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Protein Balls are a delicious way to sneak more protein into your life. You can stir them together in less than 10 minutes, for a healthy snack idea!

protein balls in 3 flavors stacked on white plate.

Why You’ll Love Them

They taste great. These bite-sized energy bites taste like cookie dough, and are naturally sweetened to help you avoid an energy crash later. They are perfect for meal prep!

They are easy to make. Unlike date energy balls, which require a food processor, this protein ball recipe is easy to stir together in one bowl. (It makes clean-up easier, too.)

They’re filling. With 6 grams of protein in each ball, along with healthy fats and fiber, these bite-sized treats will help keep you feeling satisfied between meals, or after your workout.

They are easy to customize. There are 3 easy flavors to try below, but you can also get creative with this recipe. Try adding in dried cranberries and a little orange zest for a holiday flavor, or add in some chia seeds for a little crunch. You can also add in a few mini chocolate chips, or some shredded coconut, if you prefer. The variations are endless!

Ingredients You’ll Need

protein ball ingredients labeled in glass bowls.

I tested this recipe with Garden of Life Organic Vegan Protein Powder (< affiliate link), which is not particularly delicious on its own. If you are starting out with a protein powder that is already sweetened, you most likely won’t need as much added sweetness from the honey or maple syrup that the recipe below calls for. 

Feel free to add a splash of water, instead, of help the dough come together. 

If you need a nut-free recipe, you can replace the peanut butter or almond butter with sunflower seed butter, or tahini, instead. Or, if you want to use another nut butter, feel free! 

protien balls in meal prep glass container.

How to Make Protein Balls

1. Mix the dough. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, rolled oats, protein powder, honey, and salt. (If you’re making another flavor, you may end up adding ground cinnamon & raisins, or cacoa powder, too.)

Mix well with a spatula, until the dough is thick and looks relatively uniform. 

protein ball mixture mixed in glass bowl.

2. Scoop. 

Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the mixture, then roll it between your hands to form balls. 

Place the balls on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat the rolling process, until all of the dough has been rolled into balls. Place them in the fridge to firm up for at least 1 hour. (Although it’s also fine if you want to eat one right away!)

protein ball mixture scooped and rolled onto plate.

3. Enjoy!

Once the balls have been chilled, they should be less sticky and easy to store in an airtight container. You can stash a few in your bag to take on-the-go, but they will last the longest if you keep the rest stored in the fridge.

They taste like dessert!

protein balls stored in glass jar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do protein balls last in the fridge?

You can keep them chilled for up to 2 weeks, or you can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months, if you’d like to make a larger batch.

Are protein balls gluten-free?

This recipe is gluten-free when you use certified gluten-free oats and make sure the label on your protein powder says its gluten-free.

Which protein powder works best? 

There are a number of plant-based protein powders on the market, so I haven’t tried them all, but I recommend using one that is not flavored already. If you don’t need a vegan or dairy-free recipe, you can use whey protein powder, or check out my other Peanut Butter Protein Balls recipe, if you want a version that doesn’t use protein powder at all. 

Can I omit the oats?

 The oats help add bulk to this recipe, but feel free to experiment with adding in ground flax seed or almond flour, if you need a grain-free option. 

Looking for more healthy snacks? Try Granola Bars, Banana Snack Cake, or Frozen Banana Bites.

protein balls in 3 flavors stacked on white plate.

Protein Balls (3 Flavors!)

5 from 3 votes
These Protein Balls are a quick & healthy snack that you can stir together in just minutes, and they taste like cookie dough! Try all 3 flavors to keep your week interesting.
prep10 mins cook0 mins total10 mins
Servings:12

Ingredients
 
 

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Cinnamon Raisin Protein Balls

Chocolate Protein Balls

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the flavor of protein ball you want to make, including the oats, nut butter, protein powder, sweetener, and salt. Use a spatula to mix well, until the dough looks thick and relatively uniform.
  • Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the dough, and then roll it between your hands to form a ball. Place the ball on a parchment lined plate or baking sheet, and repeat the process to make the rest of the balls. You should get roughly 12 to 14 balls for each flavor listed above, but this recipe can be doubled or tripled if you need to make more.
  • Place the balls in the fridge to firm up for at least 1 hour (this will help make them less sticky), then transfer them to an airtight container and keep them stored in the fridge. They should last up to 2 weeks when chilled.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 12 peanut butter protein balls. (Each flavor will vary slightly.) This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
I tested this recipe with Garden of Life Unflavored Protein Powder. Another brand or flavor might change the results, but feel free to experiment with what you have on hand!
If you use a sweetened protein powder, you’ll probably need less sweeter than this recipe calls for, so you may need to add a little water or melted coconut oil to help with binding.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: protein balls

If you try this protein ball recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. I made the chocolate protein balls with plain collagen powder. I doubled the recipe using almond butter and a half cup of protein, and 1/3 cup maple syrup and added water to get to 1/2 cup total. Yum! Thank you as always for the wonderful, healthy recipes!

  2. Made these in 5 minutes. Didn’t have protein powder for peanut butter balls so I used cacao powder instead. A quick and delicious snack.

  3. These are so good and super easy to make. I’ve made the PB and chocolate ones and both are great (I do like the PB ones the best). I haven’t tried the cinnamon and raisin ones, so I can’t speak to them.

  4. These are the best!!!I used dates to sweeten them instead of honey and they came out amazing lightly sweetened.