Lower Calorie Protein Balls
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These Lower Calorie Protein Balls are a healthy snack that satisfies your sweet tooth without the guilt! Whether you're meal prepping, craving a post-workout bite, or need a healthy snack on the go, these no-bake protein balls are the perfect choice.
Made with a blend of creamy peanut butter and powdered peanut butter, they're packed with flavor but light on calories-perfect for weight management or just keeping your energy up during the day. My family can't get enough of them-they disappear from the fridge in record time!
Quick Look: Lower Calorie Protein Balls
- 🕒 Total Time: 10 minutes
- 👥 Servings: ~16 balls
- 📊 Calories: ~79 per ball
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy!
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For other healthy snack options, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Protein Balls and my Protein Puppy Chow! My Pumpkin Protein Smoothie is another one you'll love for a quick afternoon healthy snack.
Why You'll Love The Recipe
- Lower Calorie - By using a blend of natural peanut butter and powdered peanut butter, the fat is significantly reduced, saving you calories.
- Easy to Prep - It doesn't get much easier than throwing all the ingredients in and mixing them up!
- Sweet Without the Guilt - The honey and the vanilla protein powder along with the chocolate chips gives you some sweetness in this snack without overdoing it on the sugar.
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Select Ingredients
- Oats- quick oats work great in this recipe as they're a little thinner and create more of a smooth consistency like cookie dough. You can use old fashioned oats but the balls will be a little chewier.
- Peanut Butter - You'll use both natural peanut butter and powdered peanut butter.
- Protein Powder - Use any brand that you like. I've used both whey and plant-based protein in this recipe and both work well. My personal favorite is the vanilla Clean Simple Eats protein powder or the Just Ingredients Vanilla Bean Protein Powder.
- Mini Chocolate Chips - You can swap these out for larger chocolate chips or mini m&m's but keep in mind it may affect overall nutrition facts.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Want More Fiber? Add flaxseed! - I'd recommend adding 2 Tablespoons to start with and see if you like the texture.
➡️ Swap Out the Sweet - We've swapped out the mini chocolate chips for mini M&M's as well! Just remember swapping out ingredients will likely change nutrition facts a bit.
➡️ Higher Calorie Needs - If you've got active teens you're trying to increase calories for, consider adding ½ cup of natural peanut butter rather than ¼ cup and omitting the powdered peanut butter and water. This will add about 24 calories extra per ball.
How To Make Lower Calorie Protein Balls
This recipe is super easy to make! You're just going to throw it all in a bowl and mix!
I use a 1 Tablespoon scooper to keep the size consistent and then roll to form.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Protein balls can be a healthy snack option when made with nourishing ingredients like these pumpkin protein balls. They're often packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins that help support steady energy and keep you feeling satisfied between meals. Protein balls can still be calorie-dense, so it's best to enjoy them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Protein balls should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll stay fresh for up to one week when chilled, which also helps them hold their shape and flavor. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 2-3 months then just thaw for a few minutes at room temperature before enjoying. This makes them an easy make-ahead snack to keep on hand for busy days.
Check out my meal planning app for easy, healthy recipes just like this one, that your whole crew will actually love. It's like having a dietitian in your back pocket - quick, balanced, and family-approved!
Other Healthy Snacks
Lower Calorie Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon powdered peanut butter
- 1.5 tablespoon water
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoon mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- First mix the oats, peanut butter, powdered peanut butter, water, and honey together and stir until well-combined.
- Next add the scoop of protein powder and mini chocolate chips. Mix to combine.
- You'll likely want to use your hands to get everything incorporated and mixed well.
- Last, use a 1 Tablespoon scooper to scoop up each protein ball. Roll into a tight ball. Continue until all the mixture is used up.
We make these regularly around here! I love that they're lower in calories compared to many other protein balls and energy bites! They taste fantastic too!
We now make these on repeat since my teenagers go through a batch a week. I was previously purchasing pre-made ones but like these ingredients so much more.
These are phenomenal! I make them ahead of time and my whole family devours them all week.
These are my favorite after dinner snack! Keep the good recipes coming!