Banana Protein Muffins (healthy gluten-free recipe!)

These Banana Protein Muffins boast 8 grams of protein per muffin and they’re gluten free!

Yep, everyone’s still talking about protein. I hope you’re not too sick of it yet. The thing is, it really is important and getting the right amount of protein can be key for weight management, balancing hormones, building muscle, and more.

I’ve been trying to make my muffin recipes with some extra protein for a while now. I’m a big fan of banana muffins (Recipe proof: Simple Banana Muffins , Almond Flour Banana Muffins, Mini Banana Muffins, Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal Muffins, Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Muffins, Strawberry Banana Yogurt Muffins !!) and knew it was time to create some banana protein muffins. I used this easy Protein Banana Bread as the base for these muffins and it worked great. These are great for an afternoon snack (that’s actually a healthy snack) or delicious breakfast for busy mornings. Let’s get into it!

Recipe Ingredients–What you Need & Nutritional Benefits

Here are the healthy ingredients you’ll need to make these protein banana muffins and their key nutrients. 

• Bananas (3): Naturally sweet and rich in potassium and fiber, bananas add moisture, natural sweetness, and support heart health and digestion. Ripe bananas work best.
• Eggs (3 large): A high-quality source of complete protein and healthy fats, eggs help keep these muffins satisfying while supporting muscle repair and overall nutrient absorption.
• Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup): Cottage cheese gives the muffins a boost of protein and calcium, cottage cheese boosts the protein content while keeping the muffins tender and moist without added oils.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Adds warm flavor without sugar and contains antioxidant compounds that support overall wellness.
• Almond Flour (2 1/2 cups): Made from finely ground almonds, this gluten-free flour is rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, and protein, helping promote steady energy and fullness.
• ed Vanilla Protein Powder (1/2 cup): Gives a protein boost to support muscle recovery and satiety, making these muffins a balanced snack or breakfast option. I have only tested with the Just Ingredients brand, so that is my recommendation.
• Coconut Sugar (1/3 cup): A minimally processed sweetener that provides small amounts of minerals and has a lower glycemic impact than refined sugar.
• Baking Powder (2 teaspoons): Helps the muffins rise and stay light and fluffy, ensuring great texture without added fats.
• salt (1/4 teaspoon): Salt enhances the flavors of all of the ingredients.
• ​No-added Sugar Chocolate Chips: These are optional, but a if you want banana chocolate chip protein muffins, I definitely recommend them. Look for stevia or erythritol sweetened dark chocolate chips for best results so you aren’t adding any extra sugar to the recipe.

Need a substitute?

Here are some ideas if you need a substitute for any of the ingredients.

Bananas: If you don’t like or can’t eat bananas, this recipe isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a high protein muffin, I recommend these Cottage Cheese Blueberry Muffins or these Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins. Both have over 8 grams of protein per muffin.

Eggs: I can’t say if this will work since I haven’t tried it, but if you need these muffins to be eggless, I suggest trying 3 flax eggs (3 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 1/2 cup water) as described in my egg substitutes list.

Cottage Cheese: I would try Greek yogurt in place of the cottage cheese if you need a substitute. I do recommend using full-fat Greek yogurt if possible.

Almond Flour: Almond flour is not a 1:1 substitute for most flours, so I can’t recommend a substitute without testing it myself. If you want to experiment, I recommend trying oat flour, but it will add more carbs.

Vanilla Protein Powder:  You could try chocolate protein powder or strawberry protein powder if you’d like to alter the flavor of these protein powder banana muffins.

Coconut Sugar: Regular white sugar or regular brown sugar will also work here. I don’t recommend a liquid sweetener like maple syrup because it will throw off the wet/dry ratio.

Chocolate Chips: My family loves chocolate chips here, but these would also be amazing with walnuts in place of the chocolate chips

How to Make Easy Banana Protein Muffins

​Here’s the step-by-step instructions for making these Banana Protein Muffins. A couple of minutes of prep, pop them in the oven, and you’re on your way! Scroll down to the recipe card if you’d like to see or print the full ingredient list and directions.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the mashed banana, eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract.
3. Add the almond flour, vanilla protein powder, baking powder, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips, if using, reserving a few for the top of the muffins.
4. Transfer the batter to a muffin pan with muffin liners so each cup is just full. Sprinkle the tops with the reserved chocolate chips.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
6. Allow muffins to cool on a baking rack before enjoying!

I hope you love these healthy banana protein muffins as much as we do! If you try this recipe, or any of my other healthy recipes, please leave a comment and star rating below. It helps me and readers a lot! Share pictures of any recipes you make over on Instagram and I’d love to feature you. Make sure to tag me so I can see! I appreciate you.

 

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