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This protein granola recipe needs just 4 ingredients to make but yields the most crunchy and cluster-filled granola! I love that it packs in 22 grams of protein.
Love protein-packed breakfast recipes? Try my protein pancakes, protein oatmeal, protein cinnamon rolls, and protein overnight oats.
I love my healthy granola but I’ll be honest- I do need some extra protein to kickstart my mornings. My protein granola has been a lifesaver and tastes delicious to boot!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Keeps you full! The addition of protein powder will keep you fuller for longer, and you won’t be thinking about food until lunchtime. Also, hello, 22 grams of protein!
- Vegan and gluten-free. No dairy and also no gluten, thanks to the addition of gluten-free oats.
- Healthy. Made with whole grains and no added sweeteners, this is the kind of cereal I feel good about eating.
- Perfect texture. It’s crunchy and chewy, with chunks and clusters throughout. It’s sweet and has a subtle peanut butter flavor, but feel free to customize it however you like.
Ingredients needed
- Rolled oats– Also known as old-fashioned oats. Avoid using quick oats or steel-cut 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 remember, the flavor will be evident.
- Peanut 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 because I sometimes find honey a little overpowering (plus some vegans don’t consume honey).
- Mix-ins of choice– Add your favorite dried fruits, nuts, seeds, or even chocolate chips!
How to make protein granola
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Mix the dry. Start by adding the oats and protein powder to a mixing bowl and setting it aside.
Step 2- Melt. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter with your maple syrup and microwave in 20-second spurts, until the peanut butter has melted.
Step 3- Combine. Add the wet to the dry mixture and mix until combined.
Step 4- Bake. 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 for 13-15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Step 5- Cool and mix. 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.
Recipe tips and variations
- 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 is 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.
Storage instructions
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
Protein Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats gluten free, if needed
- 1 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
Nutrition
Originally published August 2021, updated and republished March 2024
Oh yes this is vegan!!!!!!
I love how it makes one portion – sick of seeing recipes that make vats and vats of it. Do people not get sick of the same flavor for weeks? Do people eat granola everyday? I don’t know because I don’t talk to people much.
So Arman….can you answer these burning questions?
Amrita
You have cats. Cats eat granola.
I know right. All my recipes are usually single serving because I only make for one. Me.
I’m still a lone ranger until I go out and buy the fish my momma “gifted” me for Christmas, and granola was the ONE thing I’ve been dying for. But my baking sheet is nested in my pile of dirty dishes that I really need to get to that I probably won’t until Monday. Stovetop? Protein? APPROVED.
Definitely overate this season. In fact, STILL overeating and I do not care. Momma picked me up some raw coconut-PB cups and Green and Black’s 85% Dark Chocolate; therefore I have a valid reason to keep gorging. I like to be a rebel and not follow the typical “lose weight” New Year’s Resolution. Nope. Mine is to finally buy some dried cherries. I know it’ll happen ONE day!
Oh my God I’m literally sitting here with a small block of Green And Blacks 85% chocolate…how amazing is it!
Buy those dried cherries and make this granola 😉
I am a fan of all the beans. I can eat a can as a snack and two cans for a meal. My NYE hangover food was a huge bowl of beans and cheese. I thought about making bean brownies, but that takes too long. I don’t think I overate them…I’ll ask my coworkers tomorrow if they can smell me, then I’ll know 😉
Good luck!
I love putting my chocolate in the freezer — twinsies! I think you’re officially the granola king haha
Hahaha thanks buddy! I love chucking everything in the freezer!
You downed a shot of chili oil, are you mad!? Actually, is that even a question? Of course you are.
Mad GENIUS for recipes like these.
I went overboard with peanut butter this morning (didn’t think that was possible), but I accidentally left like 3-4 tablespoons left in my jumbo jar of pb for overnight oats, and I was struggling to finish it. I mean, I finished, but struggling to finish pb isn’t an issue for me typically.
STRUGGLING TO FINISH PEANUT BUTTER?
I can forgive that. Speaking of bets…I lost a bet a few years ago to finish a small jar of nutella.
I’ve never thought to make granola on the stovetop! What a good idea. Love that it is pretty quick then, and not an all day process! 🙂
Exactly! So much faster and no oven!
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that actually likes airplane food. Those people don’t exist.
And I wish I could get a plane ticket home for $350!! Fun fact: if I book a flight back home rightthissecond for April 1st, it’ll cost me around $500 and thats an awesome deal. Why is Canadian airfare so expensive!?!
LOLOL. But isn’t Canada all next to each other 😉 Can’t you WALK home?
I don’t even think I need to tell you what food I go overboard with because… hi… you’re taunting me with it right here. It’s been a while since I’ve given myself a stomach ache off it, though, so fingers crossed that it stays that way!
I expect the next time we chat for you to have empty packages around you. That has got to be the best ever.
Mmmm chili oil haha. That sounds awful. I didn’t really overdo it over the holidays, except for New Year’s. I stuffed my face, drank too much, then stuffed myself some more with our annual tradition of ordering pizza on January 1st. I’d say pizza is my weakness, for sure!
I think that is a tradition I need to be apart of. Well, I’ll make a new pizza one starting this weekend.
A bowl full of chili oil? That’s like my worst nightmare! I hateeee spicy things. Love me some stove top granola though. Looks great!
Chelsea. We need to teach your pallet a lesson.
Chilli. Flying. Geeze dude, the list just keeps getting longer.
I’m really curious about what the bet was! I made a non-PG related bet in December that I lost…. very badly haha
Hahahahahahaha. It was cricket related and because I have no cricket knowledge, I lost.
i don’t think this granola would make it to the bowl. Pour some milk in the pan and let’s eat! hope you chili oil tongue has recovered.
Thanks buddy. It has and I just reburnt it by adding extra sriracha with dinner Sunday night. Fail.
Simultaneously laughing and crying for you about the chili oil. Been there – it sucks but can’t back down from a bet! Also, totally digging ‘skull’ instead of ‘chug’…waaaaay cooler.
SKULL SKULL SKULL.
CHUG CHUG CHUG.
I like Chug hahaha!
Glad you explained the chocolate chips, Arman! Otherwise, we might think you’d come from another planet or something. 😉 Great recipe and way to make granola! I’m like you with granola and pistachios. Once the eating stops, there is no stopping until it’s/they’re all gone!
Shirley
Oh pistachios- Mum’s side is Persian and they were on every table growing up- I can go through those like nothing. It especially irks me when there is ‘diet advice’ out there saying eat pistachios because they take longer.
…Not when you eat them all.
Chilli Oil?? OMG, that would be my punishment. I am such a wimp when it comes to spicy stuff, so drinking chilli oil would make me faint.
I clearly go overboard on chocolate, regularly. I guess cold turkey is the only solution. I love that this recipe contains oats and oatbran, my favorite breakfast carbs! And well, I don’t mind the chocolate chips either.
I’m going to make you a chilli oil quark pudding.