Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie

This Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie recipe is a healthy blend of good-for-you ingredients. It features rich cacao plant protein, raw pecans, healthy-fat seeds, your favorite non-dairy milk, and frozen banana, to transpire a milkshake-like consistency. Enjoy this creamy chocolate smoothie for a post workout breakfast, as it’s packed with over 25 grams of plant protein!

If you haven’t blended up cacao plant protein and pecans before, then you’re in for a rich and creamy chocolate protein smoothie treat!

I feel like pecans are very underutilized when it comes to incorporating them into smoothies. Truly, I don’t understand, because pecans are not only packed with nutrition, but make this smoothie taste like milkshake. It’s so good!

Not only is this protein creation rich, creamy, and tastes like a dreamy milkshake, it’s packed with over 25 grams of plant protein! Which makes it a delicious and nutritious post workout breakfast!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Pecan Smoothie Recipe

• Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this creamy chocolate protein smoothie recipe features over 25 grams of plant based protein, to keep you full and satisfied.
• Packed with Nutrition: The combination of healthy fats and plant-protein, found in this smoothie will have you fully nourished. 
• Fully Customizable: Add even more healthy ingredients to elevate your Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie –  I’ve listed some recipe additions further down in the post!

Pecan Health Benefits 

The star of this creamy chocolate protein smoothie recipe, is obviously the pecans. Beyond their delicious tastes, pecans are also loaded with nutrition. They’re such a healthy + tasty addition to your lifestyle & gives you every excuse to have this healthy Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie recipe. Here are just a few health benefits of consuming pecans.

• Enhance Immune Health: Full of immune-boosting vitamins, pecans have significant amounts of vitamin E, A, & B12, while also containing essential trace elements like magnesium, copper, & zinc. 
• Promote Healthy Gut: Loaded with fiber, pecans help promote elimination of toxins  to support a healthy gut. 
• Reduce Inflammation: Pecans contain high amounts of beta carotene, Omega-3, copper, & vitamin E, to reduce the amount of unhealthy inflammation in the body. 
• Brain Boosting: Nutrients found in pecans, such as thiamine, manganese, & copper, connect to optimal brain function. 
• Supports Bone Density: Pecans are high in phosphorus, as well as calcium. These key nutrients are essential for preventing symptoms of osteoporosis

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe. Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Organic Pecans: It wouldn’t be pecan smoothie without them. Pecans add the rich, buttery flavor that we all love. I recommend using raw & organic pecans, as they will blend up more easily.
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
• Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this creamy chocolate protein smoothie recipe.
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of chocolate protein powder makes this almond butter smoothie chocolatey, while keeping full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s ​​made with real unrefined cacao with no grains, gums or fillers. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein, add your favorite chocolate plant protein.
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this chocolate smoothie.
• Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.

How To Make 

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, pecans, seeds, cacao plant protein, and 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 liquid depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie Add-Ins

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

• Organic Hemp Seeds: Incorporate a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the non-diary milk to ¾ cup when adding yogurt.
• Organic Cacao Nibs: Wanting a little crunch? 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 Medjool Date: If you’re wanting to sweeten your smoothie even more, start by adding one organic pitted medjool date.
• Organic Cold Brew: Need a boost? Use half organic unsweetened non-dairy milk & half organic cold brew, to turn this into a mocha pecan protein smoothie. YUM! 
• Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this creamy chocolate protein 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 Chocolate Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect healthy Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie recipe? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a chocolate 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 the 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 adding an organic medjool date, 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. 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. 

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular healthy Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie recipe, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Cacao Protein Powder. It’s ​​made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. When selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients. 

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have cacao protein powder on hand, no worries! You can add 4 teaspoons of organic cacao powder. To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic hemp hearts, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the Chocolate Pecan Protein Smoothie recipe 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

• Chocolate Walnut Smoothie
• Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
• Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie
• Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie
• Chocolate Brazil Nut Smoothie
• Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

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.

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