Peanut Butter Protein Balls
If you feel happier after a snack, then keeping a container of Peanut Butter Protein Balls on hand is a sure, easy way to up the quality of your everyday.
A mix of protein-packed ingredients like peanut butter, protein powder, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, along with a touch of honey for natural sweetness and chocolate chips for good measure, these easy protein balls take fewer than 15 minutes to pull together and don’t require any special equipment.
No food processor, no mixer.
Just you, a bowl, and all the peanut butter you care to lick off your fingers!
This high protein ball recipe is lightly adapted from my go-to Energy Balls, with the addition of protein powder.
Like the originals, they are filling and wholesome, but (thanks to the protein powder), they offer more grams of protein per ball.
About Protein Balls
Keeping quick-fix snacks on hand is a sure way to keep hanger at bay.
When your refrigerator or desk are stocked with healthy options like these peanut butter oatmeal protein balls, you’ll be less likely to turn to processed foods or expensive store-bought protein bars (which often have lots of sugar).
Protein balls are the perfect size for munching between meals or to enjoy as a post-workout snack.
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For a meal-sized bar, check out my Peanut Butter Protein Bars or Vegan Protein Bars.
The Ingredients
- Peanut Butter. While drippy, natural style peanut butter may not be the best in baked recipes where it can separate (like these Peanut Butter Protein Cookies), it works wonderfully for no bake protein balls like these.
- Oatmeal. Fiber-rich oats make these peanut butter balls filling and help hold them together.
- Flaxseed Meal. This super food is loaded with omega-3s and fiber (more here).
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Since it contains oils, flaxseed meal can go bad quickly. Store it in the refrigerator for freezer. If it smells rancid or bitter, it has gone bad and needs to be thrown out.
- Chia Seeds. Another super food! These cutie seeds pack a wallop of fiber and omega-3s in a low calorie package.
- Vanilla Protein Powder. Adding protein powder is the best, easiest way to create a high-protein snack that’s still reasonably low calorie. You can use any vanilla protein powder you enjoy. (Garden of Life, About Time, Bob’s Red Mill, and Optimum Nutrition are my favorites.)
- Honey. Just 2 tablespoons are all you need for perfectly sweet protein balls. Feel free to add more to taste (you’ll want to add more protein powder or oats if the dough feels too sticky and lose).
- Chocolate Chips. Because why settle for just peanut butter when you can have CHOCOLATE peanut butter protein balls? I like the mini chips here, which roll in the balls nicely.
The Directions
- Place the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Stir together.
- Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop dough into your palms.
- Then roll into balls and refrigerate to enjoy!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate protein balls for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
- To Freeze. Freeze protein balls for up to 3 months or longer (if they are airtight, you can freeze them practically indefinitely). Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature if you are in a hurry.
Meal Prep Tip
Since protein balls are so freezer friendly, make a double batch and freeze a portion for future busy weeks.
More Protein Packed Snacks
Cookies
Protein Cookies
Snacks
Protein Balls
Smoothies
Strawberry Smoothie
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Measuring Spoons. These stay well organized in your drawer thanks to their magnetic feature.
- Spatula. Silicone spatula that’s stiff, easy to clean, and exceptionally heat resistant.
My Favorite Mixing Bowls
These thick glass mixing bowls stack easily to minimize storage space, are dishwasher safe, and very durable. I use these just about every day!
Let the happy snacking begin, forever and ever amen!
Frequently Asked Questions
NOPE! You can use regular peanut butter. Your dough will be dryer, so add additional water as needed. You also can make the peanut butter protein balls with coconut oil (add a few teaspoons of melted coconut oil along with the regular peanut butter).
Yes, I recommend storing protein balls in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life. They are fine out of the refrigerator for several hours if you’d like to take them on-the-go or pack them in your lunch.
Yes, because the oats in energy balls are not actually raw! Rolled oats are steamed and pressed prior to being packaged, so you don’t need to worry about cooking them first.
I recommend vanilla protein powder, but beyond that you can use any brand you like. I’ve tested these with both plant-based protein powder and whey protein powder with good results.
Here’s the thing: protein balls are healthy but they are generally not very low calorie. Healthy fats in the peanut butter and flaxseed make these satisfying, filling, and also offer omega-3s. Compared to most protein ball recipes however, this one is fairly low calorie since it uses so little added sugar.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup drippy peanut butter or almond butter or sun butter
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 cup rolled oats or quick oats; do not use instant oatmeal
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or unsweetened shredded coconut or a mix
- 2 tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Water as needed
Instructions
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In a medium mixing bowl, place the peanut butter, protein powder, rolled oats, flaxseeds, chocolate chips, honey, and chia seeds.
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With a wooden spoon, sturdy rubber spatula, or your hands, mix the dough together. (I start with a spatula and then switch to my hands.)
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Judge the dough’s consistency. Depending on how drippy your peanut butter is and your brand of protein powder, you may need to add water (if it is too dry) or additional protein powder or oats (if it is too wet and sticky). If you need to add water, add it 1 teaspoon at a time. If oats or protein powder, you can add a few teaspoons at a time. The dough should be easy to roll into a ball, similar to a yummy cookie dough. I recommended getting it to where you think it is just right then letting it sit for a few minutes. Sometimes the oats and protein powder will absorb additional moisture, and you will want to adjust as needed so that the balls are not dry.
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Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop dough into your palms.
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Roll into balls until all dough is gone. If at any point it is clinging to you or seems just a tiny bit too dry, lightly wet your hands. You should have roughly 16 balls.
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Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate protein balls for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze protein balls for up to 3 months or longer (if they are airtight, you can freeze them practically indefinitely). Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature if you are in a hurry.
Nutrition
Related Recipes
It’s always a great idea to have healthy snacks around for quick consumption whenever the craving strikes. Here are some of my favorites:
Muffins
Banana Oatmeal Muffins {Blender Recipe}
Snacks
Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars {No Bake!}
Breakfast & Brunch
Healthy Granola
READ: Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Original source: https://www.wellplated.com/peanut-butter-protein-balls/