Protein Powder Recipes: 12+ delicious recipes to try

Protein powders are concentrated sources of protein from animal or plant foods, such as dairy, peas or rice. When someone mentions they’re supplementing with a protein powder, whey protein powder or a vegan protein powder like soy protein, pea protein and brown rice protein is often what comes to mind. 

Known for being fast-absorbing proteins, whey, pea and brown rice protein are popular protein powders among people looking to achieve lean body mass and improved strength. The body can absorb and use these faster-digesting proteins to begin its muscle repair and rebuilding process within thirty minutes of the workout. These protein powders also contain more branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are leucine, isoleucine and valine. While all essential amino acids are important for building muscle, leucine is the one that jumpstarts muscle building when eaten in combination with resistance exercise.

Other protein supplements out there include egg protein, soy protein, hemp protein — the list goes on. All of these supplements also give your body an extra boost in total daily protein. You can make the most of your workout and ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need. 

Just like there are many different kinds of protein supplements, there are also many different ways to incorporate them into your routine — some people prefer simple protein shakes, while others prefer adding a scoop of protein powder to their favorite recipes.

Trying protein powder recipes

Curious about ways you can use protein powder in your recipes? Below we’ve put together a dozen different recipes to try out. 

One thing to note: Protein powders’ sources taste different, so different types of protein powder can taste slightly different. Overall, Gainful protein powders are flavorless. So whether you’re supplementing with whey protein, pea protein or a combination of protein powder sources, you’ll be able to add them to a number of recipes without affecting the taste.

Whether you are searching for a savory high-protein snack or are trying to satisfy a sweet tooth, try some of these below:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Gainful Rich Cocoa or Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavor Boost packets

• 1 ½ cup oats

• 2 scoops Gainful protein powder

• 1 cup smooth peanut butter

• ½ cup honey

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• chia seeds (optional)

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, empty the Flavor Boost packets, then stir in the oats and protein powder. Next stir in the peanut butter, honey and vanilla. Add chia seeds, if desired. Stir until smooth. If the mixture feels too dry, add another spoonful of peanut butter or honey; if the mixture feels too sticky, add another tablespoon of protein powder.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out around 3 dozen protein balls. Place in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes, or until ready to eat.

Flourless Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Gainful Madagascar Vanilla Flavor Boost packets

• 1 cup peanut butter

• 2 scoops Gainful protein powder

• 2 eggs

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ cup coconut sugar

• ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, empty the Flavor Boost packets then mix together the peanut butter, protein powder, eggs, baking soda, coconut sugar and chocolate chips until a dough forms.

2. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop small mounds of dough and place approximately 1 ½ inches apart on  a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wet your fingers and gently press the mounds into cookie shapes.

3. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookie edges are golden brown.

Edible Protein Cookie Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop Gainful protein powder

• 1 tablespoon sunflower seed butter

• ½ tablespoon coconut flour

• ¾ tablespoon coconut sugar

• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon vanilla unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)

• mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a medium-size bowl. Mix until a dough starts to form.

2. Use your hands to mix the dough completely into a ball. Break off mounds of edible cookie dough to eat immediately, or refrigerate until ready to eat.

Peanut Butter Banana Protein Pancakes

Ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 3 tablespoons powdered peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut milk

• 2 tablespoon vanilla Greek yogurt

• ½ cup oats

• 1 Gainful Madagascar Vanilla Flavor Boost packet

• ½ scoop Gainful protein powder

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 cup mashed bananas (1-2 very ripe bananas)

• 1 egg white

• banana slices, optional 

Directions:

1. Make the syrup: In a bowl, whisk together maple syrup, 1 tablespoon powdered peanut butter, 1 tablespoon milk and yogurt. Set aside.

2. Make the pancakes: Blend oats until they form a fine powder. In a separate bowl, empty the Flavor Boost packet and combine the oats, protein powder, 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix in mashed bananas, egg white and 1 tablespoon milk. Heat a large greased skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Spoon pancake mixture onto skillet or griddle to form medium-sized pancakes. Cook until the top begins to bubble, then flip and cook through.

3. Stack pancakes on a separate plate, then top with syrup and banana slices before serving.  

High Protein Mocha Ice Cream

Ingredients: 

• 1-2 Gainful Caffè Mocha Flavor Boost packets

• 1 cup brewed coffee, cold

• 1 cup milk of your choice

• 3-4 scoops Gainful protein powder

• dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Empty Flavor Boost packets into a shaker or blender. Add coffee, milk and protein powder, then blend. Pour mixture into ice cream maker as directed, or pour into a container and freeze, stirring every 30 minutes for several hours. Keep in freezer overnight. 

2. When ready to serve, scoop into a bowl and top with dark chocolate chips.

No Bake Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Bars

Ingredients: 

• 2 ¼ cups ground almonds

• ½ cup shredded coconut flakes

• 1 Gainful Rich Cocoa Flavor Boost packet

• ½ cup Gainful protein powder

• a pinch of sea salt

• ¼ cup honey

• ? cup hot water

• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

• ? cup dark chocolate chips

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

• almond butter or nut butter of choice

Directions:

1. Combine almonds and coconut flakes in a food processor or blender. Grind together until a fine mixture is formed. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Empty Flavor Boost packet into the bowl, then add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix together.

2. In a separate bowl, combine honey, hot water and vanilla. Stir together, then add to your dry ingredients. Mix ingredients together. If the mixture feels too dry, add another spoonful of honey; if the mixture feels too sticky, add another tablespoon of protein powder. Press mixture in an 8x8 square pan with parchment paper. 

3. Place dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl with coconut oil. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds until mixture is fully melted. 

4. Pour melted chocolate over the mixture and sprinkle with sea salt and a drizzle of almond butter. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting into bars.

Cheesecake Brownie Protein Squares

Ingredients: 

• 2 Gainful Rich Cocoa Flavor Boost packets

• 5-6 scoops Gainful protein powder

• 1 cup applesauce

• ? cup cashew butter

• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar

• a pinch of sea salt

• 1 Gainful Madagascar Vanilla Flavor Boost packet 

• 4 ounces cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup Greek yogurt

• Stevia or natural sweetener

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

2. Make brownie layer: Empty Rich Cocoa Flavor Boost packets and mix with 4-5 scoops protein powder, applesauce, cashew butter, coconut sugar and sea salt. When ingredients are well combined, pour into a parchment-lined square baking pan. Reserve a few spoonfuls of batter to make a fudge swirl, if desired.

3. Make cheesecake layer: In a new bowl, empty Madagascar Vanilla Flavor Boost packet and mix with cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese, egg, Greek yogurt, Stevia and vanilla.

4. Pour cheesecake batter mixture over the brownie batter in the baking pan. Spoon remaining brownie batter on top and swirl with the back of a knife. 

5. Bake for 25 minutes, then check to see if firm. Check every 1-2 minutes until firm. Remove from the oven and let cool. Eat immediately or store cheesecake brownie squares in the refrigerator.

5-Ingredient Low Carb Keto Protein Waffles

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop Gainful protein powder

• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

• 1 egg

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• a pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray and turn on medium heat.

2. Mix ingredients in a medium bowl. When fully combined, pour half of the batter in the waffle iron and cook according to waffle iron directions. Add water or milk of choice to thin out the batter, if needed.

3. Serve waffles with sugar-free syrup (or the maple syrup from the Peanut Butter Banana Protein Pancakes recipe!)

Weight Loss-Friendly Meat & Veggies Protein Pizza

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup warm water

• 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

• 1 cup all-purpose flour or almond flour

• ¼ cup whole wheat flour

• ¼ cup Gainful protein powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• meat, veggies and sauce of choice

Directions: 

1. Make the crust: Add 1 cup of warm water to a glass measuring cup. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water and allow to sit and activate for 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flours, protein powder, and salt. Pour the yeast water and olive oil into the bowl and mix until a soft dough ball forms. Knead the dough on a well-floured surface for a few minutes. Then place back in the bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm spot for 1 hour.

2. Punch the dough down and remove from the bowl. Use dough to make one large pizza crust or two smaller ones. Roll the dough out and place on a pizza pan sprinkled with corn meal. Bake at 400 degrees for 4-5 minutes.

3. After about 5 minutes, top dough with sauce, meat and veggies of choice. Bake until edges of the crust begin to brown, about another 8-10 minutes.

Gluten-Free Berry Protein Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 Gainful Madagascar Vanilla or Strawberry Cream Flavor Boost packet

• 1 banana, frozen

• 1 ½ cup mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries)

• 1-2 scoops Gainful protein powder

• milk of choice

• honey, optional

• chia seeds, flaxseed or granola, optional 

Directions:

1. Empty Flavor Boost packet into blender. Add banana, 1 cup mixed berries, protein powder, and milk, then blend until smooth. Add as much or as little milk as you need for desired consistency. 

2. Pour mixture into a bowl and top with remaining berries. Add a drizzle of honey, chia seeds, flaxseed and granola as additional toppings, if desired.

Diner-Style Cookies & Cream Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 1 Gainful Cookies & Cream Flavor Boost packet

• 1 scoop Gainful protein powder

• 1 ½ cups crushed ice

• ½ cup milk of choice

• a pinch of sea salt

• 1 chocolate graham cracker, crushed

• sugar-free whipped topping

• sugar-free chocolate syrup, optional

• maraschino cherry, optional 

Directions:

1. Empty Flavor Boost packet into blender. Add protein powder, ice, milk and salt, then blend until thick and smooth.

2. Add crushed graham cracker, and pulse 1 or 2 times. 

3. Pour into glass and top with whipped topping. Add chocolate syrup and a cherry on top, if desired.

Strawberry, chocolate and vanilla shakes: Basic protein shake recipes

Ingredients: 

• 1-2 scoops Gainful protein powder

• Ice-cold milk of choice

• 1 Gainful Flavor Boost packet (Options include Rich Cocoa, Cookies & Cream, Caffè Mocha, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Strawberry Cream and Madagascar Vanilla)

Directions:

1. In a shaker bottle, add protein powder and milk. Empty Flavor Boost packet, then shake vigorously. For a sweeter, more flavorful shake, use less liquid.

Get your protein powder with Gainful

Gainful is here to help you find a custom-made protein powder so every recipe you make can give your body exactly what it needs. 

Head here to take our quiz, and together, we’ll figure out what type of protein best suits your overall goals. We’ll take your lifestyle and dietary preferences into account, whether you’re someone who’s plant-based and looking for a vegan protein, someone who is dairy-free, or just someone who prefers certain types of protein over others. Then we’ll send you everything you need to get started. 

After taking the quiz, make sure you check out our Flavor Boosts. Because our protein powder is flavorless, our Flavor Boosts allow you to personalize your protein powder’s taste like never before. Now you don’t have to buy a separate bag or tub of protein powder to get a burst of a specific flavor. If you want a chocolate protein powder, simply add a Rich Cocoa Flavor Boost to your Gainful powder; if you want a vanilla protein powder, just pour in a Madagascar Vanilla Flavor Boost. 

With Gainful, you’ll always have a flavorless protein powder on-hand that can work with every recipe, with a stash of Flavor Boosts to amplify the flavor. Making healthy recipes with grams of protein powder has never been easier (or more delicious!).