Blueberry Muffin Chickpea Smoothie (17g protein)
If you’re looking for a high fiber, protein-packed smoothie that actually tastes good, this light + crushable blueberry muffin chickpea smoothie is IT. Blended with canned chickpeas, frozen blueberries, sweet vanilla and a tiny bit of brown sugar, you’ll fall in love with this quick + energizing breakfast.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
If you, like 95% of us, are not hitting your fiber targets, um, I can help you fix that. This good-for-your-gut smoothie is one of the most delicious ways to get your fibre and your protein, all in one 5 minute breakfast. Because this gut health dietitian isn’t gonna mess with a smoothie that isn’t actually yummy.
And if you’re skeptical of putting beans in a smoothie: when I say this chickpea smoothie tastes like a blueberry muffin, I mean it. You know how people make “cookie dough” out of chickpeas? It’s because they have that naturally wheat-y, dough-like flavour.
But unlike most blueberry muffins, this smoothie has a whopping 17g protein and 13g fibre!
And while protein IS important, if you want to feel full and satisfied, with more balanced blood sugars, protein + fiber is the way. Even more surprising is how light in texture this smoothie is. It’s super drinkable…and light enough that if you need an extra protein boost, it will handle some extra protein powder too (I recommend vanilla!).
Want nutrient-dense recipes that are actually delicious? Grab a copy of my cookbook, Plant Magic!
How I make this blueberry chickpea smoothie really, really tasty
If you’re not used to eating a lot of beans, a couple of critical tips: first, always rinse and drain your canned chickpeas well. It helps reduce any off flavours in canned chickpeas as well as lower the gassy FODMAPs found in chickpeas.
While you can use fresh or frozen, I do like frozen blueberries and frozen banana here, it helps deliver that frosty, light texture plus I think it helps the smoothie taste even sweeter with minimal added sugar. FYI: this smoothie miraculously doesn’t taste like banana in case that’s something you think about.
And I know you’re gonna ask about the brown sugar – yes, you could skip it – but that molasses-y flavour really helps deliver on the blueberry muffin promise. Add a date if you prefer to keep it whole food!
Ready to try more smoothies with beans? I got you.
Blueberry Muffin Chickpea Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk, or your fave high protein milk
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- ½ cup canned chickpeas, drained and well-rinsed
- ½ frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Equipment
- Blender
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth, 30-45 seconds.
14 Comments on “Blueberry Muffin Chickpea Smoothie (17g protein)”
Yum yummy and yummy!! I am sipping as I type! This is delicious 😋
SO glad you like it Gwen!!
I made this smoothie this morning. I used Cannelini beans, instead of chickpeas, as I already had an opened can of the Cannelini beans. I also added two medjool dates during blending. Delicious!
Ooh, lovely to know that white beans worked well too! Thank you for sharing that Leah.
What other milks would be good with this? I have heard too much soy can disrupt your hormones.
Hi Katie,
So, you can absolutely use any milk you’d like…but note that the protein level may change with a lower protein milk. However, I can also say with absolute certainty as a dietitian, that isn’t correct! So much is roaming around the internet about soy foods, but it’s actually without any basis in the scientific research. Soy is super nutritious and won’t “disrupt” hormones.
The phytochemicals in soy that we call phytoestrogens, like genistein, are actually 1000x weaker than your body’s natural estrogen, and they interact with different receptors on the body!
So delicious! It really does taste like a blueberry muffin! Your recipes are always so good.
Thank you so much, Margaret! So glad you like the smoothie 🙂
Thank you for beans in smoothies! They’re delicious!
YAY!! I am so glad.
this is intriguing. I’m wondering if there is a swap for the bananas as i don’t buy them. Could i use maple syrup instead of the brown sugar? thanks.
Yes, it isn’t a lot of banana so as long as your blueberries are frozen, I think you’re okay to skip it! You’ll just need a bit of extra sweetness, so use maple syrup to taste.
As always, delicious! I used Silk Protein milk, upped the chickpeas to half a can, added a TBS flax, spinach and some lemon. Really does taste like a blueberry muffin, tho one tsp brown sugar wasn’t enough for us. My child, aka husband, hates chickpeas so this was the perfect way to trick him 🙂
So glad you liked the smoothie, Shelly! Yes, if you up the chickpeas, and add flax, it will increase the earthy flavours in the smoothie so you’re definitely gonna need more sugar to temper it.