Berry Protein Smoothie

My berry protein smoothie is filled with plant-based protein like nut butter, chia seeds, and protein powder for a filling and satisfying combination. Frozen berries give a natural sweetness, with added greens for extra nutritional power. 

Berry protein smoothie with chia seeds

I’m no stranger to a protein smoothie.

Getting a jump start on your protein goals at breakfast is a great way to start the day. Plus, the mix of protein and fiber is a surefire way to keep you full and satisfied until lunchtime. 

I’ve shared a few tasty protein smoothie recipes in the past, like my Green Protein Smoothie, Coffee Protein Smoothie, and Snickerdoodle Protein Smoothie. But today’s recipe is my first fruit-forward option. 

Meet my berry protein smoothie, made with the frozen berries of your choice and a variety of protein sources. I’m talking nut butter, vanilla protein powder, almond milk, and chia seeds. 

The results are creamy, sweet, and lightly tart for a smoothie you could drink day after day. It’s the perfect combination of tasty and nutritious, for a drink that fuels and satisfies. 

Want to make your own? Follow along!

Ingredients needed

Here’s a little bit about everything that goes into my chia seed fruit smoothie:

• Frozen berries: The base of this berry protein smoothie is 1 cup of frozen berries. You can use any berries you prefer, or a mixture of several! Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries would all taste divine. 
• Frozen spinach: ½ cup frozen spinach makes this smoothie recipe extra nutritious; it’s rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and vitamin C. 
• Chia seeds: Small but mighty, chia seeds add a boost of protein, omega-3s, minerals, and antioxidants. Note that they’re super rich in fiber, meaning you should up your water intake to help you digest these seeds. This recipe calls for 1 tbsp.
• Nut butter: Make this smoothie extra creamy with 1 tbsp of nut butter. I like almond butter or mixed nut butter, though just about any type will be tasty in this recipe.
• Vanilla protein powder: I add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder to this smoothie; it’s sweet, creamy, and protein-rich (a trifecta of tastiness!). 
• Almond milk: Use 1 cup of almond milk to thin your smoothie for a final boost of protein. 

Kitchen tools required

To make this protein smoothie with berries, you’ll need just:

• High-speed blender
• Spatula (for scraping down the sides)

You’ll also need a few measuring cups, including 1 cup, ½ cup, and 1 tbsp. 

How to make a berry protein smoothie

To your blender, and all of your ingredients in the order listed; this includes 1 cup of frozen berries, ½ cup frozen spinach, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp nut butter, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder, and 1 cup of almond milk. 

Blend your ingredients until the smoothie is completely smooth (no chunks allowed!). If the smoothie is a little thick for your liking, you can add a splash more almond milk until you achieve a thinner consistency. 

Enjoy!

Recipe tips

Below are some common berry protein smoothie questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

How to serve a berry protein smoothie

Drink your protein berry smoothie for breakfast, or enjoy it as a midday pick-me-up. It’s super quick to throw together for a nutritious snack or light meal option. 

What are the best ways to add protein to a smoothie? 

My hack is to sneak in protein wherever I can, adding a variety of different sources for an overall protein-rich recipe. 

If you’re experimenting with making your own protein smoothie recipes, try adding a few of these ingredients to the mix:

• Protein powder (whey, pea, soy, rice, hemp)
• Milk (soy, almond, dairy, pea)
• Oats
• Silken tofu
• Seeds (hemp, chia, flax)
• Nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower seed, mixed)
• Greek yogurt

Can I make this berry protein smoothie vegan?

This smoothie recipe is designed to be vegan, depending on the type of protein powder that you choose. Protein powder made from pea protein, soy protein, rice protein, or hemp protein should suit a vegan diet. 

Avoid whey-based protein powders as they’re made with animal products. 

This vegan vanilla protein powder would make a great choice for my berry smoothie recipe. 

How do I make my berry protein smoothie sweeter?

The berries should provide a lightly sweet smoothie, but if you’re a big sweet tooth, you can definitely up the sweet factor!

For more sweetness, add ripe banana, a couple of pitted dates, or a little bit of maple syrup.

How do I add more fiber to my protein smoothie?

Berries and chia seeds are a great source of fiber. Other fiber-rich smoothie ingredients include oats, hemp seeds, and flax seeds. 

I caution you from overdoing the fiber content without increasing your water intake – that’s a recipe for an upset stomach! 

Storing leftovers

This smoothie has the best flavor when enjoyed right away. It takes just minutes to prepare, so meal prep really isn’t a necessity. 

If you really want to enjoy it later, add your smoothie leftovers to an airtight jar, filling it all the way to the top. A full jar will help limit oxidation that can affect the color and taste of the drink. 

Drink within 24 hours of storing. Separation will likely occur, so give it another blend before you drink it.

Can I freeze this berry protein smoothie?

Absolutely – freeze your smoothie in individual servings (mason jars work well). It should keep well in the freezer for up to three months. 

When you’re ready to enjoy, let the smoothie thaw in the fridge overnight and reblend to fix any separation.

Alternatively, you can freeze your smoothie in an ice cube tray. That way, whenever you’d like a smoothie, you can throw a few cubes in the blender along with a dash of almond milk and blend!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Anyone trying to eat more protein will appreciate these macro-focused recipes:

• Brownie Protein Balls
• Protein Banana Muffins
• High-Protein Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
• Healthy Protein Pancakes Recipe
• High Protein Veggie Frittata

All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn