Building muscle isn't always easy—it takes time, dedication—and the right nutrition.
When it comes to eating well and getting your fill of healthy protein, there aren't always enough hours in the day. But if you start the day with an epic protein-packed breakfast, you'll hit your daily protein goals time after time.
Without a doubt, healthy breakfast smoothies with a generous scoop of whey protein thrown into the mix will get your day off to a running start. And the good news is— we're going to share some lip-smacking recipes with you right now.
Get your blender, grab some top-notch protein powder, and we'll begin.
Whey protein-packed breakfast smoothie recipes
A healthy breakfast smoothie, with the body-boosting addition of whey protein, will literally power up your day.
No more slumps, no more lulls—no more falling short of your nutritional goals. And the best part (apart from the epic taste) is that you can take your protein smoothie with you on the go.
We've concocted these healthy breakfast smoothies based on their well-rounded nutritional benefits and their taste bud-tingling blend of flavors. In our opinion, they're the best of the best.
Without further ado, let's take a look.
1. The Epic Almond Banana Booster
First up, we have our Epic Almond Banana Booster almond. Cram packed with fiber, potassium, and a treasure trove of other body-pumping benefits—this is a healthy breakfast smoothie that will keep you fueled for most of the day.
With the sneaky addition of pumpkin seeds, you'll not only add a few extra grams of quality protein to your morning meal —but you'll also benefit from added iron, healthy fats, minerals —and general heart-enhancing goodness. A real breakfast bonus.
Oh, and if you love bananas—and nuts—this rich yet moreish recipe will not disappoint.
Ingredients...
- Half a cup of coconut water
- Half a cup of plain Greek yogurt
- Three tbsp of tasty almond butter (or an alternative nut butter of your choice)
- One scoop of whey protein powder
- One tbsp of pumpkin seeds
- One large frozen banana
- One cup of ice
- One small pinch of cinnamon
Method...
ONE:
Pour your coconut water into a cup and give it a quick stir. Prep your cup of plain Greek yogurt and chop or break your frozen banana into rough chunks.
TWO:
Add all of your breakfast smoothie ingredients to a blender. Place your ice and scoop of protein powder into the blender for the best and most consistent results.
THREE:
Blitz until nice and smooth (don't forget to put the lid on your blender!) and serve in a cup, shaker or vessel of your choice. Enjoy.
2. The Apple, Grains & Goodness Mega Mix
Next, we have the zingiest of our healthy smoothies—a little something we call 'Apple, Grains & Goodness Mega Mix'.
Not only does this stunner of a breakfast smoothie taste a little like a home-cooked apple pie in a glass, but the powerful mix of muscle-boosting ingredients you'll find in this recipe weigh in at around 56 to 58 grams of protein. Wow, indeed.
There's no end of energy-enhancing vitamins present in our Apple, Grains & Goodness smoothie—and if you leave the apple skin on—you'll get extra health points from the phytonutrients. Bonus.
Ingredients...
- Two ounces of milk, yoghurt or water
- Two scoops vanilla protein powder
- One whole apple
- One cup of spinach
- Two tbsp of almonds
- ¼ cup of oats, uncooked
- A little ice
- Cinnamon, adjust to your preferences
Method...
ONE:
Remove the core of your apple and slice it into wedges. Next, add your scoop of protein powder, followed by the rest of your ingredients—leaving the ice until last.
TWO:
Blitz your healthy breakfast smoothie blend until it's nice and smooth. You might have to blitz it a few times to make sure there are no apple chunks left in the mix.
THREE:
Serve in a cup, shaker or glass of choice and enjoy the protein-packed goodness of this liquified apple pie.
3. The Chocolate Cherry Champion
Did you know? Cherries can actually reduce muscle soreness after a big workout.
Chocolate and cherry? Yes, please. The most rich and punchy healthy breakfast smoothie on the list, The Chocolate Cherry Champion is moreish, to say the least.
This most magnificent of breakfast smoothies has a sharp edge, but the chocolate and nuts make it super indulgent (without being sickly)—and not only does it serve up over 50 grams of quality protein—but it's packed with body-boosting antioxidants.
Ingredients...
- 12 oz water, milk, or yogurt
- Two scoops of chocolate-flavored protein powder (or vanilla, if you prefer)
- Two cups of sweet dark cherries (remove pits)
- One cup of spinach
- One tbsp of walnuts
- One tbsp ground flax
- One to two tbsp dark cocoa powder
Method...
ONE:
First up, rinse your cherries and remove the pits and prep the rest of your smoothie ingredients. Grab your whey protein powder and add a generous scoop to the blender, along with your cocoa powder and ground flax seeds.
TWO:
Add the rest of your ingredients to the blender one by one and whizz them until they're nice and smooth.
THREE:
As always, grab your favorite glass, cup or shaker, pour, and enjoy the taste bud-tingling goodness of this powerhouse smoothie at your leisure.
Top tip: If you prefer a dairy-free smoothie, you can swap the milk, yogurt, and protein powders in these recipes for plant-based alternatives. Yum.
4. The Totally Tropical Tanger
If you like pineapples, this is the totally tropical protein smoothie for you. In addition to its high-protein content, this health-boosting take on a virgin piña colada is great for digestion and will help to boost your immunity.
Oh, and the decadent addition of flaked coconut not only tastes epic—but it will boost your endurance levels for those intense morning workouts. Bonus.
Ingredients...
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 scoops of whey protein powder
- 1/2 banana
- 1 cup of pineapple
- 1 cup of spinach
- 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed
- 3 tbsp of unsweetened coconut flakes
- A cup of plain yogurt
Method...
ONE:
Prep your ingredients, slicing your banana and pineapple into small chunks. Add your ingredients one by one, distributing them evenly. Add your two scoops of protein powder last.
TWO:
Blend all of your ingredients until smooth, stirring a little to loosen any stubborn ingredients if necessary.
THREE:
Pour, enjoy, and watch your energy levels soar!
5. The Green Meanie
We're sure that at least once when you were growing up, an adult firmly told you to "eat your greens to be big and strong"—well, now you're about to get your fill.
Crammed with a lip-smacking blend of super healthy greens, as well as a few taste bud tantalizing extras, this stunning breakfast smoothie will get your day off to the best possible start.
The slick addition of avocado not only gives this green smoothie a creamy texture, but it will also help your body absorb all of the other ingredients in your glass more efficiently for maximum healthy goodness.
Ingredients...
- 10 ounces of water
- One scoop of protein powder
- Two kale stalks with the stems
- 1 cup of green grapes
- 1/2 a cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 strip of lemon rind
- A whole avocado
- Some ice (add as much or as little as you like
Method...
ONE:
Break up your kale stalks, chop your grapes in half, cut your mango (if it's not already in chunk form), and cut or grate your lemon rind.
TWO:
Add all of the ingredients to the blender, layering them evenly. Add everything to your blender or food processor and whizz it all up.
THREE:
Once it's nice and smooth, pour, sip, and savor the flavor.
6. The Bountiful Berry
Berries are basically nature's candy—and they pack a heck of a nutritional punch. Whether you go for raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries—or all of them—you'll get your daily fill of top-notch antioxidants, probiotics, and healthy fats (especially if you're generous with the chia seeds).
The best thing about choosing your own berry combinations is that you can tailor the taste to your personal preferences—and whatever mix you go for—the taste will be out of this world.
Ingredients...
- 2 cups of oz water
- 1 cup of spinach
- 2 to 3 cups of frozen mixed berries (or fresh if you prefer)
- 1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 2 scoops of protein powder
- 1 tbsp of walnuts
- 1 tbsp of chia seeds
Method...
ONE:
Gather your berry mix and give it a good rinse. Prep the rest of your ingredients and place everything into the blender, adding the water and protein powder last.
TWO:
Blitz everything until you're happy with the consistency. Stir the mix to loosen any stubborn lumps if required.
THREE:
We've said it before, and we'll say it again—pour into your favorite drinks vessel and enjoy.
Read: Our guide to making protein-packed overnight oats for more foodie tips to boost your health and wellbeing.
How to sneak extra protein into your daily meals: bonus tips
These delicious breakfast smoothies will supercharge your day while giving your daily protein intake the boost you need to smash your fitness goals time after time.
In addition to adding healthy breakfast smoothies to your diet, there are extra ways of pumping up the protein in most of your daily meals—and they're easier than you might think.
Let's dive in.
Go for mighty mix-ins
First up, when you're making salads, soups, or stir-fries—toss in beans, lentils, legumes or chickpeas for an extra punch of protein. These tasty ingredients add texture and can blend right with almost every dish imaginable. So, go for it.
Try protein-packed toppings
Boost your meals by adding protein-packed toppers. Sprinkle chopped whole nuts or seeds onto your yogurt or oatmeal, or add the likes of grilled chicken, turkey tofu, or tempeh to your salads and grain bowls.
Make solid snack swaps
Snack time is the perfect chance to sneak in some protein. Keep portable options like Greek yogurt, string cheese or lean jerky on hand for a swift and satisfying protein boost between meals.
To get your fill of essential nutrients (including energy-boosting vitamin C), swap out sugary convenience snacks for handheld fruits like satsumas, bananas or apples. Whole unsalted nuts will also make a solid snack-time swap for potato chips.
Dip it, dunk it
If you're looking to weave a little extra protein into your meals or searching for extra snack time inspiration, dipping bread or chopped veggies into dense (but very tasty) dips like hummus seasoned cottage cheese or Greek yogurt-based concoctions will do the trick.
Grains for gains
Go for whole grains like quinoa, farro, or barley instead of refined grains. They not only provide fiber but also contain more protein to keep you satisfied and energized.
Go for lean meats or plant-based power-ups
Another simple yet effective way of sneaking some extra protein into your meals is by, well, adding a little more meat or plant-powered alternatives into the mix.
So, Give your pasta dishes, casseroles, or tacos the perfect protein boost by mixing in lean meats like turkey, chicken or lean beef. Winner.
'Eggs-tra' eggs? Yes, please
Eggs are a versatile protein staple. Whether you boil'em, poach'em, scramble'em, or bake'em or add them to delicious dishes like kedgeree, nasi goreng or ramens, adding eggs to your meals will help you reach your daily protein goals while offering a treasure trove of additional health benefits.
Double down
Whenever you can, double up your meals' protein sources. For example, add extra beans to your chili along with ground beef or toss shrimp into your pasta alongside chicken for a turbo-charged protein punch.
Up your protein game with Crazy Nutrition
We hope our protein-packed morning smoothie recipes have inspired you to fire up the blender and get your mornings off to a running start.
If you're looking for a top-flight whey protein powder to add to your smoothies—one that will add flavor while giving you the energy you need to succeed—try our epic Tri-Protein formula.
Made from a balanced blend of high-quality proteins (including whey isolate) and packing 25.3 grams of protein per scoop, this will make the perfect addition to any breakfast smoothie or overnight oats recipe. Go get some.
