This Vegan Protein Shake recipe is plant-based, healthy, and refined sugar-free. It is made with clean ingredients like plant-based milk, maple syrup, banana, ice, and vegan protein powder. Learn how to make a homemade vegan protein smoothie with this quick and easy recipe!

You are going to love this vegan protein smoothie recipe, because it is so easy to make and is made entirely with nutritious ingredients. It makes a fast, portable breakfast that will jump-start your day and will keep you feeling full all morning. It is also an ideal post-workout shake that will refuel your energy and help your muscles to heal and build after exercising.

Are Vegan Protein Shakes Good For You?

Yes! Protein shakes in general are an excellent choice for breakfast, a snack, or as a meal replacement. All adults need between 46-56 grams of protein per day (source) and protein shakes are a simple way to meet that requirement. In my experience, the best protein shake recipes rely on protein powder to provide protein. Protein powder has many benefits, including the following:

Repairs muscles from exercise
Aids with weight loss
Functions as a appetite suppressant
Boosts metabolism
Helps build muscle and strength

If you are vegan, be sure to use an organic plant-based protein powder (such as one made from pea, chia, or brown rice) that is free of any additives, artificial sweeteners, and fillers.

Is it Better to Drink a Protein Shake Before or After a Workout?

Many 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, new research indicates that the amount of protein you consume each day is more important than when you have it for muscle gain (source). Therefore, you can choose which time you prefer or is most convenient for you. Personally, I always opt to have a protein shake after hitting the gym.

Are Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?

Yes! As long as protein shakes are made with clean, junk-free ingredients, they are great for weight loss. Protein shakes are a rich source of protein (hence the name) and protein is an important nutrient for weight loss.

Having a good amount of protein in your diet boosts your metabolism and leads to more fullness throughout the day. Consuming a healthy dose of protein daily also leads to increased muscle mass and can even improve bone health.

Vegan Protein Shake Ingredients

Before we get to the recipe, let’s discuss ingredients. To make this homemade vegan protein smoothie recipe, you will need:

Vegan protein powder: This boosts the protein content of your smoothie immensely. Use an organic, plant-based protein powder that contains no additives, preservatives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
Banana: This gives your smoothie a rich and creamy consistency. It is also a great source of potassium and dietary fiber.
Plant-based milk: This serves as the liquid base for the smoothie. You can use any kind of non-dairy milk you like. Unsweetened almond, coconut, oat, soy, hemp, or any other type of vegan-friendly milk are all fabulous options.
Maple syrup: This adds natural and unrefined sweetness. Not all packaged maple syrup is created equal, so be sure to use one that is 100% pure, organic, and non-GMO for optimal health benefits.
Ice: This helps thicken the shake. Although, if I don’t have any ice in the freezer, I just make my protein shake without it.

How to Make a Vegan Protein Shake

This recipe could not be easier. To make this homemade vegan protein shake recipe, simply:

Add all of the ingredients – non-dairy milk, maple syrup, vegan protein powder, banana, and ice – to a blender.
Blend until smooth and serve it right away.

Possible Recipe Variations

This homemade protein shake recipe is very flexible with regards to variations. For example, feel free to…

Add some spice: A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla all taste delicious in smoothies.
Use a different sweetener: Instead of maple syrup, you can substitute another plant-based sweetener, such as agave nectar. Alternatively, you can throw in one or two pitted dates instead of a liquid sweetener.
Add nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter add extra protein and healthy fats to shakes. Aim for one to two tablespoons per serving.
Throw in some seeds: One to two teaspoons of chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and hemp hearts get blended nicely into smoothies.

Those are just a few suggestions, so feel free to experiment with whatever ingredient swaps or additions that sound good to you. 🙂

Tips for Making Homemade Protein Shakes

Here are some things I have learned over the years about making 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 good-quality, high-powered blender, such as a Vitamix or a Ninja, that will easily break up frozen fruit, vegetables, ice, and any other dense ingredients into oblivion.
If you don’t think you need a high-powered blender, 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 and it also takes up less counter space.

Use the pointers above to ensure your homemade protein smoothies turn out well, every time!

More Protein Shake Recipes

Looking for more protein shake inspiration? Here are some of my favorite recipes on the blog:

The Easiest Way to Make Protein Shakes

If drinking a protein shake is a part of your daily routine, you have to try using a protein shake delivery service. Once you sign up for one online, everything you need to make nourishing protein shakes and smoothies gets sent to your front door. If you want to learn more about my favorite smoothie and protein shake delivery services, check out these posts on blog:

Alright, now let’s get to the recipe. If you make this Vegan Protein Shake recipe, let me know. Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡