High Protein Banana Bread Recipe {with Chocolate}

Healthy treats can be delicious too! This high protein banana bread recipe is made with oats, uses Greek yogurt instead of butter or oil, and is low in sugar. Yet, it tastes just like the banana bread you know and love! Perfect for a healthy breakfast or quick snack on-the-go! {Gluten-free & vegetarian}

Two slices of protein powder banana bread cut from loaf.

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Protein Banana Bread Recipe With Oats

Who doesn’t love banana bread? It’s naturally moist and tender with a little sweetness, thanks to overripe bananas. This banana protein bread is next level and is inspired by my Banana Protein Muffins, which get rave reviews.

With 10 grams of protein per slice, it’s the perfect snack to refuel after a workout or to tide you over between meals. Oh yeah, and it actually tastes good, too!

2-Banana Bread Recipe

Banana protein bread on a wire rack with a knife.

Why We Love This High Protein Banana Bread Recipe

Make-ahead option: This bread is the perfect make ahead option! Make up a batch or two and then slice. Freeze the individual slices for healthy snacks or breakfast on the go!

Satisfying: This chocolate protein banana bread recipe contains 3 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per slice, which is a winning combination for keeping you feeling full and satisfied.

Completely delicious: Sometimes, the healthier versions of our favorite foods can be bland or dry. Not this protein packed banana bread! It’s incredibly moist and tender thanks to the yogurt and bananas, and has a lovely sweet flavor. You’ll actually want to eat this one!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for protein banana bread recipe.

Rolled oats: Use either regular rolled or quick oats. You can also substitute oat flour if you already have some on hand.
Baking powder: This will help make your gluten free banana bread rise. It’s always best to use fresh baking powder and sift out any clumps.
Baking soda: This will react with the yogurt and give the baking powder a little extra kick.
Salt: This is important for flavor and for getting a good rise in this high-protein banana bread recipe.
Vanilla protein powder: Choose your favorite plant-based protein powder or whey protein. I love this brand.
Overripe bananas: Just like classic banana bread, stick with the really ripe bananas that are turning brown.
Greek yogurt: Choose plain fat free yogurt to keep the fat content lower.
Eggs: These will bind the batter together to give you a moist banana bread that doesn’t fall apart when you cut it.
Vanilla extract: A little vanilla makes any recipe seem like a dessert!
Dark chocolate chips: Look for dark chocolate chips, as these usually have the least amount of added sugar and are higher in antioxidants. You can also use stevia-sweetened dark chocolate chips for less sugar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Oats ground up into oat flour in a food processor.

Ingredients for banana protein bread in a food processor.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.
Place the oats in the food processor and pulse until the oats are finely ground.
Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor other than the chocolate chips. Blend until everything is combined and the oats are mostly smooth.
Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed. You may wish to reserve a few chocolate chips to poke into the top of the loaf.
Pour batter into loaf pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Bake for 35 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out mostly clean. It should be slightly firm to the touch and lightly golden in some places. Turn the oven off, but leave the loaf in the oven for 5 additional minutes with the oven door closed.
Let the loaf cool fully. Use a sharp knife around the edges and carefully turn the loaf pan upside down to remove the loaf from the tin. Brush the surface lightly with a bit of honey or maple syrup, if desired.

Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!

Recipe Tips:

I like to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and then spray with cooking spray so that the loaf will be easy to pop out after baking.

For best results, use overripe bananas (the brown spotty kind) since this bread is primarily sweetened with the banana. Overripe bananas tend to be naturally sweeter and contribute a better overall flavor.

I’ve used both vanilla whey protein powder and vegan protein powder for this loaf and it worked out well with both varieties.

This banana bread also tastes delicious topped with this 2 ingredient chocolate frosting or no powdered sugar chocolate frosting!

Overhead image of two slices of protein banana bread cut from loaf.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make banana bread with protein powder?

Absolutely! Protein powder can easily be used to replace a small portion of the flour in your recipe or choose a healthy banana bread recipe that uses protein powder. It will also add additional sweetness, so you can use less sugar as well. For best results, use a protein-packed banana bread recipe to ensure you have the right proportions of each ingredient.

How do you make protein banana bread moist?

The last thing you want is to slice through your protein powder banana bread to have it taste dry and chalky. The secret to the best protein banana bread recipe is to use really, really ripe bananas and non-fat Greek yogurt. The bananas stand in for oil and add tons of moisture to the batter without making it overly wet. Meanwhile, the yogurt hydrates while adding a tender texture. Since this protein-packed dessert is made with Greek yogurt and lots of mashed bananas, you can trust that it’ll be tender and moist every single time.

Is banana bread healthy?

The answer really depends on the recipe. While it’s important not to demonize any foods, you also want to balance the carbohydrates, fats, and protein that you’re consuming throughout the day. Banana bread tends to be high in fat and carbohydrates due to the butter or oil, flour, and sugar. This makes it absolutely delicious but not exactly the healthiest option to be consumed on a daily basis.

To make your delicious banana bread more nutritious, try using higher fiber flour like oat flour or whole wheat flour. It’s also helpful to replace the sugar with either extra mashed bananas or a low glycemic index sugar substitute like coconut sugar or maple syrup. It’s easiest to use a recipe already formulated to be healthy, like this easy protein powder banana bread recipe with chocolate chips! It’s so yummy and a great healthy snack.

Storage Guidelines

Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To freeze: For longer storage, wrap well in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer safe bag for 2-3 months. You can also freeze individual slices for easy snacks. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.

A hand holding a slice of protein banana bread drizzled with peanut butter.

Serving Suggestions

This banana protein bread is perfect for a delicious breakfast or as a healthy snack. Although it has a fair amount of protein, you can make it even more satisfying by serving it with these other breakfast recipes:

Scrambled eggs
Baked egg bites
Egg white bites
Yogurt with fresh fruit
Peanut butter or almond butter and sliced fresh banana

Recipe Variations

Applesauce bread: You can often replace mashed banana with equal parts applesauce! Add some cinnamon to make a delicious cinnamon apple protein bread.
Bake in the air fryer: If your air fryer is large enough for a loaf pan, try baking your protein bread there! Be sure to drop the temperature 15-20 degrees.
Add raisins or nuts: In addition to the chocolate chips, you can also add chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or raisins for extra flavor and texture.
Extra chocolate flavor: Make your protein banana bread with chocolate protein powder for even more chocolate flavor.
Banana protein muffins: Bake your batter in muffin cups for the best little protein banana muffins! Adjust the baking time to 20-25 minutes.

Two slices of banana protein bread stacked and topped with a drizzle of peanut butter.

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Course Breakfast, Snack