These peanut butter oatmeal protein balls are the perfect healthy snack, breakfast on-the-go, or tasty addition to school lunches. These little protein bites come together with just a few ingredients and don’t require any baking!
Looking for more protein ball recipes? Try PB & J protein balls, cake batter protein balls, or Snickerdoodle protein balls next.
These energy bites are all the rage; once you taste this recipe, you’ll know why. You can make a big batch and keep them in the fridge for the week.
I love having them as an on-the-go breakfast, an easy snack, or a quick post-workout snack.
They’re full of healthy complex carbs, protein, fiber, and a little sweetness that may curb some sugar cravings too. All you do is mix the ingredients together in a bowl and roll them into balls.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is its flexibility.
Don’t like the chunkiness of the old fashioned oats? Blend them up to make oat flour instead. Or if you’re allergic to peanut butter, use almond butter instead. The options are endless.
Love oatmeal and peanut butter? Try these flourless oatmeal peanut butter cookies next!
How to Make Oatmeal Protein Balls
Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make protein balls with oatmeal and peanut butter. Skip to the recipe card for the printable version.
Step 1. Mix it all together. Stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until it’s combined and the peanut butter and honey are combined. Keep mixing until it all comes together and use your hands if needed to help.
Step 2. Scoop and roll into balls. Use a small to medium cookie scoop to portion out the dough then roll them into balls. Press the mixture together tightly to help them stick together.
Expert Tips
- Clean your hands periodically to help the mixture from sticking to them. Having slightly damp hands also helps from sticking and makes them really smooth.
- Get creative with mix-ins!
Love oatmeal? Try oatmeal chocolate chip muffins, blueberry overnight oats, or oat flour pancakes for breakfast!
Recipe Variations for No Bake Protein Balls
- Peanut-free: To make it nut-free, use a seed butter, like sunflower seed butter, or tahini instead of peanut butter. Or opt for a granola butter.
- Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Swap chocolate: Use mini white chocolate chips to switch things up.
- Add salt: Add a little bit of sea salt for extra flavor and crunch.
Recipe FAQs
There are 12 grams of protein in 2 protein balls. Each one individually has 6g of protein!
To make vegan oatmeal protein balls, use maple syrup as the sweetener instead of honey.
You can easily make these protein balls nut free! Swap the peanut butter for tahini or sun butter. Granola butter would be another great swap.
How to Store
Store these peanut butter protein balls in a large airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
If you make this peanut butter oatmeal energy bites recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below.
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Oatmeal Peanut Butter Protein Balls
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Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats (Note 1)
- 1 1/4 cups natural peanut butter (Note 2)
- 1/4 cup ground flax seeds (flax meal)
- 3 Tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 scoops (50-60g) vanilla protein powder (Note 3)
- 3 Tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. The mixture will be very thick and may be difficult to come together at first, but keep mixing until it does. I often use my hands to mix the dough at the end to help it come together.1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 1/4 cups natural peanut butter, 1/4 cup ground flax seeds (flax meal), 3 Tablespoons honey or pure maple syrup, 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 scoops (50-60g) vanilla protein powder, 3 Tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips
- Use a small to medium cookie scoop to scoop the no bake protein balls out and roll them until smooth. You may need to press them firmly together to hold their shape. If they seem too crumble, add 1-2 Tablespoons of peanut butter to the mixture to help bring them together. I found cleaning and wetting my hands periodically helps prevent sticking and makes them smooth.
- Store them in a large airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I make these for my kids. Instead of mixing the chocolate chips in, o melt it down and drizzle ontop. Always a hit
Oh yum that sounds delicious!
I was looking for a copycat recipe after getting some protein bites at a smoothie shop and these were exactly the thing! While I was making the mixture, I did notice that it was very sticky and matte, and I remembered the bites from the restaurant being shiny, so I had the idea to add just a tiny bit of avocado oil, probably a teaspoon or two. That really helped the texture and shine and made the mixture a LOT easier to work with, so if anyone’s struggling with the mixing/formation I recommend just a tiny drizzle of fat– I’m sure peanut butter would work too for the same reason! I also substituted PB2 for half of the protein powder because I wanted a really peanut buttery flavor
Love this! What a great tip! Thanks for sharing.
Delicious! The whole family loved these! Needed hands to form into balls but perfect consistency after chilling. Will definitely make these on the weekly!!
Love that! I need to make these weekly too!