The perfect high-protein sweet snack! These 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are an easy healthy snack for meal prep.
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These 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls are all you could ever want in a healthy snack.
They’re sweet, and a little salty. They contain oats for heart-healthy fiber and peanut butter for satisfying and nourishing fats. This simple snack will also help you reach your protein goals. And the best part is, they’re incredibly quick and easy to make!
Learn how to make one of my favorite nutritious snacks as a dietitian. I know you’ll love them!
Reasons to love
There’s so many reasons to love this healthy snack.
Quick: You can make these peanut butter oatmeal balls in less than 10 minutes.
One bowl: This no-fuss recipe is prepped in one bowl with just three simple ingredients.
High protein: Getting more protein isn’t too hard with easy protein-rich recipes like these.
Portable: You can take these peanut butter oatmeal balls to work or school.
Sugar-free: If you use a sugar-free protein powder, this snack won’t contain any added sugars.
Why they stand out
This recipe swaps the usual honey for protein powder for a high protein and sugar-free snack.
Ingredient notes
You’ll need three ingredients to make peanut butter oatmeal balls:
- Salted natural peanut butter — you’re looking for a peanut butter with just peanuts and salt on the ingredients list (the salt is important to balance flavors)
- Old fashioned oats — these give the best texture, but you could sub for quick oats if needed
- Vanilla protein powder — pick one without added sugars
Step-by-step instructions
Mix dough: Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl, including optional mix-ins. With a wooden spoon or spatula, mix ingredients together until well combined.
They should form a thick dough that easily stays together when pressed. Adjust the ingredients as needed until dough has reached your desired consistency (see notes).
Form balls: Grab about 2 Tbsp of dough and use your hands to carefully form balls. Place on a plate, making sure balls aren’t touching each other. Repeat until all dough has been used.
Store: Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before transferring to a food container with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to five days.
Optional mix-ins
If you want, you can add a few tablespoons of extra mix-ins.
In the recipe, I suggest mini chocolate chips or M&M’s candies. These mix-ins are super tasty but will add some sugars to this otherwise sugar-free snack.
Other mix-in options can include raisins, dried cranberries, sugar-free chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or chopped dates.
Products you’ll need
More healthy snacks
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3-Ingredient taco dip
PB & Chocolate protein smoothie
Healthy apple nachos
Cottage cheese chocolate mousse
Chocolate peanut butter protein bars
Protein baked oats
3-ingredient peanut butter dip
Variations
Try these swaps for a tasty variation on this easy recipe:
- Chocolate peanut butter: swap vanilla protein powder for chocolate
- Trail mix: add a few tablespoons of dried fruit
- Coconut: add a few tablespoons of shredded coconut
Tips and tricks
- Use a small cookie scoop to measure your dough before forming balls
- Use a tasty protein powder because you’ll definitely taste it
- Squeeze your measured dough in your hands before rolling into balls (this helps them stay together)
- Prep these peanut butter oatmeal balls on Sundays to enjoy all week
Common questions
I would recommend using smooth peanut butter instead of chunky for this recipe so the balls form together more easily.
This recipe can easily be made plant-based by using a plant-based protein powder.
If your dough is too thick, add more peanut butter. You’ll also need to make sure you’re using fresh natural peanut butter that’s a little “drippy”. If your peanut butter is dry, the balls won’t form properly.
If your dough is too thin, add more protein powder and/or oats.
Leave a rating and review!
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3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls (High Protein)
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted natural peanut butter, make sure it's drippy
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
Optional Mix-Ins
- 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips or M&Ms candies
Instructions
- Mix dough: Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl, including optional mix-ins. With a wooden spoon or spatula, mix ingredients together until well combined. They should form a thick dough that easily stays together when pressed. Adjust the ingredients as needed until dough has reached your desired consistency (see notes).
- Form balls: Grab about 2 Tbsp of dough and use your hands to carefully form balls. Place on a plate, making sure balls aren't touching each other. Repeat until all dough has been used.
- Store: Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before transferring to a food container with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to five days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I make these every week!!
This one was a bit of a miss for me, though maybe it’s the particular protein powder I used. That flavour and texture was just too overpowering, and I had to add quite a few more M&Ms to try and find some balance. I would maybe try again with half the amount of protein powder.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy them, Leslie! I find the brand of protein powder makes a huge difference in a recipe like this. Personally, I love the flavour of Leanfit protein powders and Legion Athletics. Might be worth trying!
Just made these yesterday using Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips and Truvani vanilla protein powder. They are so so satisfying! A new favorite for sure. I keep them in the freezer and they are the perfect cool pick-me-up. I had to add a little bit of extra rolled oats to get the texture to turn out right, but like she says in the recipe, just tweak it until the consistency is where you want it.
Yeah…don’t be like me and ignore the drippy peanut butter note. They’re still good and in ball shape but not as delicious as they should be. Melting it might help…maybe.