Want a nourishing protein shake that is delicious and satisfying all at the same time? This Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake is the absolute best you’ll ever taste!
Protein (and its benefits) is one of my fave topics. Because y’all know that protein is super important. It’s a muscle-building, body-repairing nutrient that we can’t do without.
Sometimes we don’t get enough protein and I am always looking for ways to remedy that. This chocolate banana peanut butter shake is one of them!
So we’re going to take a look at how delicious this shake is and how good it is for you. But first, if you want to know a little about protein, I’ll give you the scoop.
- Protein is the best source for energy
- Protein is called a building block because of amino acids
- Protein helps us make and burn energy
- Protein helps our metabolism work the way it should
You can get protein from a lot of sources. Nut butters, protein powders, and chicken are just 3 ways. Seeds and full-fat dairy are 2 more.
But a creamy and smooth protein shake is a fun, grab n’ go way to get needed protein, too.
So grab your blender or Vitamix and let’s get started!
How To Make A Protein Shake
Delicious shakes are made this way:
- Base: Add ice or fruit like a banana to thicken (note: chia seeds can thicken a shake also)
- Protein source: In this case, peanut butter, almond milk and protein powder
- Sweetener: If required (you can add a natural sugar like raw honey or pure maple syrup)
- Liquid: I like milk such as almond, cashew or coconut
- Blend it: If the mixture is too thick, add a bit more milk until you reach the desired consistency
Benefits Of Protein Shakes
Protein shakes satisfy hunger. That’s a big benefit in my mind because, after a workout, I’m ravenous. And maybe I’m heading off to work or to take the kids on an outing and need energy fast. That’s when I reach for a chocolate banana peanut butter protein shake!
More benefits:
- Protein shakes are great for muscle recovery
- Protein shakes can replace a meal
- Protein shakes can help increase muscle mass when you exercise
Is It Bad To Put Peanut Butter In Your Protein Shake?
It’s definitely okay – and smart – to put peanut butter in your protein shake. Peanut butter is a healthy ingredient! Peanut butter has all 3 of the macronutrients we need daily, those being fat, protein, and carbs.
So yes, go ahead and add peanut butter to your shake as I did in this recipe. It tastes great, too!
Is A Chocolate Banana Protein Shake Good For Weight Loss?
I think chocolate banana protein shakes are good for weight loss. Why? Because you are filling up with nutrients after exercise instead of reaching for that processed, empty of nutrition, calorie-laden protein bar.
BTW, looking for a healthy protein bar? See what makes a healthy protein bar and see my top 7 here.
Enjoying a shake made with power-packed protein powder can help you lose weight:
- The decrease in hunger keeps you away from junk food
- Protein helps you lose weight slowly (instead like a crash diet), maintaining lean muscle mass
- Protein helps beat belly fat (see my post on blasting belly bloat)
Types Of Protein Powder
I’ve written several posts on protein powders. I have lots of recipes on the site, too, like pancakes that taste fabulous alongside bacon – done in the oven, folks!
Some of the types of protein powder on the market are:
- Hemp protein
- Pea protein
- Rice protein
- Whey protein
- Casein protein
What Can I Add To My Protein Shake To Gain Weight?
To gain weight by drinking protein shakes, add ingredients like avocado, nut butter, healthy oils like coconut oil, and extra protein sources like oats. Make sure you have a full-fat milk in there such as dairy milk or coconut milk.
Almond and cashew milk are good for adding in calories, too.
Have 2-3 small protein shakes a day and be sure to focus on healthy foods like whole grains and lean proteins for extra muscle-building power.
Stay away from processed foods – they will not help you gain weight in a healthy way. Instead, they can lead to inflammation.
What’s In This Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake?
This chocolate banana peanut butter protein shake has so much goodness in it. It’s so easy to throw the ingredients in a blender and have a nutritional snack in less than 5 minutes!
- Almond milk
- Peanut butter
- Ripe banana
- Cinnamon
- Chocolate whey powder
- Ice cubes
- Honey is optional
When Should You Drink Protein Shakes?
I prefer to drink my protein shake after I exercise. That’s because I want that source of protein to help my body build and maintain muscle mass. I’m typically hungry also, so a quick-to-make shake is the best thing to curb my hunger pains fast.
But if you like to drink your protein shake before you head to the gym or out for a walk, that’s okay as well because you get the energy you need to complete your exercise goal.
You want to spread out your protein intake throughout the day for optimum results, so as long as you are getting what you need, when you drink the shake is up to you.
How Often Should You Drink Protein Shakes?
How often you drink protein shakes depends on your goals. If you want to gain weight, you can have a protein-filled shake every time you do resistance training to help build muscle. For weight loss, you can reduce your calorie intake and ensure that you are still getting enough protein by maybe drinking two shakes a day.
But remember, the important thing is that the protein shake is not a protein replacement. You still need to get your requirements from other sources, too.
More Healthy Protein Shakes
Over the years, since I created this delicious Chocolate, Banana, Peanut Butter Protein Shake, I’ve come up with some new faves as well. If you’d like more protein shakes and smoothie recipes, check out the following:
- Green Protein Smoothie
- Almond Butter, Coffee, And Chocolate Shake
- Orange Protein Shake
- Strawberry Protein Shake
- Banana Protein Shake
- Blueberry Shake
- Peach Protein Shake
What’s your favorite shake recipe?
Are you looking for a nourishing protein shake that is delicious and satisfying all at the same time? This Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake is the absolute best you’ll ever taste!
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 1 ripe banana can be frozen, broken into large chunks
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
- 5-10 ice cubes depending on how thick you like it
- optional: 1 tsp. honey
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Add all ingredients in blender, starting with the almond milk.
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Blend until smooth.
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If too thick, add more milk. If too thin, add some more ice.
Recipe Video
This protein shake is by far the #1 shake we have in our home. It’s sweet, creamy, chocolatey, and full of satisfying goodness. Plus it’s so simple to make. We often have it as a quick pre-workout meal or even as a sweet treat to end the day.
If you like it even sweeter, you can opt to freeze your bananas instead of using fresh bananas. That way, you can opt to not add any ice into the shake, which will make the flavor more intense and less watered down.
I also like to add a sprinkle of dehydrated espresso powder for a little flavor boost to the chocolate. And don’t forget that cinnamon – it’s seriously life changing.
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
This literally tastes like a milkshake and I’m so happy about it. I’ll probably make it every day until I’m sick of it! Ha.
Great! I used vanilla protein instead of chocolate, and added half a cup of cherries and just half a banana to give it a pb&j twist. With 5 ice cubes the consistency was perfect. Cinnamon added something extra special. Will be making this every day to help hit my protein goal!
I’m going back to work tomorrow after a long maternity leave! Was hoping to make this in the morning and save it for lunch, do you think it would hold up in the fridge?
Try chucking a few miripool dates in!
Rice malt syrup (I’m vegan) coconut milk, vanilla extract (couple drops) cinnamon. Zap with nutri-bullet or similar, straight into freezer for an hour or so (thick shake).
Bananas not ripe enough? Put them in a PAPER bag then into fridge: Physics will do the rest quick-smart.
Thnx for sharing guys!
Cheers!
Adam.
Really enjoy the taste, I substituted the chocolate whey powder with salted caramel whey powder and was great. Going to have before or after a workout, biking, MX moto. Thank you!!
This is so great, I never thought to add other things to my protein shake. I have never minded the taste but this adds more bulk and is helping me to gain weight – thank you so much for making this a really easy to follow recipe!
Hello,
Can I use an almond or Soy butter since people in my family are allergic to peanuts?
Thank you,
Barry
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HI! just wondering off I should use sweetened or unsweetened almond milk
This recipe is awsome great job.
I did add a twist on it tho, so I had a fresh chocolate fudge cake sitting there so I decided to toss a slice in along with all the ingredients and wow came out great.
Love it!! Perfect for satisfying the sweet tooth! I used PB powder to cut the calories and fat of regular peanut butter, and it was delicious!
I love it! I had struggled finding the right recipe but who knew that CINNAMON was the key?!?! This is definitely my new favorite shake!
Is the protein powder that popped up on the link the best one to use.will it cause gou to gain weight
Weight gain is only caused by a calorie surplus…
So delicious! I couldn’t taste the peanut butter much so I added another tablespoon. LOVE IT
Thank you very much, I was tired of drinking plain chocolate whey and water, this recipe saved my life
I hate protein shakes too, but in an attempt to be healthier I decided to try this one and MAN IS IT GOOD! Reminds me of a milkshake. I can’t even tell it’s got protein powder in it! I’ll definitely be trying the other recipes listed!
if I use 2 percent milk will it taste the same?
Good recipe but the calories and nutritional breakdown are not accurate.
It looks so beautiful!I don’t like cinnamon but vanilla would be tasty too 🙂 great recipe, thanks!
I’ve been using this recipe for one straight week now. Super easy. Super delicious. And jam-packed with protein.
Sounds proper delicious this. Will be making noteds to give this a go. thanks. Simon
I’m just wondering if you used vanilla almond milk or chocolate? I have lots of stomach issues I am dealing with. I can’t have dairy but my body can handle a small amount of almond milk. I am making this in the morning and hope to hear from you soon. Thank You. I haven’t tried yet. So, no stars but as soon as I try it I’ll rate it. Can’t wait to try it, 🙂
Regular Almond Milk works just fine 🙂 There is lots of chocolate flavour from the protein powder. I’ve been making a shake just like this for a long time now, I just use almond milk, any nut butter and my chocolate whey 🙂 hope that helps.
I modified the recipe. I used 1 cup of lactaid, 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein, 3 tablespoons of peanut powder and 6 small cubes of ice, and a half of banana. It was most delicious. No cinnamon needed. But will add cinnamon next shake. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome sauce!
Yum! Just made this shake and it is awesome! The cinnamon really makes it even better. I never would’ve thought to add it. Thank you!
So good, right? I add cinnamon to so many things lol 🙂
I am in love with this shake!! Thanks for sharing!
Yay! You and me both 🙂
Can I use peanut butter powder or chocolate peanut butter powder like PB2 instead of the creamy peanut butter? Which creamy butter do you recommend?
Yes, you can definately use a powder, though it wil throw off the consistency a little bit – I’d add less milk to start and then go from there to your desired texture. I recommend any organic peanut-only (preferred) peanut butter that only contains peanuts and possibly very minimal other ingredients. We use this one often and enjoy it.
Could I use vanilla protein powder and cocoa powder instead of chocolate protein powder?
Yes, you sure could, Allison. 🙂 It may taste a little different, but I’ve done that before as well (when I’ve run out of chocolate protein powder).
Just made this and its awesome! I can tell I will make this often. Thanks!!!
Yay! It’s one of our most used recipes 🙂
Hi Lacey! Since I’ve visited your blog last, you’ve had a baby and changed your website which looks fabulous!! Congratulations on your new addition =)
Now off to bake your delicious banana nut muffins!
Happy Sunday!
Jessica
Thanks, Jessica! I appreciate you coming back 🙂