High Protein Oatmeal Without Protein Powder

This easy, vegan oatmeal recipe is made with high protein without the protein powder! Old fashioned rolled oats, chocolate, almond butter, chia seeds, and milk are mixed together and topped with a freshly sliced banana to create the creamiest and richest oatmeal you will ever eat.

Mmm, creamy oatmeal. This high-protein recipe is highly versatile and made with pantry staple ingredients that are minimal and cost-effective–no protein powder required!

Within minutes, you can relish the fact you will have a warm bowl of sticky oatmeal ready to be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or as a filling snack at home. Don’t forget to pour your favorite almond or oat milk into the bowl of oats right before serving to make this gluten-free recipe ultra-delicious.

Sweetened with maple syrup and drizzled with almond butter, this protein oatmeal is the perfect combination of sweet and nutty. For chocolate peanut butter oats, just use peanut butter instead of almond butter!

What to Add to Oatmeal for Protein

There are so many different options when it comes to these chocolate protein oats. I will list some of my favorite ingredients to add to oatmeal to make it extra filling:

• Flax meal
• Chia seeds
• Nuts like almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, etc.
• Nut butter like cashew butter, peanut butter, almond butter, or seed butter like sunflower seed spread. Feel free to use crunchy nut butter for extra crunch.
• Protein-rich plant-based milk options like oat milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, etc.
• Plant-based protein powders with chocolate or vanilla flavors

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy; you can cook these protein oats either in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• High versatile; swap up the ingredients and use different fruits and nuts to easily customize your oatmeal.
• Family-friendly; those of all ages can enjoy this protein oatmeal recipe. This recipe is great for toddlers and kids who do not have nut allergies and need something filling for breakfast!

Ingredients for Chocolate Oatmeal

With very minimal prep and ingredients, this recipe will be ready in no time!

Dry Ingredients

• Old-fashioned rolled oats– I used rolled oats because that is what I had on hand, but feel free to use steel-cut or quick oats. Keep in mind that different oats will yield different cook times.
• Salt– This ingredient is used to give the oatmeal a burst of flavor and balance. The salt aids in the oats cooking, too.
• Cocoa powder– Cocoa or cacao powder allows the oats to be rich with chocolate flavors. Of course, if you are not a chocolate fan, then you can omit this ingredient.
• Cinnamon– Aromatic bold cinnamon gives the oats a little bit of spice that tastes delightful with the cocoa powder and sweetener.
• Chia seeds– Tiny chia seeds are made of fiber, protein, and omega-3s and are great sources of protein to add to oat recipes like oatmeal or overnight oats.
• Flax meal– Natural flax meal is also a great source of fiber and protein and allows these oats to be high in protein. You can find containers of flax meal at most grocery stores in the baking aisles.

Other

• Dairy-free milk– Plant-based milk is a staple in this oats recipe and allows the oats to be creamy, smooth, and subtle. Keep some milk on hand for serving, too.
• Water– Filtered water is used with the milk to give the oats plenty of liquid to cook in. The more liquid you have, the creamier the oats will be.
• Nut butter– As said above, any kind of nut butter can be used in this recipe. For these oats, I used almond butter, but I love to enjoy oatmeal with peanut butter, too.
• Maple syrup– Sweet and sticky maple syrup is used as a sweetener to make sure the oats are filled with plenty of flavors. If you do not have maple syrup, then you can use your choice of sweeteners such as monk fruit, coconut sugar, or granulated cane sugar.
• Fresh banana– Freshly sliced banana is perfect for this recipe! One whole banana is used to give these oats a whiff of freshness. Other fruits may be used in place of banana-like apples, strawberries, blueberries, etc.

Optional Toppings

• Nuts
• Coconut flakes
• Extra fruit
• Milk
• Sweetener

How to Make Chocolate Protein Oats

1. First, measure the oats and other ingredients, then place the oats in a microwave-safe bowl with milk and water. Microwave the oats until they are hot and creamy.

2. Next, allow the oats to cool–careful, they will be hot! While the oats are cooling off, prepare the toppings.
3. Now you can pour all of the other ingredients into the oatmeal such as the additional milk, nut butter, chia seeds, optional nuts, sweetener, flax meal, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Stir all of the ingredients together with a spoon until the oats are thick and creamy.

4. Top the oatmeal protein with a sliced banana and enjoy! Adjust the milk as needed.
5. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container such as a jar or storage container.

FAQs

Chef’s Tips

• Cooking times may vary depending on what type of microwave or stovetop you are using.
• Keep this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free oats.
• Create overnight oats simply by pouring the milk into the oats, covering it with a lid, and storing it in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to serve, top the overnight oats with your toppings.
• Omit the cocoa powder if you do not like chocolate flavors.

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