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Claudiu Pop is a nutritionist, medical writer, journalist, and the founder of Unfold Today. He specialized in fitness and nutrition, especially in weight gain, by helping people increase their body mass since 2019 with over 20 articles published in the field.
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Unfortunately for people trying to gain weight, high-calorie smoothies made with non-flavored protein powder can turn out to have a displeasing taste if the protein powder in them, derived from plants or milk, is blended with the wrong ingredients.
For example, if you combine fresh pineapple with whey protein powder, you'll end up with a bitter smoothie because of the way pineapple's bromelain interacts with whey.
Hear us out, mixing protein powder with the right ingredients is a skill everyone struggling to gain weight should learn.
As proof, ACSM's guidance for bulking up says that smoothies are one of the fundamental dietary options for boosting muscle growth in the case of people involved in resistance training, like lifting weights.[1]
Title: Bulking Up: Helping Clients Gain Weight Healthfully
Type: journal article
Published in: ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal
Made at: American College of Sports Medicine
Moreover, a little study we did showed that 91% of the females who gain weight fast drink protein shakes or smoothies regularly.
As a takeaway, you want to keep smoothies in your diet and be able to make them as delicious as possible.
Fortunately, because we know what to put in smoothies to make them useful for gaining weight and have already created numerous high-calorie smoothies, we came up with 13 weight-gain smoothie recipes that are made with protein powder.
All of the smoothies we'll explore below are high in proteins and are accompanied by photos we took in our kitchen.
The High-Calorie Green Protein Smoothie is a refreshing smoothie composed of green fruits and vegetables that also contains whey protein powder, which brings 86% of the smoothie's total proteins.
Some of the ingredients that successfully mask protein powder's taste are half of a banana, a celery stalk, and a Granny Smith apple.
| Volume | 15.7 fl oz (644 ml) |
| Calories | 411 |
| Proteins | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fats | 10 g |
Another weight-gain smoothie made with whey protein powder is the High-Calorie Blueberry Almond Smoothie. Besides helping you build muscle, the whey protein, together with the chia seeds, make this smoothie an excellent source of calcium.
| Volume | 19.7 fl oz (583 ml) |
| Calories | 434 |
| Proteins | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fats | 8 g |
Behind its bittersweet flavor, the High-Calorie Chocolate Banana Cucumber hides two types of powders, whey protein powder and spirulina powder. Did you know that spirulina is one of the vegetables with the most calories?
Whey, however, brings 50% of the smoothie's proteins. Hemp seeds and whole milk bring the other half.
Now, for the icing on the cake, this weight-gain smoothie has a refreshing twist owing to the combo of frozen cucumber and fresh mint.
| Volume | 17.2 fl oz (511 ml) |
| Calories | 435 |
| Proteins | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
If you're on the lookout for a quick and satisfying weight-gain smoothie, search no more. The High-Calorie Vanilla Ice Cream smoothie is made with half a scoop of whey protein powder, ice cream, and just two other ingredients.
This smoothie is perfect in the middle of a torrid summer day.
| Volume | 17.6 fl oz (521 ml) |
| Calories | 476 |
| Proteins | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fats | 12 g |
To create the High-Calorie Strawberry Banana Smoothie, we added whey protein powder to one of the smoothie recipes shared by the famous tennis player Novak Djokovic in his book "Serve to Win".
Now, you can gain weight with a smoothie rooted in the diet of one of the best athletes in the world.
| Volume | 33.3 fl oz (984 ml) |
| Calories | 478 |
| Proteins | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
World-class tennis player Novak Djokovic also includes protein powders in his smoothies. After getting out of bed, Djokovic used a plant-based protein powder to make his High-Calorie Breakfast Smoothie while forging his way to winning the 2015 US Open.
As you would expect from a sportsman of his level, Novak's smoothie is full of health benefits.
| Volume | 25.4 fl oz (750 ml) |
| Calories | 525 |
| Proteins | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fats | 15 g |
If deliciousness is the main characteristic you're looking for in a weight gain smoothie that's made with protein powder, you can't go wrong with the High-Calorie Peach Smoothie.
Boosted by cashews, one of the high-calorie nuts, this smoothie has over 500 calories and an impressive amount of 40 g of proteins, among which 66% come from whey protein powder.
| Volume | 24 fl oz (708 ml) |
| Calories | 537 |
| Proteins | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
If you recall, at the beginning of this article we warned you that mixing fresh pineapple with whey protein powder is going to trigger a reaction that makes the smoothie taste bitter. That's why we used rice protein powder to make the High-Calorie Pineapple Smoothie.
This smoothie helps you gain weight, build muscle, and get energized while featuring an exotic flavor.
| Volume | 18.9 fl oz (560 ml) |
| Calories | 568 |
| Proteins | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 81 g |
| Fats | 15 g |
Another weight-gain smoothie with a delightful taste that's made with protein powder is the High-Calorie Apple Smoothie.
Featuring whey protein powder, this smoothie counts among the high-calorie low-fat foods and has a light texture. Also, you'll be happy to find out that it contains a little peanut butter.
| Volume | 26.3 fl oz (777 ml) |
| Calories | 594 |
| Proteins | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 88 g |
| Fats | 12 g |
Famous actor Chris Hemsworth added pea protein powder to the secret smoothie he used to bulk up for his role in the movie "Thor: Love and Thunder".
The smoothie is, or better said was, secret because Chris only divulged the smoothie's ingredient list without the quantities. Fortunately, we used our knowledge to find a good ratio of ingredients so we could create Chris Hemsworth's High-Calorie Thor Smoothie.
It's worth noting this smoothie is made with four low-volume high-calorie foods: almond butter, coconut, hemp seeds, and chia seeds.
| Volume | 30.1 fl oz (890 ml) |
| Calories | 663 |
| Proteins | 41 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77 g |
| Fats | 26 g |
The High-Calorie Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is a classic weight-gain smoothie made with whey protein powder.
Featuring 40 g of proteins, this smoothie is very efficient at helping you build muscle. Also, you'll be happy to hear that it's also made with affordable ingredients.
Peanut butter, bananas, and whole milk count among the cheapest high-calorie foods.
| Volume | 25.8 fl oz (762 ml) |
| Calories | 683 |
| Proteins | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 84 g |
| Fats | 23 g |
Besides being filled with healthy fats, the High-Calorie Avocado Banana Smoothie has plenty of proteins, most of which are coming from whey protein powder. The rest of the proteins in the smoothie (30%) come from cashews and avocados, two high-calorie low-carb foods.
What's best is that this smoothie has over 750 calories. This is not a surprise since its main ingredients, avocados and bananas, count among the high-calorie fruits.
The smoothie is sweet but is toned down by avocado's more neutral flavor and coconut milk, which is one of the drinks with the most calories.
| Volume | 25.2 fl oz (744 ml) |
| Calories | 754 |
| Proteins | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67 g |
| Fats | 44 g |
Finally, if you're missing an oceanside vacation, try the High-Calorie Tropical Smoothie. This weight-gain smoothie is made with whey protein powder and four types of exotic fruits, which will enchant your taste buds.
| Volume | 26.7 fl oz (789 ml) |
| Calories | 773 |
| Proteins | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 113 g |
| Fats | 26 g |
After picking your favorite protein powder smoothie designed for weight gain, you should schedule when to consume it. The good news is that you can drink protein smoothies any time of the day.
Consume smoothies before your workouts to fuel your body or after your workouts to replenish lost energy and help your muscles recover and grow. Also, since they won't satisfy your appetite for too long, you can serve smoothies between meals to boost your caloric intake.
Lastly, according to a Korean study on pre-sleep casein protein ingestion, drinking a smoothie with at least 40 g of casein protein powder 30 minutes before bedtime promotes muscle recovery.[2]
Title: Pre-sleep casein protein ingestion: new paradigm in post-exercise recovery nutrition
Type: journal article
Published in: Physical Activity and Nutrition
Made at: The Korean Society for Exercise Nutrition
Nevertheless, if you want to use smoothies as pre-workout fuel, you should follow some guidelines to not feel bloated during training.
According to evidence related to the best timing of pre-workout meals, you should drink your smoothie between 30 minutes and 2 hours before your workout to optimize your body's protein levels for building muscle.
Make sure you choose a smoothie with at least 20 g of protein. That shouldn't be a problem since most of the smoothies we've listed check this requirement.
Also, depending on the number of carbs in your preferred weight-gain smoothie, you should drink it as follows:
Protein powders are very useful for preparing high-calorie smoothies that help people gain weight because they bring a solid amount of proteins (amino acids) without increasing carbs and fats.
Here are a few types of protein powders you can use:
Nonetheless, according to the American College of Sports Medicine's weight gain guidance, it's needless to add protein powders to your diet because you can get the same amount of protein from whole foods, given you have the time to eat them.[1]
Title: Bulking Up: Helping Clients Gain Weight Healthfully
Type: journal article
Published in: ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal
Made at: American College of Sports Medicine
Here are some weight gain smoothies without protein powder:
No matter whether you choose to add protein powder to your high-calorie smoothies or not, you will find out that they will all help you eat more calories than you consume, which is what you need to do every day to gain weight.
Protein smoothies are an excellent way to make weight gain easier especially if they are also high in calories because they bring your body amino acids that promote muscle growth.
The ideal protein shake for gaining weight is high in calories and proteins, and doesn't have too many added sugars or saturated fats. Note there are differences between smoothies and shakes.
Skinny people can benefit from adding protein powder to their diets because it helps them build muscle and provides additional calories. However, the diet of underweight persons should focus on high-calorie foods and snacks.
Besides learning the best times to drink smoothies, now you can follow 13 smoothie recipes that include different types of protein powder, and that will make you build muscle and gain weight more easily.
And if you happen to want to take a pause from smoothies, find shakes made with protein powder in our list of high-calorie shakes for weight gain.
Unfold Today has rigorous sourcing principles adhering to the top journalistic standards, so our writers always look for official, experienced, and first-hand sources. Read more about how we keep our content trustworthy and updated by reading our editorial process.
