CHEF-APPROVED PROTEIN POWDER SMOOTHIE RECIPES YOU'LL WANT TO MAKE RIGHT NOW
Smoothies are a smart way to supplement your diet with any crucial nutrients you might be missing—and a convenient option for fueling up when you’re busy or even on the move. For many, protein shakes offer the simplest solution to add more muscle-building protein to their diet.
A good smoothie can pack all the fruits, vegetables, and protein you need to help hold you over between meals, refuel after a workout, or just fill nutritional gaps. And with ingredients like nut butters, seeds, and plant-based milks, you can amp up the benefits even further while blending up some seriously delicious flavor combinations.
However, the ability to easily whip up nutrition-packed smoothies is a double-edged sword. If you’re not paying attention to your ingredients and their quantities, a smoothie can quickly become a calorie trap. For instance, you probably wouldn’t eat three bananas back to back; but in smoothie form you could knock them down in the time it would normally take you to peel one. Mindfulness in the kitchen is important, no matter what you’re making.
To get you started on your new smoothie kick, we got in touch with celebrity chef Mareya Ibrahim, author of Eat Like You Give a Fork and founder of eatcleaner.com, for some recipe inspiration. Below are five protein-packed smoothie recipes to try out. Add Ibrahim’s nutritious creations to your regular rotation, and don’t be afraid to try your own!
5 CHEF-APPROVED PROTEIN SMOOTHIE RECIPES
1. MOCHA BANANA SMOOTHIE
Start your morning with this super-charged elixir that includes a full banana, coffee, and a bit of cocoa, too.
Serves: 2
INGREDIENTS
● 12 oz. unsweetened almond milk
● 4 oz. brewed coffee
● 1 frozen banana
● 1 serving of protein powder
● 1 tsp ground cinnamon
● 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
● 1 tsp stevia or monk fruit extract
● 3/4 cup ice, optional
DIRECTIONS
1. Add all ingredients to a blender in the order shown above.
2. Blend until smooth and enjoy cold.
2. PUMPKIN SPICE PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
Nothing feels more seasonal than a pumpkin-spiced drink, and this smoothie uses real pumpkin purée! Pumpkin is also low in calories and packs tons of antioxidants.
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
● 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or hemp milk
● 1 frozen banana, cut in half
● 2/3 cup pure pumpkin purée
● 1 serving of protein powder
● 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
● 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
● 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
● 1 tsp granulated stevia
● 1/2 cup ice
● 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
DIRECTIONS
1. In a blender, combine the almond milk, banana, pumpkin, protein, and yogurt. Blend until smooth.
2. Add the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, stevia, ice, and cinnamon, and blend for 15 seconds.
3. Pour into a glass and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy cold.
3. SUPERHERO SMOOTHIE
Feel like a superhero first thing in the morning or post-workout with this smoothie that combines nutritious, anti-inflammatory ingredients like berries, spinach, protein, and oats!
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
● 1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries
● 1 cup baby spinach
● 2 tbsp natural almond or peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter, for a nut-free option)
● 1 serving of protein powder
● 2 cups almond milk
● 2 frozen bananas, peeled
● 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
● A few drops of liquid stevia
● 1/2 cup ice
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass and enjoy cold.
4. YOU GLOW SMOOTHIE
This smoothie is packed with antioxidants like berries, tart cherry juice, and spinach—a treat for your body, and your skin!
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
● 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt, for a vegan swap)
● 1/4 cup unsweetened tart cherry or unsweetened pomegranate juice
● 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
● 1/2 cup baby spinach
● 1 serving of protein powder
● 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
● 1/2 cup crushed ice
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine all ingredients and 2 cups water in a high-speed blender and blend on high until smooth.
2. Serve ice-cold, optionally with a straw.
5. MOCHA LOCA ANTIOXIDANT SMOOTHIE
If you’re short on time, grab this on-the-go smoothie on your way out the door to help stave off hunger, boost your immune system, and amp up your energy levels. You don’t even need a blender—just shake and go!
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
● 1 cup acai
● 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
● 1/2 scoop powdered greens
● 1 serving of protein powder
● 1 tsp honey or stevia
● 1/2 tsp instant coffee
● Scoop of ice
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker bottle. Shake until smooth, and serve.