This healthy chocolate protein shake recipe is packed with over 55 grams of protein and tastes like a chocolate milkshake!
What makes this the best protein shake?
More protein. My recipe contains more than twice the amount of protein found in many chocolate protein shake recipes and store bought protein drinks.
Superior chocolate flavor. If you love thick, diner style ice cream milkshakes, this is your kind of creamy protein shake.
Great post workout option. Each nutrition filled serving provides potassium, fiber, magnesium, hydration, and over 50% of the RDA for both calcium and iron.
High or low calorie. Customize the recipe to fit your personal weight loss or gain goals. For a weight gain shake, use real sugar and include the optional two tablespoons of peanut butter.
Easy to make. Whip up your own homemade version in under thirty seconds for breakfast or snack, and save the high cost you’d pay at an expensive smoothie shop.
Also try this Protein Cookie Dough
Key ingredients
Milk – Use your favorite milk of choice, and look for a high protein milk, like skim or soymilk instead of almond milk, to give you more protein.
Protein powder – Many chocolate protein powder options are available on the market, including whey, casein, and pea based powders. Try different brands to find your personal preference.
Sweetener – Pretty much anything goes, including pure maple syrup, honey, regular sugar, or stevia for a sugar free and keto protein shake.
The amount will depend on whether your milk, yogurt, and protein powder are sweetened or unsweetened.
Yogurt – Regular or Greek yogurt both work in this protein smoothie. I recommend vanilla yogurt for optimum flavor, although plain is fine as well.
For a dairy free and vegan protein shake, choose a plant based yogurt or substitute one ripe banana.
Use leftover yogurt in an Orange Smoothie
Chocolate protein shake recipe video
Step by step instructions
- Begin with cold milk and yogurt or a frozen banana.
- Add all ingredients to either a large or single serving blender, and blend until thick and completely smooth.
- Serve immediately in milkshake glasses or mason jars.
- Decorate with cacao nibs or chocolate syrup and shaved chocolate if desired.
- Leftovers? Store them in a tightly covered cup or container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Or freeze in popsicle molds for homemade instant chocolate protein pops on a hot summer day.
I just tried this recipe and it is so delicious! And very filling! It’s great for breakfast on the go.
-Kerry
Chocolate protein shake flavors
- Mocha: Add a half teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder for an energizing caffeine boost.
- Peanut butter cup: Blend in one or two tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, or powdered peanut butter. Bonus, this increases the protein content too.
- Chocolate covered cherry: Use a cherry flavored yogurt, or replace the yogurt with six ounces of pitted frozen cherries.
- Mint chocolate chip: Add a fourth teaspoon of pure peppermint extract or more to taste. Garnish with mini chocolate chips and fresh mint leaves.
- Strawberry: Go with strawberry yogurt and add a few drops of pure vanilla extract. Or change up the flavor by trying raspberry, blueberry, or banana yogurt.
The recipe was adapted from my Chocolate Smoothie and Protein Hot Chocolate.
Chocolate Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice (240g)
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (30g)
- 6 oz vanilla yogurt or 1 banana (170g)
- sweetener of choice
- 2 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter (optional) (30g)
Instructions
- To make the chocolate protein shake, start with cold ingredients. Blend everything in a blender until thick and smooth. Serve and enjoy. If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in a lidded container for up to three days.View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
Healthy Chocolate Protein Recipes
I have a question about your blondies. I don’t have a food processor. Can I use my blender? Beaters? Am I just plain out of luck? 🙁
Thank you for your amazing recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think for bean-things you really can’t use a blender because (and this is just from personal experience) the blade is so sheltered. That is, it’s only in a little space in the bottom, and a few beans gum up in there and then the rest of it doesn’t blend.
And beaters aren’t sharp so they won’t cut anything, which you need to do for beans recipes (and many others).
I saw my friend’s magic bullet blender and I feel like that could work, because of how the blades are structured, but I haven’t tried it.
Looks yummy, as always!!!! Gosh Katie, you are blessed with such extraordinary talent when it comes to the kitchen! And my oh my were the sprinkles a nice touch 😉
hmmm delicious! but have u thought of “expanding your horizons” to more fruity desserts? like maybe vegan strawberry yogurts/milkshakes, raisin/cranberry bread, apple muffins, blueberry shakes, chocolate covered bananas/pineapple/melon? i know this is a chocolate-based blog, but u r the best chef i know, and if anyone can come up with the best recipes for these foods, it’s you!
Oh but I do have a lot of fruit desserts… including a strawberry milkshake recipe 🙂
:O!!!! Oh my gosh. Katie, I hope you don’t mind I steal your birthday cake idea for my own birthday…
Lol, protein!!! I need to be more prepared when people ask, “How do you get your protein?” x.x I actually made the shake this morning! I saw it last night and decided I needed to get with the program, considering I didn’t know what day it was. D: And I can’t wait to try the sprinkles!!! Now to look back and see if I have everything…
Katie, I also have a question about your weights. I emailed you, but I know you’re a very busy woman. ^^’ How long do you use them? I know you lift 10-pounders (kudos, lol) 2-3 times per week, but…yeah. For how long? =] I’m tryna up my lean muscle mass. ^^ If anyone else lifts weights, I’d love to hear some advice from anyone else, too. =]
Um… I wouldn’t try to replicate what I do. It’s very unstructured and probably not the best way to see results quickly. I don’t time it because I do a set, then work on the computer, then do another set, then work in the kitchen, then another set… I really get so bored!
I see. X] The way I am, I like to just do it and get it over with! Thanks for responding though, it’s like, wow, she responded to me. O_o *Le happy* 😀 I also wanna say thanks again! You got me interested in running and when I saw another blogger do it, I was finally like, “I have to give this a go…” It’s much. MUCH different than the elliptical. Now I even have a snack in the morning, go running, and come back to a second breakfast! Lol! It really is the best way to do it (or rather, the best way for my body). You also – here it comes – transitioned me to vegan without me even realizing it. And to a cook. I’m the kitchen’s worst enemy. XD Anyway, it’s been a tough road being vegan, with everyone’s horrid thoughts about it. But it’s still been fun! I mean…coconut butter. Tofu. How can one live – nay – why would one want to go through life with a narrow-mind?! Although I’m not sure the wallet wants to thank you. I’ve been dishing it out for the cashew and coconut butter, if ya know what I mean. ;p Anyway, yeah… Nervous about saying all that, but um, again, thanks for responding. =] Though just lifting a couple sets of weights sounds nice. I LOATHE routines…so monotonous.
That shake looks amazing!! I don’t use protein powders but want to start…as a vegetarian it can be hard to get enough all of the time, especially being active. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I am so happy to have found this site! Ever since I saw the Forks over Knife documentary, and later fast food nation, i have been trying to make a conscious effort to eat healthier. See, i never had a doctor care enough to diagnose & explain the severity of my food choices, until i saw the documentaries and made the change, and started to see improvements. I admit, as a chocolate-addict, I was having a hard time with the thought of having to give it up, so I say again – I am SO HAPPY to have found your site!
Aw thank you!!
I actually love using vanilla protein powder. I use it in oatmeal, protein smoothies, etc. I think the brand I use is usually just the Whole Foods brand or the brand-name at my grocery, but I love it 🙂 Very convenient for getting extra protein in
This is a brilliant suggestion for a protein post-work out drink without the price tag. Well done.
I just realized this, you don’t have a recipe for Oatmeal Raisin cookies!!!! can you please make one!
Hi Salma,
If you use the search bar you’ll find a couple recipes. Here are two that I’ve used:
https://lett-trim.today/2012/01/11/oatmeal-raisin-breakfast-cookies/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
This one is just for oatmeal cookies, but I’ve used it adding either a half cup of raisins or chocolate chips and it turns out great:
https://lett-trim.today/2008/04/28/cookies-oclock/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Katie,
I just made a pumpkin spice version, and I am hoping you can improve it and call it yours! I actually thought I had seen one on your site before. I used 1/4 box of Mori-Nu silken soft tofu (because that’s all I had), about 3 Tbsp. frozen pumpkin puree (I freeze it on waxed paper in 1 Tbsp. chunks, then throw them in a freezer bag), dash of vanilla extract, maybe 1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or your own equivalent), about 3/4C. vanilla almond milk, then either Stevia drops or agave nectar to taste. Yum! But I did think it could be better, I think the Stevia I used gave it a different taste.
Also, in comments before, I saw someone mention a caramel apple shake from your site, but I could not find it- it sounds divine! Please help!
Thanks,
Nancy
I think I do have some sort of pumpkin smoothie recipe on the site… from a long time ago. But I have “pumpkin frosty” on my to-try list, so perhaps there’ll be another one soon.
Caramel shake: https://lett-trim.today/2011/10/03/caramel-apple-milkshake/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Yum! Thank you!
I love you and your blog and all, but it is not at all easy for everyone to get enough protein (without supplements?! wtfff) on a vegan diet. At any given time I’m either powerlifting or doing some form of martial arts, and to fuel and maintain muscle mass, hell yeah do I need protein powders. I get that as a tiny person who is a runner, your protein needs are different, but the grand sweeping generalization of “vegan protein intake is easy!” doesn’t do the life style any favors. It’s misleading, especially for the athletes in the audience.
As a tiny person with muscles who hasn’t eaten meat in nearly a decade, I’m currently really into unflavored pea protein: http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Pea-Protein-lbs/dp/B001DB4MFO
LOVED this!
Another winner! I made this for an after workout shake, and I downed it so fast my brother came in and was making fun of me, like what’s the rush? So of course I had to make him one so he could see what all the fuss was about. And he liked it too! Even after I told him it had TOFU!
Wendy’s chocotate Frostys are my down fall. I have been SAVED! lol
Oops! forgot to mention….I’ve been saved by the chocolate protein shake.
Katie…I pinned this for two reasons:
1. I love your pins, love the recipe and use it all the time.
2. I’d love one of those Cuisinart Food Processors.
As a fellow Dallas girl, I think I should get first dibs!