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.
Sherry says
I am someone who is quite new to substituting healthier recipes for some of the calorie/carb-filled ones I used to make. These pancakes are honestly the holy grail of healthy pancake options! I recently made Japanese Souffle Pancakes and those yielded at about 1000+ calories for three whereas these are 4X less the calories and taste so similar! I top them off with some greek yogurt, berries, bananas and even some calorie free pancake syrup! Thank you for this recipe Danielle, on the look out for some more amazing and healthy recipes!
Danielle Green says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe so much Sherry!
Sherry says
I am someone who is quite new to substituting healthier recipes for some of the calorie/carb-filled ones I used to make. These pancakes are honestly the holy grail of healthy pancake options! I recently made Japanese Souffle Pancakes and those yielded at about 1000+ calories for three whereas these are 4X less the calories and taste so similar! I top them off with some greek yogurt, berries, bananas and even some calorie free pancake syrup! Thank you for this recipe Danielle, on the look out for some more amazing and healthy recipes!
Stevie says
Made these with my daughter during quarantine and they were a hit! I did everything as described in the recipe. I used Ice Cream Protein Powder from 1st Phorm and they were PERFECT! I will be making these regularly. I even topped some of mine with a dollop of avocado…I know, I’m crazy, but it was soo good and creamy!
I did read this somewhere: A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that potassium, a mineral prevalent in both avocados and bananas, may prevent and help treat heart disease.
TRY IT GUYS!
Rebecca Cressell says
This was delicious! I added 2T coconut flour (which adds 5g fiber, which I’m always eager to add and it helps the texture a little) and used 5 egg whites instead of the two whole eggs divided. Thank you for the idea of the egg whites beaten. It was really, really good. They were slightly tricky to cook; I had a little trouble with flipping them and keeping them intact. Thank you for this recipe!
Sherry says
I’ve learnt a neat trick to cook these. When you put your batter in the pan, add drops of water around the pancakes and cover them with a lid. Once the bottom is cooked, the pancake lifts off itself, making it easier to flip. AND REMEMBER! Cook on low heat, it will cook them through without burning the outside.
Diamond says
Came out great! Thanks for the recipe. Hope all is well
zainab says
Omg these were so yummy I jus had them on their own. Mmm too delicious
Sara says
Just made this recipe and ended up throwing it all out! It says in the description that the pancakes come out the same texture as a regular pancake! They come out completely different and are more of an oooey gooey mess. Such a waste of ingredients!
Danielle Green says
No, we specifically said that they aren’t the same texture as regular pancakes. “Banana Protein Pancakes don’t have the same consistency of a traditional pancake with flour, but they are equally wonderful in their own right!”
LAUREN says
This was easy to do and so delicious thanks for the recipe ! X
andy says
did these today and was quite surprised. i thought the batter was a bit thick before egg whites were added so i gave it a splash of silk almond milk , folded in white and the first batch was great (2) cakes . then my skilett got to hot and almost
burned second batch (2). so let skillet cool a bit and cooked last 4 and again perfect .
added a bit more cinnimon and vanilla instead of almond milk on second go around and perfect again. think the vanilla
splash loosened up the batter a bit . my go to for pancakes thanks,..
ps. i used raw fusion plant protein with out a problem
Sue says
Out of all the banana pancake recipes I’ve tried, this is by far the best one!
Michelle says
These are wonderful! I beat the egg whites by hand and the pancakes still turned out fluffy and so tasty! Great idea!
Charlie says
Not one to leave a review or comments normally but felt that these were that bad I had to.
Came across this recipe whilst looking for healthier alternatives for pancake day. Followed the recipe exactly and have to say these were the worst pancakes I’ve ever made. The consistency was way too thick , I had to add milk and even then was disgusting had to throw the pancakes away.
Don’t waste your time making these.
Protein says
Thanks for the recipe. Just wondering, why is the protein value so low given that you use 40g protein powder and 2 eggs? My whey protein powder is 84% protein so from 40g I’d be looking at hopefully at least 30g of protein or does it just vanish when you cook it?
Danielle Green says
In that case, your pancakes would have a lot more protein. The protein powder that I tested this recipe with and link to, has 16g protein in two scoops, so this is the amount of protein using that powder.
andy says
calculate the ingredience using your powder and divide by amount of cakes
Kayla says
Ughh. What did I do wrong? Mine came out raw throughout and would not Cook no matter how long I left them on?
Danielle Green says
Were they very thick? Depending on the protein powder you use, the batter can get very thick. If this happens, try and thin it out a little with some milk. It’s also helpful to spread the batter out on the skillet so it isn’t too thick.
Marinette says
Obviously a banana protein pancake can’t compare to a real pancake, but this was delicious and hit the sweet spot while being a healthier alternative that is also easy to make.
I used the Optimum Whey protein powder vanilla ice cream flavour and it was good. 🙂
Alex L says
This website has farrr to many ads plus the pancakes tasted bad.
Madeleine says
I tried cooking these according to the directions; on low heat for 60-90 seconds; but they were still as loose as in the bowl and it was impossible to flip them. I tried waiting longer, I tried turning up the heat, but no difference. It is impossible to get these looking like your image
Genine says
These are amazing! Best protein pancake recipe! Thanks for sharing
Arnab says
I followed it exactly. Pancakes looked the same, but they tasted aweful. I could barely swallow it. I must have done something wrong, otherwise so many people won’t like it. But that’s my experience. I hated it. But thanks for the recipe.
Lydia says
Wow. Best protein pancakes I have ever made! Thank you for this recipe! I was curious as to if the 22 g or protein per serving was for 2 pancakes? Since if each one had 22g, there would be 176 some grams of protein powder used. Thanks!
Danielle Green says
Sorry I just converted this recipe to a new recipe card and the nutrition got a little wonky. I updated it to show that one serving is 4 pancakes (2 servings total) and there are 16 g of protein in a serving.
Colleen Holland says
These pancakes are amazing! Thanks for sharing your recipe.