8 Energizing Smoothie Recipes Packed With Protein

This smoothie is thick, creamy, and high in protein thanks to one ingredient you won’t even taste: tofu! Silken tofu has a smooth texture that blends easily and adds more than 10 g of plant-based protein to each glass, per the USDA. Strawberries are low in calories and rich in antioxidants, and pack in plenty of healthy vitamin C. This smoothie is vegan-friendly and dairy-free, and tastes like a luxurious strawberry milkshake.

Kefir has a tart taste, but thinner consistency than yogurt, which makes it a perfect smoothie ingredient to use in place of milk or juice. Kefir also packs more than 9 g of protein per cup and has the same kind of gut-friendly probiotics as Greek yogurt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hemp seeds have the highest amount of protein of any seed, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3s. This no-sugar-added smoothie is sweetened by pineapple chunks for a pina colada–like taste.

Research has found that consuming caffeine with carbohydrates after a hard workout can speed up muscle recovery. In this recipe matcha adds the caffeine and polyphenols, while mango adds the carbs, per the USDA, and a naturally sweet taste. Baby spinach is one of the best veggies to add to smoothies because it blends easily, packs nutrients (including protein), per the USDA, and can’t be tasted. Hemp milk is dairy-free milk that contributes a slightly nutty and creamy taste to smoothies, plus omega-3s and protein, according to The Healthy.

Get the classic Italian dessert flavor without all the calories, added sugar, or saturated fat. This coffee-flavored smoothie packs 27 g of protein, plus over 7 g of fiber. For a bigger buzz, use frozen coffee ice cubes.

Carrot cake works so well because, like this smoothie, it pairs warm spices with creamy dairy, and adds nuts for crunch and dried fruit for sweetness. Take out the extra sugar and carbs and you’re left with a drink that delivers vitamins A and C along with plenty of antioxidants and even some omega-3s. To make raisins softer for blending, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes.

Unlike most smoothies, this one is as filling as a meal. It has 22 g of protein and almost 10 g of fiber, and you’d never guess it’s vegan! The secret is hemp hearts, the seeds of the hemp plant (technically considered a nut), which, Cleveland Clinic notes, have the most protein of any seeds, plus vitamin E, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids. When blended, the seeds are a flavorful source of protein, per the USDA.

Coconut adds a little tropical sweetness to this cocoa, vanilla, and almond concoction, like a candy bar in liquid form. It’s a lot healthier, too, given that a serving packs 21 g of protein, and 7.7 g of fiber, including beta glucan, a type of soluble fiber in oats that research has linked with lower cholesterol.

Although fresh cherries are only in season during summer months, frozen, canned, or jarred work, too. Cherries have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, according to Nutrients, and are a natural source of melatonin, a compound that aids sleep. (Tart cherries are highest in melatonin but sweet cherries have it as well.) Riced cauliflower may seem like an odd addition, but its taste is easily masked and it gives this smoothie a creamy body and bonus vitamin C, while adding a serving of vegetables to the mix.