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Quick, easy, and healthy banana protein muffins made completely gluten-free. Packed with protein from Greek yogurt and vanilla protein powder, then baked into soft, sweet, nutritious muffins! A high-protein breakfast option, a healthy snack, or a simple sweet treat!

banana protein muffins on a lined plate
vanilla

What Makes This Recipe Great

A healthy muffin?! While that seems like a contradiction, this delicious recipe is proof that muffins can indeed be healthy! A simple, easy muffin batter transformed into light and fluffy banana protein muffins in just 30 minutes. Made with wholesome ingredients, these healthy protein muffins are the perfect snack for any sweet tooth.

Even better, these tasty treats are a freezer-friendly, make-ahead breakfast or snack for kids and adults! Packed with Whey protein powder, greek yogurt, gluten-free flour, and natural sweeteners, these ooey gooey chocolatey muffins are healthy without tasting healthy. Ya know what I mean?! Let's get baking!

If you love tasty recipes that are packed with protein, try my protein pancakes, this protein mug cake, or my new protein-baked oatmeal!

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Recipe Highlights

  • Added Protein: Rather than empty calories, carbs, and sugar, these scrumptious banana muffins are packed with protein to give that needed nutrition in a delicious way!
  • Quick & Easy: Simple ingredients and 30 minutes is all you need!
  • Healthy: Made without any refined sugar or gluten, these delicious muffins are a healthy breakfast or snack!
  • Kid-Friendly: Keep a stash in the freezer for an easy, on-the-go breakfast for you or the kids. Everyone will love them!

Ingredient Notes

ingredients labeled and in nesting bowls
  • King Arthur gluten-free 1:1 flour: You can substitute this for Bob's Red Mill or another brand, but make sure it's "measure for measure" or 1:1 flour (all-purpose flour). If you aren't gluten-free, you can substitute all-purpose wheat flour, if desired. Keep in mind that these will not be as "healthy". 
  • protein powder: I like Be Well by Kelly in vanilla. But you can use whey protein, plant-based protein, or whatever your favorite is. 
  • flax seed meal
  • coconut sugar
  • pure maple syrup
  • ripe bananas: These don't have to be overripe bananas as you'd use for banana bread, but the riper the banana, the more banana flavor and sweetness you’ll get.
  • egg: Let your egg get to room temperature before mixing it into the muffin batter. 
  • plain Greek yogurt: You can use full-fat or non-fat, depending on your preference and nutritional needs. 
  • vanilla extract
  • dark chocolate chips: I like Enjoy Life or Hu chocolate chips. 
  • baking powder
  • salt

Recipe Step by Step

numbered step by step instruction photos showing how to mix the muffin batter
numbered step by step instruction photos showing how to pour the batter into the muffin tins.
  1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray a muffin tin with oil or line each muffin cup with muffin liners.
  2. Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, protein powder, and flax seed meal) in a small mixing bowl and mix. 
  3. Combine the sugar, mashed bananas, egg, greek yogurt, and vanilla in a large bowl and mix well. 
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir. Add the chocolate chips and fold them into the mixture.
  5. Spoon into the muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
  6. Cool for a few minutes before removing. Serve with a shmear of peanut butter, if desired!
and overhead shot of baked banana protein muffins in a muffin tin

Swaps & Substitutions

  • Feel free to omit the chocolate chips if desired. Instead, add some chopped walnuts or blueberries, or whatever muffin mix-in is your favorite. 
  • For dairy-free, swap the greek yogurt for a non-dairy yogurt option and use a dairy-free protein powder. You can also use ½ cup applesauce, although this will lower the amount of protein in the recipe.
  • For vegan muffins, you can try an egg replacement like Bob's Red Mill or a flax egg. Use a vegan protein powder as well.
  • For an added chocolate-y flavor, use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve these banana protein muffins warm on their own, or with a bit of peanut butter for some extra protein. I also love them cold out of the refrigerator! 

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover muffins in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or a week in the refrigerator. 
  • To freeze, let the protein banana muffins cool completely, and store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or freezer bag. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or warm them up in the microwave for about 20 seconds. 
a close up shot of banana muffins wrapped in muffin lines with one sliced down the middle showing the inside

Recipe FAQs

Why are my protein muffins dry?

These protein banana muffins can get dry if too much protein powder is added. Make sure to follow the recipe as written. Baking is a science and too much moisture (or not enough!) can really mess things up! 

How much protein is in a banana muffin?

There are 7 grams of protein in each muffin!

Can I add protein powder to a box of muffin mix?

Boxes of muffin mix are measured and tested with the exact ingredients listed on the box. If you add extra dry ingredients, they could turn out dry. Unless you are a skilled baker and know how to adjust the wet ingredients to offset the added protein powder, I would recommend not doing this. Also, muffin mixes aren’t made with as of healthy ingredients as this recipe.

Can I make this into a loaf of protein banana bread?

You could! The cooking times would need to be adjusted accordingly, as muffins bake much faster than a loaf. If you try this, let me know how it turns out in the comments! 

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4.88 from 33 votes

Healthy Banana Protein Muffins

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
Quick, easy, and healthy banana protein muffins made gluten-free. Packed with protein from greek yogurt and protein powder, and baked into soft, sweet, nutritious muffins! 

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Equipment

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375. Spray a muffin tin with oil or line with liners.
  • Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, protein powder and flax seed meal) in a small bowl and mix.
  • Combine the sugar, bananas, maple syrup, egg, greek yogurt, and vanilla in another bowl and mix well.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir. Add the chocolate chips and fold them into the mixture.
  • Spoon into the muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool for a few minutes before removing. Serve with a shmear of peanut butter, if desired!

Notes

Swaps & Substitutions

  • Feel free to omit the chocolate chips if desired. Instead, add some chopped walnuts or blueberries, or whatever muffin mix-in is your favorite. 
  • For dairy-free, swap the greek yogurt for a non-dairy yogurt option and use a dairy-free protein powder.
  • For vegan muffins, you can try an egg replacement like Bob's Red Mill or a flax egg. Use a vegan protein powder as well.
  • For an added chocolate-y flavor, use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve these muffins warm on their own, or with a bit of peanut butter for some extra protein. I also love them cold out of the refrigerator! 

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover muffins in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature, or a week in the refrigerator. 
  • To freeze, let the protein banana muffins cool completely, and store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or warm them up in the microwave for about 20 seconds. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 49IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.

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60 Comments

  1. Donna says:

    I don’t see the maple syrup in the directions. I just added to the wet ingredients. In the oven now. Smells wonderful!

  2. Amy says:

    So delicious. My whole family loves these.  The best protein muffins we’ve had. 

    1. Mary says:

      Thanks Amy!

  3. Courtney says:

    These were so delicious and so easy to make (like most of MWL things!)
    Since I’m not allergic to gluten (I just try to limit it) I opted for oat flour instead of GF flour, and it turned out great. I just did about 1/4 less than the amount it called for. Freezing these for postpartum and so grateful for so many wonderful recipes!

    1. Mary says:

      So glad it worked for you with oat flour!! Thanks Courtney!

  4. Shelly says:

    These are delicious! Made and froze them for easy breakfast postpartum. Need to make some more! 

    1. Mary says:

      Thanks Shelly!

  5. Joelle says:

    So delicious! I’ve been trying all sorts of breakfast bars, muffins, etc. to help with the morning rush or after school snack and these are the WINNER! Yummy and not overloaded with carbs – a perfect combination of carbs, protein and fat to start the day or help with the afternoon slump. Thank you!

    1. Mary says:

      So glad you love them! Thanks!

  6. Alli Voss says:

    These are SO GOOD! I didn’t have flaxseed meal so I used a little almond flour instead. Can’t even believe these are “healthy.” Definitely found my new banana muffin recipe! 

    1. Mary says:

      Hi Alli, I am so glad to hear you loved them!

  7. Angela Murray says:

    These are so good! My family couldn’t believe they were gf/df!

    1. Mary says:

      Yay! So glad to hear it 🙂

  8. Anne Marie says:

    These muffins are SO delicious and extremely easy to make!! I have been making them weekly for the past month for an easy breakfast. Husband and 3 year old approved, too! 

    1. Mary says:

      Thanks!!

  9. Kyla says:

    Love this recipe! We make it weekly. Baby, toddler, big kid, and adult approved 🙂

    1. Mary says:

      Thank you Kyla!!

  10. Krissy says:

    My kids LOVE these and I love that I have a quick healthy option to give them for snacks! 

    We are dairy and egg free so I used SO-Delicious coconut yogurt , a flax egg, and plant based protein powder and it turned out great!!! 

    I had to hide them because little hands kept grabbing for more 🙂 

    Will make this on repeat! 

    1. Mary says:

      So glad you were able to make them egg and dairy free! Thank you!