44 Healthy Peanut Butter Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever
Trust us when we say you need to make one of these healthy peanut butter recipes. Not only have these recipes earned four- and five-star reviews from EatingWell readers, but they also help you take advantage of peanut butter’s amazing health benefits. You’ll love every bite of savory dishes like our Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque and Sautéed Broccoli with Peanut Sauce. Or, when you’re in the mood for satisfying snacks or flavorful desserts, make a batch of our Peanut Butter Energy Balls or Peanut-Butter Banana Chocolate Bark.
Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes
Alexandra Shytsman
Peanut butter is the star ingredient in these oatmeal cakes, providing not only flavor, but a boost of plant-based protein too. Hiding a bit in the center of each muffin is a fun way to ensure that peanut butter makes it into every bite.
Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque
This satisfying vegetarian sweet potato soup is inspired by the flavors of West African peanut soup. We like the added zip of hot green chiles, but they can sometimes be very spicy. It's best to take a small bite first and add them to taste. Try chopped peanuts and scallions for a different garnish. Serve with a mixed green salad with vinaigrette.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This creamy high-protein shake will keep you satisfied for hours and tastes like a chocolate-peanut butter banana milkshake. You don't even need to add protein powder, thanks to the naturally occurring protein in the soymilk, Greek yogurt and peanut butter.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost.
Peanut-Butter Banana Chocolate Bark
The key to this sweet dessert is freezing the bananas so they form the base of the bark. We use peanut butter, but you could swap in your favorite nut butter for an equally delicious treat. Be sure to have the chopped peanuts ready to go as soon as you add the chocolate layer—it hardens quickly since everything is frozen. Press the peanuts lightly to make sure they adhere to the bark.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-Inspired Overnight Oats
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
These overnight oats re-create the flavors of a popular candy. The chocolate is used in two ways—stirred into the oats, and melted on top to mimic the shell of the peanut butter cup. Flaky sea salt on top balances the sweetness. We use crunchy peanut butter, but creamy peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower butter would work just as well.
Spinach, Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie
Peanut butter and banana is a classic combo that's even more delicious with the addition of tangy probiotic-rich kefir. Plus, this peanut butter banana smoothie helps you up your veggie servings for the day with a bit of mild-flavored spinach mixed in.
Sautéed Broccoli with Peanut Sauce
Peanut butter, balanced with a little soy sauce and vinegar, makes a delicious and kid-friendly sauce for broccoli and other vegetables. Giving the broccoli a head start by steaming it before sautéing it with the other vegetables ensures that all the vegetables are nicely cooked at the same time.
Peanut Butter-Oat Energy Balls
Sweet, sticky dates act as the glue for these no-bake energy balls. Perfect for hikes or during sports, this healthy snack travels well.
Peanut Zucchini Noodle Salad with Chicken
You'll end up with more peanut sauce than you need in this zucchini noodle recipe, and that's a good thing! It makes a great dip or stir-fry sauce.
Pantry Peanut Noodles
Choose your own adventure with these noodles! They're delicious with peanut butter and tahini alike. Plus, you can use whatever frozen vegetables you have on hand and finish the dish off with any herbs still thriving in your garden or hanging out in your crisper.
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chickpea Blondies
Chickpea blondies? Hear us out! Not only do these legume-based treats have a delightful fudgy texture, they have twice as much fiber and three times as much protein as a blondie made with flour.
Peanut Butter Protein Overnight Oats
Powdered peanut butter is a handy pantry staple that makes a great vegan protein booster for oatmeal and smoothies. Double or triple this recipe to meal-prep breakfasts for the week or to have breakfast ready for the entire family.
Spaghetti Squash with Peanut Sauce & Edamame
This gluten-free, vegan version of peanut noodles has a high protein content thanks to edamame and peanut butter. Spaghetti squash turns delicately sweet when roasted, which pairs wonderfully with the peanut sauce.
Tofu Cucumber Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing
Making tofu tastier can be as simple as tossing it in a knockout sauce like this Sichuan-inspired peanut dressing. To make this cucumber salad recipe a meal, add rice noodles and double the dressing. Serve with an extra drizzle of sesame oil and sliced scallions.
Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
All you need are four simple ingredients to make healthier crispy peanut butter balls that kids and grownups will love. Make this easy recipe for a bite-size treat, on-the-go snack or easy homemade gift. You can swap the peanut butter for almond butter or even sunflower seed butter if you need a nut-free snack for school.
2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
Whir up frozen bananas into an “ice cream” without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.
Quinoa Peanut Soup (Sopa de Mani)
This spicy vegetable, quinoa and peanut soup recipe is a modern take on a traditional Bolivian soup recipe called Sopa de Mani. Serve this healthy quinoa soup recipe as a starter or make it a heartier meal by adding diced cooked chicken or turkey breast to the soup.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
Creamy natural peanut butter and chocolate team up in these easy and healthy no-bake cookies! Whip up a batch for after-school snacks, dessert or anytime your sweet tooth comes calling.
Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter
Top multigrain rice cakes with creamy peanut butter for a nutritious snack with protein and fiber to keep you feeling full.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats with Banana
It takes just a few minutes to prepare these overnight oats and you will be all set with 4 packable healthy breakfasts to enjoy throughout the week. Use whatever milk you have on hand for this easy meal-prep breakfast recipe.
Peanut Butter-Banana English Muffin
Peanut butter and banana are the original power couple. Top a simple toasted English muffin with the duo, then sprinkle everything with a hit of ground cinnamon for a healthy breakfast of champions.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Energy Bars
Dates provide all the sweetness you need for these no-bake energy bars. Each square serves up a hearty dose of protein—thanks to peanut butter and peanuts—as well as fiber from rolled oats. Kids will love the chewy bites with crunchy nuts.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothie
Skip the PB & J sandwich but get the flavors in this healthy smoothie! Greek yogurt, spinach and strawberries are blended with peanut butter in this healthy, protein-rich smoothie recipe.
Peanut Butter & Pomegranate Toast
For all the flavor of a classic PB&J without the added sugar, just reach for the real deal—fresh fruit. You still get a little natural sweetness and enough juiciness to combat peanut butter's stick-factor, plus some extra fiber. Padma Lakshmi—who shared this recipe when she guest-edited EatingWell Magazine—loves a combo of peanut butter and pomegranate arils (and her Instagram followers went crazy for it too), but you can replicate the formula with whatever nut butter and fruit you love.
5-Ingredient Peanutty Soba Noodles
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Nutty soba noodles team up with peanut butter in this easy vegetarian pasta dish. Chile-garlic sauce adds nice heat, while lime juice and zest brighten the flavor. Enjoy this quick dish warm, or serve it chilled for an easy lunch. We like the firm texture and flavor of soba noodles, but regular whole-wheat pasta will work well too. For a boost of protein, serve with shredded chicken or shrimp or tofu.
Peanut Butter-Banana French Toast Casserole
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This French toast casserole is sweetened with banana and a touch of maple syrup. The drizzle on top adds nutty peanut butter flavor to every bite. If your peanut butter is lumpy, blend the custard filling in a blender to smooth it out. You can add chocolate chips or chopped nuts for extra flavor if you prefer.
Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
These not-too-sweet mini desserts combine the flavors of peanut butter cups and chocolate cake. Quinoa flour adds protein and makes these gluten-free, but feel free to substitute white whole-wheat flour instead.
White Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cup-Inspired Overnight Oats
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Catherine Jesse, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Put a twist on your overnight oats with these jars inspired by the flavors of a popular candy. The white chocolate shell mimics the exterior of the peanut butter cup for a fun breakfast. Don’t skip the peanuts on top as they add a nice crunch. Feel free to swap in any milk or nut butter you prefer.
Apple & Peanut Butter Toast
A pinch of ground cardamom punches up the flavor in this classic combo of apples and peanut butter on toast.
Peanut Dressing
This creamy peanut dressing is as versatile as it is flavorful. Use it to dress kale or noodle salads, to jazz up hearty grain bowls with roasted tofu or chicken, or as a dip for spring rolls or fresh vegetables. If you prefer a thinner dressing, whisk in more water a teaspoon at a time.
Apple & Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
These energy balls marry two of fall’s best flavors: apples and pumpkin pie spice. You can substitute the applesauce with apple butter for a stronger apple flavor. Don’t confuse dried apples with apple chips! Apple chips have a crisp texture that will make the energy balls too crunchy. If your apple mixture is too sticky and hard to roll, lightly grease your hands with cooking spray or simply refrigerate the mixture for 15 minutes before rolling.
25-Minute Peanut Noodles
These super-quick peanut noodles are sure to find their way into your weeknight rotation. If you have a little more time on your hands, stir in wilted spinach or sautéed veggies for a colorful and nutritious pop. For some extra protein, top with grilled chicken. Garnish with crushed peanuts, if desired.
Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Joseph Wanek
These tender and sweet vegan peanut butter cookies are as simple as it gets. Crunchy peanut butter adds texture, but smooth peanut butter will work well too. These harden as they cool, so wait for them to cool completely before eating. For a different take, try adding 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips or toasted coconut to the batter when you stir in the peanut butter and maple syrup.
Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Sandwich
Creamy peanut butter and bananas are the key ingredients to this quick and easy breakfast.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
We gave no-bake cookies a healthy makeover, bumping up the peanut butter and cutting back on added sugar and butter. The result is a chewy, peanut buttery, oat-packed delicious cookie. It's easy to whip up a batch of these—only a few simple ingredients are needed to make these chewy peanut butter cookies and there's no baking required.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mini Cupcakes
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Natural peanut butter lends texture and bold peanut flavor to these mini cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Add chocolate shavings and chopped peanuts to give these tasty two-bite cupcakes extra flavor and texture.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
This healthy chocolate peanut butter pie is perfect for any occasion. We lighten up the ganache by using almond milk instead of the typical heavy cream. Peanuts add a welcome crunchy counterpoint to the luscious, creamy filling.
Peanut Butter-Banana Roll-Ups
These healthy roll-ups with peanut butter and bananas make eating lunch fun! Kids will love the bite-sized version of this sandwich. Try sunflower seed butter as an allergy-friendly alternative.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Mug Cake
This super-fast peanut butter-chocolate mug cake is a great way to indulge your sweet tooth. The cake is tender and moist, with a hint of peanut butter. Enjoy this easy mug cake plain or topped with peanuts, chocolate chips or a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These cookies get a boost of protein from eggs, peanut butter and spelt flour—a type of wheat flour that’s higher in protein and fiber than all-purpose flour and a little less dense than classic whole-wheat flour. With cocoa powder and chocolate chips too, these cookies deliver the perfect balance of nuttiness and chocolate with a little extra boost of protein.
Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Balls
Finding a snack that satisfies your craving for something sweet and salty while providing the best fuel for your body and brain isn't always easy. But luckily, these energy bites check every box! They're simple to make: double the batch and freeze some to have an energizing snack at the ready. Feel free to swap in other nuts and nut or seed butters.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
Looking for a fun cooking project to do with kids? Make chocolate truffles! In this easy vegan dessert recipe, we make a chocolate ganache filling with peanut butter and coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Make chocolate bark with the leftover chocolate and wrap it up together with a few truffles for a beautiful edible gift.
Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables
If you can't find a bagged vegetable medley for this easy noodle bowl, choose 12 ounces of cut vegetables from your market's salad bar and create your own mix.
Read the original article on Eating Well.
