The Best Store-Bought Granola, According to Food Pros

One of my favorite breakfasts is granola with yogurt, fresh fruit, and a drizzle of honey—it’s satisfying, creamy, a little sweet, and has the perfect amount of crunch (thanks to the granola). But granola is really an “any time food” for me, as I’ll snack on it throughout the day. It’s fantastic sprinkled over apples and peanut butter, or even as a dessert.

However, if you’ve ever perused the granola section of the grocery store, then you know it’s downright overwhelming. There are dozens of options to choose from, all boasting superior health benefits, which makes choosing one incredibly hard.

To help with this decision fatigue, I decided to ask three food professionals what their favorite brand of store-bought granola is. Spoiler: They all named the same one.

The Experts I Asked

• Katie Vine: Owner and recipe developer at Dinners Done Quick
• Seanna Borrows: Founder of Seanna’s Kitchen
• Robbie Shoults: Chef & third-generation owner of Marshall Mercantile and High Horse 1898 in Marshall, Texas

The Best Store-Bought Granola, According to Food Pros

These food professionals all agree that when it comes to the tastiest granola, nothing beats Nature Valley Oats & Honey Crunchy Granola. If you’ve ever had their famed crunchy granola bars, this product offers the same great taste and astounding crunch.

“There's some nostalgia there to the granola bars of my childhood—and it's equally as tasty as a bag of granola. They make a Protein option which is nice for helping you to stay full as well, though, I usually opt for classic Crunchy Oats and Honey,” Vine shares.

Shoults is also a big fan of the brand, calling the granola "rich in flavor." Borrows had plenty of positive things to share too. “Nature Valley is a solid, easy-to-find option that we keep around. The Protein option is a bonus, especially for busy mornings, while the Oats and Honey flavor is a classic favorite. It’s really tasty with yogurt, milk, or fruit,” she says.

But aside from these classic uses of granola, these foodies had many other tasty and creative ways to use granola at home. “Granola makes a great cheesecake crust (grind it up just like graham crackers), and I also like to use in on fall salads in place of croutons—it pairs really well with roasted butternut squash, beets, goat cheese, and arugula for a fun salad,” Vine offers.

“There are tons of creative ways to use granola to make eating more fun this year. For a kid-friendly treat, apple nachos topped with granola make a fun afternoon snack that’s not only easy to make, but also packed with nourishment,” adds Shoults. Meanwhile, Borrows tops her favorite overnight oats recipe with this granola.

You can find both the Protein and Oats and Honey Nature Valley granolas at many large supermarkets—including Target and Walmart—for less than $5 per bag, making it a super accessible option.