Protein Smoothie (without protein powder!)

Name: Protein Smoothie (without protein powder!)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup soy milk ((or other milk)); 1 frozen banana (, sliced); 3 tablespoons hemp hearts; 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder ((or unsweetened cocoa powder)); 1 tablespoon peanut butter; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ((alcohol-free, if desired)); 1 handful fresh baby spinach ((optional)); 1 cup ice cubes ((optional))

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This Chocolate Protein Smoothie is made without protein powder but packs 20 grams of protein into each glass! Enjoy it for breakfast or a post-workout drink.

chocolate protein smoothie topped with banana slices.

This high-protein smoothie is an easy addition if you’re trying to increase your protein intake. It uses simple pantry staples and a frozen banana for sweetness.

As written, it’s vegan-friendly, but it’s also easy to customize.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Instead of protein powder, this recipe features a combination of plant-based protein sources, including hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds), peanut butter, and your favorite milk.

Adding a spoonful of your favorite nut butter adds creaminess and extra protein. I prefer the flavor of peanut butter, but almond butter or sunflower seed butter will also work.

You can also add any other mix-ins you like, such as chia seeds or oats.

Detoxinista Tip

Dairy milk has 8 grams of protein per cup, and if you need a dairy-free option, soy milk has a similar protein profile! (This will vary slightly by brand; this recipe assumes you’ll use an unsweetened version.) If you prefer coconut or almond milk, those will work, too, but you’ll get less protein per glass.

hemp hearts, cocoa powder, frozen banana, spinch, milk, and peanut butter labeled on a marble surface.

How to Make Protein Smoothie without Protein Powder

In a high-speed blender, combine:

1/2 cup soy milk (or milk of choice)
1 handful fresh baby spinach
1 frozen banana, sliced into pieces
3 tablespoons of hemp hearts
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Secure the lid and blend until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure even mixing.

hemp hearts, spinach and frozen banana blended together in a pitcher.

If the smoothie texture looks runny, add a handful of ice cubes and blend again. This will give your smoothie a slushy texture.

Just keep in mind that the more ice you add, the more diluted the flavor will be—so don’t overdo it!

Serve the protein smoothie right away for the best texture and flavor. Turn it into a smoothie bowl by topping it with extras, like chopped walnuts, cashews, or pumpkin seeds.

ice added to a chocolate smoothie and blended until slushy in a pitcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I put in my smoothie instead of protein powder?

Hemp hearts have 10 grams of protein per 3 tablespoons. Greek yogurt has roughly 11 grams of protein in a half cup. A half cup of silken tofu has approximately 9 grams of protein. You can add any extras to taste.

Can I use different fruit?

Bananas taste sweeter than berries, but you can use a half cup of frozen blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries, if you don’t mind a less-sweet flavor. You can also use 3 pitted Medjool dates as a sweet swap.

How can I change the flavor?

Add a dash of cinnamon, if you like, or swap the milk. Coconut milk will give it more creaminess, but less protein. (Canned coconut milk can also thicken when blending frozen ingredients, so use the boxed variety that is sold in the refrigerated section.)

Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try my favorite green smoothie, ground flaxseed smoothie, or my vegan protein shake.

chocolate protein smoothie poured into a glass on a marble board.

Protein Smoothie (without protein powder!)

4.94 from 16 votes

This Chocolate Protein Smoothie is made without protein powder but packs 20 grams of protein into each glass! It's the perfect breakfast or post-workout drink.

prep5 mins cook0 mins total5 mins

Servings:1

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Ingredients

½ cup soy milk (or other milk)
1 frozen banana , sliced
3 tablespoons hemp hearts
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
1 tablespoon peanut butter
½ teaspoon vanilla extract (alcohol-free, if desired)
1 handful fresh baby spinach (optional)
1 cup ice cubes (optional)

Instructions

In a high-speed blender, combine the soy milk, frozen banana slices, hemp hearts, cacao powder, peanut butter, vanilla, and baby spinach (if using). Secure the lid on the blender and blend until smooth.
If the texture doesn't look slushy enough, add cup of ice cubes and blend again. Keep in mind that adding ice will dilute the flavor slightly, so use only as much ice as needed to achieve the consistency you want. Serve right away for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

Nutrition information is for the whole batch. This information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, so it’s just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Banana Tip: I like to freeze bananas whole and then slice them into pieces before blending. This makes them break down faster in a blender. Check out my How to Freeze Bananas post for more tips.

Update Note: This recipe was posted in June 2014 and updated in January 2025. The update adds a tablespoon of peanut butter, uses soy milk instead of water, and corrects the nutrition information. You can find the original recipe here.

Nutrition

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: protein smoothie without protein powder

If you try this protein smoothie without protein powder, leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.

Protein Smoothie (without protein powder!)

Ingredients You’ll Need

Detoxinista Tip

How to Make Protein Smoothie without Protein Powder

Frequently Asked Questions