Protein Granola

Enjoy a healthy cereal for breakfast with this protein granola made with 4 ingredients! The addition of protein powder adds a whopping 22 grams of protein per serving but you’d never be able to tell- It tastes like any good granola! 

Protein Granola

I love creating recipes with protein powder and my favorites include waffles and cookies. Say goodbye to a bowl of cereal leaving you hungry and say hello to this satisfying and delicious high protein granola.

If you are anything like me, you love cereal but need more than just one bowl to be satisfied. Growing up, it would be common for me to go through at least three bowls of cereal before leaving for school, and if it was a sugar-laden one (hello, fruit loops!), I’d be looking at a box finished in three days. 

Since I started paying more attention to my breakfasts (and making sure I could last until lunchtime), I made sure to have an adequate amount of protein in it. This meant that cereal was replaced with protein oatmeal or avocado toast with a side of eggs. However, I’ve been yearning to incorporate cereal back into my breakfast rotation, and the answer to that? Make protein granola. 

This protein granola recipe needs just 4 ingredients to make and is a foolproof way to have cereal for breakfast AND be satisfied after it. The addition of protein powder will keep you fuller for longer, and you won’t be thinking about food until lunchtime! It’s made with just 4 ingredients and takes minutes to make! Bonus? It packs in a whopping 22 grams of protein per serving AND is vegan and gluten free! 

Now, just because it has protein powder in it doesn’t mean it changes anything to what traditional granola is like. The texture is crunchy, chewy, and chunks and clusters throughout. It’s sweet and has a subtle peanut butter flavor, and can be customized with your favorite mix-ins.

I have a confession to make- Because this recipe boasts over 20 grams of protein in a serving, I’ve started replacing my post-workout protein smoothie with a bowl of this granola! I now eat this at least twice a day and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon!

How do you make high protein granola?

The Ingredients

• Rolled oats– Also known as old fashioned oats. Avoid using quick oats or steel cuts oats. The former will burn very quickly and be brittle and the latter will be undercooked and inedible. If you’d like this recipe to be gluten free, use certified gluten free oats. 
• Protein powder– Use an unflavored or vanilla protein powder. You can use chocolate or other flavored protein powders, but you are limited with what to pair with it (besides milk!). 
• Peanut butter OR another nut/seed butter– Smooth and creamy peanut butter with no added sugar. You can also use almond butter, cashew butter, or a nut free alternative, like sunflower seed butter. Regardless of which you choose to use, ensure that the texture is smooth and drippy. 
• Maple syrup OR honey- Either liquid sweetener works. I used maple syrup to ensure it is suitable for vegans. 
• Mix-ins of choice– Add your favorite dried fruits, nuts, seeds, or even chocolate chips!

The Instructions

Start by adding the oats and protein powder into a mixing bowl and setting it aside. In a microwave safe bowl, add the peanut butter (or nut/seed butter) with your maple syrup (0r honey) and microwave in 20-second spurts, until the peanut butter has melted. Whisk together, until smooth. Next, add the peanut butter/maple syrup mixture into the mixing bowl and mix with the oats, until fully incorporated. 

Now, line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Transfer the granola mixture on top of it and spread it out into an even layer. Bake the granola at 180C/350F for 13-15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove the granola from the oven and stir once more, before letting it cool completely. Once cooled, transfer it to a mixing bowl and add your mix-ins of choice. 

Can I make this stovetop? 

While the oven is the preferred method, you can easily make this granola stovetop. Simply prepare the granola and add it to a non-stick pan and place it over medium heat. Once you hear the mixture starting to sizzle and toast, stir it around for 4-5 minutes, until golden. 

Tips to make the best homemade protein granola

• Use a protein powder you like the flavor of. Some brands of protein powder can be quite overpowering in flavor or quite the opposite, be quite earthy and dry. Think of it this way- If your protein powder tastes good as a protein shake, it will be fine to use for this granola. 
• Mix the granola halfway through. You must stir the granola halfway through or else you risk the edges being somewhat burnt while the middle portion of the granola being underbaked. 
• If you like clusters, let the granola cool completely. If you enjoy granola with plenty of chunks and clusters, do not stir it once it has been removed from the oven. Instead, let it cool completely before breaking it apart with your hands into giant clusters.
• Don’t add mix-ins until the granola has cooled down. Avoid adding your favorite nuts/seeds/dried fruit/chocolate chips until the granola has cooled down completely. If you bake your granola with your mix-ins, you risk them burning and making the granola inedible. 

Storing and freezing granola

• To store: Protein granola should be stored at room temperature, in a sealable container or jar. The granola will keep well for up to 1 month.
• To freeze: Place leftover granola in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

More high protein recipes to try

• Donuts
• Muffins
• Brownies
• Brownie bites
• Ice cream

Protein Granola (4 Ingredients!)

5 from 169 votes

This protein granola is a healthy breakfast made with just 4 ingredients! The addition of protein powder adds an extra 22 grams of protein per serving!

Servings: 8 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 13 minutes mins

Total: 18 minutes mins

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Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cups rolled oats gluten free, if needed
• ▢ 1/2 cup protein powder * See notes
• ▢ 1/3 cup peanut butter ** See notes
• ▢ 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• ▢ 1 cup mix-ins of choice *** See notes

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 180C./350F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the oats and protein powder and mix well. In a microwave safe bowl, add the peanut butter and maple syrup and microwave in 20-second spurts, until the peanut butter has melted.
• Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well, until fully incorporated.
• Transfer the protein granola mixture onto the lined baking tray and spread out in an even layer. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, removing the granola halfway through to stir.
• Remove the granola from the oven and mix once more, before letting it cool completely. Once it reaches room temperature, transfer into a large mixing bowl and add your mix-ins of choice.

Notes

*  Use vanilla or plain protein powder. I used a brown rice vanilla protein powder that is both vegan and gluten free. 

** Any smooth/creamy nut or seed butter of choice can be used. 

*** I used dried cranberries, cashews, almonds, and banana chips. 

TO STORE: Protein granola should be stored at room temperature, in a sealable container or jar. The granola will keep well for up to 1 month.

TO FREEZE: Place leftover granola in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 22gFat: 7gSodium: 62mgPotassium: 186mgFiber: 3gVitamin A: 18IUCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 13g

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

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