12 Healthy Protein Shakes for Weight Gain

To gain weight, you must consume more calories than you expend. Protein shakes and smoothies made with ingredients like bananas, eggs, yogurt, avocado, and tofu can supply the right nutrients without causing uncomfortable bloating.

Consistently eating sufficient calories can be difficult if you’re trying to put on weight.

One popular approach is to take advantage of liquid calories from protein shakes and smoothies. These drinks deliver concentrated amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with vitamins and minerals, often without making you feel overly stuffed.

You can usually add them to your diet in addition to solid meals.

Below are 12 top protein shake recipes designed to support weight gain.

1. Chocolate peanut butter shake with Greek yogurt

What could be better than chocolate paired with peanut butter?

This indulgent shake uses Greek yogurt as the main protein source and includes calorie-dense ingredients like peanut butter and honey to help increase body weight.

Ingredients

• 1 large banana
• 3/4 cup (180 mL) whole milk
• 3 tbsp. (21 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup (170 grams) full fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp. (21 grams) honey
• 1 tbsp. (16 grams) peanut butter

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and process on high until thick and velvety.
2. Add the cocoa powder slowly to avoid clumping.

View original recipe

2. Triple berry smoothie with egg whites

Pasteurized egg whites are an excellent way to raise protein levels in smoothies without altering the taste. Pasteurization reduces harmful bacteria, so many packaged egg whites are safe to consume raw.

This blend mixes antioxidant-packed berries with orange juice and egg whites for a simple calorie-rich drink.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (180 mL) pasteurized egg whites
• 1/2 cup (72 grams) fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup (37 grams) fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup (37 grams) fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 small avocado (about 140 grams)
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) orange juice

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients on medium until smooth.

View original recipe

3. Green smoothie with Greek yogurt

Even though weight-gain smoothies aim to increase calories, they can also be packed with nutritious components.

This protein-rich green smoothie uses full-fat Greek yogurt as its base and includes a variety of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe medium banana
• 1 cup (165 grams) fresh, canned, or frozen pineapple
• 3 cups (30 grams) spinach
• 1 cup (245 grams) full fat plain Greek yogurt
• 6 ounces (180 mL) fruit juice of your choice

Instructions

1. Combine everything in a blender and blend until smooth.

4. Coffee protein smoothie with whey protein

This tempting smoothie mixes coffee with chocolate protein powder to help kickstart weight gain. The caffeine makes it an excellent pre-workout option.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup (160 mL) brewed coffee, cold, plus more if needed
• 6 to 8 ice cubes
• 1 medium banana, frozen
• 1 tbsp. (7 grams) cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp. (16 grams) almond butter
• 1/4 cup (25 grams) or about 1 scoop chocolate or mocha whey protein powder
• 2 tbsp. (30 grams) chia seeds

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients into a high-speed blender.
2. Blend until smooth, adding extra coffee to thin it if necessary.

View original recipe

5. Apple cinnamon hemp heart protein smoothie

Apple and cinnamon make a comforting combination, and this smoothie adds other nourishing components to raise the calorie total.

You can peel the apples before blending if preferred, though apple skin contains insoluble fiber that supports gut health.

This shake might be large for one sitting; you can divide it into portions and consume within 24 hours.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (360 mL) whole milk
• 2 small apples, washed and sliced
• 1/3 cup (26 grams) rolled oats
• 2 tbsp. (32 grams) almond butter
• 2 tbsp. (20 grams) hemp hearts
• 2 tbsp. (30 grams) chia seeds
• 1 medjool date
• 1 tsp. (5 mL) vanilla extract
• Cinnamon to taste
• 2 handfuls ice cubes

Instructions

1. Blend all components in a high-speed blender on high until completely smooth.

View original recipe

6. Strawberry banana smoothie with kefir

Kefir is a fermented dairy drink that is somewhat like drinkable yogurt and is rich in beneficial bacteria from fermentation.

Plus, kefir supplies a meaningful amount of protein per cup (240 mL), making it a strong choice for weight-gain smoothies.

This straightforward recipe calls for full-fat kefir to add extra calories.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (144 grams) fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1 ripe medium banana
• 1 cup (240 mL) whole milk kefir
• 1/4 cup (20 grams) oats
• Handful of ice cubes (optional)

Instructions

1. Blend everything until it reaches a smooth, pureed texture.

View original recipe

7. Chocolate avocado smoothie with flaxseed

Although chocolate and avocado may seem unusual together, they pair surprisingly well in this nutrient-dense smoothie.

Adding ground flaxseed provides a concentrated source of omega-3s, which may support heart, joint, and digestive health.

This shake works well as a snack between meals or as a meal substitute.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) whole milk
• 1/2 large avocado, ripe, without brown spots
• 4 to 6 pitted dates
• 2 1/2 tbsp. (18 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• Handful of ice cubes
• 1 tsp. (5 mL) vanilla extract
• 1 medium banana
• 1/4 cup (25 grams) chocolate whey protein powder
• 1 tbsp. (7 grams) ground flaxseed

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth.
2. Add extra dates to increase sweetness, if you like.

View original recipe

8. Blueberry smoothie with silken tofu

Tofu might usually be associated with stir-fries or scrambles, but this soy product is also a terrific plant-based protein to add to smoothies.

This recipe uses silken tofu, the softest variety, because it blends seamlessly into shakes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (260 grams) silken tofu
• 1 cup (240 mL) unsweetened soy milk
• 1 medium banana
• 2 to 3 ice cubes (optional)
• 1 cup (190 grams) fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 tbsp. (21 grams) honey

Instructions

1. Drain any excess liquid from the tofu.
2. Blend tofu, milk, banana, and ice for about 30 seconds.
3. Add blueberries and honey and blend until fully smooth.

View original recipe

9. 1,000-calorie smoothie with whey protein

When you need to reach high calorie targets to gain weight, this 1,000-calorie whole-food smoothie is an effective option.

Using common pantry ingredients, this filling yet easy-to-make smoothie is budget-friendly and helps you meet calorie goals without feeling too stuffed.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (72 grams) frozen strawberries
• 2 tbsp. (32 grams) peanut butter
• 1 medium banana
• 1 tbsp. (21 grams) honey
• 1 cup (80 grams) oats
• 2 scoops (50 grams) whey protein powder
• 1 1/2 cups (360 mL) whole milk

Instructions

1. Add ingredients to a high-speed blender, starting with the items at the top of the list and ending with the milk.
2. Blend until completely smooth and lump-free.

View original recipe

10. Bedtime casein protein smoothie

If your aim is weight gain, avoid going to bed hungry. Some people prefer not to eat a heavy meal before sleep, though.

This tasty bedtime smoothie uses casein, a slowly digested milk protein, to keep you nourished through the night.

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana, frozen
• 1 scoop (25 grams) casein protein powder (chocolate or peanut butter flavor)
• 2 tbsp. (14 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp. (32 grams) peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups (360 mL) whole milk
• 2 to 3 ice cubes

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until velvety smooth.

11. Green smoothie with pea protein

This is a solid vegan-friendly choice.

Although plant-based protein powders once had a reputation for chalky texture and bland flavor, they’ve improved considerably.

This uncomplicated green smoothie uses just a few ingredients to create an excellent breakfast or post-workout recovery drink.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 medium banana, frozen
• 1 tbsp. (16 grams) peanut butter
• 2 cups (60 grams) fresh spinach
• 1 scoop (25 grams) vanilla pea protein
• Handful of ice

Instructions

1. Place the coconut milk into a high-speed blender first, then add the remaining ingredients.
2. Blend on high until smooth.

View original recipe

12. Pumpkin pie shake with egg white protein

This comforting pumpkin pie–inspired protein smoothie can be enjoyed anytime, especially as a cozy snack or a post-exercise recovery drink.

Egg white protein powder is an excellent non-dairy protein option for those who avoid dairy but still consume animal-derived products.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) whole milk
• 1 medium banana, frozen
• 3 tbsp. (45 grams) pumpkin puree
• 1 scoop (25 grams) vanilla egg white protein powder (or your preferred protein)
• 1 tbsp. (16 grams) almond butter
• 1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• Handful of ice cubes
• 1 tbsp. (6 grams) graham cracker crumbs (optional)

Instructions

1. Blend everything except the graham cracker crumbs until smooth.
2. Top with graham cracker crumbs if you like.

View original recipe

Best weight gain shake ingredients

When crafting a weight gain shake, pick calorie-dense ingredients that still offer nutritional value.

Below are top ingredients for weight gain shakes, organized by nutrient category.

Proteins

• whey protein powder
• casein protein powder
• pea protein
• pumpkin protein
• brown rice protein
• egg whites or egg white protein powder
• Greek yogurt
• kefir
• hemp protein
• chia seeds
• silken tofu
• whole fat cow’s milk
• soy milk

Carbs

• fruit juice (orange, pineapple, cranberry, cherry, apple, pomegranate)
• whole fruits (bananas, mangoes, berries, peaches, apples, oranges)
• oats and other grains
• honey
• dates

Fats

• flaxseed
• avocado
• nut butters
• coconut oil
• nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews)
• full fat Greek yogurt
• chia seeds

The bottom line

To gain weight, you need to consistently consume more calories than you burn.

An easy method to raise your calorie intake is to include liquid calories from protein shakes and smoothies.

The recipes above incorporate a range of nutritious ingredients to help you get started. Feel free to experiment with your favorite components to create new, satisfying combinations.