This no-bake protein balls recipe is one of my favorite healthy snacks! It's easy to make with simple ingredients like peanut butter, oats, and flax.
When I need an afternoon energy boost, these protein balls are the perfect bite-size snack! Made with peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips, they’re lightly sweet, nutty, and delicious. They’re super satisfying too—oats and ground flaxseed add plenty of fiber, and a couple scoops of protein powder give them a nice protein bump.
They’re similar to the energy balls I’ve shared in the past, but with one key difference: you don’t need a food processor to make them. You can just stir together the ingredients in a bowl before shaping the mixture into balls. So easy!
I always get requests for healthy snack recipes during back-to-school season. If you’re looking for ideas, definitely try these no-bake protein balls. They’re super simple and SO much better than any store-bought bar. I think you’ll love them!
Protein Energy Bites Ingredients
You need 7 basic ingredients to make this protein balls recipe:
- Whole rolled oats – I love their chewy texture in these energy bites. Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
- Creamy peanut butter – It adds rich, nutty flavor and helps the oats stick together. I always use natural peanut butter when I make this recipe, but if you keep conventional peanut butter on hand, I think it would work here too.
- Ground flaxseed – It helps bind the balls together and adds fiber and healthy fats.
- Honey – For sweetness. Its sticky texture also helps hold the balls together.
- Protein powder – Feel free to use any protein powder you like. I recommend vanilla protein powder or an unflavored one. My go-to is Whole Foods’ Unflavored Pea Protein Powder.
- Vanilla extract – For warm depth of flavor. It makes these energy bites taste like cookie dough!
- Mini chocolate chips – I love sneaking a little chocolate into any healthy snack. 🙂
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different nut butter. Substitute almond butter or cashew butter for the peanut butter, or use sunflower seed butter to make this recipe nut-free.
- Skip the chocolate chips. Leave them out entirely, or replace them with chopped dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, or currants.
- Make them vegan. Replace the honey with maple syrup.
How to Make Protein Balls
These no-bake protein balls are super simple to make!
Start by combining the ingredients. Place the oats, peanut butter, flaxseed, honey, protein powder, vanilla, and chocolate chips in a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Heads up: The mixture will be very thick. If it’s too thick or dry to mix, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, as needed to help it come together.
Next, form the mixture into balls. I like to portion out the dough with a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, then use my hands to roll the scoops into balls.
Finally, chill the energy bites. Place them in a single layer on a large plate or baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
Once the peanut butter energy balls are firm, they’re ready to eat!
How to Store Protein Balls
Store homemade protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
They also freeze well for up to 3 months. I love keeping a stash in the freezer for quick, healthy snacks!
More Healthy Snacks to Try
If you love this peanut butter protein balls recipe, try one of these easy healthy snacks next:
- Energy Balls
- Homemade Granola Bars
- Easy Fruit Dip
- Chia Seed Pudding
- Or any of these 49 Best Healthy Snacks!
No-Bake Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1½ cups whole rolled oats
- 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 scoops protein powder, ¼ cup (I use 365 Organic Pea Protein, Unflavored)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, peanut butter, flax, honey, protein powder, vanilla, and chocolate chips. The mixture will be thick.
- Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the mixture, then use your hands to roll it into balls.
- Chill in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours, or until firm.
- The protein balls keep well in the fridge for up to a week. They also freeze well.
What is the serving size? 2 balls? I see the nutrition label but what is your breakdown referring to? Thank you!
When looking at nitro too on faces, how many balls did you make to calculate 152 calories? Seems high
Recipe says 20 servings, so I’d assume 20 balls.
Made these for our hiking trip. Nice, sweet satisfying little snack. I can really taste the honey in them which I love. Definitely making these more often!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Have you ever made these with cocoa nibs? Any other suggestions to increase the protein per serving?
Hi Rica, I’ve never tried these with cocoa nibs, but I think it would work. You could increase the protein powder to get a higher amount of protein per serving.
Thank you! How about substituting chia seeds with flaxseeds?
How many per serving? Not listed under
nutritional information.
I got 15 35g balls.
I made this with an unflavored whey protein powder and it turned out well. I needed just 1 tsp of water to help it come together. I’m going to try some alternative versions too. I’m thinking about a tahini maple version? Or adding some dried tart cherries. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Heidi!
The No Bake Protein Balls are very good. Mine came out a little dry and I used a tsp of water mixing it. Are we supposed to boil water to set the oats, then mix it?
Nope… too fluid
Can I skip the protein powder?
Hi Carmel, yep! You can.
Could you use vanilla protein powder?
Hi Laura, you could!
I did. I left out the vanilla extract. Used vanilla protein powder.
I see the nutrition information in the post, but it says “per serving” and I don’t see a serving size.
Easy and quick! Not using the food processor is a bonus. I used a chocolate protein powder, and its malty flavor was evident in my results. Not enough to make me buy a second type of protein powder, I’ve decided. Will make again, I love the quick no-bake aspect of this!
I would like the nutritional information for this recipe.
I see the nutrition information in the post, but it says “per serving” and I don’t see a serving size.
I made these cookies and they are delicious. I read the carrots as “grated” as opposed to “shredded “ but it worked GREAT!
Hello- These look delicious. However, your directions for the protein powder are confusing. Two scoops of protein powder are way more than 1/4 C. I’m not sure what the 1/4 C refers to.
Thank you
Merry
Hi Merry, the scoop size may vary by brand – use 1/4 cup total.
Five stars
*****
Is there any nutritional information on this recipe?
Yes, look right at the end of the recipe, and you can click on Nutrional info.
While tasty, please consider changing the name, its just an awful name and sounds like something you wouldn’t want to eat.
It’s exactly what it is. If you’re serving them you can change the name…
I went into the PeopleOneHealth app for nutritional info.. here’s for the whole recipe:
3022 calories, 270 grams of carbohydrates, 168 grams of fat 125 grams of protein 36 grams of fiber..
if you double the protein powder the numbers are:
3182 Kcals 272 g CHO 171 g Fat 155 g Pro 38 g Fib
I plan to try it, with double the protein powder, add 1-2T nooch, triple the vanilla, and reserve the flaxseed for working into the batter last.. I might even add a mashed can of white beans or chickpeas, including a bit of the aquafaba if it needs it.. and just pressing it into a pan for bars (because I’m a bit on the lazy side lol). I make this kind of bar a lot but I’ve only ever baked it.. it will be a new adventure for me to not bake. It looks like a great recipe I look forward to making it! Thanks so much for sharing it, I love your site so much!!!
Thanks for figuring the nutriental value!
Is there nutritional content? Thank you!
How much protein? Calories?
Is there nutrition information available for the protein balls?
Thank you.