3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Name: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups rolled oats; 1 cup vanilla whey protein powder; 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)

These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls are the perfect protein-packed snack – all you need is oats, nut butter and protein powder!

Ingredients and substitutions

Rolled oats – quick oats and large flake oats would also work. Steel cut oats won't work well with this recipe as they haven't been flattened. If you find yourself cooking with oat flour a lot, feel free to substitute your oats with oat flour.
Protein powder – protein powder is a key ingredient to this recipe. If whey protein doesn't sit well with you, then feel free to replace this alternatives like soy protein, rice protein or pea protein.
Peanut butter – if you have a peanut allergy, substitute the peanut butter for any other nut or seed butter.

How to make protein balls

Step 1: Prep your ingredients.

Measure out all your ingredients.

Step 2: Blend the oats.

Add oats to a blender or food processor. Blend into a flour.

Step 3: Combine the ingredients.

Add oat flour, protein powder and peanut butter to a large bowl.

Step 4: Mix well.

Mix together until well combined.

Step 5: Roll into balls.

Roll into 24 even-sized balls.

Step 6: Store for later or enjoy!

Roll and enjoy, or store them in the fridge or freezer.

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Choosing a protein powder

There are a lot of protein powders available on the market, which can be overwhelming if you are buying one for the first time.

When looking for a protein powder, use these tips:

Choose a whey protein that has the fewest ingredients. Tip: protein should be the first ingredient.
Select a powder that has 25-35 grams of protein per serving.
Make sure it is low-carb – preferably less than five grams.
Look for a protein powder without any added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Always choose the protein isolate. This means it contains more than 90% protein.

Here is the protein powder I use if you're looking for a clean one. Whey protein is made from dairy so if you are vegan or lactose-sensitive you may want to opt for a vegan protein powder such as soy, pea or rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are protein balls healthy?

Yes! Protein balls are a great and healthy snack or breakfast option. Each ingredient is packed with nutrients that will keep you energized throughout your day. The peanut butter is filled with healthy fats and calcium that will promote strong and healthy bones, the oats are a source of energy to keep you going throughout your day, and the protein powder repairs your muscles for continuous growth – perfect for post-workouts.

How much protein is in this recipe?

These protein balls have 8 grams of protein per serving.

Can you make them nut-free?

If you have a nut allergy, your favourite seed butter will work as a great alternative. Some seed butters suggestions are sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seed butter. If you do opt in for a seed butter like sunflower seed butter, there are more benefits such as more unsaturated fats, magnesium and vitamin E. Opting for a seed butter also lets you try a different flavour palette!

How many calories are in this recipe?

One serving of these protein balls has 138 calories.

Storing and reheating

I love making a big batch of these protein balls throughout the week. Once they've chilled, you can store them in a Ziploc bag or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Just pull them out of the fridge and enjoy – no reheating required!

Freezing this recipe

Once your protein balls are chilled, they can be stored in the fridge or freezer in either a large container or freezer bag. They can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. When you're ready to have your frozen protein balls, let them thaw at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. If you're in a rush to leave the house, microwave them for 30 seconds and they will be ready to eat!

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Use these Ziploc bags if you want to store your protein balls in the freezer!
Here is the protein powder I use.