfect for a midnight craving as it is for lunchboxes for kids. The peanut butter loyalty runs deep, but taste tests show that not all jars are created equal.
If you’re tired of spinning the peanut butter wheel hoping for the best, we’ve done the taste-testing for you. This guide separates the reliable favorites from the disappointing misfires for your assistance.
Crazy Richard’s 100% Peanuts! Natural Peanut Butter
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This peanut butter is made from just one ingredient—peanuts. That means no sugar, salt, or weird aftertaste. What you get is pure peanut flavor with a smooth finish that spreads like a dream. Its simplicity and quality have earned it top marks in various taste tests.
Spread the Love Naked Organic Peanut Butter
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This organic peanut butter delivers a clean, roasted peanut flavor without added salt or sugar. Its creamy consistency and minimal ingredient list make it a standout choice for those seeking a wholesome spread. It’s the kind of peanut butter you’d use in everything from toast to Thai peanut sauce and feel good about doing it.
Fix & Fogg Smooth Peanut Butter
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From New Zealand with love, this brand brings a little twist to the table. It’s creamy, yes, but with just enough texture to keep things interesting. The flavor has a toasted depth that gives it character.
Wild Friends Classic Creamy Peanut Butter
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This jar adds a pinch of sea salt to the mix, which really makes the roasted peanut flavor pop. It’s smooth, but not bland—easy to spoon, spread, or sneak a taste of when no one’s looking. Bonus: the ingredient list is short, and the brand is women-founded and socially conscious.
Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
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Jif has been holding lunchboxes together for decades, and for good reason. It’s creamy and sweet with just enough salt. It spreads easily and satisfies without needing extra ingredients or upgrades. Sure, it’s not ‘natural’ like others on this list, but when it comes to everyday peanut butter needs, it’s a reliable go-to.
Teddie All-Natural Smooth Peanut Butter
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Among natural peanut butters, Teddie is worth mentioning for its nutty, slightly gritty texture. There’s no added sugar, yet the flavor remains full and deeply savory. Its rustic character makes it ideal for purists who want minimal ingredients. It spreads better than you'd expect for something so gritty.
Trader Joe’s Creamy No-Stir Peanut Butter
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Trader Joe’s delivers again. This no-stir version keeps things neat and tasty without requiring a full upper-body workout before use. It’s thick, smooth, and peanut-forward, with just enough salt to keep it interesting. Occasionally, it leans a little bitter (natural peanut butter problems), but when it's on, it’s on.
Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Peanut Butter
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This dark roast version is richer than many natural peanut butters and offers a surprisingly complex flavor, almost smoky. The texture comes together with a quick stir. It’s slightly sweet for an organic option and holds up well in savory dishes or as a dip for fruit.
Woodstock Organic Smooth & Salted Peanut Butter
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Sometimes, simplicity hits the spot. Woodstock keeps it clean with just peanuts and salt, but still manages to turn out a spread that’s smooth, mellow, and seriously snackable. It stirs easily and spreads beautifully. For those avoiding added oils and sweeteners, this one proves that organic and tasty aren’t mutually exclusive.
Great Value Honey Roasted Creamy Peanut Butter
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Yes, it’s a budget brand. Yes, it’s sweet. But somehow, this jar pulls it off. The honey-roasted angle gives it a dessert-like vibe without tipping into candy territory. It’s soft, easy to spread, and surprisingly pleasant for something with “value” in the name.
Peter Pan Original Creamy
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Nostalgia can only carry a peanut butter so far. It has a whipped, airy texture, but little to no real peanut presence. It's mild to the point of forgettable—like someone whispered the word "peanut" into a jar of vegetable oil.
Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter
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You’d think “natural” means better, but this one’s a bit of a mess. An aggressive oil layer, a gritty texture, and an oddly burnt taste make it a chore to eat. While Smucker’s excels in jam, their peanut butter isn’t up to the same standard.
Once Again Creamy Peanut Butter
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Although marketed as healthy, this brand suffers from severe texture issues and a lack of flavor. The texture is loose and clumpy at the same time (a feat in itself), and there’s just no flavor payoff. Without salt or sugar to balance things out, it’s more bland than balanced.
Reese’s Peanut Butter
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Reese’s makes legendary cups, but the same can’t be said about their peanut butter. It’s sweet and thick, more like a frosting than a spread. The sugar-forward profile may suit frostings, but it fails in everyday peanut butter uses.
Smucker’s Goober Grape
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Goober Grape might win points for childhood nostalgia, but it’s an ultra-processed sugar bomb. It is packed with high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, and multiple sweeteners. Honestly, it hardly qualifies as peanut butter.
