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December 21, 2021 By Karen

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

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These easy to make No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls are a perfect combination of old-fashioned oats, chia seeds,  creamy peanut butter, with a touch of honey, and everyone's favorite chocolate chips results in a healthy protein-packed snack that will leave your mouth watering and your stomach full!

Peanut butter protein balls on the table with ingredients to make them.

Looking for a snack recipe that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and fill you up with protein? How about these high-protein PB Oat Power Balls with Chocolate Chips! 

These tasty little bites are perfect for satisfying a chocolate craving in a healthy way, and they're easy enough to make in bulk so you can store them and snack on them throughout the week.

The best thing about this recipe is the delightful taste and that these protein balls are no-bake, so you can whip up a batch in minutes.

I love how these peanut butter chocolate protein balls are made with organic oatmeal, chia seeds, and honey for sweetness. And of course, they're loaded with chocolate chips because if there's one thing I'm certain of when it comes to food, it's that everything tastes better with chocolate (or peanut butter).

Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love Protein Balls with Peanut Butter
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions
  • Storage
  • Variations
  • Expert Tips and FAQ
  • More Healthy Snack Recipes
  • Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Why You’ll Love Protein Balls with Peanut Butter

  • These energy bites only take 10 minutes from start to finish, and they’re perfect for a quick snack or dessert.
  • Protein, fiber, and healthy fats keep you satisfied and energized throughout the day.
  • PB + Chocolate = Love
  • Kids and adults, are both going to love these tasty little energy bites!
  • No-bake! You don’t even have to look at the oven to make these oatmeal power balls!

Ingredients

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it only requires five ingredients!

Ingredients to make peanut butter protein balls on the table.

Oats: Quick oats are best for this recipe because they are partially processed. To make these gluten free, make sure your oats are marked gluten free.

Peanut Butter: Creamy is best for this recipe.

Mini Chocolate Chips: Milk or Semisweet, whichever you prefer

Honey: You can also swap it out for agave syrup, liquid monk fruit sweetener or maple syrup if you want to make vegan protein balls.

Chia Seeds: Not only do they add a punch of healthy plant based protein, they also add great texture to these delicious peanut butter protein balls

See recipe card for quantities.

Equipment Needed To Make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

  • Mixing bowl 
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • Cookie Scoop

Instructions

Once you have gathered all the required equipment and ingredients it's time to get started making them!

Gather all your ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Ingredients to make peanut butter balls in a bowl.

Mix until fully combined.

Ingredients are mixed together with a spoon.

Use a small cookie scoop to form 12 small balls. You can place the balls back into the bowl you mixed them, put them on a plate or place them in mini muffin liners like I did for these photos.

While not necessary, you can top with a drizzle of melted chocolate, mini chocolate chips or leave naked! I love mixing it up and making a few of each different look for some variety.

Peanut butter protein ball in a cookie scoop.
Adding chocolate to the top of protein balls.

Serve them as is, or place in the refrigerator or freezer for storage.

Substitutions

One of the best parts about this recipe is you can swap out the ingredients to suit your diet.

Oats: You can replace the oats with flax seeds or even skip the oats entirely.

Peanut Butter: Almond butter, sun butter or any alternative nut butter can be used in place of peanut butter.

Honey: Agave nectar, liquid monk fruit or maple syrup can be used if you don't want to use honey.

Chocolate Chips: If you are unable to enjoy regular chocolate chips, you can use nut free chocolate chips, sugar free chocolate chips or skip them entirely. You can even mix it up with some different flavored chips such as white chocolate or caramel. For dairy free or vegan protein balls, dark chocolate is the best option.

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds adds protein and healthy fats, but you can also use flaxseeds or ground pumpkin seeds.

Storage

You’ll want to store your PB bites in the fridge or freezer. They do not sit well at room temperature for extended periods of time. They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week and up to two months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container.

To thaw your PB energy balls, place them in the fridge to let them soften. 

When taking them on the go or packing them for lunch, you may leave them out of the refrigerator for a few hours, and they will be OK.

Variations

I love this recipe as written, but if you are looking to change things up you can try adding

  • shredded coconut
  • slivered almonds
  • mini M&Ms
  • raisins
  • dried fruit

Expert Tips and FAQ

For best results and optimal texture use quick oats to make peanut butter protein balls.

Creamy peanut butter works better than crunchy when making protein balls.

If you want a less sweet tasting protein ball, use darker chocolate chips with a higher cacao percentage.

Don't forget to store peanut butter chocolate protein balls in the freezer or refrigerator.

MIni chocolate chips work best to make these protein balls with peanut butter.

Can I use a different type of nut butter for this recipe?

Yes! You can use any type of nut butter you prefer in this recipe. Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or any other nut butter would all work well.

What kind of oats should I use for this recipe?

I prefer quick oats for this recipe. Rolled oats are a bit thicker, so they'll affect the texture of these protein balls. You'll definitely feel like you are chewing on a grain if you use rolled or steel-cut oats. 

What type of chocolate chips work best in this energy bites recipe?

Semi-sweet chocolate chips work great in this recipe! You can also use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or a combination of all three. White chocolate is also an option, but tends to be higher in sugar. You'll want to get the mini sized chocolate chips as well over the regular-sized morsels. 

Can I make these without honey?

Yes, you can omit the honey if desired or replace it with another sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar. You'll want to stay away from refined sugar. You can even leave out the sweetener altogether and just enjoy the peanut butter with the chocolate chips. 

What's the best way to get the same size peanut butter protein balls every time?

This is where your ice cream scooper or cookie scoop comes in handy. If you don’t have either of the above-mentioned, you can use your hands to roll out balls. You’ll just have to eyeball it. If you need a precise measurement, a food scale is also helpful.

Protein balls with peanut butter on a plate with milk bottle.

More Healthy Snack Recipes

  • Fruit Popsicles Recipe
  • Cherry Smoothie
  • Watermelon Radish Chips
  • Cranberry Smoothie Bowl

Did you try this recipe?  Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!

Peanut butter protein balls served up on a white plate.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

These healthy energy balls are the perfect combination of old-fashioned oats, chia seeds, creamy peanut butter, with a touch of honey and chocolate chips. A protein-packed snack that will leave your mouth watering and your stomach full!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: peanut butter protein balls
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 306kcal
Author: Karen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup oats quick or old fashioned
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 Tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

  • In a medium sized bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to form the mixture into 12 balls.
  • Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

Expert Tips for Making Peanut Butter Protein Balls:
For best results and optimal texture use quick oats to make peanut butter protein balls.
Creamy peanut butter works better than crunchy when making protein balls.
If you want a less sweet tasting protein ball, use darker chocolate chips with a higher cacao percentage.
Don't forget to store peanut butter protein balls in the freezer or refrigerator.
MIni sized chocolate chips work best to make these protein balls with peanut butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
Pin It and Save It for Later!!Mention @FreshCoastEats or tag #freshcoasteats!
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Hi, I'm Karen! I’m a food stylist, photographer and recipe developer living in the Great Lakes area with my husband and four kids. I can’t wait for you to try my simple, clean, produce driven recipes inspired by the four seasons 

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