A Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie that is protein powder-free. This decadent chocolate peanut butter smoothie recipe is full of healthy fats, packed with protein-rich ingredients, and is completely vegan. Ditch the powder and fuel yourself post workout with this protein powder-free smoothie.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie in a glass, with a metal straw. Sitting on a cutting board.

Listen up! I’ve got a delicious, creamy, and chocolatey creation for you today! I kid you not, it seriously tastes like a chocolate milkshake, but made with whole food and plant based ingredients.

I know that we just celebrated new years and the majority of people have the goal to eat healthy and/or to workout. Don’t quote me on that, but that’s just my opinion. That’s why I created this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie. It’s jam packed with healthy ingredients that will properly nourish your body post workout.

Unlike the majority of chocolate protein smoothies on the web or on my blog, this one doesn’t include any protein powder. So you may be asking yourself, how is this a protein smoothie then? I’m glad you asked! Thanks to the combination of peanut butter, hemp seeds, ground flax seeds, and chia seeds, this smoothie is jam packed with plant protein. Paired with rich cacao powder to make it chocolatey, oat milk to make it super creamy, as well as medjool date syrup, and frozen banana make it naturally sweet.

While I do love a good traditional protein powder smoothie, this one is next level. This chocolate peanut butter creation will be your go to all year long. So if you’re just beginning your healthy habits journey or are a seasoned pro, you’ll love this protein powder-free smoothie!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Protein Smoothie

Protein-Powder Free: Thanks to the plant-powered seeds and nut butter duo, this chocolate smoothie is packed with over 25 grams of protein.
Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this smoothie is loaded with plant protein to keep you feeling full & satisfied.
Tastes Like a Chocolate Milkshake: With the combination of rich cacao, nutty peanut butter + seeds, creamy oat milk, and naturally sweet fruit, this protein powder-free smoothie tastes like a healthy milkshake.

Peanut Butter Health Benefits

One of the main players in this chocolate protein smoothie recipe is the peanut butter. Some may be scared of peanut butter because of its high caloric content, but there shouldn’t be anything to be afraid of – except for the many brands that add harmful ingredients like cane sugar, vegetable oil, and trans fats. My biggest suggestion is to buy an organic unsalted peanut butter made with 1 ingredient – organic peanuts! This way you can receive all of the peanut butter benefits without the negative side effects. In moderation, peanut butter offers the following health benefits:

Protein Packed to Help You Stay Full Longer
Boosts Energy Levels
Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Rich in Antioxidant Properties That May Prevent Several Diseases
Full of Healthy Fats for Overall Health

Protein Powder-Free Smoothie in a glass, with a metal straw. Sitting on a cutting board.

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: I used organic unsweetened oat milk for this protein powder-free smoothie, because it makes this smoothie extra creamy. Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Unsalted Peanut Butter: It wouldn’t be a peanut butter smoothie without it! For a boost of protein & healthy fats, I used creamy organic peanut butter, but crunchy would also be phenomenal in my opinion. You can also substitute organic peanut butter for any other nut or seed butter, if needed.
Organic Seeds: A combination of organic hemp seeds, organic chia seeds, and organic ground flax seeds provides this protein powder-free smoothie with plant protein, healthy fats, omegas, minerals, fiber, & so much more!
Organic Cacao Powder: To make the smoothie chocolatey! To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular dutch cocoa powder. Cacao powder is pure, raw cacao versus processed.
Organic Medjool Date Syrup: Optional, but it does make this chocolate protein smoothie sweeter. I love the brand Joolies. It’s made with one ingredient – organic medjool dates!
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this smoothie.
Organic Frozen Banana: To transpire a thick & creamy texture, it’s best to use a frozen banana.

How To Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, nut butter, seeds, cacao powder, date syrup, and a pinch of sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
Serve. Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this chocolate protein smoothie recipe:

Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the milk to ½ cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.
Organic Cacao Nibs: Wanting a little crunch to your smoothie? Add anywhere between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of Organic Cacao Nibs. Simply add organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your smoothie, then blend once more.
Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this smoothie. They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect chocolate protein smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
Organic Medjool Date Syrup: If you don’t have date syrup on hand, you can easily substitute it for one organic pitted medjool date. I recommend soaking your date in hot water before adding it to your high speed blender as well.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a chocolate protein milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip.

Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives this protein powder-free smoothie a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date syrup to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods for a post workout breakfast is great because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing in the morning. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option.

Do I have to add organic peanut butter?

Even though peanut butter is one of the main components of this chocolate protein smoothie recipe, it is not mandatory. If you elect to not include it, I highly recommend substituting it for your preferred nut or seed butter. I think organic raw almond butter or organic sunflower seed butter would compliment this chocolate smoothie nicely. Also, if you swap out peanut butter, it will decrease the protein content of this smoothie.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.