Are you looking for easy protein snacks? In this blog post you will learn how to make Protein Pudding at home with just 3 simple ingredients. It is low calorie, keto-friendly and comes with 30 g of protein. For just 150 calories!
One thing about me is that I LOVE protein puddings. From vanilla to chocolate, I need to have one almost on a daily otherwise I'm not satisfied. And when I say it, I mean it. Just to make you understand, let me tell you a personal story. The day before moving to Spain last year, I decided to "celebrate" with a huuuge pint of vanilla protein pudding. Ahh...It was so good!
But things have recently changed. If up until some months ago I would buy it from the store, now I make my own at home. I came up with this easy protein pudding recipe out of "necessity". One day I was craving it so badly, but unfortunately I ate the last one the previous night. So I took out some Greek yogurt, my protein powder and mix it all up until smooth. Oh dear friend, it tasted just like the original, but made at home. Cheaper and healthier!
Hear me out, you'd better start making your own protein pudding at home as soon as possible!
Reasons to make protein pudding at home?
- Save money. My easy protein pudding recipe is so simple. You only need Greek yogurt and protein powder, plus some additional cocoa powder if you want. Do the maths and you'll realize how many times you can make it at home for the price of just one store-bought pudding.
- Get better macros. With just 150 calories, a serving of this healthy chocolate boosts 30 grams of protein and has only 5 grams of carbs. Plus, it is low fat if you use nonfat Greek yogurt. It is definitely the BEST macro-friendly snack you can have!
- Eat cleaner. If you've ever checked the package of store-bought puddings, you may have probably come across a long, endless list of ingredients. Sugar, gums and thickeners included. But things are different for my recipe, which only requires Greek yogurt, protein powder and cocoa powder!
- Make it easy. Making chocolate protein pudding at home is so quick and easy. Just blend all ingredients together until you get a smooth consistency, mix in some chocolate chips if you want, and enjoy!
- Enjoy more. Last but not least, this healthy chocolate pudding tastes as good as the original. If not better! It is smooth, creamy and so delicious that you won't be able to resist.
Protein pudding ingredients
This is a very easy protein pudding recipe, it only calls for three main ingredients plus some extras that are optional. Stick around because I will mention everything you need to know on the ingredients. Substitutes and recommendations included!
- Greek yogurt. I used nonfat Greek yogurt but also regular full-fat yogurt works. The only difference is that your pudding will have slightly more calories and fats. If you can't eat diary or follow a vegan diet, replace with a dairy-free yogurt of your choice. To get plenty of protein, opt for soy yogurt.
- Protein powder. This recipe works best with whey protein powder because it mixes better and produces a smoother consistency, just like a pudding. Nevertheless, you can also use vegan protein powder or casein, but you will probably need to adjust with some milk. The reason is that those products tend to absorb more liquid than whey. In terms of flavor, I recommend chocolate. Chocolate protein powder will give this healthy pudding a rich and sweet taste without even needing chocolate.
- My recommendation: Chocolate flavor whey protein powder.
- Cocoa powder. The cocoa powder is optional, it depends on the protein powder you choose. As I made mine with chocolate whey, I did not feel the need for extra cocoa powder. But you will want to add some in case your protein has another flavor or no flavor at all.
Besides the 3 main ingredients, the homemade pudding may require some additional sweetener such as maple syrup or honey. Once again, this comes down to the type of protein powder you have at home. Most flavored products out there are already sweetened (without sugar), others not. To make sure your pudding tastes as delicious as you like, try a bit after blending. Mix in some extra sweetener in case you feel the need.
Level up the pudding with extra mix-ins
If the basic recipe only has 3 ingredients, it doesn't mean you should limit your creativity. Adding some extras such as chocolate chips or nuts will add more taste and texture. Needless to say that your homemade protein pudding will be even more irresistible. Sometimes I mix in some chocolate chips, other times I like trying something new.
Which is the best protein powder for pudding?
Although this recipe can be made with any type of protein powder, whey is the best option. Whey protein powder will give you a smoother and creamier pudding that has a good consistency without grains. The reason is that it mixes very well and does not absorb plenty of moisture. In contrast, vegan protein powder and casein are highly absorbent and do not mix that well in yogurt.
This being said, you can still make chocolate pudding with vegan protein powder or casein. The only thing is that you may need to fix the mixture with more yogurt or additional milk, until it gets smooth and creamy.
For my healthy pudding I used chocolate flavored protein powder. Feel free to replace with your favorite protein powder flavor, such as vanilla or unflavored. In this case, adjust the pudding with additional cocoa powder and sweetener to your likings.
How to make protein pudding at home?
- Mix it all up. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and process until smooth. As an alternative you can also mix all together in a bowl. If, after blending, the mixture is too thick, fix it with some milk. As we have seen before, this depends on the type of protein powder used.
- Serve and enjoy. You can stir in now additional ingredients such as chocolate chips or protein puffies. Once you are done, transfer the pudding to a bowl and enjoy right away. Or place in a sealable container and store for later.
How to store pudding with protein powder?
In case you plan to eat it later, be sure to transfer the chocolate dessert to a food container or bowl that you can seal with lid. Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this pudding with protein powder will l last for about 3 to 4 days maximum. Before serving, give it a good stir and adjust with little milk in case the yogurt has become too thick.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
I highly recommend whey protein powder. It mixes very well, giving the yogurt a smooth and creamy consistency without grains. Coming to flavor, I like chocolate and vanilla. Those are by far my favorite, but at the end you should choose the one you like.
This easy protein pudding recipe uses low-fat Greek yogurt, which comes with plenty of protein and fewer calories. But you can also use regular full-fat Greek yogurt, your dessert will have even more taste.
If you don’t have it, leave the protein powder out of the recipe, and adjust with more cocoa powder and sweetener to taste. Your pudding will still have plenty of protein from the Greek yogurt.
Replace Greek yogurt with a plant based alternative and use vegan protein powder. My recommendation is soy yogurt and soy protein.
If your pudding is still very thick after blending, it may be because of the protein powder. Especially vegan protein powder and casein tend to absorb plenty of moisture. To fix it, add in one or two tablespoons of your favorite milk until it reaches a soft serve consistency. My favorite picks are unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, oat milk and coconut milk.
A serving of this homemade protein pudding provides about 150 calories, 30 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2.5 grams of fats. The perfect macro-friendly snack, isn’t it?
Note: the precise macronutrient composition will slightly change based on the ingredients that you use.
More high protein snacks and desserts
- Chocolate protein bars
- Cookie dough protein bars
- Protein frozen dessert
- Low calorie protein brownies
- Greek yogurt cookie dough
- No bake protein balls
- Chocolate protein balls
- Moist protein banana bread
Protein Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 grams (1 cup) Greek yogurt nonfat
- 40 grams (½ scant cup) chocolate protein powder or preferred flavor, I recommend whey (see notes*)
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Optional Ingredients
- sweetener of choice if necessary, to taste
- milk of choice if necessary, see notes*
- chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and process until smooth. As an alternative you can also mix all together in a bowl. Adjust with little milk in case that the mixture is too thick; this depends on the protein powder used (see notes*).
- If desired, you can stir in now additional chocolate chips or protein puffies (see notes*).
- Transfer protein pudding to a bowl. Serve right away, or seal and keep stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- I recommend making this homemade protein pudding with whey protein powder because it tends to mix better and produces a smoother consistency, just like a pudding.
- You can also make this pudding with vegan protein powder or casein, but in this case you will probably need to fix the consistency with additional milk. These types of protein powder tend to absorb more liquid than whey.
- This recipe uses chocolate flavored protein powder. Feel free to replace with your favorite protein powder flavor, such as vanilla or unflavored. In this case, adjust the pudding with additional cocoa powder and sweetener to your likings.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are based on third-party calculations and should be considered approximations. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. We do not overtake any responsibility.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Liza Ho
Looks delicious, is a perfect idea! Yummy yummy😋😋
Matteo
Hey dear Liza,
thank you very very much for your feedback!! I am incredibly happy to hear this.
Have a great day,
Matteo
Constantino
Great breakfast to start the day.
Congratulation mattsfitchef!
Matteo
Hey dear Constantino,
thank you sooo much for your kind feedback!! I am so glad that you like this recipe.
Have a great day,
Matteo