Published by Breanne Lovatt

It may seem counter-intuitive, but snacking after a workout is essential to your recovery–boosting your protein intake and replacing valuable minerals lost during workouts helps you get the best out of it. These recipes–from classic shakes and bars to simple things you can keep in the pantry–are perfect for post-workout snacking. Musclefood has an incredible range of bits and bars – and you can use our exclusive £5 off Musclefood promo code.

Bites and Bars

Forget store-bought; this selection of make-at-home bites and bars are the perfect portable post-workout snacks, and you can have full control over what you put in them. They’re great to have on hand for times when you’re in a rush.

Nuts, coconut or almond flour, coconut milk and protein powder, along with freeze-dried strawberries make these tasty bars live up to their name. They contain no gluten or refined sugar and can easily be made vegan, so they’re a very diet-friendly bar indeed!

A truly decadent post-workout snack, these protein bites use coconut or peanut flour along with protein powder and nut butter to achieve their impressive protein content and their delicious flavour. Butter extract gives them all of the flavour of butter without any of the fat!

If you want to feel just like a little kid again (or you’re looking for more kid-friendly protein bars), these are the post-workout snack for you! Decorated with colourful sprinkles, these cake-batter flavoured bars contain cashew butter, oat flour, and vanilla protein to aid your recovery.

They might taste just like a brownie, but these bites are tiny, protein-packed balls of power. They’re gluten-free, grain-free and vegan, and contain no oil or refined sugar, so you won’t have to feel guilty about them for a moment.

This recipe uses oats, oat bran, protein powder and Nutella (homemade or store bought) to make a single-serve batch of protein balls for breakfast, or split it up for a smaller snack. No one could say no to these, so they’ll please even the fussiest eater.

If peanut butter is your jam, these protein bars will be perfect for you. Packed with high-protein peanut butter, coconut flour, protein powder and almond milk as the only ingredients, it’s no wonder they’re as high-protein as they are. When you really need a post-workout boost, reach for one of these.

These simple no-bake bars come together quickly, and with the flavours of almond and chocolate and the fudgy texture of these bars, wolfing them down after a workout won’t be a hardship! Oats and almonds give them their protein content.

Oats, cashews, walnuts and protein powder come together in these gingerbread bites to make the perfect post-workout snack. Just blend, roll into balls, and enjoy once you’re done with all the hard work.

These delectable little bites might taste like they’re going to undo all your hard work, but with coconut flour, cashew milk and soy protein, they’ll give you the protein hit you need without the calories.

These exotic-tasting bars combine the flavour of green tea with all the protein benefits of almond butter, rice protein powder, and oat flour. With the drizzle of chocolate over the top, healthy treats never tasted so good!

These vegan bars are made with a base of high-protein black beans, which give extra depth to the chocolatey flavour. Combined with peanut butter, this is just like eating a Reese’s cup, only guilt-free and good for you!

Not only are these bites adorable, but they let you have your morning cinnamon roll without all the empty carbs and refined sugar. They’re much easier to make than they look, and the protein powder and coconut flour content means that one serving (3 bites) packs a big protein hit.

Get your post-workout pumpkin pie spice hit with these delicious little bites! This recipe has two versions–one with protein powder, and one without–so you can decide how you want to make them. Both versions come together in the blender in seconds.

The flavours of lemon and coconut come together in these bars, bolstered in the protein stakes by chia seeds, almond meal, eggs and coconut flour. They’re easy to whip up and even easier to eat.

These little bites only use a handful of common ingredients, and get their protein content from the yogurt and slivered almonds in them. They’re stored in the freezer and will keep for a long time, so you can keep them on hand all the time for a protein hit.

Not strictly either a bar or a bite, these protein cookies still get the job done with their luscious strawberry lemonade flavour, fudgy texture, and in addition to being high-protein thanks to the coconut flour and protein powder, they’re also gluten-free!

Who needs coffee for a pick-me-up when you can have these maple-vanilla-latte flavoured bites? Made from ground nuts, the nut butter of your choice, and vanilla protein powder, they’ll leave you looking forward to your workout even on the worst days!

Packed with seeds and nuts, these crunchy protein bars are gluten-free, vegan, and very easy to make. Even people who hate baking should have no trouble making these simple bars, and the small effort is more than worth the big protein hit per bar.

These super-easy no-bake bars keep well in the fridge–or freeze indefinitely–so they’re a good standby to have on hand. Made with protein powder, cashews, oats and almond milk, they’re soft, chewy, and taste just like a cinnamon roll!

These bites pack a punch, with just four of them coming in at a whopping 9 grams of protein. This is a simple recipe made of oats, protein powder and water, so they’re also super low-fat and they don’t contain any cane sugar.

They may not sound appetising, but the black beans in these bites just make the chocolate taste all the richer–and all without any flour or added sugar! High-protein black beans are combined with oats and coconut oil to make a gorgeous baked slice that can be cut up and used as a post-workout snack when you need a chocolate hit.

No protein powder? No problem! These delicious little bite-sized snacks get all of their protein content from dry-roasted edamame, which is super healthy in lots of ways, including being high-protein (and tasty!).

Shakes and Smoothies

The humble shake is a post-workout classic for a reason–they’re easy to get down after a hard workout, which can sometimes be difficult with other snacks. But forget the boring powdered shakes–these versions will have you looking forward to every workout.

Go retro with this comforting, delicious smoothie packed with protein. Add a banana, some sugar-free, fat-free pudding mix and some delicious whipped cream to your protein powder for this sumptuous shake.

We’ve all looked at a jar of Nutella and thought about just eating it with a spoon. This protein-packed recipe allows you to do practically that, while still getting the post-workout boost you need and without any refined sugar!

Peanut butter, apple and chocolate protein powder come together in this quick-and-easy post-workout shake. It takes seconds to prepare and can be iced for hot days.

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This smoothie tastes like a liquid cinnamon roll, and is packed with yogurt and oats for protein. The recipe makes enough for two, so you can share this one with a workout buddy if you want to make your popularity skyrocket.

For a taste of the tropics, whip up this coconut-flavoured shake, made simply from protein powder, almond milk and pineapple, with a little coconut and rum extract added to make it taste just like a cocktail–but one you can happily drink before noon!

This drink combines the goodness of flax and chia with the protein content of peanut butter and the potassium from a banana to make a perfectly balanced workout recovery snack. The fact that it’s chocolate-flavoured is the cherry on the top!

This shake uses vanilla protein powder for the protein content, and apples, spices, and even a graham cracker for the flavour. If you’re craving a slice of apple pie, this is the perfect high-protein alternative.

Put this smoothie in the fridge the night before and it’ll be ready to go when you’re finished with your workout! Containing oats, chia seeds, and the nut butter of your choice, it’s a chocolatey, filling snack, especially perfect for morning workouts.

This shake comes together in the blender quickly and tastes just like a blueberry cheesecake! With high-protein kefir and cottage cheese, this shake doesn’t use any protein powder at all to achieve its protein content, which is perfect if you’re looking to change things up.

Packing a whopping 36g of protein per serve, this shake is the closest thing you’ll get to a true meal replacement that you can drink with a straw. Using cottage cheese, cream cheese and protein powder, this is one protein hit that’ll really get you back on your feet after a workout.

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to drink a birthday cake, this is the post-workout smoothie for you. Bolstered with protein powder, this smoothie gets its flavour from fat-free, sugar-free vanilla pudding mix, and a handful of sprinkles on the top.

Just three ingredients make this shake–vanilla soymilk, frozen blueberries, and vanilla protein powder. It’s fresh-tasting and fruity, but with minimal sugar from the berries and plenty of protein, making it the perfect post-workout snack if you’re tired of cake and chocolate flavoured ones!

Forget the pumpkin spice latte–replace it with this shake, which harvests the protein power of pumpkin puree, alongside protein powder and bananas, to make a satisfying shake with all the flavours of the Fall.

Not only does this decadent smoothie have a good dose of protein, it also contains a full serve of leafy greens! This is a great balanced smoothie for your post-workout pick-me-up, and you won’t even know it’s healthy when you taste it.

This simple shake makes use of chai tea bags, steeped overnight in the milk of your choice, and then blended with vanilla protein powder to make a quick and easy post-workout treat. Much better for you than a chai latte!

All the rich deliciousness of a caramel mocha frappuccino without any of the guilt! This caramel mocha shake includes a shot of coffee–bought from your favourite coffee shop or brewed at home–and cottage cheese and protein powder to make it a healthy snack for your recovery time.

Just like sitting down to dessert, only better! This shake uses cottage cheese and protein powder for that all-important protein boost, and comes out tasting just like a banana split! There’s luxury for you.

Relive your childhood with this much healthier version of the classic Orange Julius! With the protein content boosted to 20g per serving by your favourite protein powder, this is one previously-unhealthy treat you can now afford to have on a daily basis!

This Christmassy shake is sure to get you into the holiday spirit! Made with chocolate protein powder and a banana for texture, it’s rich, chocolatey and festive–the perfect thing to help you stay in shape over the Christmas season.

Here’s one for those of you who aren’t getting enough leafy greens in your diet. This refreshing smoothie incorporates spinach for a full serve of vegetables, and also has chia seeds and protein powder, making it ultra-healthy, but still delicious!

This minty shake would make a perfect St. Patrick’s day celebration, though there’s no reason you couldn’t drink it the rest of the year as well. Packed with cream cheese and protein powder, it may not grant you a silver tongue, but it’ll definitely help you recover from a workout!

This shake is designed to mask the taste of protein powder, using raspberries and chocolate to do the job without adding too many calories to the total. If you’re not a huge fan of the taste of powdered shakes, this recipe might make your life a little easier.

Get all the flavour and coffee benefits of a peppermint mocha frappuccino with the added protein of greek yogurt and protein powder in this delicious post-workout drink that tastes just like a fancy coffee from your favourite chain store.

Fruit-Based Snacks

Keep it simple and get one of your daily serves of fruit with these post-workout snacks that have fruit as their main component. These are especially good for replacing minerals lost due to sweating, and they’re naturally low in refined sugar, as well as mostly gluten-free, and often vegan. Many of them are also very low-effort–as little as one ingredient and one step!

Go bananas for these delicious post-workout treats! The chocolate coating incorporates coconut oil and protein powder, so you get a good protein hit. The bananas are frozen, so this is a great option for a hot day.

This recipe is super simple to make, and you can keep it in the freezer so you’ll always have a post-workout snack on hand when you need it. Just four simple ingredients make this fancy-looking bark, and you can always choose your own favourite fruits!

There’s nothing easier than this recipe. Simply make up a spread using fat-free Greek yogurt and your preferred protein powder–chocolate or vanilla, depending on your preference–and serve it on rice cakes topped with whatever fruit you have on hand.

The name alone should be enough to get you interested in this unusual post-workout snack. The flavours of basil and blackberry go together beautifully, and the cheese adds plenty of protein–you can top it off with the meat of your choice, if you so desire, for truly gourmet nachos!

Fruit-filled serves of oatmeal make a great post-workout snack that you can put in the fridge the night before, ready to go when you need it most. The oats and greek yogurt are a great source of protein, the fruit provides vitamins and minerals, and if you really want to kick it up a notch, feel free to add a scoop or two of protein powder to the mix.

This post-workout snack requires almost no effort–simply mix the high-protein, three-ingredient dip, and pick out some favourite fruits to eat it with! Bananas and apples are both great options, but you can have whatever you like.

If you don’t want to drink your smoothie, try this ultra-healthy smoothie bowl instead. Packed with protein from the kefir and a ton of yummy fruit (as well as a healthy serving of spinach), this snack will make you feel good.

These tempting quesadillas replace the traditional cheese with a high-protein hit of peanut butter, and you might never go back to the traditional version after you’ve tried them. Same great gooey texture, filled with delicious fruit, they make a great post-workout snack when you want something warm and comforting.

One ingredient, one step. What more could you want from a post-workout snack? Pick a favorite fruity (or not!) yogurt, drop dollops onto a baking tray, and freeze. Couldn’t be simpler, and you can always have them on hand to cool down after a hard workout.

These may look a little odd, but they’re a great way to make a high-protein but low-carb post-workout snack. Cut an apple into slices, put your favourite nut butter between them for protein, and enjoy.

11. Blueberry, Walnut, Almond and Fruit Yogurt Snack Bowl (9g protein)

Make this simple snack directly in a single-serve yogurt pot of your choice for on-the-go high-protein eating. So easy it doesn’t even need directions!

You’d be forgiven for not believing this was good for you, but this high-protein dip, combined with your favourite fruits and nuts, is the perfect post-workout recovery snack. It uses cultured coconut milk, coconut flour, and protein powder to make a creamy, moreish dip you won’t have any trouble finishing off.

These take a little effort to make, but they’re more than worth it for the result! Delicious bites of strawberry and banana get added protein from Greek yogurt and slivered almonds, making these little bites of joy perfect when you’ve finished your workout.

This section wouldn’t be complete without a pumpkin-themed dip, and this one combines all your favourite pumpkin pie flavours into a delicious high-protein dip, thanks to the yogurt, peanut butter, and the pumpkin itself. You could even get away with serving this at Halloween.

This is as simple as sprinkling some chocolate protein powder on a bowl of blueberries, hence giving them an instant protein boost. Try vanilla protein as well for a different flavour, or raspberries when they’re in season!

Make up this frozen yogurt in a big batch and keep it on hand for your post-workout ice cream cravings! The yogurt makes this an ideal high-protein snack, and the peaches make it delicious.

This chocolate pudding combines protein powder, flax seeds, and almonds, along with blueberries and bananas, for the ultimate in easy-to-eat recovery snack. Blend it before your workout, refrigerate it during, and consume after!

These rolled snacks make clever use of high-protein wraps, as well as peanut butter, to achieve their high protein content. As delicious as they are good for you, they come together in seconds and travel well, so they’re perfect to take with you, too!

Savoury Options

Maybe you don’t like sweet treats after your workout–if so, these are the snacks for you. Still high-protein, still delicious, but with savoury flavours instead of the sweet ones more common in post-workout snacks.

This recipe makes a big batch that you can pick at for a while, and the high-protein chickpeas are perfectly portable in a ziplock bag or small container, so you can take this snack with you if you’re heading straight to work after you hit the gym.

You’d be forgiven for thinking these were more of an indulgent treat than a healthy snack, but these mushroom-based pizzas, topped off with high-protein cheese, would make a perfect post-workout snack and only take minutes to prepare.

Lean ground turkey lends its protein content to this healthy dish, which cleverly takes the high-carb corn chips out of nachos! They make an excellent, tasty snack to keep you going after a workout.

A single ingredient makes these snacks–cheese! Did you know hard cheeses contain almost as much protein as chicken? These crispy snacks take advantage of that, and if you know how to sprinkle cheese onto a tray, you’ll have no trouble making them.

This is not your father’s trail mix. Instead, it’s a protein-packed, tasty blend that would make a perfect post-workout snack, especially if you’re on the go straight after your workout. Packed with protein-rich nuts, peanut butter filled pretzels, pepperoni sticks and beef jerky chunks, it’s both delicious and nutritious!

There’s no simpler recipe than this–simply take a pack of sliced pepperoni and microwave it until crisp to make delicious, high-protein pepperoni chips. Use turkey pepperoni for an extra-healthy version, and this portable snack will keep you going after you’ve finished your workout!

This quick and easy dip makes a great standby for post-workout snacking! Made with high-protein cottage cheese, you can keep it in the fridge ready to eat anytime with your favourite veggies (or those cheese snacks above!)

Good fats, high protein, and delicious–what more could you want in a post-workout snack? These simple snacks come together quickly and combine all the goodness of avocados with the protein and flavour hit of bacon for an unusual but amazing snack.

High-protein quinoa, spiced with pizza flavourings and bound with an egg, comes together to make these delicious little bites that can be dipped in tomato sauce for a pizza-inspired experience any time of the day. The recipe makes two serves, so make it up once and benefit twice.

Omelettes are quick, easy, and naturally protein-packed, but this one takes it up a notch by adding a Greek salad with feta cheese, which melts just a little as the eggs finish cooking. It’s the perfect thing to whip up right after your morning workout.

These cute little bites are high-protein thanks to the cottage cheese and egg whites used to bind them, and they’re delicious thanks to everything else in them! They’ll keep well in the fridge, so make them ahead and reheat (or eat cold!) as desired.

Try these simple glazed turkey sausages for a high-protein, low-fat post-workout snack that comes together in minutes the moment you get back into the kitchen. Turkey is a great alternative to beef or pork if you’re worried about fat content, and it’s still delicious!

If you’d rather snack casually after a workout, this smoky hummus is an ideal thing to sit down with. Combining the protein power of chickpeas and sweet potato, you can keep it in the fridge, ready to dip your favourite snacks in at leisure.

Is there anything cauliflower can’t do? This recipe uses cauliflower ‘bread’ instead of the regular kind to make a tasty–but healthy!–grilled cheese sandwich that’s sure to hit the spot after an exhausting workout. There’s cheese in both the crust and the filling, so this is definitely one for cheese lovers!

These little mushroom bites look adorable, taste great, and will give you the protein hit you really need after a workout. Walnuts and hummus make these a truly high-protein snack that you can prepare before you go out and bake when you come back for near-instant gratification.

If you want something that will really make your workout seem worthwhile, look no further than these little bites of joy. Again, prepare them before you go out and simply put them under the grill for a few minutes when you come back for a warm, tasty post-workout snack that’ll give you the energy to keep going on with your day.

Another highly portable snack, this popcorn-style edamame is high-protein and delicious. Once it’s baked it can easily be taken in containers to wherever you’re going, so your post-workout snack can go with you to wherever you’re headed.

These simple mini quesadillas are packed with protein and healthy fats, making them the ideal recovery snack. They’re quick and simple to make, too, so you’ll only ever be minutes away from this tasty treat.

Quick and delicious, these rolled-up post-workout snacks are also very portable, so there’s no reason you can’t take them with you. Turkey and cheese are both high-protein, and make this recipe zero-carb, too.

Parmesan, eggs and panko bread crumbs lend their protein content to this lean, easy, snackable recipe that you can take anywhere. They’re very easy to eat all at once–but when they’re this healthy, it doesn’t matter!

Categorised in: Protein Recipes

This post was written by Breanne Lovatt