The best, homemade, high-protein snack recipes to keep you full and fueled! These snack ideas are all dairy-free and gluten-free but high in flavor. Use them as healthy breakfast options, midday snacks, or even a post-workout meal.
Protein Up
Protein is an essential macronutrient. Meaning, our bodies NEED it to function.
Unfortunately, we can only store so much.
This means that we constantly need to replenish our stores in order to function optimally.
And though most people think that protein is only for people who lift weights or work out intensely, that’s far from true.
Protein helps:
- Repair and replenish muscle
- Boost the immune system
- Keep us full
- Provide structure
- Helps transport other materials
High Protein Low Carb
Some of the healthy high protein snacks below are not only high in protein but they’re also low in carbohydrates!
Most of these recipes use healthy fats like nut butter, chia seeds, or avocado to make a healthy snack.
These snacks are specifically marked.
Though there’s not one perfect diet, I do understand wanting variety when it comes to carbohydrate intake.
I personally use a carb cycling approach with my clients and these delicious and healthy recipes are great to have on hand.
High Protein Snack Recipes
All of the snack ideas included are dairy-free, gluten-free, and contain 12g or more of protein per serving.
They’re an easy way to bump up your intake for the days while still enjoying something delicious (it’s not all chicken and steak haha)
Amp up your intake and enjoy something sweet with this protein zucchini bread!
Creamy, delicious, and easy to make! This protein chia pudding is swirled with creamy peanut butter and topped with chocolate chips.
Soft, salted, and the perfect protein dessert. This peanut butter protein fudge will be hard to put down.
Indulge in your favorite fall flavor while increasing your energy! These gluten-free pumpkin donuts are soft, chewy, and totally paleo.
Bring back your childhood with this protein cookie dough! Made with a blend of peanut butter and chocolate chips, this high-protein recipe is the perfect way to bust a craving.
With 9 grams of protein per peanut butter cup, you can indulge in your favorite dessert without any guilt.
Smooth, creamy, and no churning required! This vanilla protein ice cream is a delicious way to indulge while still boosting your daily protein intake. Made with just five ingredients this protein ice cream can be eaten in a bowl or scooped into an ice cream cone to cool down on a hot day.
An easy and delicious no-bake snack with 12 grams of protein per serving. These cookie dough protein bars are a fun treat to have in the fridge and work as a post-workout snack or an on-the-go snack for busy days.
Indulge in all the creaminess of double chocolate with this one-minute vegan protein fluff. Made with vegan protein powder and sweetened with maple syrup, this chocolate protein fluff makes the perfect snack.
The best, dairy-free gluten-free brownies you’ll make this year. They’re rich and indulgent and have 12 grams of protein per serving.
Light and tender these blueberry protein muffins make the perfect post-workout snack. With 14 grams of protein per serving, these high-protein muffins are sweetened with just a hint of maple syrup and fresh blueberries.
Enjoy this sweet and salty indulgence any time of the day! A salted caramel protein shake worthy of dessert. Made with vanilla vegan protein and drizzled with homemade caramel sauce, this dairy-free protein shake is the perfect afternoon pick me up!
With 13 grams of protein per bowl, this chocolate protein pudding makes the perfect bedtime snack! Made with only five ingredients protein pudding is an easy way to bump up your intake for the day.
Thick, creamy, and the perfect healthy indulgence. This cookies and cream protein shake is an easy way to boost your protein intake and fuel up post-workout or gain some afternoon energy!
Fresh, homemade, gluten-free bagels made in under 40 minutes. These protein bagels contain 14 grams of protein per serving and are as delicious as an egg sandwich as they are spread with peanut butter. Easy, soft, and completely yeast-free.
Only four ingredients and 21 grams of protein in this protein fluff recipe! This high-protein snack recipe fluffs up like no other giving you the feeling of ultimate indulgence without all the calories!
A creamy and indulgent high-protein overnight oats recipe made in a jar to make for an easy, healthy breakfast or on-the-go high-protein snack!
Chocolate protein pudding is the perfect afternoon snack or healthy dessert. This low carb high protein dessert is ready in about 2 minutes and is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and so easy to make! Only 4 ingredients!
These protein balls are the perfect on the go snack. I love combining sweet and salty flavors and this one hits the spot!
These little morsels are so easy and use everyday ingredients like butter, salt, and pepper… but FULL of flavor! Dip these in your favorite sauce for a yummy, protein-packed snack.
Our no-bake Almond Butter Vanilla Shakeology Protein Balls recipe is our go-to snack! You only need 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to enjoy these which makes them perfect for meal prepping!
Made with only six ingredients this golden milk smoothie is paleo, vegan, and quick to whip up! Plus, thanks to the turmeric and ginger, this post-workout smoothie recipe for women can help speed up recovery and get you ready for the next sweat session!
These low-carb double chocolate protein muffins are easy to make, moist & delicious. This healthy protein muffin recipe needs just 10 minutes of prep time!
Our chocolate protein donuts only look sinful, they’re made with healthy ingredients, are high in protein, and are dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free!
These Blueberry Protein Muffins with collagen protein are the perfect choice for a sweet, fluffy and deliciously light snack. Enjoy it in the mornings for a refreshing breakfast, or afternoons for that heart-warming snack, and you’ll want to make another batch right away.
Topped with homemade caramel sauce, this protein fluff recipe makes an indulgent but healthy bedtime snack! Made with vegan protein powder, it has a cloud-like consistency that leaves you feeling light but satiated.
These overnight oats are high in protein, easy to meal prep, and great as a snack when you need to fill yourself up.
Learn how to make the best protein donuts! These banana protein donuts are made with vegan protein and topped with homemade chocolate drizzle. They made a tasty snack or post-workout meal
Savory, healthy protein oatmeal! This dairy-free oatmeal is a creamy blend of vegan protein powder and frozen blueberries. It’s a high-protein breakfast recipe bursting with flavor.
A vegan chocolate smoothie is a tasty way to fuel up post-workout! This chunky monkey protein smoothie is thick, creamy, and more like ice cream than a shake. Plus, it’s topped with a sweet, homemade caramel sauce to make it extra decadent.
This fresh ceviche dish is made with sea bass fillet, chopped tomatoes, onions, serrano pepper, and lime juice. A tasty seafood snack is ready in 25 minutes.
A zesty and refreshing burst of flavor for after your workout! This key lime pie protein shake is a creamy blend of vegan protein and yogurt to give it a total of 31g of protein in just three hundred calories.
Thick, creamy, and indulgent these peanut butter overnight oats make the best breakfast. Using a classic flavor combo of peanut butter and jam, these healthy overnight oats are a make-ahead breakfast recipe to keep morning simple.
How To Increase Protein
Many of these high-protein snack recipes use protein powder or collagen powder and a blend of healthy fats. Though things like cottage cheese and Greek Yogurt are great but don't work in a dairy-free diet.
Learn how to increase your daily protein intake.
If you’re looking to get started with protein, learn more about how to choose a powder best suited to your goals.
Collagen is a beneficial part of bone broth and is wonderful for your hair, skin, and nails. Learn more about collagen and why you may want to boost your intake. However, unlike bone broth, it doesn’t taste like well, bone broth.
Similarly, collagen powder is odorless and flavorless. Plus, if ethically sourced one of the purest forms of protein you can give to your kids! I grab my collagen from Perfect Supplements and while I love their big tub of powder, I love the individual packets even more!
I find collagen the easiest way to boost protein in smoothies, vegan yogurts, oatmeal, or any other dish. It blends and mixes well and there are zero flavors to it. Plus, Perfect Supplements sources their collagen from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows. So, I trust it.
Grab some collagen powder and use code mamabear10 to save some money.
Unleash Your Energy
The ultimate roundup of high protein snack recipes for hectic lifestyles. Say goodbye to mid-day slumps, slow metabolism, and constantly feeling hungry.
The Protein Power Snack Ebook for busy moms has sixteen recipes all with 17 grams of protein or more to help you stay energized, enjoy what you eat, and meet your goals.
Plus, a two day meal plan to show you how to eat over 100 grams of protein per day.
STOP thinking you need to binge on chicken breasts to max out on protein. Instead, get your copy of the Protein Power Snacks Ebook today for just $10.99.
Frequently Asked Questions About High Protein Snacks
Snacks like hard-boiled eggs, tuna, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, collagen, and protein powder are all high in protein. These ingredients can be used easily to make a variety of high-protein snacks suitable to any dietary preference.
The easiest protein foods are ones that come from whole sources: think eggs, meat, collagen, and dairy (if you consume it). These foods are naturally high in protein and are easy to use to create a variety of protein-based snacks and meals.
At the very core, you need 0.8grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight. However, this recommendation is normally too low and based upon what you need to continue to do basic activities (digest food, basic movements etc). Most people should strive for 1.0 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. For a 135lbs female, this means 135grams of proter per day.
More Protein Recipes You May Enjoy
- Tuna stuffed avocados
- Easy egg muffins
- Egg & veggie scramble
- Protein trail mix cookies
- Easy cookie dough protein balls
- 4 Ingredient protein pancakes
- Easy banana protein pancakes
- Healthy, no-bake protein bar
- How to choose a protein powder
- The best recipes for busy moms
- High protein snacks
Shelby aka Mama Bear
Amanda Dixon
Thanks for putting together such a great list! I already tried the protein fluff and blueberry muffins, and they were delicious. Can't wait to work my way through the rest of the list.
fitasamamabear
You are awesome. So happy it's giving you some new ideas!
Gen
This list is so helpful, thank you! Sometimes I stand in the kitchen knowing I need something with protein and don't know what to make... getting pretty sick of eggs, haha. I'm going to try so many of these!
fitasamamabear
Haha I love eggs.. but I also enjoy sweets and regular stuff so it's definitely nice to have some staples to boost protein!
Brooke
All of these look wonderful! The Chunky Monkey Protein smoothie has to be my favorite! Hands down, the best I have ever had! It felt like I was indulging!
fitasamamabear
Haha the chunky monkey is amazing!
Healing Tomato
The Cookie Dough shake is officially my new favorite protein shake! It was delicious and so easy to make. Thanks for so many wonderful shakes to choose from.
fitasamamabear
Haha right?! Like if I can eat cookie dough and call it healthy I love life lol
Sonia
Thanks for putting together this list with many ideas for healthy snacks and treats. I already tried the overnight oats. It is so filling and satisfying. This weekend I will make the vanilla protein ice cream for my 10-year-old daughter. It will be a treat and a healthy snack at the same time.
fitasamamabear
Overnight oats are such an easy and fun one but the ice cream is definitely a nice dessert option.. my kiddos love it too!
Gina
This is one of the best resources! Love that these are all gf and df, it's sometimes hard to find high protein recipes in those two niches. Tried the chocolate muffins so far and loved them, can't wait to dive into the rest of the list!
fitasamamabear
So happy that they gave you some new ideas!
Ali
what a great resource this is!!! I've already tried the overnight oats and loved it!!! Cannot wait to try more - thank you!
fitasamamabear
Overnight oats are totally a staple in our house!
Allie
I have been feeling hungry mid morning at work so I wanted to find something that was higher protein to keep me going. Love all these ideas. Already tried the vanilla protein balls and they were great.
fitasamamabear
Wahoo! Seriously protein solves so many problems lol
Jere Cassidy
Thanks for all of these recipes. I need to up my protein, and honestly, I have a sweet tooth so I can have both. This is a great list of recipes to keep on hand.
fitasamamabear
Haha we're the same, I have a huge sweet tooth too!
Jenn
The Chocolate protein over night oats with banana has been a life saver for my morning dash out the door, it's so easy to make before bed! Can't wait to try more on this list.
fitasamamabear
Anything I can make the night before is a win too.