High Protein Granola
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.This mouthwatering, homemade high protein granola recipe is crunchy, chewy with protein packed clusters! Nuts, seeds, protein powder, and almond butter pack a protein punch in this healthy granola. Lower sugar with no preservatives, this homemade granola is much healthier than store-bought! Enjoy this tasty protein granola on yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit, or as a healthy snack all on its own!
Sweet, crunchy granola has always been one of my favorite breakfasts. But it took me a while to realize that just because it’s called granola doesn’t make it healthy – quite the opposite sometimes. Store-bought granola can be healthy, but many brands are packed with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives, and are more like a dessert than a healthy way to start the day.
Additionally, granola isn’t very filling, since it’s high in carbs and low in protein. So I decided it was time to create a protein granola recipe that had all of the flavor of the original, but was healthier for you and keeps you full all the way until lunch!
This low calorie high protein granola is packed with clusters of hearty whole grain oats, and high-protein whole food ingredients like almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and almond butter – but feel free to use this recipe as a guideline and customize it however you like! You can change up the nuts, use different mix-ins, and any protein powder will work with this recipe!
Homemade protein granola tastes amazing in so many ways. You can add it to salads for a nice crunch, use it to top your yogurt or pancakes, and sprinkle it on fresh berries. You can add it to chia seed pudding, top a smoothie bowl with it, or combine it with cottage cheese and fresh fruit. The opportunities are endless!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Packed with nutrients and whole grains
- High protein, provides an easy energy boost
- Up to 9 grams of protein per serving
- Healthy easy snack or breakfast
- Full of healthy fats
- Low fat & low sugar, but will satisfy your sweet tooth
- No high fructose corn syrup or preservatives
- Quick and easy breakfast
- Best protein granola ever!
Latest Recipe Video!
🥘 Ingredients
Rolled oats, nuts, and seeds are essential ingredients for this delicious granola with high protein. You can find all of these ingredients at all regular grocery stores! Feel free to customize these ingredients to suit your tastes (see the variations below!)
- Tree Nuts: Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and walnuts pack a protein punch. If you don’t like any of these, you can sub them out for more of another. Since nuts can be pricey, I like to purchase them in bulk or load up when they’re on sale.
- Whole Grain Rolled Oats: Be sure to use rolled oats and not quick oats, steel cut oats, or instant oats for the best texture.
- Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds add even more protein and crunch! Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, or hemp seeds work great too.
- Coconut Oil: Oil is what helps crisp up this granola with protein powder. I like to use coconut oil for its light coconut flavor and many health benefits, but you can also use avocado oil – which also has healthy fats and works well in this vegan protein granola recipe.
- Almond Butter: Almond butter encourages the granola to clump. It also tastes amazing!
- Honey: Real honey adds a touch of sweetness to this recipe. Maple syrup, cane syrup, or agave nectar works great too! I wouldn’t recommend plain cane sugar or brown sugar – they don’t have a binding quality that the syrups have, and that this recipe needs.
- Vanilla, Cinnamon, Salt: Subtle vanilla flavor enhances the sweetness of granola without needing a ton of sugar. I love to add warm cinnamon to healthy protein granola but you can leave it out or even sub in pumpkin pie spice for a fall version. Lastly, a pinch of sea salt will do the trick to bring out the classic flavor in this recipe!
- Protein Powder (optional): Since this is an optional ingredient, it’s not pictured above, but I do recommend using it if you want to increase the protein in this recipe. Many protein granola recipes require protein powder, but I wanted to give you an option to still get a ton of protein with or without protein powder – so this recipe has a protein powder option but it’s not necessary if you don’t want to use it and don’t need as much protein in this granola!
🔪 Instructions
This high protein homemade granola recipe is simple to make. If you like to get your kids in the kitchen, this low sugar granola is an excellent recipe for that. They can help measure the ingredients and stir everything together. Here’s how to make protein granola at home:
Preheat Oven, Chop Nuts: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F / 150 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Chop your nuts, add them to a mixing bowl with the oats and sunflower seeds. Note: To make this high fiber granola recipe even higher in protein you can add ⅓ cup of vanilla protein powder to the dry ingredients at this step.
Microwave Wet Ingredients: Combine the vanilla, almond butter, coconut oil, and honey in a microwave safe container. Microwave the mixture in 30 second increments until completely melted. Stir until smooth.
Toss To Combine: Add the honey mixture to the nut mixture with the salt and cinnamon. Toss with a wooden spoon until well coated.
Spread & Bake: Spread this high protein low carb granola mixture in an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent this homemade granola protein recipe from burning.
Let Granola Cool, Store And Enjoy: Once this low carb high protein granola looks golden brown, remove it from the oven and let it cool. Enjoy it with breakfast or store it for later. Place the cooled granola into an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place.
💭 Expert Tips
- Granola will crisp as it cools. Wait until it’s cool before storing it or serving it, otherwise you may end up with mushy granola!
- Don’t forget to mix the granola halfway through cooking. Stirring the granola periodically throughout the cooking process helps to evenly cook this protein powder granola and reduces the chances of burning.
- If you like chunky granola with lots of crunchy clusters of whole grain oats, don’t stir it once you remove it from the oven. Let it cool completely first, and then you can use your hands to break it into the cluster sizes you want!
- Only use rolled oats for this recipe. Quick cooking oats, instant oats and steel cut oats will not work.
- Test the flavor of your protein powder first. If you’re buying a new protein powder that you haven’t tried before, test it in a smoothie before you add it to this recipe to ensure you like the taste of it!
- All mix-ins should be added after the protein granola clusters have cooled. This includes dried fruit, chocolate chips, or anything that isn’t in the original recipe!
📖 Variations
- Gluten Free Granola: Store-bought granola is only gluten-free if it’s labeled so. Oats are harvested and processed around gluten-containing grains which means cross-contamination is highly likely if not certain. To make homemade granola gluten free, be sure to purchase oats that are labeled certified gluten-free.
- Make It Vegan: Easily make this recipe vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
- Other Nut Butters: If you don’t have almond butter or prefer peanut butter, you can use peanut butter or your favorite nut butter instead. A seed butter like this pumpkin seed butter would also work!
- Different Mix Ins: Try adding in some dried fruit – dried cranberries, dried blueberries, raisins, dried pineapple, dried mango, and dried cherries all taste delicious. Just be sure to add the dried fruit after this homemade low fat granola is baked so it doesn’t dry out. You can also try adding in some coconut flakes, or even chocolate chips (make sure to toss them into the cooled granola after baking is done, otherwise they will melt in the oven).
- Change The Protein Powder: Add 1/3 cup of any of your favorite vegan protein powders. I haven’t tried this recipe with whey protein powder but I imagine that would work too. You can also add more protein by adding in some flaxseed meal, whole flax seeds, or chia seeds.
- Low Calorie: Feel free to mix protein powder into this low calorie granola recipe for a slightly lower calorie option!
❓ Recipe FAQs
Is high protein granola healthy?
The short answer is: it depends on the granola. Store-bought granola (even from health food stores) can be packed with lots of added sugar and unhealthy fats, and are typically more like a dessert than a healthy breakfast or snack option.
But if you make your own granola at home, you can control how much fat and sugar are included, which can make it much healthier for you! This high protein low sugar granola is super healthy – as it’s made with plant-based whole-food ingredients, is packed with important nutrients, and has a very small amount of added sugar. It’s the perfect copycat recipe for typical high protein granola brands like Tesco, Lidl, and Nature Valley high protein granola, but is much better for you. It’s high in protein, low in sugar, and is a great way to get a healthy start to your day!
If you make it without protein powder, you’ll get 7 g protein in each serving, and with protein powder you’ll have 9 grams of protein per serving. You can feel good about eating this granola.
Is granola high protein? How much protein is in granola?
The answer is – it depends! Most store bought granola is high in carbs and fiber, but not high in protein. Typically granola will have between 2-4 grams of protein per serving.
How do you eat high protein granola?
Granola can be served however you like! It tastes delicious served with almond milk or whole milk, but you can also eat it in so many different ways!
Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy granola:
** On smoothie bowls or yogurt bowls: Try it on this strawberry smoothie bowl, this peanut butter yogurt bowl, or this banana smoothie bowl!
** On toast: spread toast with cream cheese or your favorite nut butter and use it as a topping. You can also use it on any of these breakfast toast ideas!
** On pancakes: These healthy pancakes would taste great with the texture of granola, and so would these oat flour pancakes or vegan apple pancakes!
** On ice cream: Top this lychee ice cream with a sprinkle of granola! It would also taste great on this chocolate banana ice cream or caramel nice cream for a healthy treat!
** Other recipes: Try it on this breakfast fruit salad, on these healthy oatmeal recipes, or on any of these vegetarian and vegan salads for additional crunch. You can also use it on baked sweet potatoes for a sweet crunchy topping!
How do I store homemade granola?
Store this granola in an airtight container for up to three months. Be sure to wait until it is completely cool before storing it. If it’s still warm, it can condensate in a closed container, and will become mushy from the moisture. For best results, store it in a cool, dry place – typically a pantry or cabinet at room temperature will work!
🍲 More Healthy High Protein Recipes!
- Protein Hot Chocolate
- Mango Protein Smoothie
- Vegan Protein Waffles
- Protein Baked Oats
- Strawberry Yogurt
- Vegan Protein Pancakes
- Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Parfait
- Vegan Baked Oatmeal
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Picky Eater.
Love this Plant based breakfast recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page!
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!
📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
High Protein Granola
This mouthwatering, homemade high protein granola recipe is crunchy, chewy with protein packed clusters! Nuts, seeds, protein powder, and almond butter pack a protein punch in this healthy granola. Lower sugar with no preservatives, this homemade granola is much healthier than store-bought! Enjoy this tasty protein granola on yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit, or as a snack all on its own!
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 298kcal
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole almonds
- ⅓ cup whole hazelnuts
- ½ cup pecans
- ⅔ cup walnuts
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1½ tbsp almond butter
- 3 tbsp honey use maple syrup for a vegan option
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
- ⅓ cup vanilla protein powder optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F / 150 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roughly chop the nuts, add to a mixing bowl along with the sunflower seeds and rolled oats. Toss to combine.
- Add the vanilla, almond butter, coconut oil, and honey to a microwave safe container and microwave in 30 second bursts until melted, whisk until smooth.
- Add the melted honey mixture, salt and cinnamon to the chopped nuts. Toss until everything is well coated.
- Spread in an even layer over the prepared baking tray.
- Place the baking tray in the oven to cook for 15 – 20 minutes, making sure to stir every 5 minutes to stop from burning and to ensure even cooking.
- When the granola is golden in color, remove the tray from the oven and let the granola cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- To make this granola even higher in protein you can add ⅓ cup of vanilla protein powder to the dry ingredients before stirring through the melted honey mixture (nutritional information includes vanilla protein powder, without the protein powder, each serving would have 7 grams of protein).
- Once granola has cooled completely you can add ½ cup of raisins to the mix to add a little more sweetness.
- Granola can be stored for up to 3 months.
- Granola can be served with chilled almond milk, coconut yogurt, regular yogurt, or your favorite milk as a delicious breakfast or dessert.
- Stirring the granola periodically throughout the cooking process helps to evenly cook the granola and reduces the chances of burning.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.33cup | Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g
Can you substitute raw agave for the honey to make it vegan?
Hi Donna! Yes that should work, and maple syrup should also work as a vegan friendly alternative!
This is the perfect high protein granola for me. I did not have almond butter so I used peanut butter instead. It was yum.
Peanut butter is a great substitute in this recipe! So glad it turned out well for you!
The flavor is amazing! I love that it is healthy and packed with protein. Thank you so much for an awesome recipe!
Totally! Thanks Ned! 🙂
You can’t beat homemade granola and this high protein version was delicious and nutritious too.
I know right?? Homemade granola is the best! Thanks Dannii!
The almond butter takes this granola to the next level! A healthy breakfast for the whole week.
Thank you so much Katherine!! So glad you liked this recipe!
Hey there – do you happen to know how much protein is in a serving? Thank you
There is 9 grams of protein in each serving (you can see the full nutritional information in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!) Hope that helps!
Looks yummy and I can’t wait to make this!
Oats are listed in the ingredients, but I don’t see them mentioned in the directions. I’m guessing you add them in with the nuts in the beginning?
Thanks.
Hi Marian! Thanks for reaching out! And omg thank you for catching that! Yes, you add the oats with the nuts and sunflower seeds in the beginning. I’ve updated my post to indicate that, thanks again!
This recipe was so easy to make thanks to your step by step photos! We loved it!
Thanks Claudia!
Your protein granola recipe was awesome! we all enjoyed it. I loved that the kids were snacking on something healthy. Great tips too!
Woohoo! Thanks for letting me know Heidy!
This homemade granola is the best! Love the high protein.
Thanks so much!! 🙂
I love making my own granola at home, and this one is so good! I will definitely be making this over and over in my house 🙂
Aw yay! I’m so glad you liked this recipe Cathleen!
Yum! This granola looks so crunchy, with all the nuts. A great breakfast recipe.
Thanks Biana! Enjoy!