High Protein Vegan Smoothie (Best Post-Workout Shake)

Looking for a simple, nourishing, and protein-packed vegan smoothie? This one’s become a go-to in my kitchen with a whopping 29 grams of protein. It’s made with just five wholesome ingredients: banana, spinach, vegan protein powder, hemp seeds, and unsweetened almond milk. Whether you need a quick high protein vegan breakfast, post-workout fuel, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, this smoothie checks all the boxes.

If you're looking for more breakfasts, check out these high protein vegan breakfasts, protein oatmeal, protein pancakes, or breakfast burritos.

Check these out for more information on dairy free protein shakes (which also has some more options for vegan protein smoothies), pea protein vs soy protein, and hemp seeds.

If you're looking for more help with weight loss or gaining muscle mass, I have free 7-day high protein vegan meal plans for both muscle gain and fat loss.

Or check out my sustainable fat loss course if you're ready to make a full transformation both physically and mentally!

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• High in plant-based protein
• Takes 5 minutes or less to make
• Naturally sweetened
• Totally customizable
• Kid-friendly and mom-approved

What Makes This Smoothie High in Protein?

Getting enough protein on a plant-based diet doesn’t have to be complicated. This smoothie packs in over 20 grams of plant-based protein, depending on the protein powder you use. Here's where it all comes from:

• Vegan protein powder: A scoop adds around 15–20g of protein - perfect for low calorie but high protein smoothies
• Hemp seeds: 1 tablespoon gives you around 3g of protein plus healthy fats
• Almond milk (unsweetened): 1g of protein (or more if you use soy milk) -  feel free to use any non-dairy milk of choice but I like to use unsweetened almond milk as it has the least amount of calories which can help with weight loss. 
• Spinach and banana: A little bonus plus fiber and micronutrients

This combo of healthy ingredients makes for a balanced, satisfying smoothie that’s great for blood sugar stability and satiety.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
• What Makes This Smoothie High in Protein?
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Nutritional Benefits of Each Ingredient
• Equipment
• Storage
• More High Protein Vegan Breakfasts
• Recipe

Ingredients

All you need are these 5 simple ingredients.

• unsweetened almond milk
• frozen banana
• frozen spinach
• vegan protein powder
• hemp seeds

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Here's how to make it.

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Pour into your favorite glass or to-go cup.

Nutritional Benefits of Each Ingredient

• Banana – Rich in potassium and natural sugars for quick energy. It also gives the smoothie a creamy texture and sweetness—no need for added sugar. I recommend having a bunch in the freezer to pull out whenever you want a smoothie - frozen bananas create a much better texture than fresh bananas. And make sure to wait until the bananas are brown and spotty before freezing them for maximum sweetness.
• Spinach – A great source of iron, vitamin K, folate, and antioxidants. It's mild in flavor and blends seamlessly. I always recommend adding spinach into smoothies because you won't even be able to taste it and it's a great way to get in extra veggies - it's especially useful for getting picky kids to eat their greens.
• Vegan protein powder – Look for one that’s made from pea protein. Go for something with minimal added sugars and ingredients. I use the BPN vegan protein powder in the peanut butter cookie flavor.
• Hemp seeds – These tiny seeds are nutrient-dense and full of omega-3s, iron, magnesium, and protein.
• Unsweetened almond milk – A low-calorie base that lets the other ingredients shine. If you need extra protein, feel free to swap in soy milk.

Optional Add-Ins

Feel free to make it your own! There are so many different combinations you could try. I like to use this smoothie as a base smoothie and do different variations here and there. Here are some ideas to change up the flavor or boost nutrition even more:

• Frozen berries for antioxidants and tartness (feel free to get creative with any kind of frozen fruit!)
• Nut butter (like almond butter or natural peanut butter) for richness and healthy fats - you could also try adding things like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
• Chia seeds or flaxseed are a good substitute for the hemp hearts if you're wanting to add extra fiber or omega-3 fatty acids
• Switch out the plant-based milk for pea milk or oat milk if you like, but I typically prefer to stick with unsweetened almond milk or soy milk. 
• Cinnamon or vanilla extract for flavor
• Cacao nibs or cocoa powder for a chocolatey taste
• Oats to make it even more filling
• Try adding silken tofu for a higher protein content from whole food sources

Equipment

Let's be real, there's no blender like the Vitamix. I use this thing to grind flaxseeds, mill grains, make homemade plant milk, blend cashews for vegan cheese, make nut butters, and blend smoothies.

The things you can do with a Vitamix are endless, especially for vegan cooking. So although it's an expense, I highly recommend getting one.

Storage

For best results, consume your healthy smoothie fresh. I wouldn't even bother trying to make them ahead and refrigerate or freeze them. They will not do well being stored.

However, if you want to prep little smoothie bags in the freezer ahead of time to just pull them out and make smoothie-making even quicker, I say go for it! Put the banana, spinach, hemp seeds, and protein powder in a baggie and freeze, then add the almond milk right before blending.

More High Protein Vegan Breakfasts

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

This high-protein smoothie is not only an excellent source of plant-based protein, but it's also packed with essential amino acids that support muscle recovery and growth. With just one scoop of protein powder, you're getting a solid dose of grams of plant-based protein, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a high-protein breakfast or post-workout meal.

Whether you're fueling up after a workout, chasing toddlers with one hand and sipping with the other, satisfying your sweet tooth in a healthier way, or just looking for an easy breakfast option, this smoothie gets the job done.

Recipe

I’d love to hear your thoughts—do you have a favorite protein-packed smoothie combo? Or maybe you’ve tried adding other ingredients like chia seeds or almond butter? Drop a comment below and let me know how you personalize your smoothies! Let’s share ideas and inspire each other!