Learn how to make the best homemade protein shakes with this quick and simple tutorial. Includes tips, ideas, and a customizable recipe for a DIY protein shake made with clean and healthy ingredients.
It’s a great idea to incorporate protein shakes into your diet, because they are so simple to make and are chock-full of nutritious ingredients. They make a nourishing breakfast that will kick-start your day and will keep you feeling full all morning. Protein shakes also make an ideal post-workout snack that will refuel your energy and help your muscles to heal after exercising.
Are Protein Shakes Good For You?
Yes! Protein shakes are an excellent choice for breakfast, a snack, or meal replacement. All adults need around 46-56 grams of protein each day and protein shakes are a convenient way to meet that requirement.
The best protein shake recipes, in my opinion, rely on protein powder to provide protein. Protein powder has many benefits, including the following:
- Aids with weight loss
- Helps build muscle and strength
- Functions as a appetite suppressant
- Boosts metabolism
- Repairs muscles from exercise
You can use a plant-based protein powder (pea, chia, or brown rice) or an animal protein powder (whey, casein, or collagen), depending on your preferences. Just make sure the protein powder you use is free from additives, hormones, artificial sweeteners, and fillers. Lastly, always remember that organic is best.
Should You Drink a Protein Shake Before or After a Workout?
A number of studies show that protein helps your muscles to repair and rebuild after exercise. For that reason, many people drink protein shakes after their workouts to aid this process.
However, recent research suggests the amount of protein you consume per day is more important than when you consume it for gaining muscle mass. Therefore, you can choose which time you prefer or is most convenient for you. Personally, I always opt to have a protein shake after exercise, but that’s just what works for me.
Are Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?
As long as protein shakes are made with a mix of high-quality, junk-free ingredients, they are terrific for weight loss. When you’re trying to lose weight, protein is the most important nutrient. It increases satiety and prevents spikes in blood sugar. Consuming an adequate amount of protein also helps build lean muscle, which will increase your metabolism.
The next most important ingredient for weight loss is fiber. It helps keep you full, nixes cravings, and keeps your gut healthy. Fruits and veggies are the best source of fiber and nutrients, so I recommend adding at least one type of vegetable or fruit, such as a banana, to your smoothies.
Homemade Protein Shake Ingredients
Alright, so let’s talk ingredients. To make a basic homemade protein shake, you will need:
- A cup of milk: I usually use dairy milk, but you can use any kind of milk you like. Unsweetened almond, coconut, soy, hemp, or any other type of plant-based milk are all fabulous options.
- A scoop of protein powder: If you can, choose natural protein powder that contains no additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. I use this one.
- A banana: Bananas give smoothies an excellent consistency and are a great source of potassium and dietary fiber, so I always like to toss one in.
- One or two teaspoons of a natural, unrefined sweetener: I like to use honey, but you can substitute maple syrup or agave nectar. Alternatively, you can throw in a couple of pitted dates instead of a liquid sweetener.
- Half a cup of ice: I like to add ice because it helps thicken shakes. However, if I don’t have any ice in the freezer, I just make my shake without it.
- Optional add-ins: Any of the following ingredients can be mixed into a protein smoothie to give additional nutrition and/or flavor:
- Fresh or frozen berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries all work great. Add about half a cup per serving.
- Fresh fruit: Pineapple, peach, and mango are my favorite fruits to add to smoothies. Aim for half a cup per serving.
- Greens: Spinach and kale work very well in smoothies. Add about a cup per serving.
- Greek yogurt: I recommend using plain and unsweetened yogurt only, because a lot of flavored yogurts contain a ton of sugar. Alternatively, you could use plain cottage cheese instead. Add a quarter of a cup per serving.
- Nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter add extra protein and healthy fats to smoothies. Aim for one to two tablespoons per serving.
- Powders: Raw cacao powder and matcha green tea powder are fantastic choices. Mix in one to two teaspoons per serving.
- Seeds: Chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and hemp hearts get blended nicely into shakes. Aim for one to two teaspoons per serving.
- A splash of vanilla
- A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
How to Make a Homemade Protein Shake
To make a homemade protein shake, simply:
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and serve.
Tips for Making the Best Homemade Protein Shakes
Here are some pointers I have learned over the years about how to make the best homemade protein shakes:
- When adding your ingredients to your blender, always add the liquid first near the blades. Doing this will help your blender to run a bit more smoothly whenever you are making a shake.
- Use a Vitamix Blender, because it is THE blender for making smoothies! A Vitamix is a high-powered blender that breaks up frozen fruit, vegetables, ice, and any other dense ingredients into oblivion. Best of all, the Vitamix blender is super versatile, so you can also use it to make soups, sauces, and homemade nut butters.
- If you don’t think you need a Vitamix, an individual-sized blender such as a Magic Bullet is a good alternative. The biggest benefits of using a small blender are that it will help you save time on clean-up, it takes up less counter space, and it’s much less expensive than a big fancy blender.
Homemade Protein Shakes To Try
The Easiest Way to Make Protein Shakes at Home
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If you make this Homemade Protein Shake recipe, let me know! Rate it and leave a comment below, because I love hearing from you! 🙂
Basic Homemade Protein Shake
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1 scoop plain (unflavored) protein powder
- 2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
Optional Add-ins
- Fresh or frozen berries/fruit
- Spinach or kale
- Plain (unflavored) Greek yogurt
- Any nut butter
- Raw cacao powder or matcha green tea powder
- Chia seeds, ground flaxseed, or hemp hearts
- Vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg
Instructions
- Add base ingredients and any of the optional add-ins to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
Notes
- For easy blending, add the milk first near the blades when adding the ingredients to your blender.
- Nutritional facts below are calculated using only the base ingredients (none of the optional add-ins are included).
Nutrition
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So yummy!! I did the basic recipe and added frozen blueberries and raspberries, plus a big spoon of peanut butter.
Hi Desiree, that sounds delicious! Thanks for your comment!!