The best Chocolate Protein Shake recipe is decadent, creamy, and filled with wholesome ingredients. It only takes 5 minutes and is the perfect breakfast, post-workout snack, or dessert!

If you love drinks, smoothies and shakes, try my Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Healthy Breakfast Smoothie, Power Smoothie, or Green Smoothie!

An easy Chocolate Protein Shake in a tall glass topped with cacoa nibs and rice crispies.

Why I love this recipe:

My friend shared the most amazing protein shake with me last year and it became an obsession. Her recipe was inspired by a protein shake from Lillie's Eats and Tells. I started making my own much simplified version and, months later, it's still one of my daily cravings!

  • Healthy – High in protein, and filled satiating ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied.
  • Tasty – This seriously could pass for a chocolate milkshake. I love to enjoy it in the evenings as a dessert and it satisfies my sweet tooth every time!
  • Quick – All you need is 5 minutes for this chocolate banana protein shake! Perfect for breakfast, post-workout snack, dessert, or even a snack on the go!

Ingredients Needed:

  • Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • Chocolate Protein Powder: Your favorite kind (we like Clean Simple Eats).
  • Cocoa Powder: Any unsweetened cocoa powder will work, but the darker the richer. I've loved this brand.
  • Powdered Peanut Butter: We love PB Fit.
  • Frozen Banana
  • Ice
The ingredients needed for a Chocolate Protein Shake: chocolate protein powder, dark cocoa powder, almond milk, banana, ice cubes, and powdered peanut butter.

How to make a Chocolate Protein Shake:

Blend: Add protein powder, cocoa powder, almond milk, banana, and ice, to a blender and blend until smooth.

Two images showing all the ingredients needed for a chocolate protein shake in a blender, and then after it is blended.

Add Toppings: Pour into cup and use a spoon to stir in peanut butter powder. Optional: Stir in other mix-ins—my favorites are Rice Krispies cereal, cacao nibs and a sprinkle of flake salt. Stir and enjoy this chocolate peanut butter protein shake.

Milkshake Cup and Spoon: My friend served her shake in a stainless steel milkshake cup, with long milkshake spoons, and it made them so fun to eat–like enjoying a true chocolate milkshake. I went and immediately bought my own.

A close up image showing all the toppings on top of a chocolate protein shake, filled to the brim in a glass.

Recipe Variations:

  • Protein Powder: We like Clean Simple Eats. Use your favorite brand.
  • Nut-Free: Use oat milk or soy milk and omit the peanut butter powder.
  • Toppings: Feel free to top with a sliced banana, a little whipped cream, or your favorite toppings!

Follow me for more great recipes

Recipe

A Chocolate Protein Shake topped with cacoa nibs and rice crispy cereal, ready to enjoy.
Prep 5 minutes
Total 5 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
 
 

Optional Additional Mix-Ins:

Instructions
 

  • Add protein powder, cocoa powder, almond milk, banana, and ice, to blender and blend until smooth.
  • Pour into cup and use a spoon to stir in peanut butter powder.
  • Add Optional Toppings: My favorites are Rice Krispies cereal, cacao nibs and a sprinkle of flake salt.
  • Stir and Enjoy.

Notes

Protein Powder: We like Clean Simple Eats Brownie Batter. Use your favorite brand.
No Banana: substitute ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum, to add some thick shake consistency.
Sweetener: As is, this shake is richly dark chocolate. If you'd like to sweeten it, add a little maple syrup, agave, or chocolate stevia drops
Nut-Free: Use oat milk or soy milk and omit the peanut butter powder.
Thick Chocolate Shake: Add even more ice.

Macros Recipe Adaptation

Add the optional toppings.

Macros

280kcal, Fat:9g, Carbs:29g, Protein: 26 g. | MFP: Chocolate Protein Shake (TBFS Macros)

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 22gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 501mgPotassium: 309mgFiber: 8gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 26IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 517mgIron: 1mg

Follow Me

Get recipe ideas weekly!

This post contains affiliate links.

Related Posts

Share Recipe

About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

4.7 3 votes
Recipe Rating
5 from 70 votes (63 ratings without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

15 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nicola
1 year ago

5 stars
Could you use avocado instead of banana making it more keto?

Thalika
1 year ago

5 stars
Soo yummy!!

Samantha
1 year ago

The flavor of this is absolutely delicious!!! Thakn you for sharing! I added the cacao nibs, and I love the texture they add. I only used about 4 ice cubes, yet my shake came out super watery. Will the shake thicken if I use less next time? Will it still provide enough moisture to help mix everything?

Chris
1 year ago

5 stars
Hands down has become my favorite post workout shake!

Ariana Hennings
1 year ago

5 stars
I just started consuming protein powder and couldn’t find a recipe that made the taste tolerable. This one was pretty solid! Thanks for sharing!

Lynette Dregallo
2 years ago

If you like a thicker shake and are looking for healthy fats, which dark chocolate is), you can add just a couple Tbsp of unsweetened coconut cream.

This has been a miracle for me since a lot of healthy fat should come from foods I don’t care for, like avacados and olives.

FYI, you cannot taste the coconut

craqers@gmail.com
2 years ago

I have been making a protein shake with these ingredients (minus the ice) for years. I do add hemp and chia seed, fresh ginger, turmeric and black pepper (need the pepper to benefit from the turmeric). I also add a green (spinach or whatever is on hand) and frozen fruit (usually cranberries or blueberries). It’s so good!

BTW, this isn’t science proven but as long as I keep eating the raw chia and hemp seeds, I do not get sick! I started eating them in 2011. People around me can be sick with flu and colds (some getting repeatedly sick) but I stay healthy. At one point, everyone in the office who sat near me (about six people) were all so sick (but in the office) and I was healthy. I never got what they had.

Not long after taking a pause from eating them, I started getting colds just like everyone else. I added them back into my morning routine and unlike everyone else who over the last few years have gotten flu, cold and covid, I stayed healthy despite taking public transit every day.

Laura Osborne
1 year ago

Wow thanks for sharing. I will add more chia to my routine. Currently I’m using Elderberry and also manage to avoid colds

Iff E
2 years ago

5 stars
This is a delicious protein shake. I tried stirring in the PB powder per the recipe, but it didn’t mix in as well as adding it with the protein powder and cocoa. Tastes amazing and filling.

Carol
2 years ago

Do you have any advice about incorporating xanthan gum into shakes like this? No matter how I seem to do it, it’s a big fail: no thickening, just clumps and knots of the powder.

Tricia Carmichael
2 years ago

Ive been making cocoa smoothies for years…I use soy milk, a sliced banana, at least 1 tablespoon or more of cocoa, non sweet, and I add a teaspoon of tumeric…I do not like anything sweet. I must admit I dont add ice but may try that…these smoothies are delicious.