Last Updated On January 1, 2026
Protein powders are a convenient way to meet your daily protein target, but do you find yourself grimacing when it comes time to drink your protein shake because it tastes bad or is lumpy?
If this is you, keep reading, as I have 10 top tips to take you from hating drinking protein shakes to looking forward to them every day.
10 Tips To Make Your Protein Shake Taste Better
As a personal trainer and nutrition coach, I have taken a LOT of time to discover just how to make a good-tasting protein shake. You'll be craving your daily protein shake with my tips below.
1. Use A Good Quality Protein Powder
Firstly I always recommend that people looking for a new protein powder buy a high-quality one. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Making protein shakes taste great all starts with a good protein powder, plus you won't get any nasty ingredients that can be present in whey protein powder.
If it's loaded with filler ingredients and a long list of ingredients you have never heard of or can't pronounce, then it's best to pass on this protein powder and choose one with natural ingredients.
I highly recommend using whey protein isolate, which is a finer powder and tends to mix with liquid better. It is also a faster-digesting whey protein that provides maximum muscle repair and muscle growth.
2. Use A Blender
Nobody wants floating clumps in protein shakes, so the key is to blend it using more than a shaker. Step up your protein shake game by using a blender.
If you use a good blender to mix all your ingredients, you are guaranteed a nice smooth consistency with every shake you make. I personally love using my Nutribullet to mix protein powder as it’s easy and creates a great consistency every time.
3. Add Fruit (Think Bananas & Frozen Fruits!)
Fruit is the perfect natural sweetener and a surefire way to make a tasty protein shake. Frozen fruit is perfect for improving both the taste and texture and making your shake more nutritious.
Fruit will add flavor and also provide additional carbohydrates, which need to be considered for your nutritional targets and goals. Bananas work well in protein shakes as they give them a nice creamy consistency, especially if you use water.
4. Use Milk Or Flavored Liquid
Many people hate the taste of protein powder when mixed with water. Fortunately, there is a simple alternative to water that makes protein powder taste better and gives it a creamier texture.
The best liquid to mix with protein powder is cow’s milk or regular milk alternatives such as oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk.
If you use whole milk, then you are increasing the amount of protein consumed, but you are also increasing the amount of calories and fat you're consuming. On the plus side, research shows that increased dairy consumption is associated with a decreased prevalence of metabolic-related disorders.[1]
5. Add Spices (Like Cinnamon, Nutmeg, or Ginger)
Spice up your life (and your shake) by trying out different spices that will add a much nicer taste but also provide added health benefits without adding calories.
I am a huge fan of adding cinnamon to my shakes as it is proven to support blood sugar control and reduce inflammation.[2] Cocoa powder can also be added to an unflavored protein to create a delicious chocolatey shake that isn’t too sweet.
6. Add Natural Sweeteners
I always recommend my clients avoid protein powders that are loaded with an artificial sweetener. Be aware because many protein powders on the market are full of them.
Make sure you always check the ingredient list for artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and additives, and choose a natural product.
If you prefer a sweeter taste, then add honey to give it a natural sweetness and have the added benefit of honey being an anti-inflammatory food.[3]
Maple syrup is another good choice that I like to use with almond milk.
7. Use Extracts
You can make whey protein powder taste good by using vanilla extract, which will improve the taste significantly, but it won't create a sickly and overly sweet taste. Just remember that a little goes a long way! My favorite options for extracts are vanilla, almond, and peppermint extracts.
By using extracts, you can improve the taste without adding unnecessary calories, which is good for those who have weight loss goals.
8. Experiment With Different Ingredients
This one may seem surprising, but you can mix protein powder with lots of different ingredients, including foods like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and avocado, all of which will add a thicker texture to your shake.
Greek yogurt mixes well with protein powder and will make your shake creamier. Although, it can make protein powder taste sour, so it's good to add natural sweeteners if you add yogurt to your shake.
Additional ingredients are going to boost the nutritional content of your shake by adding other macronutrients or vitamins. Flavored protein powder is great for experimenting with different flavor combinations and recipes to find which one you enjoy best.
9. Add Nut Butter
Nut butter, like roasted peanut butter, can make your protein shake taste yummy with the added benefit of increasing healthy fats, which is important for overall health and for providing energy.
If you don't like peanut butter, there are plenty of other nut butters to try, such as almond or cashew butter, all guaranteed to create a great-tasting shake.
10. Serve It Cold
I much prefer my protein shakes cold than at room temperature. Ice cubes are your friend when trying to improve the texture of your protein shake. It helps make protein shakes more refreshing, thicker, and creamier.
Protein shakes are best consumed immediately, but they can be poured into a water bottle and stored for a few hours in the fridge.
Best Liquids To Mix With Protein Powder
Water
Protein powder is most commonly mixed with water for weight loss goals. The reason is that water will not add any more calories, and you will only consume protein and no other macronutrients.
If you want to lose weight, then it is best to stick with water or find ways to reduce calories elsewhere if you prefer a creamier shake.
Milk
If you are trying to gain weight or put on muscle, then it is best to mix your protein powder with milk to provide extra calories and more nutrients. Protein powders taste much better when mixed with milk and give it a much better texture, and there's the added benefit of extra protein.
Smoothies
Mixing protein powder in a smoothie is best if you want a more substantial meal, such as breakfast. Unflavored protein powder works well in smoothies as you can experiment with different flavors.
You can bump up the protein shake from around 120 calories to 400-500 calories that include all your macronutrients in one tasty drink. This would be best for those wanting to get an energy boost from their first meal of the day and help them feel fuller for longer.
Coffee
If you need an extra caffeine hit in the morning, adding coffee to your protein shake will give you a great boost in energy and a great way to add more flavor if you love the taste of coffee.
Add a shot of expresso or cold brew with unflavored protein, and blend with ice—a coffee lover's dream with a good bump of protein.
Tea
Not many people think it would work well to blend a protein powder with tea, but surprisingly you can! Turn it into a milk tea by adding tea, milk, and unflavored protein powder.
Common Mistakes With Making Protein Shakes
Adding Too Much Protein
Be careful to stick to the instructions in terms of protein-to-liquid ratio. Adding too much protein powder will make the protein shake too thick and most likely make it lumpy; if this happens, then more water is required.
Adding protein powder slowly is best, as you can add more if you decide to create a thicker protein shake.
Not Mixing It Properly
When you don't mix the protein powder with the liquid properly, you are left with lumps or dry protein powder sitting at the bottom of your shaker. Use a good quality shaker cup that mixes better or even better; use a blender.
Using Too Much Sweetener
If you decide to use a flavored protein powder, chances are you don’t need to add any sweeteners unless you want a very sweet drink.
Most protein powders are loaded with artificial sweeteners, and adding more, will create a strong flavor and make it far too sweet and sickly.
Ignoring the Expiration Date
Whey protein is derived from dairy, so you never want to consume supplements past the expiration date. It might be okay a few days past, but if there is a bad taste, then it's best to throw it away.
Making Protein Shake Taste Better Questions
You can make a vanilla protein shake taste better by using a milk substitute rather than water.
Vanilla protein powder tends to taste overly sweet, so it is best to mix it with an unflavoured almond or oat milk.
This will reduce the sickly sweet taste and improve the texture by making it more creamy and smooth.
The best way to make your protein shake taste less chalky is by mixing it with milk or a milk substitute. Plant-based protein powders such as pea protein tend to be more likely to taste chalky and have a gritty texture due to the way ingredients are stripped down to extract protein.
You can improve the taste of chocolate protein powder when you add milk as opposed to water. The type of milk depends on taste preferences and dietary requirements.
Cow's milk will make a chocolate protein shake taste great, but soy milk is a great choice for creating a creamy consistency if you can't digest dairy products.
What Is The Secret Of The Perfect Protein Shake?
The perfect protein shake does exist; you don't have to force down a shake that has a bad texture and tastes awful. The key is to use a high-quality protein powder, use milk rather than water and add in other ingredients to help it taste sweeter, more nutty, or creamier, whatever your personal preferences are!
References:
- https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-10-46
- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfs/2019/4138534/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424551/
Last Updated on January 1, 2026
