Protein Powder Recipes: Your Diet’s Magic Ingredient

Protein powder pizzaWant to eat healthy, lose weight, or build muscle? Classic diet advice is to increase your protein. This recipe collection lets you use protein powder as your magic ingredient.

Wish you could skip the shake when it comes to leveraging protein powder? You can! Using it as an ingredient is another way to get the protein and carbs your body needs to repair muscles, fight off cravings and keep you energized between workouts.

As an added bonus, working in additional protein can help you fight stubborn belly fat as well, especially combined with fat burning high intensity interval training (HIIT) along with your strength routine.

Here is a day full of recipes—one for every meal—that incorporate protein powder.


Breakfast: Banana Nut Protein Oats

A flavor-packed hot and hearty breakfast is just what you need to start your day right. Recipe is for one serving.

INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup water
  • pinch of sea salt
  • ½ banana, sliced thin
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 scoop protein powder (chocolate or vanilla will work)
  • Optional Toppings: walnuts, almond butter, mini chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Add oats and sea salt and water to a pot. Stir to combine. Add cinnamon and vanilla, if using.
  2. Heat over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, then add the banana slices and continue to cook until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 4-5 more minutes.
  3. Stir the oats several times while cooking to make sure the banana slices melt into the oats. You’ll know the oatmeal is done when all the liquid is absorbed, and the oats are thick and fluffy.
  4. Remove oats from the heat and stir in protein powder. Add in a little more water or milk if too thick.
  5. Transfer oats to a bowl and top with your favorite optional toppings.

Lunch: High Protein Pumpkin Curry Soup

Using store bought ingredients lets you pull this comforting soup together in a snap. Recipe serves two.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil
  • 1-2 tsp green curry paste
  • 1 cup organic pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 2-3 oz organic light coconut milk
  • 2 tsp organic agave
  • ½ large lime—zested and juiced
  • 1 scoop vegan protein powder, unflavored/natural flavor
  • Optional toppings: pumpkin seeds, plain yogurt, cilantro, salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium heat.
  2. Add curry paste; cook and stir for 1 minute.
  3. Add pumpkin puree; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
  4. Whisk in the broth, coconut milk and agave.
  5. Let soup come to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, for 10 minutes.
  6. Whisk in the lime juice and zest, then stir in protein powder. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
  7. Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite optional toppings.

Dinner: High Protein Pizza Pie

When you want all the flavors of pizza, with more protein, less fat, and a crunchy crust. This recipe makes one deep dish pie.

Crust

  • ½ cup unflavored pea protein powder
  • ½ cup liquid egg whites
  • ⅛ cup buckwheat flour
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon coconut flour
Filling

  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 2 chopped garlic cloves
  • 2 cans whole tomatoes
  • ½ cup grated cheddar cheese or mozzarella
  • 1 cup ground beef
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds
  • Salt to taste
  • Optional toppings: grated parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper, sliced olives

INTRUCTIONS:

  1. To make the crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Blend all of the ingredients together until you get a thick batter. Using a spoon, spread the batter onto a deep-dish pizza pan or other deep, round nonstick pan. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the crust has cooked through. Take out of oven and add filling when finished.
  2. To prepare the toppings: While crust is baking, sauté onions and garlic until soft. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Then, add the tomatoes and spices and cook for another 15 minutes over low heat until the mixture has started to thicken.
  3. To prepare the pizza pie: Spoon the filling into the baked pizza crust and sprinkle grated cheese over top. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until the cheese on top has melted. Top with your favorite optional toppings.

Dessert: Easy No-Bake Protein Cheesecake

To make this recipe vegan, try using Tofutti or another non-dairy cream cheese. Recipe is for one serving.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 scoop 100% Whey Protein Powder Vanilla
  • ¼ cup cream cheese (fat free if desired), softened
  • 4 tsp sugar or equivalent of your favorite sweetener
  • 2 tsp milk, almond milk or soymilk
  • Optional toppings: fresh berries, all fruit spread, crushed graham crackers

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Mix first four ingredients together in a bowl or mason jar till smooth.
  2. Chill for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
  3. Layer on optional toppings as desired and dig in!