Thick, creamy, and protein-packed, you are going to love this naturally sweetened Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie!
Strawberry season is fleeting, lasting just several weeks, which is why we tend to go crazy buying, eating, and freezing as many as possible. I then use them year round for all sorts of delicious recipes, especially smoothies! Made with creamy yogurt, cocoa powder and a pinch of cinnamon, this Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie is one of my favorite ways to start the day any time of the year. Lucky for me, my freezer is now filled with local Michigan strawberries to make sure that happens.
Ingredients
- Strawberries: You can use fresh or frozen strawberries, but they are naturally both sweet and tart for delicious flavor.
- Banana: An easy go-to fruit for naturally sweetening smoothies without adding sugar.
- Yogurt: Low-fat plain yogurt helps the smoothie to be nice and creamy without adding unnecessary sweetener. For added protein, use Greek yogurt.
- Protein powder: I used vanilla protein powder, but use whatever you have that is your favorite! Whey based or plant based is fine.
- Cocoa powder: Adds rich, deep chocolate flavor to the smoothie.
- Flax seed meal: While flavorless, flax seed is a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega 3s.
- Vanilla: Balances out the flavors and sweeteners.
- Cinnamon: Adds just a hint of warmth and diverse flavor.
How to Make Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie
Start your chocolate strawberry protein smoothie by hulling your strawberries and adding them to your blender.
Next peel your banana and add it to the blender.
Then add your yogurt and vanilla.
Followed by the cocoa powder and cinnamon.
Then add your favorite protein powder.
Finish with your flax seed meal and some ice to thicken.
Blend until smooth, adding more ice as needed to reach desired consistency.
Pour evenly into glasses, serve, and enjoy your Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie!
Switch it up
- Make it vegan. Use a plant based protein powder and swap the yogurt out for almond milk or a dairy-free yogurt substitute to make this smoothie vegan.
- Swap the strawberries. This smoothie would work just as well with raspberries or blackberries.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What fruit can you add to a chocolate protein shake?
What’s wonderful about chocolate is it goes with just about anything! All sorts of berries, mango, orange, or cherry taste great in a protein shake.
Can you mix two different protein powders?
With the flavors in this smoothie, you could use vanilla, chocolare, or strawberry flavored protein powders. Or a combination of whatever you have!
How do I freeze strawberies?
If you are also wondering how to freeze your fresh produce to use all year round, follow my easy guide to freezing berries and fruit of all kind.
More Smoothies
- Ginger Berry Fruit Smoothie
- Blueberry Cinnamon Smoothie
- Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
- Peach Protein Smoothie
- Apple Ginger Green Smotohie
Did you try this smoothie recipe? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your drink.
The perfectly sweet way to start your day, give this Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie a try and let me know how you like it!
Your straw is waiting.
Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup hulled strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup plain low fat yogurt (I use Stonyfield)
- ½ cup protein powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ice to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Add more ice until you’ve reached desired level of thickness.
Thank you for making my fitness program so much more interesting! These smoothie recipes taste really good!
Do you have to use protein powder
You can skip it if you want to :)
I am in ALL THE STRAWBERRIES ALL THE TIME MODE…love this to sneak them into breakfast or a post workout snack!
hahah YOU AND ME BOTH!!
Now that’s a lot of strawberries! It’s far too easy to eat them since they’re so sweet and delicious, so I’m sure you didn’t have a problem. I really need to start canning! And this smoothie sounds like such a creamy, satisfying breakfast or snack!
My mom makes jam and I need to get some from her!!
This is the perfect post workout pick me up! I love how smoothies like this taste so decadent but are so good for you :)
Yes exactly!! It’s like a guilt-free sweet treat that happens to be cold, perfect for summer!
I’m so sad strawberry season is almost over, but I agree, there is nothing like fresh, local strawberries! Your recipe looks delicious, you can’t go wrong with strawberries and chocolate. :)
Quick freeze more!!
Oh yummy!! Sounds really good!!
I hope you love it!
Love that you didn’t do something extra sugary with the strawberries!! It always feels wrong messing with perfectly ripe and sweet fruit. This smoothie sounds perfect and I’m sure the strawberries sweeten it just right. Also, thanks for the protein recommendation, I never know where to start with that stuff.
Thank you so much for hosting us again my dear!
Sounds yummy! Looking forward to making this.
I hope you love it!
I am sorry to report that we didn’t love this. I think there were just too many flavors in there, and the strawberry flavor did not come through at all. Actually, no particular flavor came through. To me, it was a weird, unrecognizable flavor. I would in the future leave out the banana and cinnamon, and probably the vanilla, so that what I taste is strawberries and chocolate.
So sorry you didn’t like it Susan!! We eat this quite a bit and my boys love it but everyone has their own taste! Also, the sweetness of your berries makes a huge difference. Were you using locally picked berries that were ripe?
The berries were definitely ripe and tasty, but they were definitely not local – they were Driscoll’s, which I picked up at the grocery store. They actually tasted as good as they looked. My banana was not over-ripe, either. Not only is everyone’s taste different, but I’ve noticed that a lot of things taste better since I got off a couple of meds. I’ll chalk this up to my taste buds.
I’m not a yogurt fan… Can you tell the yogurt is in it?
Nope not at all!!
Local strawberries are just THE BEST! I can’t get enough. Love this smoothie and that hint of cinnamon you added. Sounds delicious!
We have been eating them like candy!!
Oh the strawberries in NY are at their peak as well. So juicy good!! Love this smoothie…especially the quick indulgent chocolate addition to make any morning brighter :)
Isn’t this the best time of year?!? I wish we could sip one together!
I’ve starting having a protein smoothie almost every single day and am getting tired of my current recipe rotation. Adding this to the mix! PS. I didn’t know bob’s made protein powder (!!)
I hope you love this version!! Cocoa powder really hits the spot in the morning. And dude!! You MUST check out Bob’s protein powder!!! It’s unsweetened!!!
I’m laughing because my response to “what are you going to do with all those strawberries” would be the same! We pick a ton when they are in season here (December-February lol) and we just end up eating them “Straight Up”! This smoothie sounds so good, I’m all over it!
LOL!! I mean seriously what did he think I was going to do with them? LOL!!
Strawberry season is my most favorite season of the year! And this chocolate and strawberry protein smoothie is sounding like my new breakfast…for the rest of the whole week! Pinned!
I think it might be mine too!! Although blueberry season makes me happy too:) xo