This Shamrock Protein Shake is absolutely delicious. Sweet, thick, and creamy, full of vanilla flavor with added mint freshness. This healthier version of a popular drink is made with only 6 simple, wholesome ingredients. It's a filling, high-protein, low-calorie drink made without any added sugars.
Table of contents
Do you know that delicious green, mint-flavored Shamrock Shake you can get at McDonald's? Well, it's hard to miss it because of the color and all that cream on top. It's hugely marketed and very popular around St. Patrick's Day.
Well, I'll never forget my first Shamrock Shake at McDonald's. It was everything I imagined to be. Creamy, tasty, and super sweet. Something you can easily get hooked on. Of course, I had to sit down when I saw how much he weighed in calories. I was shocked! Not pleasantly, if I may add.
Since I didn't want to deprive myself of this delicious drink, I decided to create my own version at home with WAY fewer calories. This copycat Shamrock Shake tastes, in one word, amazing. Even better than the original. And it's SO much healthier! I even upgraded the simple Shamrock Shake to be MORE nutritious.
And just in time for St.Patrick's celebration, I'm sharing my winning Shamrock Protein Shake with you, that is:
- Thick, beautifully green, and incredibly creamy.
- Full of wonderful vanilla flavor and mint freshness.
- Sweet but made without any added sugars.
- Very satisfying and quite nutritious, packed with superfoods.
- Low in calories and high on proteins.
- Easy to make with only a few simple ingredients.
- Ready in 5 minutes!
- A delicious meal you can enjoy for breakfast or when you need to energize.
Ingredients used
To make this healthy shamrock shake, you will need only 6 simple pantry ingredients:
- Milk. I used oat milk, but you can use any milk you prefer and like. Note that coconut milk won't work well here, because of the flavor.
- Banana. It's packed with many nutrients, especially gut-friendly fibers, very filling and great for energizing the body. Ripe banana is best here because it gives sweetness so there's no need for adding extra sugars.
- Spinach. It's a star ingredient in this protein shake. It gave this amazing natural green color but also enhanced the shake with many nutrients. Spinach is packed with insoluble fibers good for our digestion, and powerful antioxidants, like vitamin C. It's also rich in vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium (1). When making shakes and smoothies, I like to use baby spinach. It's delicate and mildly sweet.
- Protein powder. No protein shake is complete without protein powder. I used vanilla flavored whey isolate. But you're welcome to use any protein powder you're normally using.
To give Shamrock Protein Shake extra flavor and some more boost, I also tossed in:
- Fresh mint. It gave distinctive Shamrock Shake flavor.
- Hemp seeds. They are loaded with heart-healthy Omega-3 fats, proteins, and other unique plant compounds. A great addition to shakes and smoothies, making them more filling and balanced.
How to make Shamrock Protein Shake
Making this creamy green beauty is quite easy. It will take you 5 minutes (tops!).
Equipment
- High-speed blender.
Step by step instructions
- Start with preparing and measuring all the ingredients. I like to use measuring cups.
- Take the blender and add all ingredients. Note: add wet ingredients first for easier blending. Add in ice cubes, if using.
- Mix everything at high speed until you get a smooth silky texture.
- If the shake is too thick, add a little more liquid – milk or water. Blend again until everything is well combined.
- Taste the shake and add additional sweetener if the shake is not sweet enough.
- Transfer the shake into a tall glass.
- Add toppings (optional): I used cacao nibs. Be creative here and add toppings you like.
- Serve and enjoy!
This makes 1 serving as a full meal, or 2 servings as a lighter meal.
Substitutions
- Substitute oat milk with any plant-based milk except coconut milk. Coconut milk won't work well here. Cow's milk is fine.
- Substitute hemp seeds with ground flax seeds or chia seeds.
- Substitute fresh mint with mint extract.
- Substitute spinach with any greens. Kale is perfect here.
- Substitute whey protein powder with any protein powder you like.
Recipe variations
- Make it vegan: Use vegan protein powder and plant-based milk.
- Make it keto. Use ½ avocado instead of banana. Use unsweetened almond milk. Add in 1 teaspoon of MCD oil.
- Use the whole banana if you're bulking. I used only half to cut down calories.
Tips for storing
- Store in a glass jar with a lid or shaker and keep refrigerated for up to one day.
- Don't forget to shake it or stir it with the spoon before consuming it.
- Remember, all shakes oxidate when left standing. That's not bad, but to reap all benefits from ingredients, it's best to have this protein shake freshly made.
Recipe tips
- To make the Shamrock Protein Shake more refreshing, add ice cubes.
- If you like your smoothie extra creamy, you can use a frozen banana.
- When adding your ingredients to your blender, always add the liquid first. Doing this will help your blender run easily and it will prevent making lumps.
- Use a high-power blender to ensure everything blends well and the protein shake is silky smooth.
- If you are using dates to sweeten the shake, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes. Drain them before using them.
- If you're using unflavored protein powder, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for flavor.
- Make sure you're using ripe bananas. They are more sweet.
Sweetener recommendation
This protein shake doesn't have added sweeteners (sugar). The banana gives enough sweetnes, so does flavored protein powder. But if you feel like it's not sweet enough, add additional sweeteners. Be mindful.
- You can use maple syrup, date syrup or liquid honey.
- Use liquid stevia or any liquid low-carb sweetener for the keto / low-carb option.
- Coconut sugar or any other cristal sugar won't work well here. It will not dissolve well in chia mixture.
Faq
If you’re preparing this healthy Shamrock Shake for kids, you can omit the protein powder and substitute it with Greek yogurt. Use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use plain one and add your own sweetener, to taste and vanilla extract.
Banana adds nutrients and gives this protein shake creaminess and sweetness. If you want to make a shake without a banana, you can swap a banana with ½ avocado. In that case, you may need to add some sweetener. I recommend using 1-2 soaked dates, date syrup, raw honey or maple syrup, stevia, or any low-carb sweetener.
McDonald's original Shamrock Shake is the homemade version of the classic St. Patrick's day treat made with vanilla ice cream, mint extract, whipped cream, and cherry that is usually placed on top.
Small Shamrock Shake has 560 calories, 16 grams of fat, 91 grams of carbs, and 78 grams of sugar. A large shake has 800 calories, 22 grams of fat, 131 grams of carbs, and 113 grams of sugar.
This Shamrock Protein Shake has 378 calories, 11 grams of fat, 41 grams of carbs, and 28 grams of sugars. Sugar in this healthy shamrock shake is a natural one, coming only from ingredients. It's not added nor refined. Plus, this shake has whooping 31 grams of proteins.
If you're looking for more healthy St. Patrick's Day recipes to try, here are some of my favorites.
📖 Recipe
Shamrock Protein Shake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat milk
- ½ banana
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 handful of baby spinach
- A few fresh mint leaves or ½ teaspoon mint extract
- Ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the blender. Note: add wet ingredients first for easier blending. Also, add in ice cubes, if using.
- Mix everything at high speed until you get a smooth silky texture.
- If the shake is too thick, add a little more liquid – milk or water. Blend again until everything is well combined.
- Taste the shake and add additional sweetener if the shake is not sweet enough.
- Transfer the shake into a glass.
- Add toppings (optional): I used cacao nibs. Be creative here and add toppings you like.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute oat milk with any plant-based milk except coconut milk, or other milk of choice.
- Substitute hemp seeds with ground flax seeds or chia seeds.
- Substitute whey protein powder with any protein powder you like.
- Substitute fresh mint with mint extract.
- Substitute spinach with any greens. Kale is perfect here.
Denise says
I'll never get a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's again!
Glenda says
So eye-openingly refreshing! Mint is one of my favorite things and the fact that I get to enjoy it in something healthy was the perfect start to my day.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This is absolutely delicious! I love that it’s such a crowd pleaser for the whole family