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Need a no-bake, protein-packed snack for on the go? Look no further than these whole grain no bake protein balls! These peanut butter energy bites are full of flavor, protein, and whole grains, and they’re a tasty pick-me-up for kids and adults alike. Keep them on hand for school day breakfasts or as a snack for fun outings!
When you think of high-protein meals and snacks, your mind probably jumps to eggs and meat. Now, I do love both of those things, but if I can get my protein from a sweet treat? That’s always a winning recipe in my book!
I love to make protein cinnamon rolls with that in mind, but I’ve recently been relying on no-bake, easy recipes to get us through a busy season.
That means we’ve been enjoying a lot of overnight oats, pumpkin yogurt, and homemade granola bars for breakfast and snacks.
These delicious whole grain protein balls were a go-to for my family back when my husband would work early mornings. They were the perfect make-ahead breakfast that prevented me from having to get up super early to cook!
They’ve made it back into our rotation recently, and my whole family is loving it.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-bake recipe: Like I said, I’m mastering the no-bake breakfasts and snacks right now. This recipe doesn’t require any cooking whatsoever, so it’s perfect for hot days or meal prep when you’re short on time.
- 10-minute recipe: These protein balls seriously take less than 10 minutes of active time. They’re so fast to whip up, and I’m always grateful I did.
- Flexible: You can substitute the ingredients in these peanut butter bites to suit nearly any dietary restriction or preference. I share lots of ideas in the sections below.
- Filling for on the go: It feels like a miracle that these protein balls get us so many nutrients and lots of protein in one neat little package. They are truly a lifesaver for a busy mom!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: You can use old-fashioned oats or instant oats.
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds add extra protein, fiber, and a nice texture to the protein balls.
- Whey protein powder: I really like the Ballerina Farm protein powder. You can use your favorite whey-based protein, just make sure you like the flavor before adding it to your protein balls!
- Natural peanut butter: You’ll want an unsweetened peanut butter with simple ingredients for this recipe. See my notes below.
- Honey: Honey adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps hold the protein balls together.
- Vanilla extract: You can skip this if you use vanilla-flavored protein powder (although I think vanilla extract is always a good idea).
- Salt: You don’t need much — the peanut butter provides most of the salt.
- Optional add-ins: You can add anything you like to these protein balls for a little extra flavor! See my suggestions in the ‘tips + notes’ section.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the honey for maple syrup.
- To make a peanut-free recipe, feel free to use almond butter or cashew butter.
- Feel free to add chopped nuts, dried fruit, or mini chocolate chips. I almost always add in mini chocolate chips!
How to Make Protein Balls
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, chia seeds, protein powder, and salt. Stir well to blend. Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon or spatula until everything starts to come together.
Step 2: If the mixture feels too dry, add a little extra peanut butter. Note, the type of peanut butter you use matters. Check out the notes below for tips.
Step 3: Fold in any optional add-ins, like mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
Step 4: Scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball between your palms. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
Step 5: Place the balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
Step 6: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
Tips + Notes
- You can make this with no-stir peanut butter or the type that separates. If you use no-stir peanut butter, they are easier to roll into balls. If you use stir peanut butter, the balls hold up well, but can be harder to shape without crumbling. When I use the healthy, stirring-required peanut butter, I will add an additional ¼ cup of peanut butter. Then, press them into balls, rather than rolling them out.
- Try not to add any additional honey to make it sweeter. They can become quite sticky and difficult to work with when you add more honey.
- You can skip the stirring by tossing the ingredients (other than chocolate chips and other add-ins) in a food processor and pulsing until they’re combined. This alters the texture slightly by crushing the oats, so it’s up to you to decide which method you prefer.
- If the mixture is too sticky and wet to roll into balls, try adding more oats and protein powder, and/or refrigerate the mixture for a few minutes before shaping it into balls.
- A cookie scoop works very well for portioning out the mixture before you roll it into balls with your hands.
Recipe FAQs
Certainly! You can swap out the whey protein for your favorite plant-based protein powder to make this recipe dairy-free.
You can easily make these nut-free by substituting sunflower butter for the nut butter!
You can freeze the protein bites in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I haven’t had a problem with them sticking together too much, but if yours are stickier, wrapping them individually in parchment paper should help. You can eat the protein balls straight out of the freezer or let them thaw for around an hour before enjoying.
If your peanut butter balls are crumbling and not holding their shape well, you need to add more moisture. I would recommend adding more peanut butter, just a little bit at a time, until the mixture reaches a better consistency for shaping.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Easy Egg Muffins with Sausage
- Whole Wheat Blueberry Bread
- Sheet Pan Eggs
- Whole Grain Puff Pancakes
- Cast Iron Quiche
If you tried this Protein Balls Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
No Bake Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats old-fashioned or instant
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 scoop whey protein powder Ballerina Farms or similar
- ½ cup *natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Add-ins optional, see notes below
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, chia seeds, protein powder, and salt. Stir well to blend.
- Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon or spatula until everything starts to come together.
- If the mixture feels too dry, add a little extra peanut butter. Note, the type of peanut butter you use matters. Check out the notes below for tips.
- Fold in any optional add-ins, like mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
- Scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball between your palms. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
- Place the balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
Video
Notes
- *You can make this with no-stir peanut butter or the type that separates. If you use no-stir peanut butter, they are easier to roll into balls. If you use stir peanut butter, the balls hold up well, but can be harder to shape without crumbling. When I use the healthy, stirring-required peanut butter, I will add an additional ¼ cup of peanut butter. Then, press them into balls, rather than rolling them out.
- Try not to add any additional honey to make it sweeter. They can become quite sticky and difficult to work with when you add more honey.
- You can skip the stirring by tossing the ingredients (other than chocolate chips and other add-ins) in a food processor and pulsing until they’re combined. This alters the texture slightly by crushing the oats, so it’s up to you to decide which method you prefer.
- If the mixture is too sticky and wet to roll into balls, try adding more oats and protein powder, and/or refrigerate the mixture for a few minutes before shaping it into balls.
- A cookie scoop works very well for portioning out the mixture before you roll it into balls with your hands.
These are insanely addictive!
I so agree! Thanks for the review!
i love this idea! thanks!
You are so welcome! Let me know how it turns out!
Oh my, so good!
Thank you so much!