By Marnie Kunz, NASM-certified personal trainer
In Partnership with Naked Nutrition

This vegan protein shake recipe will give you a tasty, protein-packed post-workout snack or recovery food. Protein is crucial for muscle growth, recovery, and repair. For vegans, it’s not always easy to consume enough protein. Vegan protein powder can give you a natural, cruelty-free boost of protein in your diet. It can help you achieve muscle gains, improve workout recovery, and give you fuel for workouts. I’m sharing my favorite vegan protein shake recipe here.

Types of Vegan Protein Powder

There are many different kinds of protein powders available, and many contain a mix of vegan protein sources. Here are the main types of vegan protein powder. My vegan protein shake recipe includes Naked vegan protein powder.

Pea Protein Powder

Pea protein powder is made from high-protein yellow split peas. According to researchers, pea protein powder is high in the essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which help give your muscles fuel and stimulate your body to make muscle protein.

Naked Pea Double Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder includes 25 grams of protein per serving and has pure pea protein powder with cacao, cocoa, and a little sugar and salt. Many protein powders add a lot of sugar, so check the label to get one that’s low in sugar. I like this pea protein powder for the minimal ingredients and low sugar.

Brown Rice Protein Powder

Brown rice protein powder is also a high-quality protein source that’s cost-effective and excellent for building muscle. In one study, people who consumed brown rice protein powder saw the same increase in muscle size as those who had whey protein after weightlifting.

Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is high in fiber and protein. Hemp protein includes all of the amino acids your body needs for muscle repair. Hemp protein comes in powder form or in the form of hemp seeds, which you can sprinkle on smoothies or yogurt for an extra protein boost.

Pumpkin Seed Protein

Pumpkin seeds are high in nutrients like protein and healthy fats. In powder form, a lot of the fat is removed, making pumpkin seed protein powder a lean source of protein.

Soy Protein

Soy protein is a complete protein that offers all of the essential amino acids. However, many forms of soy protein are genetically engineered, which has made it less popular in recent years.

Chia Protein

Chia protein powder comes from ground-up chia seeds, which offer a healthy source of protein. Chia seeds are also a quick and easy topping you can add to your vegan protein shake.

Protein Blends

Many vegan protein powders include a mix of protein sources and come in a variety of flavors. You’ll need a chocolate vegan protein powder for my vegan protein shake recipe.

Chocolate Nut Butter Twist Vegan Protein Shake Recipe

This chocolate nut butter vegan protein shake recipe is quick and easy to make. It is gluten-free and high in protein. You can also customize it to suit your taste preferences, using the non-dairy milk of your choice. The recipe makes one large serving.

Ingredients

¼ cup nut butter - almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter
1 serving vegan protein powder, chocolate or double chocolate flavor
2 cups non-dairy milk (soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, etc)
1 tablespoon chia seeds

Directions

Pour the non-dairy milk into a blender or food processor.
Add the nut butter of your choice.
Add your vegan protein powder. I used Naked Pea Double Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder for this recipe.
Blend ingredients until the smoothie has a creamy texture.
Pour into a glass and top with chia seeds.
Serve cold. Enjoy!

Substitutions and Additions

You can modify this vegan protein shake recipe to suit your personal tastes and the ingredients you have on hand. If you don’t have chia seeds, for instance, use hemp seeds or flax seeds instead. You can also add a banana to the recipe for an extra creamy twist and additional nutrients (like potassium). Another way to add extra flavor is to throw in some fresh or frozen strawberries. This will give you a peanut butter and jelly-inspired protein smoothie.

If you prefer vanilla protein powder or only have vanilla on hand, you can use it for the recipe and add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to make the smoothie chocolate. For extra sweetness that’s natural, add a tablespoon of maple syrup. Optional extra toppings you can add include berries, coconut flakes, granola, or flaxseed.

When to Have Protein Shakes

As a trainer, I often get asked when the best time to have protein shakes is. The truth is it depends on your workout goals and schedule. If you’re hungry and need energy before a workout, try having a vegan protein shake 30 to 60 minutes before you exercise. For optimal workout recovery or to gain muscle, make your protein shake after you strength train.

How Much Protein Do I Need?

Protein is essential for muscle growth, maintenance, repair, and recovery. After a workout, aim to consume 20 to 30 grams of protein. This will improve your workout recovery and reduce the time your body needs to bounce back after a hard training session.

Let me know if you try this vegan protein shake recipe. Tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your healthy eating and workouts and get cheered on. If you need a training plan to help you crush your fitness or running goals, head to the Runstreet Training Center. Happy sweating to you!

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she’s not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.

Best Vegan Protein Shake Recipe: Chocolate Nut Butter Twist