18 Natural High Protein Smoothies (No Protein Powder)
- Updated on May 02, 2022
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High protein smoothie recipes are a great way to get vital protein into your diet, in an easy, tasty, drinkable package.
I like to whip up a high protein smoothie in the morning and know that I am starting my day off with a belly full of fruit and a decent chunk of my necessary protein intake sorted for the day!
There are all different flavours and ingredients you can use, as well as many different ways to add protein to your smoothie.
This compilation contains some of the best high protein smoothies we have ever tried, so it’s a good starting point!
High protein smoothies: protein sources
We have only included protein smoothies without powder in this compilation, preferring to stick to all natural protein sources.
Protein powder can be a great help if you need to bulk on protein, but it can also be very processed and full of weird ingredients, so we’re sticking to natural protein powders where possible.
In high protein smoothies made without protein powder, the protein can come from various sources. Yoghurt is a big one, as greek yoghurt contains 10g protein per 100g, plus it helps make your smoothie all creamy-dreamy. Try this mango and coconut smoothie!
Nut butters are also popular – 2 tbsp peanut butter contains about 9g protein. You could also use almond butter, like in this delicious almond banana smoothie. Nut butters are a good option for vegans!
Protein smoothies to build muscle
Protein is often spoken about in relation to muscle building, with this idea that the more protein you eat, the more muscle you will gain.
It’s not untrue, but it’s also not quite that simple!
You need to make sure you are getting enough protein, particularly if you lead a very active lifestyle or are trying to build muscle
Protein is a fundamental building block of all muscle, so if you’re trying to build extra muscle, you definitely need to make sure you are getting enough protein.
If building muscle is your goal then you want to aim for 1.6-2.2 grams of protein per kg of body weight, as this seems to be the sweet spot for muscle growth.
Protein smoothie recipes for weight loss
One reason you might want to try a high protein smoothie is if you are trying to lose weight.
Getting enough protein is super important for weight loss. Protein is very filling so eating protein rich foods has an appetite suppressing effect. This is helpful if you are trying to remain in a calorie deficit!
These are mostly high protein fruit smoothies so they are full of fibre too, which is also super filling!
Protein is also crucial to your body’s general wellbeing and a lack of protein can leave you feeling weak and tired (and have more severe health impacts in the long term). Eating enough protein will help you feel at your best, whether that is while losing weight or not, so why not try a healthy breakfast smoothie for weight loss that is protein packed as well?
If you want to learn more about weight loss as a vegetarian, you should check out our vegetarian weight loss e-book. It shows you how to go about losing weight in the healthiest and most sustainable way possible.
16.9g protein per serving
A super healthy yet tasty summer smoothie. You won’t even realise that you’re eating spinach (or drinking it, smart arse).
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: Sally’s Baking Addiction
28g protein per serving
There’s a whopping 28 grams of protein in this chocolate peanut butter cup smoothie– no protein powders either!
Ready in: 2 minutes
Recipe by: Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen
13.9g protein per serving
A quick, healthy, filling breakfast smoothie recipe – ideal for the morning rush. Can be served warm or cold, so perfect in any weather.
6.8g protein per serving
Mango Lassi. One of the best tasting smoothies around. Simply delicious, and simply quick.
Avocado Spinach Smoothie
Check out the recipe here
19.8g protein per serving
This avocado spinach smoothie is a high protein vegan breakfast inspired by Ben Greenfield – a nutrition and fitness expert, triathlon and Spartan Race competitor, as well as New York Times Bestseller! So I think we can trust that it’s going to be pretty darn healthy!
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: EatGood4Life
13.4g protein per serving
A delicious tropical smoothie, full of goodness and plenty of protein.
Spicy Kiwi Banana Smoothie
Check out the recipe here
11g protein per serving
Spicy Kiwi Banana Smoothie. A super simple and super healthy green and white spicy kiwi banana breakfast smoothie. High in vitamin C, fiber and potassium. Delicious and tasty.
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: Sally’sBakingAddiction
23g protein per serving
A thick, creamy, healthy smoothie reminiscent of your favorite childhood sandwich. With 23 grams of pure protein, it will keep you full for hours.
Cashew Milkshake – Chocolate Style
Check out the recipe here
17.2g protein per serving
This healthy banana orange smoothie, with paleo, vegan and whole30 options, really benefits from the addition of avocado! It adds extreme creaminess and nutrition that you won’t find in other smoothies. Perfect for brightening your dreary wintery days!
Ready in: 7 minutes
Recipe by: KiipFit
23g protein per serving
Turmeric Mint Protein Smoothie is a perfect post workout recovery smoothie. Its the creamiest anti – inflammatory beverage for the entire family and for all ages.
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: FitAsAMamaBear
16g protein per serving
A creamy, tangy, no-banana green smoothie recipe perfect to perk up your system. This easy green smoothie is protein powder-free and contains only real food ingredients.
Ready in: 6 minutes
Recipe by: AVirtualVegan
17g protein per serving
Do you love the idea of packing the green stuff into your smoothie but always dislike the taste? Then you need to try this Vegan Green Smoothie! It’s stuffed full of healthy ingredients including spinach but is creamy, sweet & delicious!
Ready in: 3 minutes
Recipe by: TexanerinBaking
18.4g protein per serving
This healthy banana orange smoothie, with paleo, vegan and whole30 options, really benefits from the addition of avocado! It adds extreme creaminess and nutrition that you won’t find in other smoothies. Perfect for brightening your dreary wintery days!
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: SkinnyTaste
16g protein per serving
Roasted strawberries in this protein packed smoothie brings out their amazing natural flavor, made with creamy cottage cheese and added chia seeds – what a great way to start the day!
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: OhSheGlows
17g protein per serving
Talk about a super charged meal in a glass! Hemp hearts are the major protein source for this drink. In addition to being a complete protein source, hemp hearts also contain the ideal balance of omega 3-6-9 fatty acids and are high in fibre. They work wonderfully to make this smoothie super creamy, all without needing any banana.
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: IowaGirlEats
15g protein per serving
Sunrise Smoothie is a fresh and healthy smoothie recipe to get any morning off to a good start!
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: ChocolateCoveredKatie
9.2g protein per serving
How to make the best thick, smooth, and creamy vegan eggnog recipe at home, with absolutely NO eggs or dairy required!
Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie
Check out the recipe here
11g protein per serving
Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie. A superior blueberry and banana smoothie with a huge protein kick! Try it, love it.
Try it right away 🙂
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries, frozen (fresh is fine too)
- 2 ripe banana (make sure they’re soft and sweet! Keep some in the freezer like we do here)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz low fat cottage cheese (use regular if you prefer*)
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Optional
- 1 serving vanilla protein powder (for that extra protein hit!)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender, and grate in the lemon zest.
- Blend. Done!
NOTES
Nutrition
Organic Protein Powders
If you’re after even more protein to add to your diet, here are some of the best powders we’ve found.
Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder. Vegan. Non GMO Soy, gluten and dairy free.
Naturade Vegansmart All-in-one Nutritional shake. Vegan. Non GMO. Soy, gluten and dairy free.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey. No synthetic colors, flavors or sweeteners.
Jarrow Formulas Whey Protein, Natural. Flavourless, no artificial sweeteners or additives.
We hope you have enjoyed whizzing up some high protein smoothies. Let us know which were your favourites in the comments.
Hauke Fox
I’m always on the lookout for these damn smart recipes. You know, those that only take a few minutes to put together and taste delicious. Vegetarian Cooking at home is a way to take back control over what I eat. I don’t like what many companies do to animals and the environment with their products.
Article has been medically reviewed by James LeBaigue
James LeBaigue
Healthy, nutritious and absurdly tasty food? That’s what I’m all about. I love recipes which are full of flavour but are good for you too. My job in family medicine led me to become a nutrition professional as well, with an aim to get people healthier just by the food they eat.
Comments
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42 comments
This is an exceptional post! I love that I now have so many options when it comes to morning smoothies – all on one page. Great post!
Thanks Byron! Hope you’ll find a few you like 🙂
I didnt know that smoothies can be that attractive !!!thanks.
I know Shivani! I was very surprised myself how delicious they can be and still healthy 😛
I love these will definitely try them! Thanks!
Enjoy, Elissa!
Great post! I love smoothies and have one every morning!!
Thank you so much Sophia! I hope you found some new ones in this post to try out.
Mmmm, nr #13 sounds tasty! I will check them all out. Thanks! 🙂
Great!! Maybe you can let us know which one you liked the most 😀
I’ve come to prefer a veggie laden smoothie over the ultra sweet ones. Usually a half banana provides all the sweetness I need along with plain Greek yogurt for protein. You’ve done a nice job in choosing a variety for this round up.
Thanks Lydia! I totally agree with you. For me a smoothie quickly becomes too sweet. A banana is more than enough to sweeten a smoothie 🙂
fab round up! pinned. 🙂
That’s great thank you Sarah!!
I think I’ll have No. 4! MANGO LASSIE SMOOTHIE… love mangos!
hahaha, great pick! 😀
I love this smoothie collection and I will share this for sure!
thanks Razena 🙂
WOA – What a lineup of amazing smoothies! That mango lassi one has me drooling uncontrollably…
hahahah, well it’s definitely a tasty one 😀
Actually I think it’s our first recipe ever
Thanks for the recipes. Really good taste. I tried all the smoothies and it came out very well. Love from India
Happy to share! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 much love back to India!
This is an amazing list of smoothies. I will go Mango Lassi at any time of the day…Yumm..!!!
You are right Deepika, the Mango Lassi is an old classic, which fits to any time of the day 😉
One can never have too many smoothie recipes! These all look fabulous!
Indeed Jenn, thank you so much for your lovely comment!
What a great list– I am always trying to come up with ways to make my smoothies higher protein with less reliance on powders. I have been using a lot of hemp seeds lately– I am allergic to soy, so relying on soy milk doesn’t work!
Hemp seeds how interesting, wouldn’t mind trying that out some time as well. Thank you very much for your comment Michelle 🙂
This is quite a colleciton, Howie…and many of my favorite bloggers!!
This is a great collection – I love adding some protein in my smoothies, because it simply fills me up better & longer. Definitely a list to keep on hand 🙂
Thank you so much Kat 😉 and you are totally right there, smoothies with protein make you feel satisfied much longer than other ones!!
Great round-up! I always get stuck making the same old smoothie, so nice to get some inspiration from all these fantastic recipes!
I know what you mean Donna I so often overmake certain recipes till I can’t eat them anymore and need to take a break…with this collection you have great smoothie ideas for a long time 😀
Thanks for featuring my banana and almond smoothie (I’ve been meaning to say that since you posted but I’ve been slacking!). It is completely unintentionally high in protein – I just put in what I liked.
There’s a few delicious looking ones on here. I’m definitely going to have to try the chocolate and peanut butter one as those are just my kind of flavours.
Thank you Charlotte, your smoothie just had everything that we needed to fit into this collection!!
The chocolate and peanut butter one also caught my eye immediately 😛 #chocoholic
Great protein smoothie roundup! I’m always looking for different flavours to try out to keep things interesting…this post will be a great smoothie resource for me 🙂 Thanks for posting!
Many thanks for your lovely comment Elysia. It makes me really happy that you find this compilation so useful 🙂
I never comment on articles, blogs etc…
However! I have to say AMAZING JOB! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Thank you for these
Glad we were able to create something that helped you, Jenn!
We’re proud of every comment we receive 😀
Thank you for the post.am now spoiled for choices.
I’m looking for a preworkout meal to add to my daily routine and was wondering if any or all of these could be frozen to cut down on the daily prep time.
Hi Don! You could freeze pretty much any of them to be honest. You really have two ways of doing that. The first way might lose a little taste, but if that’s not a drama then it’s quickest for the morning.
1) Just make the smoothie like normal, then freeze it in a bag or similar (not glass as the expanded smoothie will likely crack it). Take it out of the freezer the night before you want it, stick it in a glass and give it a stir in the morning.
2) Prep all the ingredients needed (except the liquids) (including peeling skin off, chopping fruit etc, exactly as you would before popping them in the blender. Then when they’re ready, stick them in a bag and freeze them instead. In the morning, add the frozen ingredients to the liquids and blend. It’ll be nice and fresh.
Hope that helps!