I’ve been on a mission to make my mornings easier and more nourishing – and this protein pancake recipe helps me do exactly that! These pancakes have quickly become a classic breakfast staple for me and my family. I’m able to get in 12 grams of protein per serving, easily make them to be both gluten- and dairy-free, and only use bananas as an optional topping (not in the actual batter). Plus, I’ve discovered the combination of baking powder and baking soda works to make these pancakes perfectly fluffy. Whether I’m making a fresh batch on the griddle in the morning or meal prepping for the week ahead, these pancakes always make my mornings a little bit better.
Recipe Highlights
- These pancakes provide 12 grams of protein per serving, thanks to the combination of protein powder, large eggs, and egg whites.
- This recipe is unique, as it doesn’t use ripe bananas in the batter like most protein pancake recipes do.
- The pancakes themselves or the batter can be prepped ahead of time, making this recipe a great breakfast meal prep option.
- The recipe can be easily altered to meet dairy-free and gluten-free dietary needs.
- Everything comes together in just under 30 minutes, so I can get a high-protein breakfast on the table fast.
Health Benefits
These pancakes provide 12 grams of protein per serving, helping me get closer to my daily protein goals while supporting satiety, energy levels, and muscle growth. By adding extra toppings, such as Greek yogurt, berries, or nut butter, I can build a breakfast plate that’s well balanced in macronutrients.
My Go-To Protein Powders
I love using my favorite protein powders in this recipe, whether it’s plant-based or whey. I’ve tested this recipe specifically with Puori Whey Protein Powder (Vanilla) and KOS Plant-Based Vanilla Protein Powder, and both worked really well. I have found that different protein powders can affect the batter’s consistency. To solve this issue, I’ll add a little more flour if it gets too thin; if it’s too thick, I’ll add a bit more milk. For any of my friends and family curious about what other whey or plant-based protein powders I would recommend, check out these in-depth guides where I help provide more insight on the options available:
Making Protein Pancakes
While the recipe says to mix the ingredients in a bowl, I have been known to make the pancake batter in a blender. I simply add all of the ingredients to a blender and give it a whirl; it’s that easy!
I’ve also mixed blueberries or chocolate chips into the pancake batter before cooking my flapjacks to switch things up every now and then.
For serving size and the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories (kcals), protein, carbohydrates/carb, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.
Meal Prep The Batter
One hack I’ve found when going to meal prepping these high-protein pancakes is making the batter ahead of time. It’s a great way to be able to serve fresh pancakes over the next few days without starting from scratch. When I choose to make the batter ahead, I store it in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When I’m ready to make the pancakes, I remove from the batter from the fridge, give it a good stir, and get cooking! Sometimes need to add a little water to thin the batter out before cooking.
Make it Dairy-Free
To make this recipe gluten-free, I use a gluten-free baking flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Flour Blend or King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Baking Flour.
Make it Gluten-Free
To make this recipe dairy-free, I use a non-dairy milk (e.g. almond milk), a plant-based protein powder like Ora Organic and coconut oil instead of butter.
One Of Our 5-Star Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pancakes and bacon is the ONE meal that everyone in my family will eat easily! I’ve been adding some protein powder to my regular pancake recipe, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough to make a difference. I tried this recipe, and it was a hit! This is my new go-to recipe and I will be making it every weekend.”
-Becky
To Top It All Off
When it comes to toppings for these pancakes, the possibilities are endless. Some of my favorites include:
- A drizzle of maple syrup or honey
- Granola or chopped nuts (for extra crunch)
- Greek yogurt
- Fresh fruit and/or berries
- Nut butter (e.g. almond, peanut, cashew)
Storage Instructions
I love making these protein pancakes for meal prep — they’re perfect for quick, healthy breakfasts throughout the week. After cooking and letting them cool, I enjoy a few fresh, then store the rest in an airtight container. They keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, I use the microwave for about 30 seconds or warm them in a toaster or toaster oven. If frozen, I just add a little extra heating time.
Frequently Asked Questions
I could add an extra egg and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the batter to turn these into waffles, or I could use my protein waffle recipe to take all the guess work out of it.
This recipe contains 25 grams of carbs per serving without toppings, so it’s not particularly low-carb or keto.
To prevent my protein pancakes from sticking, I always use a non-stick pan and grease it well with butter, coconut oil, or nonstick cooking spray. I also let the pan pre-heat on the stovetop for a few minutes before adding the batter.
Yes, pancakes can certainly be made with health in mind. Don’t get me wrong, I love a stack of fluffy, regular pancakes. However, I also love to sneak in a little protein when I can (not just for myself but for my kids, too). By serving these protein-packed pancakes with toppings like Greek yogurt, nut butter, and fresh fruit, I’m able to make a delicious and balanced breakfast.
While protein pancakes may taste a bit different depending on the protein powder used, this recipe still achieves a texture close to regular pancakes — all thanks to my clever combo of 2 simple ingredients: baking powder and baking soda.
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The Best Protein Pancakes Recipe
Start your morning off strong with these delicious protein pancakes. Top them with Greek yogurt, berries, or maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast that can fuel your day (and your workout).
Ingredients
- 2 servings protein powder*
- 1 cup gluten-free flour blend**
- 1 cup milk of choice***
- ½ cup egg whites (2 large egg whites)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- Butter, coconut oil, or nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients; stir well.
- Heat a griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of butter or coconut oil (may also use cooking spray) to the surface. Once melted and/or hot, swirl around to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Spoon batter (using a scant ¼ cup per pancake) into the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until small bubbles appear on the surface of the batter.
- Flip over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the pancake is golden brown.
- Remove the cooked pancakes from the skillet and keep warm. Repeat until all of the pancake batter is used up.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds or use a toaster or toaster oven.
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Notes
*I recommend Puori Whey Protein Powder – Vanilla (use PUORIxRFD for 20% off) or Ora Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder Protein Powder (use REALFOOD10 for 10% off). Since different protein powders will result in a different consistency of the pancake batter, the recipe may need to have some extra milk or flour added to it. If the batter is too thin, add an additional tablespoon or 2 of flour. If the batter is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of milk.
**I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Flour Blend or King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten-free Baking Flour. May substitute for all-purpose flour if gluten-free dietary needs aren’t a concern. Oat flour (or rolled oats ground into a flour consistency) is another good option to use.
***Use non-dairy milk instead of cow’s milk to make these pancakes dairy-free.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: 2 pancakes (made with Puori whey protein powder)
- Calories: 174
- Fat: 3 g
- (Sat Fat: 1 g)
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Carbohydrate: 25 g
- (Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 2 g)
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 53 mg
Dietary
The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.
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Have you tried to do these as sheet pan pancakes? We are going to the beach as a family and sheetpan method is a faster way to make pancakes for a crowd.
Yes, they will work great with that method. We also have this recipe for sheet pan pancakes if you need to reference it for timing/temp.
Made these per recipe using Puori vanilla whey protein and Bobs Red Mill GF flour but cooking them on a 16x12x1 sheet pan, nonstick using cooking spray. 350 degree oven for 15 minutes was perfect. They taste good! We also added blueberries before baking and that worked well. They were a little thin for our families liking so next time we will double the recipe to make them thicker. Two thumbs up for taste and texture! Thanks for all your hard work on healthy recipes for the whole family!
We appreciate the feedback and 5-star review Tammie!
Will collagen peptides work in place of protein powder?
We have not specifically experimented with that method so we can’t say for certain how it would work. If you try and have success let us know!
how could I turn this into a waffle batter?
We suggest adding 1 more whole egg and 1 additional tablespoon of maple syrup.