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    Home » Recipe Index » Snacks

    Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and Chocolate

    January 13, 2020 Updated April 9, 2024 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Desserts, Prep Ahead Meals, Snacks

    Jump to Recipe
    energy bites in a bowl with yogurt
    energy bites with nuts and chocolate chips and energy bites in a bowl

    These tasty protein balls can be made in just 10 minutes. They make a great grab and go snack or way to fuel your workout. Make them with oats, peanut butter, chocolate, hemp & chia seeds, and honey.

    Energy Bites in a bowl with blender lid and bowls next to it

    [This protein balls recipe was originally posted in February 2017. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    Table of contents

    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage Tips
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • Other good snack recipes
    • Repurpose energy balls
    • What can I make with the leftover ingredients?

    Protein balls with oats are a great way to use up leftover nuts and other pantry ingredients. They come together quickly and make for a delicious snack, breakfast, or even dessert.

    These protein balls without protein powder are great for travel too! So you can stay nourished and satisfied while traveling.

    I like to make a batch of these peanut butter and chocolate protein balls to have on hand for a week or two. They're easy to store in the fridge and are so easy to grab and snack on when I'm feeling a bit hungry. You'll love them too.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the protein balls recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick description of what's in this recipe.

    • Oats
    • Peanut butter
    • Nuts
    • Hemp seeds
    • Chia seeds
    • Honey
    • Salt
    • Chocolate chips
    • Dried cherries

    Instructions

    Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

    ingredients for protein energy balls in a blender bowl

    To make your energy balls, pour oats, peanut butter, honey, hemp hearts, chia seeds, dried cherries, chocolate chips, nuts, and salt to the bowl of a food processor or high powered blender. Food processor works better.

    blending ingredients for protein energy balls in a blender bowl

    Mix protein balls ingredients on dip or nut butter setting. Stir with tamper tool or (stop and stir with) rubber spatula until ingredients are mixed together and to your desired consistency.

    rolling protein energy balls with bowl in background

    Spoon out about 1 Tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, continue until all dough has been rolled into balls. Store for later or enjoy immediately.

    Storage Tips

    Refrigerate your protein balls in an airtight container for about a week, or freeze for a couple months. You can leave them on the counter for 15+ minutes to let them soften or defrost after the freezer.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • Use whatever type of nut butter you have on hand.
    • You just need the oats, nut butter, honey, and salt in this recipe. Swap out or omit additional ingredients to use what you have. You may need to add more oats so it's not too sticky if you don't add additional ingredients.
    • You may need to take half of the dough out and mix ½ at a time so it all gets chopped and mixed up. Stop and stir as often as needed.
    • You can also freeze these protein balls for a couple months.
    • Other great add-ins: dried fruit, chopped nuts or seeds.

    FAQ

    Are protein balls healthy?

    Instead of focusing in healthy vs not healthy, know that these and other protein balls make a great snack because they're packed with protein and fiber from the nuts, dates, and oats. They travel well, and taste great too!

    When should you eat protein balls?

    If you're feeling like you need an energy kick you may be hungry or need more sleep. Eating anything will give you energy, but these energy bites, full of protein and fat, are easy, delicious, and satisfying=perfect snack.

    Do you need to use a food processor to make protein balls?

    You don't need to use a food processor, a high powered blender will work too, but in my experience, a food processor is the easiest and fastest way to mix together protein ball ingredients.

    energy bites in a bowl with blender lid in background

    Other good snack recipes

    • PB Greek Yogurt Dip
    • Almond Butter
    • Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
    • Chocolate Blueberry Muffins
    • Pickled Dill Carrots
    • Single Serving Banana Bread
    • Air Fryer Popcorn for One

    Repurpose energy balls

    Add extra oats and milk to turn into overnight oats. Follow a recipe similar to this basic overnight oat recipe, or PB overnight oat recipe add the energy ball paste to it. Or add to PB chia pudding or berry chia pudding.

    What can I make with the leftover ingredients?

    When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.

    • Dried Cherries: add them to a salad, the PB granola listed below, or eat them plain.
    • Nuts: Chopped in this PB Granola, 3 Ingredient Almond Butter (or any kind of nut), Warm Kale Salad, Strawberry Salad.
    • Hemp Seeds: Grapefruit Avocado Salad, Beet & Arugula Salad.
    • Chia Seeds: PB Chia Pudding, Ham & Swiss Sliders, a Yogurt Bowl
    • Oats: Overnight Oats, PB Overnight Oats.
    • Chocolate Chips: Chocolate Dipped Oreos, Homemade Hot Cocoa (just swap the chocolate bar for chocolate chips), PB Chia Pudding, small batch double chocolate cookies, & in this DIY Waffle Bar.

    Did you make these protein balls? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!

    chocolate energy bites in a bowl

    Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and Chocolate

    These tasty protein balls can be made in just 10 minutes. They make a great grab and go snack or way to fuel your workout. Make them with oats, peanut butter, chocolate, hemp & chia seeds, and honey.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 18 bites
    Author: Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    Equipment

    • Food Processor OR High powered blender
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup rolled oats
    • ⅔ cup peanut butter
    • ⅓ cup raw nuts I used almonds
    • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
    • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
    • ⅓ cup honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
    • ½ cup dried cherries or other dried fruit

    Instructions

    • Pour 1 c oats, ⅔ c peanut butter, ⅓ c honey, 1 tablespoon hemp hearts, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, ½ c dried cherries, ¼ c chocolate chips, ⅓ c chopped/slivered nuts, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the bowl of food processor or a high powered blender. (Food processor is faster and easier)
    • Mix ingredients on dip or nut butter setting. Stir with tamper tool or (stop and stir with) rubber spatula until ingredients are mixed together and to your desired consistency.
    • Spoon out about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, continue until all dough has been rolled into balls.
    • Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

    Notes

    • Use whatever type of nut butter you have on hand.
    • You just need the oats, nut butter, honey, and salt in this recipe. Swap out or omit additional ingredients to use what you have. You may need to add more oats so it's not too sticky if you don't add additional ingredients.
    • You may need to take half of the dough out and mix ½ at a time so it all gets chopped and mixed up. Stop and stir as often as needed.
    • You can also freeze these protein energy balls for a couple months.
    •  
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @NourishNutriCo or tag #NourishNutriCo!

    Want time saving tips to make recipes like these protein balls delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Cooking for One Time Saving Tips.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

    More Snacks

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      Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
    • round banana bread with peanut butter
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    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian who has been cooking for one for over 10 years. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Connie says

      October 03, 2022 at 5:22 pm

      Could you please send me the nutritional value of this AWESOME recipe?
      Thanx,
      Connie

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 04, 2022 at 12:16 pm

        Hi Connie, I intentionally don't include nutrition information on my recipes as it can be triggering for people recovering from eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. You can calculate the info using a calorie calculator online though. thanks for asking!

        Reply
    2. Mary C says

      August 14, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      5 stars
      You can freeze them? Oh, no! That means I'll make lots of them. I'll freeze them to discourage myself from eating too many, but I'll eat them anyway, frozen or not!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        August 16, 2020 at 4:36 pm

        oh ya! haha! they're great fresh or frozen

        Reply
    3. Jenn says

      January 13, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      These are the perfect pick-me-up in the afternoon. I take one or two to work with me and they help me get over my afternoon slump. They taste great, too!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 14, 2020 at 10:17 pm

        totally! thanks

        Reply
    4. Sophia says

      January 13, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      Protein are such an easy great snack, thanks for this delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 14, 2020 at 10:17 pm

        thanks! they're so easy for sure

        Reply
    5. Anita says

      January 13, 2020 at 1:36 pm

      5 stars
      This totally saves me a lot of money. I can use whatever ingredients I have and 10 minutes later, delicious energy bites!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 14, 2020 at 10:18 pm

        right?! using up what i've got on hand is my favorite part about these bites!

        Reply
    6. Kelly Anthony says

      January 13, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      5 stars
      These energy bites will make the perfect after school snack for my girls. Full of everything that will keep them full until dinnertime.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 14, 2020 at 10:18 pm

        totally agree!

        Reply
    7. Kelly Jones says

      May 09, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      Excellent way to add extra protein with that yogurt!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        May 09, 2017 at 5:36 pm

        yes! thanks Kelly!

        Reply
    8. Kelli McGrane says

      February 10, 2017 at 8:40 am

      I love energy bites, but never thought to add Greek yogurt! I bet the yogurt makes them super soft. Yum!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 11, 2017 at 1:02 pm

        it's so easy! and yeah makes them super soft!

        Reply
    9. Liz says

      February 09, 2017 at 7:12 pm

      I'd have to give this a big thumbs up! I can't really do coconut but I love the idea of cocoa! I'll have to experiment with a non coconut flavor and whip these up!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 09, 2017 at 11:34 pm

        thanks Liz! me too, not a coconut fan-go for it!

        Reply
    10. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says

      February 03, 2017 at 6:34 pm

      I can't think of a better way to spend 10 minutes!! What a perfect list of ingredients!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 04, 2017 at 9:17 am

        thanks Sonali!

        Reply
    5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi I'm Rebecca

    I'm a registered dietitian and solo cook. I'm here to help you make cooking for one easier and more fun!

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