Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Smoothie

This healthy Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Smoothie is quick to make, creamy, and banana-free! It’s made with nourishing ingredients like frozen zucchini, berries, peanut butter and greek yogurt.

PB&J are one of those classic flavour combinations that just never gets old. Since I’ve been enjoying way more smoothies now that the weather is warmer, I wanted to create one that reminded me of one of my childhood favourites!

This PB&J Protein Smoothie combines nutrient-dense ingredients like peanut butter, frozen berries, greek yogurt and frozen zucchini. It’s packed with fibre, protein and healthy fats for a balanced smoothie that is filling enough to enjoy as a meal.

Why add frozen zucchini to a smoothie?

Adding frozen zucchini is one of my favourite ways to add a thick and creamy texture to smoothies, without having to add additional frozen fruit or a banana. I get that it might seem like a strange thing to add to a smoothie, but I promise you won’t notice it! It has a mild taste and is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrients and fibre into your smoothie.

To freeze zucchini, start by washing and drying your zucchini. Chop into small pieces and arrange into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for an hour or two and then transfer to a ziplock bag or airtight container. This helps prevent them from freezing in one big chunk.

Ingredients you’ll need

Frozen zucchini: frozen zucchini helps gives the smoothie a creamy texture. Make sure that your zucchini is completely frozen before using.
Frozen berries: I love using a combination of strawberries and raspberries, but you can omit one of these if you don’t have them on hand.
Greek yogurt: helps to thicken the smoothie and adds protein. Feel free to use a plant-based yogurt if you’re dairy-free.
Peanut butter: it wouldn’t be a PB&J smoothie without peanut butter! I recommend using a natural peanut butter with 1-2 ingredients (peanuts and salt). Although it will alter the taste a bit, you could also use tahini or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
Vanilla protein powder: this is the main protein source for the smoothie. Feel free to use your favourite whey or plant-based protein powder.
Chia seeds: for some extra fibre, protein and healthy fats.
Water or milk: I used unsweetened almond milk, but any milk will work. Choose an unsweetened milk to keep this smoothie lower in sugar.
Collagen peptides: completely optional, but adds an extra protein boost!

Peanut butter and jelly smoothie nutrition benefits

Smoothies can be a really great way to pack in a bunch of nutrients into one meal. However they also have the potential to be a bit of a sugar bomb if they’re not properly balanced and are just loaded with a bunch of fruit.

This PB&J Smoothie includes plenty of protein, fibre and healthy fats to keep you full for longer and balance blood sugar. This smoothie packs in around 30g of protein, which is a great amount to aim for at breakfast.

It’s also loaded with nourishing ingredients that have plenty of health benefits:

Zucchini is rich in fibre, potassium and antioxidants like vitamin C and A.
Berries contain fibre, micronutrients and antioxidants. Frozen fruit is picked and frozen at peak ripeness, which means nutrients are maximized.
Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, gut-friendly probiotics, calcium and phosphorus.
Chia seeds contain fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and plant-based protein.

If you make this Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Smoothie, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment or review below, or tag me on instagram.