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IF YOU'RE AN avid lifter, you likely have a go-to protein powder to fuel your post-workout shake.
And we're here for it. Research has showed that consuming around 30 grams of protein after your workout can help you recovery from the micro-tears that happen in your muscles when you workout. Rebuilding these tiny tears is actually what causes your muscles to grow bigger and stronger, believe it or not.
But, unfortunately what's good for your muscles isn't necessarily good for your taste buds. Good tasting protein powders are hard to come by—and we don't always have time to cook up chicken or steak after a workout to get our protein in. And it can take a lot of effort concocting a blend of yogurt, bananas, chia seeds, and frozen berries to make a high-protein smoothie actually worth drinking.
If you're in need of someone quick and on the go, you may not have the time nor the equipment, so you need a protein powder that can stand alone. We're talking only with water alone.
Here's a list of protein powders that defy all odds of what protein powder is supposed to taste like.
There's a million different kinds of protein powders, and we've reviewed them all— but this list is different. This list has one criteria, and one criteria only: it has to taste good.
We're not saying you need to replace your usual protein powders with these. We're saying to turn to them when you're growing so bored of your usual that you need a jolt of something different. They're mix-makers, so to speak.
Dymatize ISO100, Fruity Pebbles
Dymatize ISO100, Fruity Pebbles
Yeaaaaaah, Dino. This surprisingly"good 25-grams-of-protein-a-scoop powder is yabadaba-delicious. If you shake it up with milk, you're basically drinking the what's left over after you scoop out all the Pebbles. And, honestly, isn't that just as good—if not better—than eating the Pebbles themselves?
Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Powder, Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Even if you're not "plant-based" (whatever the heck that means), the 21 grams of pea-rice-chia protein tastes almost exactly like a cut of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a big ol' peppermint stick. This one is seasonal, folks, so stock up while you can.
Flavor is a biggie when it comes to protein powder—but don't undersell texture. If you're fed up with slugging down grainy, gritty powders, give Gnarly a shot. This stuff is smooooooooth—almost buttery. And the mellow vanilla flavor is balanced, not super-sweet like most.
BSN Syntha-6 , Cold Stone Creamery Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip
What happens when a protein powder company joins forces with an ice cream company? Pure awesomeness, that's what. This powder contains 22 grams of protein per scoop. Blend it into whole milk and you're basically drinking a muscled-up Shamrock Shake.
Too many chocolate product powders taste fake. But this company uses real cocoa to flavor their product. It's a little sweet, but that's not a bad thing when it comes to shaking up your shake. Pair it with chocolate milk to flood your taste buds in the good stuff.
Garden of Life Organic Plant-Based Protein, Chocolate
This vegan powder derives its protein from a mixture of pea, bean, and lentils. Though it sure doesn't taste that way. The chocolate flavor is rich and luscious, without the too-sweet taste of most plant-based products. Plus, it carries the all-important NSF Certified for Sport seal. That means what the product advertises on the label is actually in the product.
Vanilla protein powders too often taste flat. Bodylogix's offering is less vanilla and more VANILLA, which comes off tasting like home-churned vanilla bean ice cream.
Sometimes the classics just hit.
Maybe you're one of those people that doesn't think fruit belongs in cereal, and doesn't like the Fruity Pebble option.
Well, you have to agree that chocolate goes in cereal, right? No worries— Dymatize has a Cocoa Pebble option, too. It's basically chocolate milk, right?
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, Double Rich Chocolate
One of the classic protein powders is also still the best-tasting. You can find ON Gold Standard 100% Whey protein pretty much everywhere. Maybe that's because it's a great introductory protein powder—no weird sugar alcohols, real cocoa, pure deliciousness.
Yeah, a protein powder made my a chef. This blend lists pumpkin pie spice in its ingredients list, which means it makes for the perfect addition to your pancake or waffle batter. You could try it in a shake, too, if you're into that kind of thing.
This powder contains one ingredient and only one ingredient: roasted peanuts. That means a few things. One, it's vegan. Two, lower in protein at 6 grams per scoop. Three, despite that fact, it's an amazingly tasty way to add a little more protein to your oatmeal, flapjacks, or anything else that deserves to taste a little more like peanut butter.
Dymatize ISO100 Whey Protein Powder, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Dymatize ISO100 Whey Protein Powder, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Dymatize hits again.
And speaking of peanut butter, if you prefer yours with a little more chocolate, this powder basically tastes like a Reese's Cup. "Dymatize Iso100 is the best-tasting protein [powder] I've ingested," says one of our staffers. Get on that.
If you're a Cinnamon Toast Crunch fan, look no further.
Legion is making our mouths water with their cinnamon cereal flavor. All that's left to do is to find a way to bake this into some protein packed cinnamon rolls ...
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