If you are getting tired of your usual powder-and-water workout drink, jazz it up with some of the best protein shake recipes you can whip up in your own kitchen! These tasty yet easy concoctions will not only elevate the flavor and texture profile of your typical protein shake but also its overall nutritional value and muscle-building properties.
Do not worry a bit about additional calories. Most, if not all of the extra ingredients suggested here are teeming with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other organic substances that can help you stay fit and healthy. They also help improve immunity, digestion, blood circulation, and other vital functions of your body.
A good protein shake is one of the most convenient yet powerful weapons in your arsenal to defeat flab and bulges and build muscles. By carefully selecting ingredients you can aptly plug nutritional gaps and increase your protein and amino acids intake that will not only help prime your muscles for intense training but also speeds up your recovery phase.
Here are 7 of the best protein shake recipes you should try:
#1. Cafe Mocha Frappe Protein Shake
Let’s start our list like most of us start our day: with a cup of coffee. Power up your usual protein shake with a healthy dose of caffeine and antioxidants by infusing it with half to a full cup of freshly brewed coffee or a shot of espresso. Not only that it is just as tasty as some of the best-selling ice-blended coffee concoctions in many popular coffee bars, it is more nutritious too!
You will need:
- 1 – 2 scoops of Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
- ½ cup Almond Milk
- ½ cup Brewed Coffee( or a Shot of Espresso)
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or Ice Cubes
- 1 Ripe Banana, peeled and sliced
- 1 tsp. Baking Cocoa Powder
How to make it:
- Just put all ingredients in a blender and let it run for a few minutes or until everything is thoroughly mixed. Pour into a glass or your sports bottle and it’s ready to be enjoyed.
#2. Banana Split Protein Shake
Enjoy the classic flavors of one of the most beloved ice cream dish without the fattening dairy and high-fructose syrup components. Instead, get a good load of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and other healthy and delicious stuff you can only get from fresh fruits.
You will need:
- 2 scoops Chocolate Flavored Protein Powder
- 1 glass (8 oz.) Almond Milk
- 1 Ripe Banana
- ½ cup Pineapple Tidbits or Sliced Fresh Pineapple
- ½ cup Fresh Strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pieces Ice Cube
- 1 tsp. Crushed Almonds or Walnuts
How to make it:
- It will be better if you can freeze all the fruits for at least a couple of hours first. However, you can still make this shake whether you did the freezing process or not. Just put all the ingredients into the blender and run until the ice cubes are fully crushed and everything is thoroughly mixed.
#3. Granola Protein Shake
Give your digestive system a tremendous boost and cleansing, while loading up on protein and essential amino acids. This high-fiber protein shake fits exactly into your fitness goals. You can use it as a meal replacement from time to time as it has a high satiety and nutritional value, as well as rich in healthy and usable calories.
You will need:
- 1 scoop Vanilla or Unflavored Protein Powder
- 1 cup Almond Milk
- ¼ cup Rolled Oats
- 1 tsp. Flaxseeds or Chia Seeds
- 2 tbsp. Raisins or Cranberry Raisins (or 2 pcs. Pitted Dates)
- 1 tbsp. Berries of Your Choice (optional)
- ¼ tsp. Powdered Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. Vanilla Extract or ½ tsp. Honey
- 1 cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pcs. Ice Cubes
How to make it:
- Pour all ingredients into a power blender and let it rip for a few minutes or until the mixture looks all smooth and creamy. Pour into a glass or your sports bottle and enjoy.
#4. The Green Tea(m) Protein Shake
If you haven’t tried matcha or powdered green tea then you are missing a lot. The special farming and processing techniques involved in producing high-quality matcha helps preserve most of the green tea leaves’ catechins and chlorophyll content. Because of this, matcha has several times more antioxidants than other so-called superfoods such as kale, spinach, broccoli, pomegranate, and goji berries. Most importantly, it makes a great addition to your protein shake along with other ingredients.
You will need:
- 1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
- 1 tsp. Matcha Powder (Cafe Grade)
- 1 glass (8-10 oz) Almond Milk
- ¼ Avocado
- ½ Green Apple, peeled and sliced
- ¼ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 2 tbsps. Hot Water
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pcs. Ice Cubes
- 2 -3 pieces Fresh Mint Leaves
How to make it:
- Mix the matcha powder with the hot water and stir until it turns to a paste-like consistency.
- Pour all ingredients into a power blender except the mint leaves. Run for a few minutes or until it turned smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass then garnish on top with the mint leaves. You can also sprinkle it with a pinch of raw matcha powder on top.
#5. Berry Medley Protein Shake
Berries are not only delicious but they are excellent sources of fibers, vitamins, essential amino acids and antioxidants. Each type of berries has its own distinctive level of sweetness and tartness, as well as nutritional and medicinal value. So putting 3 or more together will not only bring about an explosion of flavors but also a gamut of health benefits including preventing cancer, lowering cholesterol, slowing down aging inside and out, and a lot more.
You will need:
- ¾ cup Assorted Frozen Berries (e.g. strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, etc.) Actually, bags of mixed frozen berries are available in most supermarkets.
- 1 scoop Vanilla or Unflavored Whey Protein Powder
- 1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk or Low-fat Dairy Milk
- A handful of Chopped Kale or Spinach Leaves
- ¼ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- A pinch of Turmeric Powder
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pcs. Ice Cubes
How to make it:
- Combine all ingredients in a power blender and turn it on for a few minutes or until the whole mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour into a glass and enjoy.
#6. Peach and Cottage Cheese Protein Shake
How can you resist a power shake that is as homely as freshly baked pie? Imagine a sweet and juicy peach with all the trimmings of a homemade pie that you can drink. Now imagine the fruit’s saccharine quality being counterbalanced by the distinct taste of cottage cheese, a great source of amino acids-rich casein protein. It is so delicious that you would actually forget that it is also brimming with muscle-building nutrients.
You will need:
- ¾ cup Sliced Frozen or Fresh Peaches
- 1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
- ½ cup Low-fat Cottage Cheese
- 1 cup Milk
- ½ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract
- ¼ tsp. Ground Nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. Honey
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pcs. Ice Cubes
How to make it:
- Just combine everything in a power blender and let it whirl until it turns smooth and creamy. Pour into a glass and enjoy.
#7. Choco Peanut Butter & Banana Protein Blast
This concoction is so loaded with protein that it already meets your recommended daily allowance. It also contains enough carbs and healthy dietary fats, which makes it almost a complete meal. This is great for a post-workout drink as it aids well in muscle recovery and electrolyte replenishment. It is also teeming with essential minerals that support bones and teeth health and strength, including calcium and potassium.
You will need:
- 1 cup Chocolate Milk
- 2 tbsp. Peanut Butter
- 1 Ripe Banana, peeled and sliced
- 1 scoop Vanilla or Chocolate Whey Protein Powder
- 1 cup Plain or Greek Yogurt
- 1 tbsp. Chia or Flaxseeds
- ½ cup Crushed Ice or 5-6 pcs. Ice Cubes
How to make it:
- Just combine all ingredients in a power blender and let it run until thoroughly mixed and the ice cubes are completely crushed. Enjoy.
Final Words
Protein shakes is probably one of the most versatile types of sports nutrition. You can always tinker or concoct mixtures to satisfy your taste and meet your fitness goals. Depending on the added ingredients, you can use it as a pre-workout or a post-workout drink or as a snack or meal replacement from time to time.
Just stick to whole fresh foods and stay away from processed foods and refined sugar in choosing added ingredients and you will be fine. Try to match ingredients that will give you a good balance of sweetness and tartness with a hint of other flavors such as spiciness and a touch of savory goodness. We encourage you to come up with your own blend that will deserve a spot on the list of the “best protein shake recipes”.
Thanks for reading and until next time!
