Chocolate Protein Oatmeal
Published 1/21/2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Say hello to your new favorite breakfast recipe! This Chocolate Protein Oatmeal Is one of our favorite ways to start the day and it tastes just like dessert.
Packed with 29g of protein and 11g of fiber, you can’t go wrong! Cocoa powder and chocolate protein powder deliver that rich chocolatey flavor, while sea salt, old-fashioned oats, flaxseed, and almond butter bring the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Ridiculously easy to make, this high-protein oatmeal recipe is perfect for those chaotic mornings. Just put all your ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for only 5 minutes before serving and adding your favorite toppings.
I love meal-prepping this protein oatmeal recipe at the beginning of the week and quickly reheating it in the mornings for a protein-filled breakfast that tastes like brownie batter.
What You Need for Chocolate Protein Oatmeal
- Rolled oats: rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats) are rich in antioxidants and fiber! Plus, they’ll help keep you full til your next snack or meal.
- Unsweetened almond milk: any milk will do for this recipe, but we love unsweetened almond milk because it’s rich in vitamin D while still being low in sugar and calories.
- Ground flaxseed: flax seeds add a boost of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats.
- Chia seeds: chia seeds are filled with omega-3s, antioxidants, fiber, iron, and calcium — holy long list of nutrient-rich ingredients!
- Chocolate protein powder: get that extra boost of protein!
- Almond butter: get those healthy fats and vitamin E!
- Cocoa powder: this will give your protein oatmeal that delicious chocolate flavor without adding a bunch of sugar.
Best Protein Powders
Check out our top protein powder recommendations for baking, smoothies, and everything in between.
Garden of Life
Raw Organic Protein
Simply Tera's
Pure Whey Protein
Sun Warrior
Protein Powder
Garden of Life
Organic Whey Protein
Check it out!
How to Make Oatmeal
How to Make Oatmeal: Learn how to make every variation of oatmeal (steel-cut, rolled, and quick-cooking) in every method (stovetop, slow cooker, Instant Pot, overnight, and microwave)!
Substitutions
This chocolate protein oatmeal recipe is highly versatile, giving you tons of freedom with toppings and substitutions.
- Oats: While we recommend using rolled oats, you can also use quick oats if that’s what you have on hand. Just keep in mind that cooking time may vary.
- Need a vegan option? Swap out the whey protein powder for a plant-based alternative like pea or soy protein.
- Nut butter: And if you’re not a fan of almond butter, any nut butter would work just fine!
Topping Ideas
For toppings, the sky’s the limit! You can add fresh fruit like bananas or berries, nuts, and seeds for extra crunch and texture, or even a drizzle of honey for added sweetness. All the possibilities are making me hungry…
A Note on Protein Powders
Not sure about what kind of protein powder to use? We have an entire guide to protein powder that lists our favorite vanilla protein powders. Take our recommendations, but buy the chocolate variation! Not all protein powder is created equal:
- Some protein powder absorbs more liquid than others, that’s ok! If your oatmeal seems too thick, add a tablespoon of milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- The type of protein powder used will also determine the flavor of the oatmeal. If you use a sweeter protein powder, your oatmeal will be sweeter. If you use an unsweetened protein powder, you may need to add a few tablespoons of honey or maple syrup.
How to Store Protein Oats
This protein oatmeal will last in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Since this recipe does not have any fruit involved, it may last even longer.
We love storing our leftover oatmeal in a glass container in the refrigerator. Feel free to double or triple this recipe so that you can meal prep your way into the week!
Chocolate Protein Oatmeal Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups plain, unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 4 tablespoons chocolate protein powder, any brand*
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon almond butter, + more for topping
- pinch ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients into a medium saucepan and mix to combine.
- Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low and continue to stir for around 5 minutes, or until oats have thickened to desired consistency.
- Serve with more almond butter, a sprinkle of sea salt, and your favorite fruit.
Tips & Notes
- Protein powder: We used 4 tablespoons of Bulletproof Chocolate Collagen Protein in this recipe. Depending on how sweet your protein powder is, you can add a sweetener of choice as needed such as maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!
Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
Thank you! Question, what do you add for serving in the photo? Some yogurt?
We topped it with a scoop of Greek yogurt and a little more almond milk in these photos!
Can you do this as overnight oats? Just mix and sit overnight?
Definitely! You might need to adjust the liquid a bit if it’s too thick after storing in the fridge overnight 🙂
Really lovely
In love with this recipe!! Make it at least once a week! I add straeberries to mine and it’s one of my go-tos! I also don’t add chia seeds bc I don’t have any rn!
Looks so gooood!
Great information! Thank you for sharing such a great Article.
Tried this recipe this morning and the texture was just not there. All the powders and other add-ins mixed with the liquid to make a sort of paste that the oatmeal just sits in. There’s also not a ton of flavor. I used all the ingredients exactly as called for and my finish product looked to be a similar consistency as the photo on this blog … so I’m fairly certain I made the oatmeal as instructed.
this recipe is definitely off, i cook protein oatmeal every day and its much better to cook the oats with water or milk (i like to add a banana for this part so it makes everything soft and sweet), and then when its done cooking and in the bowl, stir in nut butter first, then protein powder. (also cooked or soaked flax seed makes things weird and gloopy i wouldnt include that at all but if i did, definitely at the end)
Sounds good!!
chocolate + protein, wat a good combination.