Description
These easy no bake peanut butter protein balls are made with natural peanut butter, protein powder, oats, chia seeds, honey, and chocolate chips. They’re the perfect healthy snack, post-workout bite, or lunchbox treat that tastes indulgent but fuels your body with protein and fiber. Ready in just 10 minutes with no oven required!
Ingredients
- 1 cup drippy all-natural peanut butter – This is the secret! The extra-drippy kind acts as your binder and keeps everything moist.
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder – Choose one you love the taste of (I like Garden of Life or Vital Proteins).
- 1/2 cup rolled oats – Old-fashioned oats work perfectly here.
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds – Little nutritional powerhouses that add a nice subtle crunch.
- 2 tablespoons honey – The natural sweetness and stickiness that holds it all together.
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips – Because everything’s better with a little chocolate!
- 1-4 teaspoons water – You’ll add this as needed to get the perfect consistency.
Instructions
Place your peanut butter, protein powder, rolled oats, chia seeds, honey, and mini chocolate chips into a medium bowl. Make sure your peanut butter is nice and drippy if it’s been sitting in the pantry and the oil has separated, give it a good stir first. There’s something so satisfying about seeing all these simple ingredients come together in one bowl.
Now comes the fun part! Use a sturdy wooden spoon to start mixing everything together. Don’t be alarmed if it seems dry at first—that’s totally normal. This is where you’ll start adding water, one teaspoon at a time. I usually start with 2 teaspoons and see how it feels.
If you’ve got really drippy peanut butter, you might only need 1-2 teaspoons. If your peanut butter is on the thicker side, you might need all 4 teaspoons. The dough should feel like thick cookie dough that holds together when you squeeze it.
Here’s how you know you’ve got it just right: pinch a small amount of the mixture between your fingers. It should stick together easily and feel slightly moist but not wet or greasy. If it’s crumbly and won’t hold its shape, add another teaspoon of water and mix again. If it feels too wet or sticky, you can add a tablespoon more oats or protein powder.
Use your 1 tablespoon cookie scoop (or just a regular spoon) to portion out the dough. Roll each portion between your palms to create smooth, round balls. I like to press firmly but gently—you want them compact enough to hold together but not so tight that they’re hard as rocks.
You should end up with 14-16 balls depending on how generous your scoops are. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly round; homemade always looks more inviting anyway!
Place your protein balls in an airtight container and pop them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before enjoying. This helps them firm up and makes them less likely to fall apart.
Notes
- Taste your protein powder first – If you wouldn’t drink it in a shake, you won’t love it here. Avoid protein powders with stevia if you’re sensitive to that flavor.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizing – This ensures even portions and makes them look bakery-perfect. Plus, they’ll all have the same amount of protein!
- Roll with slightly damp hands – If the mixture is sticking to your palms, wet your hands just slightly. It makes rolling so much easier.
- Don’t skip the chilling time – Those 30 minutes in the fridge help everything set up and makes the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Freeze them individually first – If you’re meal prepping, freeze the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 2 hours before transferring to a bag. This prevents them from sticking together in one giant clump.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American