Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie is a healthy & protein-packed post-workout breakfast recipe. It’s created with nutty pistachios, rich cacao plant protein, brain-boosting seeds, frozen banana, & your favorite non-dairy milk. Enjoy this rich & creamy blend while nourishing your body!

Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie in a glass with a straw in it, sitting on a white marble counter, with pistachios in the background.

If you love chocolate & pistachios, then this protein smoothie recipe is for you. In my opinion, cacao & pistachios are one of those combinations that is totally underrated, & if you’ve never combined the two, you’re in luck!

While this blend tastes like a chocolate pistachio milkshake, it’s loaded with plant protein, healthy fats, & just good-for-you ingredients.

Needless to say, it’s the perfect protein smoothie when you’re in need of something sweet & healthy post-workout!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie Recipe

Nutrient Packed: Thanks to the addition of pistachios, this chocolate protein smoothie recipe has an abundant amount of benefits for optimal health!
Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post-workout or for breakfast, this Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe will have you fully satisfied, as it is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
Fully Customizable: I have listed options further down in the post to add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your blend.

Healthy Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie in a glass with a straw in it, sitting on a white marble counter, with pistachios in the background.

Pistachios’ Health Benefits

Pistachios are not only the star of this chocolate protein smoothie recipe, but they’re also exceptionally nutritious. A fun fact is that pistachios are technically seeds, but they’re classified as a tree nut in the culinary world. Nut or not, they’re the perfect vibrant & slightly sweet addition to this blend. So perfect that the power of pistachios is too good to pass up! This superfood is. full of benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits of consuming organic pistachios:

Improved Skin Health & Appearance
Decreased Inflammation
Promoted Gut Health
Disease Prevention

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe; just be sure to use homemade or trusted brands—I like MALK Organics, Three Trees, or Native Forest.
Organic Pistachios: It wouldn’t be a pistachio smoothie without them. Unsalted & hopefully pre-shelled for the sake of your fingers! Pistachios blend right in with the other ingredients for color, extra creaminess, & most importantly, flavor.
Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full & satisfied longer. When selecting a protein powder brand, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and, most importantly, the ingredients. Check out this Cleanest Plant-Based & Vegan Protein Powders post to learn what to look for, the best brands, & recommended daily protein intake.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds add a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, & so much more.
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals & beautifully enhances the flavor.
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, pistachios, cacao plant protein, seeds, & 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 & creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, & 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 & enjoy!

Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie in a Vitamix on a white marble counter.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this blend your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp up this Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe:

Organic Hemp Seeds: Include a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds to provide this smoothie with even more healthy fats, protein, omegas, & minerals.
Organic Coconut Yogurt: Enhance the creaminess with a scoop of organic plain coconut yogurt.
Organic Cacao Nibs: Add 1 tablespoon of organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your smoothie, then blend once more to provide lots of texture at every sip.
Organic Greens: Greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, & antioxidants. I recommend baby spinach if you’re new to green smoothies, but kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the best Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

Use Frozen Fruit: The ice from the frozen banana adds thickness to the smoothie.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, don’t worry! Just add a bit more liquid, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, & blend again. 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 favorite way of preparing my smoothies. Blending the liquid & powders first 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 hard for the blender to blend the frozen ingredients properly, so start lower, then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a chocolate pistachio milkshake! Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your blend to ensure a chilled smoothie at every sip.

Smoothie FAQs

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 sure to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold 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 organic frozen zucchini, ½ cup of organic frozen cauliflower, ½ cup of organic frozen coconut meat, or ½ cup of organic frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana-free smoothie, I recommend adding 1 organic pitted Medjool date or 2 teaspoons of Manuka honey to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

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?

I used an organic cacao plant protein powder for this Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe. When selecting a protein powder brand, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and, most importantly, the ingredients. Check out this Cleanest Plant-Based & Vegan Protein Powders post to learn what to look for, the best brands, & recommended daily protein intake.

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 smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe as is or double it for later. To achieve the best results, check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post.

Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie Recipe in a glass with a straw in it, sitting on a white marble counter, with pistachios in the background.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie recipe, please leave a review & rating below. I love hearing from you, & it helps others learn more about the blog as well. Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more healthy content!

Xoxo.

CMG.