Protein Banana Pancakes (Printable Version)
Fluffy, nutritious pancakes with protein powder and sweet banana. Ready in 25 minutes for a healthy breakfast.
# What You Need:
→ Wet Ingredients
01 - 2 ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Dry Ingredients
05 - 1 cup rolled oats
06 - 1/2 cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - Pinch of salt
→ Optional Add-ins
10 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds or ground flaxseed
11 - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or dark chocolate chips
# Directions:
01 - Combine the mashed bananas, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth and no banana lumps remain.
02 - Add the rolled oats, protein powder, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt directly to the blender. Blend until a smooth, uniform batter forms, scraping down the sides as needed.
03 - Stir in chia seeds, ground flaxseed, chopped walnuts, or chocolate chips if desired. Let the batter rest for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the oats to absorb moisture and the batter to thicken.
04 - Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease the surface with cooking spray or a small amount of butter or oil.
05 - Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the heated skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles form across the surface and edges appear set. Flip carefully and cook another 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
06 - Transfer cooked pancakes to a warm plate and repeat with the remaining batter. Serve immediately with fresh berries, nut butter, maple syrup, or your preferred toppings.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These pancakes sneak a serious protein punch into something that tastes like a weekend treat, not a fitness obligation.
- Everything goes into one blender, so cleanup is almost embarrassingly easy for a breakfast this good.
02 -
- Letting the batter rest for five minutes instead of two makes a real difference in fluffiness because the oats absorb liquid and the baking powder activates fully.
- If your protein powder is heavily sweetened, you may want to skip any additional toppings that add sugar to keep things balanced.
03 -
- Blend the wet ingredients first before adding the dry ones because overblending the oats can make the pancakes gummy instead of fluffy.
- A small dab of butter in the skillet between batches adds a crispy edge that plain oil simply cannot replicate.