These Banana Protein Muffins are the perfect nutritious breakfast! With 6g of protein per muffin, they’re delicious + easy to make!
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If you want to eat more protein, these healthy banana protein muffins are for you!
This is one of the first healthy recipes I EVER came up with, and to this day – it’s one of my favorites.
Who wouldn’t want to eat a gluten-free, protein packed treat for breakfast or a snack?!
Muffins are one of my favorite easy, portable breakfasts – so I’m excited to share a high protein option for you to enjoy!
When I started eating less processed, and cutting sugar out of my diet I was on a quest to make all of my favorite things healthier, and after making a Healthy Banana Bread Recipe I wondered if I could take that flavor and turn it into muffins with some added protein.
Now these are a staple in our house for snack time. They have a perfect moist and fluffy texture, and taste just like banana bread!
What Makes This Recipe Healthy
- Added protein – Muffins are typically loaded in sugar and carbs and have little to no protein in them. This recipe has protein powder in it making these muffins a more balanced meal!
- gluten-free oat flour – I used gluten free oat flour in this recipe rather than bleached white flour. Oat flour is a great source of whole grains!
- Low in sugar – This recipe is sweetened only by ripe bananas and a touch of honey (and some chocolate chips for good measure)
- Heart healthy fats – Instead of using butter or canola oil, this recipe uses coconut oil to keep it moist, and you can also add some walnuts in it for healthy fats if you like!
If you’re looking for something else that is protein packed, try these Protein Cookies, Blueberry Protein Muffins, or Peanut Butter Protein Bars!
Ingredients for this recipe
To make these protein muffins you’ll need a muffin tin + silicone muffin liners – these are a must for your muffins not sticking!
For the rest of the ingredients we use:
- bananas
- honey – you can also use maple syrup
- coconut oil – melted butter or olive oil will work too!
- oat flour – you can make your own homemade oat flour from rolled oats, or buy it from the store!
- protein powder – you can use vanilla or chocolate – whatever flavor you like. Both whey or vegan protein will work. We recommend using a vanilla flavor.
- baking powder & baking soda
- cinnamon, ground ginger
- dark chocolate chips
- you could add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor!
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box.
Substitutions and Additions
To make vegan- replace 1 egg white with 1 flax egg. Sub honey with maple syrup, use vegan protein powder.
Sweetener – You can sub maple syrup with honey. I have not tried making this recipe without a sweetener and would not recommend it.
Oil: You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or melted butter in place of coconut oil.
More protein – You can increase the recipe to have 1 cup of protein powder in it. The muffins will be more dense + have a stronger protein taste. If you increase the amount of protein used, add 1/3 cup milk so the batter isn’t too thick. You can also skip the protein powder and make these Healthy Banana Muffins instead!
Protein Powders – This is my favorite vanilla protein powder, but you can also use whey protein powder or vegan protein powder to make these protein muffins. I would not use unflavored protein powder in this recipe.
Bananas – You can sub pumpkin, unsweetened applesauce, or cooked, mashed sweet potatoes for the bananas with a 1:1 ratio. We also have Pumpkin Protein Muffins, Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, and Sweet Potato Muffins recipes!
Chocolate Chips – These muffins are great with or without chocolate chips. Feel free to substitute based on your preference.
Oat Flour – You can substitute oat flour with whole wheat flour. Coconut flour and almond flour can’t be substituted for oat flour. If you don’t have oat flour, you can make it from old fashioned rolled oats. Follow this tutorial for How To Make Oat Flour.
Lower fat- I haven’t tried it but others have recommended substituting applesauce for oil with a 1:1 ratio if you’re looking to make these muffins lower fat.
Blueberries: If you love bananas and blueberries, try our Banana Blueberry Muffins.
Can I make this Muffin Recipe into protein bread? I have not tried making this into a loaf of bread but I think it might work. I owould grease an 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan well and add the batter. If you try it, let me know! If you want other banana bread recipes try these: Healthy Banana Bread, Zucchini Banana Bread Recipe.
Dairy Free – these muffins are dairy-free as is!
How to make Protein Muffins
Making these protein muffins is seriously so simple. Anyone can do it!
- In a large bowl, mash bananas. Stir in egg, honey, and coconut oil until combined. Add in dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
- Pour batter into cups, filling 3/4 of the way. Do not overfill!
- Bake muffins at 350° for 15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
Expert Tips
Don’t substitute coconut flour or almond flour – you’ll be left with a mushy mess! I promise, it won’t work.
Use Whey Protein Powder: Whey protein powder works best in this recipe. Egg protein powder and beef protein have mixed results in this recipe, whey protein powder works the best!
How to store these muffins
Storing: It’s best to store these muffins in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Keeping them in the refrigerator helps to maintain freshness. They will last for 3 days when stored on the counter and up to a week when stored in the refrigerator.
You can freeze these muffins. They freeze super well, so double the batch and freeze the extras! I like to store them in a ziploc freezer bag, or large container.
To defrost the muffins you can take them out of the freezer and put them in the refrigerator the night before you want to eat them, or you can pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds until they are warm directly from the freezer.
Protein Muffins FAQ
Yes, you can add protein powder to a muffin mix, but it might not turn out well. Protein powder can make baked goods very dense or dry, so don’t add more than 1/4 cup of protein powder to your muffin mix.
No, you can’t use protein powder instead of flour. Flour and protein powder are very different and will give you a very different result. If you are replacing flour with protein powder, you may need to add extra fat/moisture to whatever you are making. They can’t be substituted 1:1.
Yes, you can. For best results, your bananas should be brown and spotty. As bananas ripen they get sweeter and softer, making them perfect for banana bread! However, as long as your bananas aren’t green, you can make this recipe. Yellow bananas will work just fine. I recommend microwaving them for about 20-30 seconds so they are easier to mash!
Whey protein powder works the best in this recipe! I don’t recommend using egg white protein powder or beef protein isolate. Some vegan protein powders work ok in this recipe, but whey works the best!
I don’t recommend mixing muffin batter in a blender unless a recipe specifically calls for it. It can change the texture of the muffins.
Trying to eat more protein?
If you’re trying to eat more protein, check out our High Protein Dinners Ebook! It has 24 easy recipes you can make in under an hour with 25g+ protein per serving!
Protein Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed banana approx 2 large bananas
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted+ cooled
- 3/4 cup oat flour gluten free if necessary
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder whey works best
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a lined or greased muffin tin.
- In a bowl, mash bananas until smooth. Stir in egg, honey, and coconut oil until combined. (You can also use a stand mixer with your whisk attachment)
- Add in oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger. Stir until combined. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
- Pour the muffin batter into muffin cups, filling 3/4 of the way. Do not overfill!
- Bake the muffins for 15 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the muffin.
- Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tin.
Video
Notes
- To make vegan: replace 1 egg white with 1 flax egg. Sub honey with maple syrup, use vegan protein powder.
- Oil: You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or melted butter in place of coconut oil.
- Protein Powders – This is my favorite vanilla protein powder, but you can also use whey protein powder or vegan protein powder to make these protein muffins. I would not use unflavored protein powder in this recipe.
- Bananas – You can sub pumpkin, applesauce, or cooked, mashed sweet potatoes for the bananas with a 1:1 ratio.
- Chocolate Chips – These muffins are great with or without chocolate chips. Feel free to substitute based on your preference.
Noriko says
Wow.. I used the chickpea four instead of the oat flour. They are totally different type of flour, but it turned out to be so great. It is moist and tasty. I used chocolate whey protein for vanilla one since I do not have any vanilla whey protein. I also used one tablespoon of honey since my bananas are so riped. I changed for my experiments, but i based upon this receipe. Thank you for sharing this receipe!
Liz Marino says
I’m so glad to hear all those substitutions worked for you! I’ve never baked with chickpea flour before! Enjoy
Nicole says
Best healthy muffin recipe I’ve ever tried!
So grateful I found this – I’m looking up other recipes on your site as we speak!
Liz Marino says
So happy you like them!
Maria says
Great recipe, just made them for the first time and wow ! Finally a healthy delicious snack with protein Thank you !
Liz Marino says
So glad you liked them, Maria!
Taylor says
I’ve made this recipe many times and we always love them! Today, I subbed a drippy peanut butter for the coconut oil and it worked well! Thank you, Liz!
Liz Marino says
So glad you like it, Taylor! Thank you!!
Abby Spencer says
I love these! I eat them as an easy grab and go breakfast every morning!
Liz Marino says
So glad you like them!!
Nikki says
I have tried protein muffins before and did not like them as I always found them dry !!! These however were so good!!! Very moist!!! I made them with apple sauce and chocolate protein powder to make a double chocolate muffin!!! I also made them with vegan chocolate chips!!! They were so good even my husband loved them and ate 3 right out of the oven!!! Now I have to make a second batch!!!
Julie-Ann says
These were really good! I did add a 1/4tsp of salt and a splash of vanilla for extra flavouring and some extra chocolate chips on top before baking for a nicer look.
My muffins tins are a bit small so the recipe made 12, and all together I’d definitely recommend!
Rose says
Amazing! Loved them! I make a lot of protein recipes and this was my favorite!