Power up anytime with Peanut Butter Protein Balls! These are as quick to make as they are to eat, and they will keep you ready to rock the day!

Peanut Butter Protein Balls are sweet, chewy bites that will give you a boost of energy. The best part is there’s no baking, and you only need five ingredients! Simple, healthy ingredients like peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, chia seeds, and honey are all you need to make these power-packed bites.

peanut butter protein balls in a paper cups on a plate with recipe name at the bottom

Ready for take-off

When you or the kids need a boost to get out the door in the morning or while you’re waiting in the school pick-up line and the kids need a snack before an after-school activity, these Peanut Butter Protein Balls are a lifesaver! I love making a batch of these before the week starts so that we have something healthier to turn to when we’re too hungry to make good decisions. I can’t tell you how often I “misplaced” half a block of cheese before making these protein balls!

Peanut Butter Banana Roll Ups are great quick snacks kids can make, or they could help bake a batch of Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookies!

Other Recipes to Serve with Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies are deliciously easy to blend up in the morning, to have with these protein balls for a super-charged day!
There’s nothing better than a sweet treat full of peanut butter and oats, so be sure to try Classic Peanut Butter Delights.

Ingredients

Oats: For these protein balls, either Old Fashioned Oats or quick oats can be used. The Old Fashioned Oats will give you a chewier bite if that’s what you like.

Peanut Butter: For this recipe, you will need creamy peanut butter or your favorite creamy nut butter.

Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips work best in these bites because of their size, but if all you have on hand is regular-sized chips, those will work too.

Honey: You will need honey for this recipe, but you can substitute maple syrup in place of honey.

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds add more texture and healthy nutrients, so you’ll need those. You can also swap out for ground flax or hemp seeds instead.

How to Make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

STEP ONE: In a medium-sized bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well.

peanut butter protein balls ingredients in a mixing bowl

STEP TWO: Refrigerate the mix for 30 minutes to make rolling them easier.

peanut butter protein mixture in a bowl after being chilled

STEP TWO: Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop out the mix and form it into balls. Enjoy immediately, or store the protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

peanut butter protein mixture being scooped into balls with a cookie scoop

Tips for Success

You can make many swaps and substitutions with this recipe, as mentioned above, but you can also use natural peanut butter or natural nut butter. These have a more gritty texture, but it’s not very noticeable when mixed with the other ingredients. Natural butter also tends to have less sugar in them if that’s something you prefer in snacks.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls can be gluten-free if you check the labels on the ingredients to make sure they were made in a gluten-free facility. They can also be vegan by using maple syrup in place of honey.
If the mix looks dry and crumbly, add about one tablespoon of water and stir. You can continue to add small amounts of water until you get a good consistency. Sometimes the peanut butter or natural nut butter can be drier, so more moisture is needed to help hold the balls together.

looking down at a plate of peanut butter protein balls with extra chocolate chips on some

Are energy balls actually healthy?

The ingredients in protein balls, or energy balls, are full of healthy fats, vitamins, protein, and fiber. These are all things that help give you energy and keep you feeling full longer than when you eat a candy bar, for example. Healthy fats work great with protein to sustain energy rather than burning out quickly! While this is all good stuff for your body, these are not low-calorie snacks, so enjoying only a few at a time could be a good idea if you are concerned about calories.

close up of a peanut butter protein ball in a paper cup with chocolate chips on top

Can I add other ingredients to these protein balls?

There are so many ways to make different variations when it comes to protein balls! Let’s start with the chocolate chips. You could use peanut butter chips, toffee chips, cinnamon chips, dark chocolate, or white chocolate chips. Try adding dried fruit, like raisins, cranberries, or coconut flakes. Toss in crushed almonds, pecans, or walnuts for a delicious crunch. Want more chocolate? Sprinkle in cocoa powder for a more decadent bite. There are so many ways you can change these protein balls and make something new each time!

hand holding a peanut butter protein ball with a bite taken out

More great ways to start the day or keep you going!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Super Food Smoothie
Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
Light Chocolate Peanut Bars
Granola Breakfast Cookies