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Do you struggle to eat enough protein every day? When I first started counting macros, that was my biggest challenge. This led me to start looking for ways to increase protein intake (other than eating more meat) and I discovered protein powder, which was a total game-changer. However, I quickly got burned out after drinking daily protein shakes for weeks and needed new protein powder ideas.
If you’re also bored with traditional protein powder recipes, here is a list of 17 creative protein powder ideas that you should try ASAP!
Breakfast
protein coffee
This one is for all my fellow caffeine lovers out there! If you’re like me and can’t function without a daily coffee (or 3), adding protein powder can be an easy way to get a few more grams of protein. I will say that traditional whey protein powders do NOT mix well in coffee – just trust me on that one. In my experience, plant-based protein powders mix the best with coffee, both hot and iced. I recommend this one because it’s already coffee-flavored so you’ll hardly be able to taste it.
If you’re looking for an iced coffee drink that already has extra protein mixed in it, these Owyn drinks are so good – especially the caramel macchiato flavor.
overnight oats
Overnight oats are a super easy way to get more protein. There are a million recipes out there, but my favorite is this chocolate peanut butter protein one. It tastes so good that it feels like I’m eating dessert for breakfast and I’m not mad about it. The best part is that you can prep several of them ahead of time because they stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days. This particular recipe calls for chocolate protein powder and I use this one, but any brand will work just fine.
Pancakes or waffles
Another easy option is to add protein powder to your pancake or waffle mix. In my experience, for every scoop of protein powder you add, you should add another 1/4 cup of milk or water to keep the batter from getting too thick. I suggest an unflavored protein powder, but you could also get creative and try different flavors if you’re feeling adventurous.
If you’re looking for a pancake mix that already has extra protein added to it, I really love these Kodiak cakes.
acai bowls
I first stumbled upon acai bowls when my husband and I went on a babymoon to Florida and it instantly became my number one pregnancy craving. And even now that I’m not pregnant, I still crave these all of the time. They’re so pretty to look at but they taste even better!
You can get frozen packs of acai at your local grocery store (usually near the health food section) and then just stick them in the blender with a scoop of protein powder and your milk of choice. Top with your favorite fruit or granola and enjoy! These are such a fun way to change up your breakfast routine and still get some extra grams of protein.
chia pudding
Chia pudding is another good option if you like to prep breakfast ahead of time and not have to cook in the morning. It takes less than five minutes to make and then you just put it in the fridge overnight and it’s good to go for the next morning. Here is a good article describing making chia pudding with protein powder. The best part about it is that the possibilities are endless! You can easily switch up your protein powder flavor or use different toppings to keep you from getting bored.
Lunch/Dinner
Mashed Potatoes
This one is a little out there in terms of creativity, but it’s really not as weird as it sounds. Mashed potatoes have a super fluffy texture already so adding a scoop or two of protein powder doesn’t change the consistency too much. You’ll definitely want to get an unflavored protein powder and make sure you stir the potatoes really well to avoid clumps.
Salad Dressing
This is another good way to incorporate unflavored protein powder into your lunches or dinners. Whisk a small scoop of protein into your salad dressing before pouring it on your salad and that’ll get you a few extra grams of protein. Or if you prefer to make a larger batch of dressing, here is a good recipe for protein ranch dressing.
Pasta sauce
Similar to salad dressing, you can also mix a small scoop of protein powder into your pasta sauce for a protein boost. Again, use an unflavored type and make sure you stir it really well to avoid clumping. You could add it to any sauce but it’s easier to mix it into really creamy sauces like alfredo.
If you’re weirded out by mixing protein powder into your pasta sauce, you could try using these high-protein noodles to get a couple of extra grams.
breaded chicken or fish
Adding protein to a protein source – what a concept! When I was looking for ways to increase my protein intake, I really didn’t want to eat more meat, so this was a good option. If you make chicken (or really any kind of meat) with a breaded coating, it’s super easy to add a scoop of unflavored protein powder. It works best if you blend the protein powder with breadcrumbs and other seasonings so it’ll stick to the meat better.
Snacks
energy balls
If I had to choose only one high-protein snack to eat for the rest of my life, this would be it! Protein energy balls are so easy to make and they taste SO good. Plus, there are so many variations to try with different protein powder flavors and add-ins. My personal favorite are these monster cookie protein bites. I make them pretty much every single week and they stay good in the fridge for about 6 days. They are the perfect after-meal snack when I’m craving something sweet but still healthy.
yogurt parfait
This is a great versatile snack or breakfast idea because there are so many options for toppings and yogurt flavors. Just scoop in some flavored protein, mix well, and add your favorite fruit or granola. Bonus: To get even more protein, choose Greek yogurt over traditional because it has a higher protein content.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a fun twist on the traditional (boring) protein shake. They are also a really good option if you don’t like the taste of protein powder. The fruit adds sweetness and masks the flavor of the powder. There are a million smoothie recipes out there but one that I really love is this vanilla berry protein smoothie.
Muffins
Any other carb lovers out there?! I get so bummed when I’m tracking macros because most of my favorite high-carb foods (i.e. muffins), don’t fit into my macros. To combat this, I scoured the internet and tried what felt like a million different recipes to find the perfect high-protein, low-carb muffin recipe. And lucky for you, I found it! These pumpkin protein muffins are TO DIE FOR. I eat them year round but they’re especially tasty in the Fall!
Desserts
protein ice cream
If you haven’t heard of the Ninja Creami, you’re missing out! It’s essentially a special type of blender that can make low-calorie, high-protein ice cream. I don’t know about you, but I crave something sweet after every meal (one of my toxic traits for sure), so this has been a game changer. The Creami got super popular in 2023, so you can find a ton of different recipes online. I prefer to just make a simple vanilla ice cream base and then add mix-ins like cookie dough bites or Oreos. Don’t sleep on this one – you’ll never have to feel guilty about eating ice cream again!
mug cakes
This might be the easiest way to make dessert ever. There’s no need to dirty a pan and mixer because everything goes directly into a mug and is cooked in the microwave in less than a minute. This one tastes just like a brownie and is the perfect post-meal or post-workout treat. I will say that it gets pretty dry with whey protein, so I suggest using a pea protein instead.
protein cookies
I am a die-hard monster cookie fanatic and it makes me so sad when traditional recipes don’t fit into my macro counts. They’re always too high in fat and carbs. That is until I found this monster cookie recipe. They’re so good that my husband tried one and just assumed they were a normal cookie recipe. He had no idea it was made with protein powder!
popsicles
And last, but not least – protein popsicles. These are a must-have on hot summer days! I’ve tried a few different recipes but keep coming back to this berry protein one. They’re only 60 calories a pop but each one has 7 grams of protein which is a lot when compared to a normal popsicle from the store.
This post was all about creative ways to use protein powder. I hope this helped you think outside the box and consider trying protein powder in a new way. Let me know in the comments if you have any other ways that you love to use protein powder!