PBJ Chocolate Protein Balls

Peanut Butter can be fat-filled kryptonite. And if you check the nutrition label, you’ll probably notice plenty of carbs hiding in there too. Don’t sacrifice your hard-earned goals for a few guilty moments. Instead, dominate those cravings with a good peanut butter protein powder. The mix of slow and sustained release proteins in this one is particularly good for after an evening workout: whey for now, casein for while you sleep. And it tastes awesome.

Once you’ve got that in your arsenal, try your hands at these protein-packed recipes for power lifters who love peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Pancakes

If you’re like us, you love to put peanut butter on your pancakes when you’re carb loading. What about when you’re cutting the carbs, but you still want those flapjacks? Enter Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes. They’re almost as simple as pancakes out of the box, but this version’s a protein monster: 52g of protein in 4 pancakes. That’s a whopping 61% P/Cal (Calories from Protein). And they taste INSANE. The chocolate syrup (made with chocolate milkshake protein powder) adds a few minutes prep time, but trust us: it’s worth it.

GET THE PANCAKE RECIPE HERE

Peanut Butter & Jelly Shake

Peanut Butter Jelly shake

There’s just something so right about that flavor combo, so this shake should curb the sandwich cravings. It’s a bit more involved than your standard protein shake (there’s a strawberry protein powder puree involved), but it only takes a few minutes, and it’s a pretty simple way to impress your foodie friends who don’t quite get the whole macro thing. Meanwhile, it’s got enough protein for the friends who DO get it: 28g of protein per glass.

GET THE PB&J SHAKE RECIPE HERE

Chocolate Covered PB&J Protein Balls

PBJ Chocolate Protein Balls1

These guys are really easy to whip up, and they’re a welcome break from your everyday supplements. It’s like you’re eating a chocolate-raspberry-peanut butter truffle. Unlike the candy though, these PB&J balls are packed full of protein instead of empty carbs. Give this 10-minute recipe a try and pop a few in your gym bag for a convenient way to keep your macros on track.

GET THE PB&J BALL RECIPE HERE

Creamy Peanut Butter Dip

This one’s a sweet substitute for the real thing and it goes really well with soft-baked protein pretzels (that’s right: PROTEIN PRETZELS). It’s easy to mix up a batch (cream cheese, protein powder, almond milk), so keep some in your fridge for dipping at snacktime, that way you can have peanut butter and still keep your macros moving in the right direction.

GET THE PEANUT BUTTER DIP RECIPE HERE

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Didn’t see that one coming, did ya? And it’s actually really easy–only takes a few minutes. Yes, it needs an ice cream maker, but don’t let that stop you. The secret to turning the normally carb-heavy dessert into a peanut-butter-protein powerhouse is a combo of high-quality protein powders, and chunks of protein peanut butter cups.

GET THE PROTEIN ICE CREAM RECIPE HERE

Peanut Butterfinger Shake

Peanut Butterfinger Shake kitchen1

Even half of a Peanut Butterfinger Shake is impressive, with 26g protein and 8g of fat, this one’s just as heavy a hitter as you are. Think you’ll find that much protein in the candy bar version? Yeah, we didn’t either. 

GET THE PB SHAKE RECIPE HERE

There you have it. It takes a lot of work to get creative in the gym, and only a little work to get creative in the kitchen, so no more excuses for crappy tasting protein meals.

If you’ve got that PB craving under control, but you like the idea of breaking out of your protein comfort zone, CLICK HERE for a whole boatload of protein-stacked recipes.