Protein powder is one of the more convenient ways to easily add protein to your diet, particularly if you are frequently on the go and do not have enough time to cook, prepare, or eat real protein-rich foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, soy, low-fat dairy, and legumes.
With that said, protein shakes can get quite boring, and not everyone has the time to constantly be coming up with new protein shake recipes or finding a way to make a healthy protein shake that doesn’t have a chalky texture or unpleasant aftertaste.
So, what are some of the best non-protein shake protein powder recipes? How can you use protein powder other than in protein shakes?
In this article, we have put together some recipes with protein powder that aren’t protein shakes and ideas for protein powder recipes that you can tweak and adapt for meals and protein powder snacks.
We will cover:
- The 7 Best Protein Powder Recipes That Aren’t Protein Shakes
Let’s get started!
The Best Protein Powder Recipes that Aren’t Protein Shakes
Here are some ideas for how to use protein powder in recipes that aren’t protein shakes:
#1: Protein Powder Pancakes
There are lots of different protein powder pancake recipes, and there isn’t really a right or wrong way to make protein powder pancakes.
However, one easy recipe we like to use is to whisk together one scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder, 1/3 of a cup of egg whites, 2 to 3 tablespoons of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed.
After thoroughly whisking and combining, stir in one puréed or very well-mashed ripe banana. Combine everything together and cook on very low heat until bubbles appear along the edges. Then, carefully flip the pancake and continue cooking it on low until it is done.
It takes a little bit longer to cook these pancakes because they need the “low and slow“ method to prevent burning, but you’ll get a really healthy, grain-free, protein-packed pancake that is surprisingly fluffy and tasty.
You can top the pancakes with fresh berries, Greek yogurt, or nut butter if you do not want to have sugary maple syrup.
#2: Protein French Toast
Protein powder pancakes are typical go-to protein powder recipes when people want something other than a protein shake, but you can also make protein powder French toast.
When preparing the egg soak for your toast, add one scoop of vanilla protein powder and whisk thoroughly with the eggs.
Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and again whisk thoroughly.
Then, dunk each piece of whole-grain bread or keto almond flour bread into the egg wash, let the bread soak for several seconds, and then cook it on the pan just as you would normally.
The vanilla protein powder not only boosts the protein in your breakfast but adds a delicious sweet flavor.
#3: Power Protein Yogurt
Plain Greek yogurt provides 23 grams of protein and only 133 calories in one cup (8 ounces or 227 grams), but you can boost your yogurt to become a protein breakfast bomb with this recipe with protein powder.
All you need to do is add 1/2 to one scoop of your favorite protein powder to the Greek yogurt and stir thoroughly to combine.
This can also work really well if you are a vegan and eat coconut yogurt or some other non-dairy yogurt, which tends to be lower in protein. By adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder, you can get a protein-packed vegan yogurt in a matter of minutes.
If you find the texture of the yogurt to become too stiff and thick, you can thin it out with a tablespoon of unsweetened almond milk or a dash of vanilla extract.
If you are watching your carb intake and want to have a sweet dessert yogurt treat, you can take plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, add one scoop of your favorite chocolate or vanilla protein powder, and several drops of liquid Stevia until the desired sweetness is attained.
Adding a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder will also boost the chocolatey flavor without adding additional sugar or carbs.
#4: Protein Cookies
This protein powder recipe works well as protein breakfast cookies (who will argue with getting to enjoy a healthy breakfast cookie?!) or as a protein-packed tasty snack before or after a workout or between meals. You can even enjoy one of these protein powder cookies as a healthy dessert option when your sweet tooth kicks in.
Plus, the protein powder cookies are really portable, making them a great option for protein powder snacks on the go.
Here’s the recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Mash two ripe bananas until they are fairly well puréed. You can also use applesauce, canned pumpkin, or mashed sweet potato, but bananas tend to work best.
Add 1/2 cup of vanilla protein powder. You can also use plain or chocolate, but you will likely need to add additional sweetener and flavoring in the case of plain, and if you are using chocolate protein powder, add an additional quarter cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to amplify the chocolate flavor.
Add 3/4 of a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and about 1/4 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Stir everything together.
Add one cup of old-fashioned oats, or 3/4 cup of oats and 1/4 cup of almond flour, depending on your dietary preferences.
Stir to combine everything and then scoop out eight protein cookies using an ice cream scoop or heaping tablespoons, placing each cookie dough ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a fork or the back of a spoon to lightly press down each cookie about halfway.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cookies look golden brown. Let the cookies cool before removing them from the parchment paper. Store in a Ziploc bag or airtight container in the refrigerator.
You can doctor up the recipe by adding chocolate chips, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, Chia seeds, or any number of different add-ins or spices to change things.
#5: Protein Hummus
If you prefer a more savory recipe with protein powder, you can amp up homemade hummus by adding plain protein powder.
Hummus already provides a decent amount of protein from the garbanzo beans, along with fiber and some healthy fats, but adding unsweetened protein powder is a great way to make this healthy condiment or dip even more filling.
Add one can of rinsed and drained low-sodium garbanzo beans or 1 1/2 cups of cooked garbanzo beans to a food processor. Save the liquid off to the side. Add one scoop of unflavored protein powder.
Add the juice of one whole lemon, a quarter teaspoon of salt, a quarter cup of tahini, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Purée until smooth. If the mixture is too dry, add back in the liquid you drained off from the garbanzo beans or add hot water, more olive oil, or more lemon juice, depending on your calorie needs and taste preferences.
This is a very basic protein powder hummus recipe, but you can season it in all sorts of ways. You can add black pepper, cumin, paprika, pine nuts, roasted red pepper, or any number of other spices or vegetables as you so choose.
#6: Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Soft Serve Protein Ice Cream
One of the tastiest recipes with protein powder is also the easiest to prepare. This is a healthy protein powder recipe dessert that can be thrown together with a food processor in just a minute or two.
Add one chopped frozen banana to your food processor or one chilled avocado, depending on your macronutrient goals.
Add one serving of your favorite chocolate protein powder, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter, and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Purée the mixture until it is whipped and smooth like soft serve ice cream.
Enjoy it right away or scoop it into a small bowl and pop it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes if you like firm ice cream.
#7: Protein Powder Oatmeal
Vanilla protein powder works really well in hot oatmeal or even overnight oats.
With hot oatmeal, it is best to mix the protein powder thoroughly with the milk or water that you are going to use first and then add it to the oats to prevent clumping. Either way, it will still taste delicious!
What’s your favorite recipe with protein powder?
If you are looking to get more protein into your everyday diet in general, check out our list of high-protein foods.
