Light & Fluffy Banana Protein Pancakes are a healthy breakfast with 5 simple ingredients that taste amazing and fill you up! Whipped egg whites, protein powder and ripe bananas make up these low-fat and low-carb pancakes, for a complete and wholesome meal.
Protein Pancake Recipe
These Protein Pancakes are a fantastic low calorie breakfast loaded with wholesome goodness. Unlike most banana pancakes that can be flat and dense, we use a special technique to make them light and fluffy. They are the best protein pancakes you will make!
Whether you follow a low carb diet or are just looking for a wholesome breakfast recipe, these protein pancakes are filling and delicious. When I am craving something hearty for breakfast like pancakes, these are one of my go-to recipes for my kids and I.
Healthy Pancake Recipe
We grew up enjoying a hearty stack of rich buttermilk pancakes every Sunday. It was one of the few things my Dad cooked in our family, but boy were they delicious! I still love a good buttermilk pancake, but they aren’t necessarily the most sensible choice to make every week. These protein banana pancakes are a much healthier recipe.
Banana Protein Pancakes
I have tried versions of banana protein pancakes using protein powder in the past but they tend to be dense and unappealing. One day a light went off in my head…whipped egg whites!
By beating the egg whites alone, like you would for a meringue, it would make the batter much lighter and airier. The process worked wonderfully. They were like eating banana clouds!
Why are my protein pancakes burning?
Bananas have lots of natural sugars in them. If you cook these protein pancakes at too high of a temperature, they will burn on outside and not cook through the center well. It is important to cook these banana pancakes in a non stick skillet over medium-low heat.
Best Protein Powder for Pancakes
Another reason that protein pancakes can burn is the protein powder you use in the recipe. We use a low-carb and low sugar protein powder which results in a beautifully light and fluffy pancake. If you are using a protein powder that is higher in sugar, they will more difficult to cook.
I highly recommend Naturade Whey Protein Booster for a protein powder that doesn’t have any added sugars and therefore only has 1 carb per serving.
Another issue I have seen people run into, is the consistency of the batter. Some protein powders will make the batter too thick. If you run across this issue, just thin the batter a little with some water or milk until it is a good pancake batter consistency.
Can I freeze Protein Pancakes
This recipe makes two servings, so if you are flying solo you can toss the leftovers in the freezer. Layer the pancakes between parchment paper in a resealable bag and you will have a great breakfast option for the future! If you are heading to work and need a last minute breakfast, pop a few of the pancakes in the microwave. Cook them for a minute and you have an easy and healthy breakfast for an amazing grab and go meal.
Protein Pancake Consistency
Banana Protein Powder Pancakes don’t have the same consistency of a traditional pancake with flour, but they are equally wonderful in their own right! Top them with some honey yogurt and fresh fruit for the ultimate breakfast.
If you are looking for the same exact consistency as a regular pancake that is loaded with flour, this recipe is not for you. The absence of any flour will obviously create a different consistency.
Are pancakes a good source of protein?
Regular pancakes have minimal protein and are loaded with carbs. Protein Pancakes on the other hand have tons of protein and minimal carbs. This particular recipe for protein pancakes has a whopping 22g of protein per serving. That is a great way to start the day and fill you up and we all know how important protein is!
Are protein pancakes healthy?
If you are making clean protein pancakes with healthy toppings like fruit and Greek yogurt, they incredibly healthy! Bananas, strawberries and raspberries are all great options. Add a drizzle of natural peanut butter for even more protein and great flavor.
I like to use a healthy protein powder and avoid those with added sugars and subsequently higher carbs.
Low-carb breakfast recipes
Check out more great more low-carb breakfast recipes below. They are packed with protein and full of delicious flavors! Whether you want something quick and easy on-the-go or are looking for a great breakfast bake to serve to guests, we have got you covered.
- Light & Spicy Turkey Sausage Breakfast Burritos – This grab and go option is a fantastic meal prep option for a healthy breakfast.
- Goat Cheese & Pesto Veggie Scramble – This protein packed breakfast is loaded with amazing flavor.
- Easy Microwave Scrambled Egg Cup Recipes – Another great meal prep option, these premade jars are a great way to enjoy loaded scrambled eggs in just minutes.
- Ham and Cheese Egg Bites – These egg muffins made with cottage cheese and ham are a fantastic breakfast on the go.
Light & Fluffy Banana Protein Pancakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 40 g vanilla protein powder
- 1 large very ripe banana
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- In two clean bowls, separate the eggs carefully so none of the yolk gets into the egg whites.
- Beat the egg whites on high for 2 minutes until they form soft peaks. (It is important that your bowl or beaters don't have any oil, fat or yolks on them, or the egg whites won't form peaks. Soft peaks are defined as barely holding their shape. The peaks flop over immediately when the beaters are lifted.)
- Add the egg yolks along with the remaining ingredients to a medium bowl and beat until smooth.
- Gently fold 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the banana mixture until roughly combined. Fold half of the remaining eggs whites into the mixture and finally the last portion until everything is well combined.
- Heat a skillet over low heat. Scoop 1/4 c. of the mixture onto the skillet and cook for 60-90 seconds on each side.
- Serve immediately.
- OPTIONAL: Top with fresh fruit and/or 1/3 c. plain non-fat Greek yogurt mixed with 1 Tbsp. honey.
Colleen says
Good flavour and better than other protein pancakes I have tried (usually end up more like a scramble). Next time I will start in the pan and maybe finish in the oven to try and get
Them cooked more evenly on the inside.
Teri says
Looking at the recipe it calls for two eggs, which in total would be 10 g of fat not 5, as each egg yolk ha approxi5 grams of fat.
OlabodowaboloThe3rd says
Tried this recipe twice, not good
elle says
THESE WERE SO BAD, do not waste your time find another recipe
Taylor says
I’m annoyed that the instructions said to beat the yolk mixture. Mashing with a fork would have resulted in far less banana gunk and sticky protein powder exploding in my kitchen. 60-90 seconds on each side is also totally unrealistic. Cook on medium for 3 minutes each side is more realistic. Hearing the pan should have been step #1!! Flavor is pretty good- I added chocolate chips. The lack of flour is evident and gives a kind of empty texture.
Thomas says
I was excited to try these healthy fluffy pancakes, but the amount of work and time that goes into these is not worth the end product and the cooking directions are inaccurate. You have to be very careful to not burn them on low heat, depending how strong your stove-top is. My glass top stove burnt them on 3-heat but was taking up upwards of 4 on one side on 2-heat (much more than 60-90 seconds per side). Second, flatten out as they finish cooking so they come out with very little to eat. And after all that, the flavor and texture doesn’t really resemble pancakes at all. If cooked right these could be a really light sweet snack but, as someone who was hoping for something that would taste and be filling somewhat like traditional pancakes for a proper breakfast, I was very disappointed.
A says
The batter seemed pretty watery. But I thought I’d trust the recipe. Nope. Was so super runny. Couldn’t cook right. Couldn’t flip. Soggy pancakes.
Sannie says
I made mini waffles with their recipe and added some white and chocolate chips. SO good!
McKenna M says
Made this tonight for our “breakfast” dinner night. I’m trying to lose weight and this was a fantastic sub for regular pancakes!! Thank you so much for the recipe! I used vanilla Premier protein powder (whey) and it worked great! Where I use cinnamon I also add a dash of cloves, so I did that here as well. Delicious 🙂
Jessica says
I tried these and they tasted horrible! Smelled good and looked good but not good lol. Followed the recipe to a T. And I’m thinking it’s because I use vegan protein powder 🙁
Erica says
* Excellent as waffles! Measured everything and used whey protein, still had issues getting them to cook all the way through as pancakes. So, I used the rest of the batter in my mini waffle maker and they were perfect! Very good flavor. Microwaved a 1/2 cup blueberries with a spoonful of water and mashed with a fork to make a healthy “syrup”, went well with it.
Vina says
These pancakes are delicious! you definitely have to make the egg whites stiff before folding in and cook them slowly and for longer then normal pancakes. going to try baking them in the oven next time and see if they cook better on the inside.
Kat says
They taste good… but I couldn’t flip them because the batter was so runny
Binh Hua says
I didn’t have a mixer so had to beat the eggs by hand. The pancakes got burnt because I had hard time flipping them over. They came out delicious even burnt! Perhaps this recipe works out better with electric mixer if you have one!
Susan says
I just made these and they were delicious with butter and real maple syrup. I also used the ingredients I had on hand which was not exact measurements, but still worked though did brown/burn easily. I just kept an eye on them and enjoyed a protein packed breakfast!
Waste of Time says
wow… this was an entirely awful cooking experience. 100% do not recommend this recipe. Read the comments, most have had negative experiences. Find another recipe.
Kristen says
Same! I did 6 pancakes and I thought for sure they wouldn’t cook through once they started burning on the first side and tearing apart.
Ashe says
This recipe is so good. Thanks for the recipe.
Shelby says
Wasteful! There no way to cook these through. My stove was on the lowest setting the pancakes were burnt on the outside and raw in the middle.
Victoria says
I’m upset…can’t get them to cook through either. And with the price of groceries especially eggs I feel like I just threw money away. I followed the recipe exactly.
Danielle Green says
It may be an issue with the protein powder you are using. Unfortunately protein powders are universal, which is why I advise using the one I tested the recipe with.
Mouse says
My ingredient ratios were just eyeballed, and as a result my pancakes didn’t cook all the way through, despite leaving them on the stove for ages per side… What could be the reason for this? Does anybody know?
Leah says
You were not following the recipe’s exact measurements. That’s the reason.
Bella says
As you mention, you “eyeballed” the ingredient ratios and as a result your pancakes didn’t cook through. There is your answer.
Mark says
The banana and eggs size aren’t measured in the recipe. Definitely not the cook’s fault. Try it with different amounts of protein powder and you should be grand
Tara says
I just mixed everything together and blended in my blender. No separating of the yolks from whites and beating separately. They were fluffy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Me says
Does this actually work?