Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe (Without Yogurt, No Banana) +20 g Protein

Looking for recipes for strawberry protein powder? Try this easy and delicious Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe. This is made with just 4 ingredients and makes a light breakfast, healthy snack, or even dessert. As a flexitarian, I love to make this to supplement my protein needs since you get 20 grams of protein in one smoothie!

Why I Made This Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe

I like to keep my recipes as simple as possible. With minimal ingredients as close to the source as possible (yay real food!) and also without refined sugar, wherever possible.

Simple, Clean, and Naturally Sweetened

This recipe:

• is high protein
• needs only 4 ingredients
• is refined-sugar-free
• is sweetened with fruit (the strawberries!) and monkfruit (from the protein powder) only
• uses a clean protein powder (but feel free to sub your fave!)
• is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free (as long as you use non-dairy milk), and soy-free
• makes a great supplemental treat for vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians looking to up their protein intake with ease

Additionally…

High Protein for Protein Goals

At the time of this blog post, the world is still obsessed with protein. Maybe a little too much? That being said, just because something is trendy or even overdone doesn’t mean that it’s not something to look into for yourself.

Since I’m flexitarian, I tend to eat about 80-90% plant-forward, meaning I don’t eat much by way of meat or even eggs. Which is where most people get their daily protein intake.

Now, I have a plant-based nutrition certificate, so from what I’ve learned, it’s relatively easy to meet your protein needs on a vegetarian or even vegan, or more specifically whole foods plant-based, diet. In fact most Americans actually get enough protein, even without trying.

However, as I started to estimate my daily intake recently, I realized that it’s a little on the low side, especially given how active I am. I aim to work out 3-4 times per week. Sure, I’m not training like an elite athlete these days, but perhaps a little more protein would help.

So I started making this exact smoothie recipe as a post-dinner “dessert”. Not only has it curbed my sweet cravings, I’m also noticing that I’m snacking less after dinner / at night.

Woop woop!

Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe Ingredients

You just need 4 ingredients to make this easy Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe. And as mentioned above, this particular recipe is made without yogurt (and also no banana). Though you can certainly add either if you wish.

Strawberries

The star of the show is of course strawberries! We don’t do *only* flavors here. Unlike some smoothie chains. I’m not naming names. 😉

We want the real deal here at The Chic Life. So bring on the berries!

I use frozen strawberries because they are more affordable while also being easier to store and use. Yay for no washing, chopping, or other prep steps.

Strawberry Protein Powder

To be honest, I gave up on protein powders a couple years ago because everything I was reading about them was so complicated. And most of the options out there were filled with TONS of ingredients that I didn’t love. I like to keep my ingredients as short and sweet as possible.

And I always aim to eat real food as close to the source as possible too!

Luckily, my friend Vani of Food Babe launched a line of protein powders awhile back under her brand Truvani. And I trust her dedication to quality ingredients. She even recently launched a strawberry protein powder, and I couldn’t resist using that for this recipe to make it extra strawberry-y!

Her strawberry protein powder is USDA organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and stevia free while also being known for being easily digestible.

But feel free to use vanilla protein or another protein powder of your choosing.

Milk of Choice

Since the strawberries are frozen, you need a decent amount of liquid to get the smoothie blending nicely. I tend to use about a cup, but you can use more or less depending on how thick you want your smoothie.

I tend to use a mix of oat milk and water because I don’t want my smoothie super creamy. But do you and use all milk or any combo you prefer.

I’m currently using about 3/4 cup oat milk and 1/4 cup water.

Vanilla Extract (Optional)

For a little extra flavor, I like to add a couple drops of vanilla extract. This is totally optional, but I think it adds a nice touch to the overall flavor.

If you sub vanilla protein for the strawberry protein powder, you probably can skip this. Unless you like a very vanilla-flavored smoothie!

Substitutions and Recipe Changes

As always, I encourage you to make your smoothie your own. You can start with my recipe as a baseline and then tweak it to your preferences. Here are some suggestions for potential substitutions and recipe changes for this smoothie with strawberry protein powder:

• Swap the protein powder: Use your favorite protein powder, whether it’s a different flavor or brand. I think vanilla would be a great flavor swap.
• Use less protein powder: I opted for a full scoop of protein powder, but you can always use less, especially if you want less protein than the 20g in one scoop of Truvani Strawberry Protein Powder.
• Skip the protein powder: If you’re not a protein powder girlie, you can always skip the protein altogether, though that would significantly drop the protein amount. You could up the protein again by using a more protein-dense milk (like some soy milk options) or by adding some high protein yogurt or even silken tofu.
• Fresh strawberries work: You can use fresh (not frozen) strawberries. However, the strawberries are the only frozen ingredient in this recipe, so you may need to add ice to get a classic, frozen smoothie texture.

How to Make This Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe

Making this Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe couldn’t be easier!

1. Add your ingredients to your blender.
2. Blend.
3. Enjoy!

That’s it!

Sometimes I like to add my smoothie ingredients in a specific order to try to get them to stick to the blender walls less and blend better overall. Keep reading for my preferred order…

My preferred order for adding the ingredients is:

1. Strawberries
2. Milk
3. Strawberry protein powder
4. Vanilla extract

I’ve noticed when I add the protein powder before the liquid, it seems to stick to the walls of the blender more.

FAQ: Strawberry Protein Recipe

What to put in a strawberry protein smoothie?

I like to keep my smoothies simple. All you need to add for a basic strawberry protein smoothie is strawberries (I use frozen), protein powder (or other protein source – see substitutions), milk of choice, and optionally – a couple drops of vanilla extract.

Are strawberries good for protein shakes?

Yes! Strawberries blend up nicely and add a great flavor to protein shakes. This particular recipe is completely themed around just strawberries, but there are many fun variations you can make with strawberries and protein shakes and smoothies.

Are protein smoothies good for weight loss?

Yes, protein smoothies can help with weight loss. Protein smoothies, especially those made with fruits and vegetables, provide a nice mix of protein and fiber while typically being lower in calories compared to other foods. This combo helps with feeling full (satiety) and balancing your energy.

Are frozen strawberries better for smoothies?

This recipe uses frozen strawberries because they’re better for smoothies in my opinion. Why? Frozen strawberries store much longer while also potentially being more nutrient-dense since frozen fruit is typically picked and frozen at peak ripeness. Potentially more importantly, I love how I can be a bit more lazy with smoothies when I use frozen fruit since I don’t have to wash, cut, or otherwise prep the fruit. Using frozen strawberries also helps you get a classic frozen smoothie texture without needed to add ice, which can water down the overall smoothie taste. Lastly, frozen strawberries tend to be more affordable than fresh.

How to Use This Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are a great multi-purpose recipe that can support many different health goals.

Use this frozen strawberry protein smoothie to help:

• Achieve your protein goals: you’ll get 20g of protein from one scoop of the Truvani strawberry protein powder used in this recipe.
• Support your weight loss journey: strawberries are low in calories while being high in nutrients with a decent amount of fiber, which helps with satiety, especially when paired with protein.
• Manage your energy levels: the fiber and protein promote sustained energy release while also helping prevent energy spikes.
• Support your other health goals: this healthy smoothie can help support other health goals like supporting satiety for eating intuitively, providing a good amount of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and manganese, and beyond!

This high protein strawberry smoothie recipe makes a great, light breakfast, snack, or post-workout recovery drink.

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More Smoothie Recipes to Love

Healthy Salted Caramel Smoothie Recipe (No Refined Sugar!)

Healthy Dragonfruit Banana Smoothie Recipe (Naturally Hot Pink)

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Thank you for stopping by and checking out my Strawberry Protein Smoothie Recipe (Without Yogurt, No Banana) +20 g Protein!