As the self-proclaimed smoothie queen, I heavily rely on vanilla protein powder to make delicious and healthy high protein smoothies. With over a decade of smoothie recipe testing experience, I have quite a few tasty and simple options that make me excited for breakfast every morning.
But sadly when you google recipes that use vanilla protein powder, most of them are just some combination of protein blended with ice. In other words, they’re bland, chalky and sad.
Understandably, this makes a lot of people hesitant on using protein powder in their smoothie. What if it’s horrible?! That’s not a fun way to start the day.
I’m here to open your eyes to the delicious world of a properly made smoothie. When you get the combination down right with simple ingredients rich in protein, fat and fiber, your taste buds will sing.
Plus, you reap all of the studied fat loss and health benefits of adding more protein into your first meal of the day.
So today, I’m sharing my top 10 best vanilla protein powder smoothie recipes that will make you look forward to pulling out your blender.
Autumn’s Vanilla Protein Powder
The most important part of your smoothie is, of course, the vanilla protein powder that you use! This ingredient can either elevate your protein smoothie to the high protein breakfast of your dreams, or it can make you gag and want to throw your smoothie down the drain.
It really can make that big of a difference.
Most vanilla protein powders are chalky, don’t mix well, use added sugar or have artificial flavors that overpower the recipe it’s in.
uses 100% whey protein isolate (this is the best whey option for those who are lactose intolerant)
was developed and tested in a wide variety of recipes to ensure it tastes incredible in everything!
only uses monk fruit extract to lightly sweeten it (no stevia or sugar alcohols here!)
For these reasons, our vanilla protein powder has received a dedicated following from our community members since it was first released in August of 2022.
If you’re looking for a tasty and healthy vanilla protein powder to use in these recipes, make sure to grab a bag of our Vanilla Protein Powder HERE!
As a bonus, each bag comes with a free download that includes 10 delicious recipes using our protein powder.
Enjoy!!
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Peanut butter and vanilla. You can't get more classic than that! This recipe takes it to the next level by adding chia seeds for an added boost of fiber. The soluble fiber in chia seeds has been found to help reduce waist circumference (aka belly fat).
One of the easiest ways to add lightness and brightness to your smoothie is with lemon juice (and zest). Sure, you need to whip out the microplane which does add one extra thing that you need to wash. But the extra 30 seconds of "work" is well worth it.
There's a secret ingredient in this recipe that makes you feel so much more full and satisfied. It's coconut butter. Haven't heard of it before? Well, don't replace it with coconut oil! Coconut butter is the blended "meat" of a coconut so you get more nutrients and fiber in it than regular coconut oil. Because it's a coconut based product, it's also loaded with medium chain triglycerides (MCT's) that help to shut off hunger.
Don't be fooled by the simple ingredients! The combination of creamy greek yogurt, tart strawberries and semi sweet vanilla protein powder come together to make a hearty yet light and tasty smoothie.
Other coffee protein smoothies usually just combine coffee with ice and vanilla protein powder, which leaves the final product tasting gritty and not very substantial. This recipe combines coffee and protein powder with coconut milk, banana, chia seeds and coconut butter for a creamy and satisfying smoothie.
This recipe gives you the option of using greek yogurt or vanilla protein powder, however you also can use a mix of both. I like to adjust this recipe by using 1/2 cup greek yogurt and 1-2 scoops vanilla protein powder to make it creamy and add a hint of zero sugar sweetness.
One of the reasons why my smoothies are so satisfying is because they come packed with fiber. I like to use whole food sources of fiber, such as cacao nibs in this recipe, to also take advantage of natural antioxidants and delicious crunchy texture.
You have to be careful with raspberries in smoothies. Just throwing some frozen raspberries into your blender can result in a really bland and overly thick goop. It's important to balance it properly with bright flavors like lemon juice and zest. I also like to add greek yogurt with the vanilla protein powder to make the texture smooth and velvety.
Golden milk is commonly made with turmeric, ginger and black pepper. It's a well known combination to help reduce inflammation and aid in gut health. I like to double down on those perks by throwing those ingredients into a protein smoothie along with my other favorite gut healthy ingredient, kefir.
When it's late August/early September and you're craving fall, but it's still way too hot for anything cozy, then this is the recipe you need to make. The combination of pecans, apples and maple make me want to throw on my flannel and go apple picking.
I'm a Clinical Nutritionist with my Masters in Nutrition and Human Performance. I've been in the nutrition, weight loss and health industry for over a decade. Other than nerding out on nutrition, I love to cook, spend time with my two little kiddos and husband, and take long walks on the beach -- literally ;)
