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 Treats. 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:

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!

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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

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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.

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Comments

  1. 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?

  2. 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!

  3. 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

  4. 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.

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

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

    1. Yes! When I add it I do 1/4 teaspoon. the protein powder, cocoa powder and xanthan together (could even stir them together first, before adding to the blender, to make sure they’re super smooth).

  7. 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.