How to make protein shakes taste better 

Protein shakes are known for their often strong and not so palatable taste, making them difficult to consume after a workout or hard training session. Don’t despair though, there are some simple ways to improve the flavour. 

In this article, we’ve gathered some of our top, easy solutions to help you start enjoying your protein shakes. From adding a summery twist, to boosting freshness, maxing out your fruit and veg intake, or making your shake into a sweet treat, we’ve got all the tips imaginable to get your craving your protein shakes and all the goodness they promise. 

• Our favourite protein powders for athletes reviewed 
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How to change the taste of a protein shake

Consuming protein after a workout can help to more effectively restore and build muscles. One of the most common and efficient ways to incorporate more protein into the diet is with protein powder. 

However, not all protein shakes are made equal. It can sometimes be hard to find a protein powder that tastes good and doesn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth. It’s got to tick all the protein boxes for you too, and have ingredients that you can get on board with. 

If you struggle to make your protein shake taste good, have tried all the main brands out there, and still find it difficult to down your post-workout shake, there are some things you can do to improve the taste and texture of your next shake. Most of these options work best when paired with either flavourless, vanilla, or banana protein powder. 

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Top 8 solutions to make protein shakes taste better:

1. Combine with milk rather than water 

Often people make the ‘mistake’ of combining protein powder with water and nothing else. This method really relies on the flavour and texture of the protein powder being easy to drink and good-tasting all on its own. 

Unless you have a will of iron or have found the mecca of all protein powders, it’s likely you find your protein powder not so palatable when consumed this way. 

Now, there’s nothing wrong with drinking your protein powder with water and it’s certainly the most convenient way to do so when on the go, but if you’re able to mix it with milk, or bring a flask of milk with you, it can instantly improve on the taste and sometimes texture of the drink. 

Milk in a protein drink provides a creamier and more milkshake-like taste, often pairing well with a range of protein powder flavours, such as: vanilla, banana, chocolate, and strawberry.

Opt for your milk or choice (cow milk, oat, nut, pea, etc.) and shake like normal in your protein shaker along with your powder to mix. Make sure the milk is cold if you can – you can do this by storing it in a insulated flask if you’re out and about. 

Enjoy the extra 5-10g of protein you’ve added to your shake by using milk (300ml of 1% fat milk has approximately 10g of protein). 

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2. Make it into a smoothie

For a summery twist, add some frozen fruit into your protein shake and use a blender to fully combine. This will add a freshness to the shake and introduce a strong flavour that will counteract and less pleasant taste caused by the powder. 

Making your protein shake into a delicious protein smoothie also helps you get in your five a day, it’s a win-win. You can use frozen or fresh fruit, mixed with water or milk (or half-half). Consider also adding ice to make the smoothie extra refreshing.  

Some of our favourite flavour combinations include: blueberry and banana, mango and banana, mixed berries and mango, strawberry and banana, raspberry and pear, cherry and mango, blueberries and banana. 

As you can see, banana provides a great, sweet base to then add an additional fruit for flavour. We recommend a handful of fruit as a good portion size to make your protein smoothie.   

3. Make it into a milkshake

If you’re a fan of a milky protein shake, why not level it to 100% deliciousness up by adding a scoop of your favourite ice cream (you could use low calorie or high protein ice cream, if you like). 

For your liquid, be sure to use your preferred milk rather than water, and pick a flavour of your choice for the ultimate protein milkeshake hit. 

Chocolate lovers can add a spoonful of cocoa powder, nut fans could blitz up a frozen banana and scoop of peanut butter, while fruit lovers could combine the ice cream with the fruit(s) of their choice. 

You’ll need a blender to fully incorporate the powder, milk, ice cream, and flavour options. If you’ve got some whipped cream in the fridge that needs finishing up, then it’s probably better not to waste it, right? 

4. Play around with flavourings

Perhaps you’re a bit of a protein shake purist, and aren’t keen on adding too many other ingredients into your protein shake – that’s fair enough. Or if you’re normally glugging down your protein shake when out and about, this could be a solution for you. 

Why not take add a different flavour to your shake to make it more palatable. Some options could be different flavour drops – like these FlavDrops from MyProtein – where you can add different, zero calorie flavours, which are stored in small, 50ml portable bottles. 

Choose from blueberry, toffee, peach, cheesecake, chocolate, and more. Alternatively, carry around a little bottle of vanilla essence or small container or your favourite spices like cinnamon, ginger, or cocoa powder, to change the flavour of your protein shake easily and effectively.    

5. Make it into (n)ice cream

You may have heard of nice cream when it became a craze a few years back, its merits nevertheless still stand today, and especially if you’re partial to a refreshing yet healthy treat.

Nice cream is essentially a healthy ice cream, traditionally made from frozen banana. It’s called nice as it’s a healthier alternative to high-fat, processed ice cream. 

This is where the protein comes in. Blitz some frozen banana along with a small glug of liquid (preferably milk), and your protein powder, to make a high-protein, healthy ice cream alternative. 

(N)ice cream is a great treat option for hot weather protein consumption. You can eat it as a smoothie bowl (like, the pic) and sprinkle with nuts, coconut flakes, and more.   

6. Make it more creamy

If you’re a fan of a creamy protein shake, there are certain ingredients that you can add to the mix. Other than swapping out your water for milk, consider adding in a few dollops of natural yogurt for a really creamy drink. 

Best mixed with a blender, add in 2-4 tablespoons of greek/natural yogurt and blitz with milk and protein powder for a higher protein, smooth and creamy drink. 

Take it to the next level by adding in anti-inflammatory avocado for a super creamy shake that’s high in healthy fats and fibre. A quarter of a medium-sized avocado should be plenty. 

Coconut or creamed coconut is a great option to really elevate a protein smoothie. For a nutty, creamy shake, consider adding soaked nuts or nut butter to your blender. 

Soak a handful of cashews overnight, drain then add to your blender with your milk, protein powder, and any other ingredients for a super creamy, high-protein drink. 

7. Sweeten it naturally

Along with any other flavours and ingredients that take your fancy, if you’re looking to sweeten up your protein shake and make it extra tasty, a hint of natural sugar could hit the spot. 

Of course, you’ve got the more processed options like coconut sugar and stevia, or you could opt for a ripe banana, a spoonful of honey, or agave syrup. 

8. Get in your greens 

Who’s to say that you can only add fruit and sweet stuff to your protein shakes? Don’t forget that there’s plenty of vegetables that would pair well in the blender with your protein drink. 

Get in your greens, plus all the vitamins and nutrients that come with them, with ingredients like a handful of spinach, a spoonful of spirulina powder, cucumber with a squeeze of lime for freshness, a handful of kale, beetroot for antioxidants, cooked sweet potato, or avocado. 

A green protein smoothie pairs well with coconut water or fresh pineapple juice as the liquid, along with sweet fruits like banana and mango to make them extra tasty. 

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Invest in a blender

If you’re looking to up your protein shake game and would like to experiment with the ideas above to change up the taste and flavour of your shake, then you’ll need to invest in a blender. We’ve gathered some great options in our favourite blenders article here.