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Mix Greek yogurt and Protein Powder to add more protein to your meals. Whether for breakfast or as a snack, homemade protein yogurt is delicious, versatile and perfect for your diet.
Can I add protein powder in yogurt? Of course, I do every afternoon as a snack. It’s also the base for many of my recipes like protein pudding, low calorie protein ice cream, and protein mousse.
Protein powder in smoothies is thing of the past, my friend. This blog post teaches you how to hit your protein goals with a dessert-like recipe. My tip, chocolate protein powder tastes best.
Table of Contents
- Benefits of adding Greek yogurt to protein powder
- Ingredients
- Dietary adaptations
- How to mix Greek yogurt and protein powder
- Flavor variations
- Matteo’s tips
- Ways to use protein powder Greek yogurt
- Storage directions
- Nutritional values & Calories
- Frequently asked questions
- More recipes using protein powder and yogurt
- How to Mix Greek Yogurt and Protein Powder Recipe
Benefits of adding Greek yogurt to protein powder
When you combine Greek yogurt and protein powder, you get a boost of protein. All without extra carbs or excess calories.
A cup (240 g) of Greek yogurt has 24 g of protein while a scoop (30 g) of protein powder averages 25 g of protein. Mix them up and you’ll get a bowl packed with 49 g of protein.
But what’s the benefit of protein, actually? Besides supporting lean muscle mass, protein promotes hormonal health and hunger management. Out of all macronutrients, it is also the one with the highest thermic effect (TEF) — about 20-30%. This means your body burns energy just to digest the food.
Ingredients
You only need 2 ingredients: Greek yogurt and protein powder. Here are more details along with tips and substitutes. You can find precise quantities in the recipe card at the bottom.
- Greek yogurt – Use nonfat, low fat or full fat Greek yogurt—whatever fits your macros. Great replacements are quark, Skyr, lactose-free Greek yogurt or dairy-free options. Choose Greek-style soy yogurt for more plant protein.
- Protein powder – Whey protein powder mixes better in yogurt, creating a smoother texture. But feel free to use vegan protein powder, casein, collagen, or whey-casein blends. Choose unflavored, vanilla, chocolate or your favorite flavor.
Based on protein powder type and flavor, you may need some extra ingredients.
- Casein and plant protein powders soak more liquid. Stir in a splash of milk for that creamy texture.
- Unflavored protein powder has less taste, calling for extra sweeteners (like monk fruit, stevia or honey). If you’re into chocolate, mix in a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Dietary adaptations
- Diary-free and vegan – Swap dairy for nondairy Greek yogurt and choose plant based protein powder. For top-notch macros, use unsweetened soy yogurt.
- Low calorie – Use 0% fat Greek yogurt and a flavored protein powder without sugar. Be mindful of mix-ins and toppings, especially nut butters or chocolate.
- High calorie – Go for full fat Greek yogurt and double quantities. If you struggle to get enough calories, stir in 2 tbsp peanut butter and honey. Top with bananas and chopped dates.
- Keto – Replace Greek yogurt with whipped cottage cheese or unsweetened soy yogurt, and use whey isolate protein powder. If necessary, sweeten with monk fruit or stevia.
How to mix Greek yogurt and protein powder
- Step 1. Add Greek yogurt to a medium bowl. It should be only ¾ full to allow for easier mixing.
- Step 2. Add protein powder in small increments, while mixing with a whisk or spoon. To avoid clumps, avoid adding protein powder all at once.
- Step 3. If too thick, mix in 1 teaspoon of milk at the time until smooth. This depends on protein powder used.
- Step 4. Taste and adjust with your favorite sweetener, if necessary.
- Step 5. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings. Or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Flavor variations
- Chocolate – Choose chocolate flavored protein and optionally add 1 tbsp of cocoa powder. Unflavored protein powder + 1 tbsp cocoa powder + sweetener works too. If it fits your macros, mix in some chopped chocolate or choc chips.
- Vanilla – Either vanilla protein or ½ tsp of vanilla extract works. For a sweetener taste, adjust with a touch of honey or stevia.
- Peanut butter – Stir in 1 tbsp of creamy peanut butter, it pairs well with vanilla protein. If you’re on a cut, use 1 tbsp of powdered peanut butter instead (like PB2 or PBFit).
- Berries – Blend Greek yogurt with protein powder and ½ cup (75 g) of frozen blueberries (strawberries & raspberries work too).
- Banana sweetened – For natural sweetness, mash in ½ ripe banana. It pairs well with vanilla protein and 1 tsp of peanut butter.
- Pumpkin pie – Stir in ⅓ cup (80 g) pumpkin puree, ½ tsp vanilla extract, ⅓ tsp ground cinnamon, and 2 tsp almond butter. Pumpkin pie protein powder works too.
Matteo’s tips
- Use whey – Mixing Greek yogurt with whey protein yields the creamiest consistency. You won’t get a lumpy, grainy yogurt. Casein and vegan powders are more absorbent instead. You’ll need to add a splash of milk.
- Choose a flavor you like – My recommendations are simple ones like vanilla or chocolate. Stick to sugar-free and naturally flavored options, if possible. If using unflavored protein, add cocoa powder or vanilla extract.
- Use a good yogurt – My favorite are Fage and Chobani. To keep things healthier, stick to plain and unsweetened options. If choosing flavored Greek yogurt like vanilla, watch out for added sugars.
- Adjust sweetness – I feel that protein powder adds enough flavor. But for a sweeter bowl, you may want 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite sweetener. Taste and adjust, if necessary.
- Whip it – Whipped Greek yogurt with protein powder has a richer, fluffier consistency. Use a hand mixer or hand whisk. It gets like my chocolate protein mousse and makes for a delicious macro-friendly dessert.
Ways to use protein powder Greek yogurt
- Breakfast bowl – Serve with rolled oats or homemade protein granola, fresh fruit like banana or blueberries, and a drizzle of peanut butter.
- Post workout snack – Ditch boring shakes or smoothies for a creamy bowl of homemade protein yogurt. For faster protein absorption, use whey protein powder instead of casein (a slow-releasing protein) and add simple carbs like banana or dates.
- Protein overnight oats – Mix in ⅓ cup (30 g) to ½ cup (50 g) rolled oats and ⅓ cup (80 ml) of your favorite milk. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.
- Protein chia pudding – Stir in 2 tbsp of chia seeds and ¼ cup (60 ml) of your favorite milk. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2 hours.
- Smoothie base – Add all ingredients to a blender with about ½ cup (120 ml) milk and pulse until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more or less milk according to your preferences. It also works for shakes.
- Bedtime protein snack – Eating protein before bed promotes the growth of muscle mass and can improve sleep. Mix Greek yogurt with casein, which is a slow-releasing protein.
Storage directions
Combine Greek yogurt with protein powder and eat immediately, or store it for later. To store, spoon it into a mason jar or any airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Or enjoy it straight from the freezer after sitting on the counter for 5 minutes. It turns into a creamy, high-protein frozen yogurt!
Nutritional values & Calories
One cup (240 g) of fat-free Greek yogurt with 1 scoop (30 g) of whey protein powder contains approximately:
- 266 calories
- 49.7 g protein
- 11.7 g carbohydrates
- 2.9 g fat
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! A cup of nonfat Greek yogurt with a scoop of protein powder provides 49.7 g of protein and only 266 calories. It’s also low in carbs and fats. Protein has many benefits for weight loss: it promotes satiety, stabilizes blood sugar, and can speed metabolism.
In most cases, you can consume protein powder with dairy products (like yogurt or milk) without downsides. The only situations when this is not recommended are: lactose intolerances, dairy-free diets and post workout nutrition. Greek yogurt contains casein, a slow releasing protein. This can slow the absorption of nutrients after intense exercise.
Whey protein powder. It mixes without lumps, yielding a creamy texture like protein pudding. Casein and plant based protein powders absorb more moisture and may give a grainy, chalky yogurt. Choose neutral flavors like vanilla or chocolate, if possible. Unflavored works too.
More recipes using protein powder and yogurt
- 2 ingredient protein pudding
- Low calorie protein ice cream
- Greek yogurt protein muffins
- Moist protein banana bread
- Homemade protein bars
How to Mix Greek Yogurt and Protein Powder
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 g) Greek yogurt, nonfat or full fat
- ⅓ cup (30 g) protein powder, I recommend chocolate or vanilla whey
- 1 to 2 tbsp preferred sweetener, if necessary, to taste
- milk of choice, if necessary, see notes*
Chocolate Flavor
- ⅓ cup (30 g) chocolate protein powder, or add 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Vanilla Flavor
- ⅓ cup (30 g) vanilla protein powder, or add ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add Greek yogurt to a medium bowl. It should be only ¾ full to allow for easier mixing.
- Add protein powder in small increments, while mixing with a whisk or spoon. To avoid clumps, avoid adding protein powder all at once.
- If too thick, mix in 1 teaspoon of milk at the time until smooth. This depends on protein powder used.
- Taste and adjust with your favorite sweetener, if necessary.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings. Or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- If using unflavored protein powder, adjust the taste with 1 – 2 tablespoons of sweetener and optional mix-ins (such as 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 tbsp cocoa powder).
- I recommend mixing Greek yogurt with whey protein powder. It mixes better and produces a smoother consistency.
- Vegan protein powder and casein can make the yogurt thick. Adjust with a splash of milk, if it is necessary.
- Nutritional values are based on 0% fat Greek yogurt and whey protein powder. I calculated the macros using MyFitnessPal. For more accuracy, calculate your own macros.
I’ve been making this recipe recently and it’s fantastic! I was just looking for something like this. I used unflavored casein powder because that’s what I had. It comes out great with a little honey and milk added!
Hey Melissa,
thanks a lot for your feedback! Happy you tried and liked my protein yogurt recipe…Welcome onboard ahaha. It’s been my to-go snack for years. Love it too!
Best,
Matteo