Last Updated on July 7, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie is a healthy recipe dedicated to all cacao lovers. It’s a decadent blend to enjoy as a post-workout breakfast, as it’s packed with over 30 grams of plant protein!

Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie with a straw in it topped with cacao nibs, sitting on a white marble counter with cacao nibs in the background.

If you’re a cacao lover, you’re in the right place, because this Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie will be your new favorite.

It has the perfect ratio of chocolate essence, which makes it taste like a milkshake. However, it’s made with good-for-you ingredients & it’s packed with over 30 grams of plant protein!

So if you’re a chocolate fanatic, like me, it’s time to get blending!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipe

Loaded with Real Cacao: For all you chocolate fanatics!
Perfect Post-Workout Smoothie: With the combination of plant protein, seeds, & cacao powder, this healthy smoothie recipe is packed with over 30 grams of plant protein!
Fully Customizable: Make this cacao protein smoothie recipe your own by adding in some extra nutrients—I’ve listed some yummy options further down in the post!

Cacao Health Benefits

To make this healthy chocolate protein smoothie super decadent, we’ll be adding in 3 forms of cacao: cacao plant protein, cacao powder, & cacao nibs. Not only is cacao full of rich chocolate flavor, but it’s also loaded with powerful nutrients. Here are just a few incredible health benefits of organic raw cacao powder.

High-Vibrational Energy
High in Magnesium to Enhance Overall Health
Shown to Relieve Mild Stress & Promote Relaxation
Reduced Inflammation
Promotes Hormonal Balance

Check out this Cacao Powder 101 post to learn more!

Healthy Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie with a straw in it topped with cacao nibs, sitting on a white marble counter with cacao nibs in the background.

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 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, & the recommended daily protein intake.
Organic Cacao Powder: To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular Dutch cocoa powder. Review this Cacao Powder 101 post to learn more!
Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, & so much more.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds add a great little boost of fiber & minerals.
Sea Salt: A pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals & beautifully enhances the flavor.
Organic Medjool Date: I recommend buying pitted dates; that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates is Joolies!
Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.
Organic Cacao Nibs: Cacao nibs give this smoothie lots of texture, with a little crunch with every sip. Obsessed.

How to Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, plant protein, cacao powder, seeds, & sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Date. Add the soft Medjool date to the blender & blend until smooth.
Blend the Frozen Banana. 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.
Blend the Cacao Nibs. Add the cacao nibs & blend for 20 seconds on medium.
Serve. Pour into a chilled glass & enjoy!

Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie in a Vitamix on a white marble counter.

Optional Chocolate Protein Smoothie Add-Ins

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

Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas, & minerals.
Organic Coconut Yogurt: Enhance the creaminess with a scoop of coconut yogurt.
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 Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen banana to this smoothie is the only way to go! 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 the frozen banana. 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 & then gradually increase the speed.
Blend Cacao Nibs Last: The reason for adding the cacao nibs last is because you don’t want them to get as creamy as the smoothie—you want them to retain their structure for texture. That makes this smoothie a bit crunchy, which I love!
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie or, in this case, a cacao 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 provides a thick & creamy consistency. 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 frozen organic zucchini, ½ cup of frozen organic cauliflower, ½ cup of frozen organic coconut meat, or ½ cup of frozen organic avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana-free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic pitted Medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Totally! 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 Triple Chocolate Protein 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, & the 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 increase the richness by using a total of 5 teaspoons of organic cacao powder. To amp up the protein content, you can incorporate 1 tablespoon of organic hemp seeds and/or 1 tablespoon of organic raw almond butter without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this Triple Chocolate 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.

Post-Workout Triple Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipe with a straw in it topped with cacao nibs, sitting on a white marble counter with cacao nibs in the background.

More Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this Triple Chocolate Protein 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.