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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.
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.
How to Make Protein Smoothie without Protein Powder
In a high-speed blender, combine:
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- 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.
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.
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Try my favorite green smoothie, ground flaxseed smoothie, or my vegan protein shake.
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
If you try this protein smoothie without protein powder, leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.
Amazing and delicious Thanks 🙂
If you have hypothyroidism, skip the spinach. Raw spinach, kale, broccoli and caulifloswer contain a compound that inhibits thyroid homone synthesis……cooking destroys this compound.
Hi. I have had hypothyroidism for 7 years. I am allowed a small portion of these items per week and it does not affect my levels. My doc never likes to restrict her patients from eating healthy foods.
I love this combo and eat it at least three times a week! I was wondering what yours thoughts are on Rockin Wellness? I ordered it but had second thoughts about the soy lecithin in it. Any info would be so great Megan!
I used this recipe as my base: I used /2 banana, hemp seeds, cinnamon, 1 scoop of sun warrior, ice and 1/2 C water. Absolutely delicious. love the hemp seed idea. Thank you!!!
Hi! Can you also use Hemp Powder? Thank you!
Hemp powder is a little grainier than the hemp seeds, so the shake won’t be as creamy, but you’ll still get a nice dose of protein!
Hi Megan, the doctor just told me that I have a yeast. So I am starting the candida cleanse. Do you know if I can consume hemp or chia seeds? I am using this recipe since you blogged it :o) It’s great! but I am not sure about these seeds and the candida. Thank you for all the info you share every day! Looking forward to your cookbook!!
Delicious! I have hemp protein powder and yesterday I received my amazon shipment of the hemp hearts. I have made the shake both ways. I prefer the hemp hearts because the powder made the shake less creamy. Delicious treat!!
Thank you Megan for this recipe and so many others! One two part question, could I use a hemp protein powder https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/20878/ in place of the hemp hearts? Which ingred has the advantage?
They are the Manitoba brand, raw, shelled hemp hearts. I used cocao powder which can be a little bitter as well. But I have used it in shakes and haven’t had a problem. Not sure. Other than that, it was a delicious shake!
I have had this happen too. I use the Manitoba hemp seeds as well. I noticed that if I use too much cocoa, that’s what makes it bitter.
I made this the other night and it had a bitter after taste–actually lingered for several hours. Could it be the hemp hearts? I haven’t experienced that with a smoothie before.
How strange! The only thing I could think of would be that maybe you used hemp seeds that haven’t been hulled? Hemp hearts (also known as hulled hemp seeds) are the tender kernel of the hemp seed, so they have a pretty mild flavor. In my experience with other types of seeds, if they aren’t hulled the flavor is really bitter, so the same might be true for hemp seeds, too.