This protein smoothie recipe is made with 6 ingredients in 5 minutes! It’s is an easy, delicious, and healthy way to increase your daily protein intake.
There have been many seasons of my life (especially while I was pregnant and nursing), that my body desperately needed more protein but I didn’t have the energy to cook.
So, I created this protein smoothie recipe as an easy and nutritious way to give my body what it needed without spending hours in the kitchen.
This protein smoothie is made with six healthy, high-protein ingredients and only takes 5 minutes to make. Enjoy it as a nutritious breakfast or snack.
Protein Smoothie Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Milk. Any milk variety works well. 2%, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
- Greek yogurt. I suggest a full-fat yogurt such as a plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, or a plain or vanilla Icelandic yogurt.
- Frozen mixed berries. I suggest using frozen berries for a thick, creamy, cold smoothie. However, you can substitute your favorite fruit: strawberries, blueberries, cherries, etc.
- Frozen Banana. Adding frozen banana sweetens smoothies and imparts a creamy texture. Using frozen banana means that you don’t need to add ice to make it thick and cold.
- Vanilla protein powder. Use a high-quality protein powder like this one.
- Almond butter. cashew butter, peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, etc. are all great substitutes.
- Honey. maple syrup is a good substitute for honey.
Add ingredients to blending container
Begin by adding all the ingredients in the order listed in the protein smoothie recipe to the container of a Vitamix blender (or another high-powered blender).
It’s important to add the milk & yogurt first, then add the frozen fruit, for easy blending. I like to add the honey on top of the frozen fruit to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the blending container.
Protein Smoothie Recipe: Optional Add-Ins
If you’d like to add some nutrition boosters to this protein smoothie, here are some suggestions that you can add before you begin blending:
- Greens. Adding 1 cup of spinach or power greens, won’t effect the taste or texture of this smoothie at all. It will change the color, but it’ll taste great and have a bonus serving of veggies!
- Collagen. For even more protein without changing the flavor, add a scoop of collagen.
- Chia seeds. a nutritional powerhouse that can be added to this tropical smoothie. I recommend adding 1-2 TBS and drinking the smoothie immediately.
Blend
Next, secure the lid and blend the protein smoothie until it’s smooth and uniform throughout. Use the tamper to press the ingredients to the blades (if using a Vitamix).
You may need to pause, scrape down the sides and continue blending to ensure your smoothie is thick and frozen and avoid over-blending. The mixture should be smooth but thick.
Serve
Once blended, pour the protein smoothie into 2-4 glasses and serve immediately.
Store/freeze
You can store this protein smoothie recipe in a glass jar with a lid for up to 1 day in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQS
Can I double this recipe?
Yes! You can double the ingredients to make more smoothie! Just be sure to use a large blending container.
Can I add spinach to this protein smoothie?
Yes, add 1-2 cups of fresh or fresh-then-frozen spinach on top of the frozen fruit before blending. Just note that adding greens will change the color of this smoothie. Check out my Green Smoothie post for tips about freezing spinach.
What can I add to my smoothie for protein?
Here are some great protein boosters to add to smoothies, many of which are already included in this recipe:
Greek yogurt
Cottage cheese
Chia seeds
Collagen
Protein powder
Nut or seed butter
Hemp or pumpkin seeds
Flaxseed (whole or ground)
Tofu (silken)
