This Keto Protein Waffles Recipe is a nightly staple in our household. They’re fluffy, sweet, and perfect topped with a bit of fruit and nut butter. It’s a simple recipe that only requires a few ingredients, the main one being a high quality
Are Protein Waffles Good for You?
Just two Eggo Toaster Waffles contain almost 30g of carbs and only 5g of protein, making them a poor choice for the keto diet. Protein waffles swap out traditional refined wheat flour for protein powder which cuts the carbs almost completely and helps you feel fuller for longer.
Getting most of your protein from natural sources like fatty cuts of beef or pasture raised eggs is better than a processed
The Best Protein Powder
We are big fans of using
What to Avoid
While high protein waffles are delicious, we want to make sure they are nutritious too! To make healthy protein waffles make sure to use a good quality protein powder. Some things to AVOID (run forest run) when searching for a
- Carrageenan– This is a seaweed based emulsifier that reeks havoc on the gut. It destroys good gut bacteria and causes painful gas and bloating (1).
- Sucralose– Sucralose isn’t the end all be all, we know we buy our fair share of sucralose products too. However, if you can find a
protein powder sweetened with stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol those are going to be your top tier items. - Fillers- Fillers can come in many forms. Plant based
protein powder is notorious for adding rice, soy, or potato starch/ powder to their proteins. This is because they are cheap fillers that bulk up theprotein powder so you get more per scoop. These fillers and cheap grains can cause inflammation as well as spikes in insulin due to their high GI scores (2).
Obviously any keto recipe is going to be better than its non keto counterpart so don’t stress about perfection. However, if you do have the means and want to make the most healthy protein waffles possible; we recommend investing in a quality protein.
Our Favorite Protein Powder
We have a few favorites depending on our mood, and how delicious we want the final product to taste. Usually the more delicious your protein powder, the lower quality the ingredients are going to be. However, sometimes you do strike gold in protein products so here are a few of our favorites and why we love them so much:
- Isopure Cookies And Cream – This is our favorite flavor for making protein cakes. It is creamy and won’t create a super dry protein cake. Plus the best part is that it’s zero carb! (You can also use vanilla protein if you don’t want any chocolate in the mix)
- Nutrabio Peanut Butter Cup – Nutrabio is our favorite flavor to add to smoothies and keto overnight oats because it has a really strong chocolate flavor. It’s also the best quality
protein powder in our opinion for a few reasons. It has very few ingredients, natural cocoa powder, and no carrageenan, instead they use xanthan gum a keto friendly sweetener that won’t harm your gut. - Quest Cinnamon Crunch – Quest is our all time favorite for mug cakes and waffles! It is slightly higher in carbs because they use erythritol, but the flavor and texture make it well worth it. There is even little cinnamon toast crunch pieces inside the powder!
You can really use any casein or whey
Protein Waffle Nutrition Facts
The best part about making protein waffles at home is the ingredients can easily be adjusted to fit your macros to the very last gram! If you want something heavier on calories you can add in some heavy whipping cream or nuts to the batter, or even top it with additional butter. If you want it lighter in calories, you can leave out the butter from the batter and swap in water for almond milk.
Calories in a Protein Waffle
There are 282 calories in this recipe for protein waffles, but remember this is for the waffles on their own. To make this an even more satisfying keto meal, we recommend adding a fat of your choice like some butter, ghee, or a whipped cream topping. Adding fatty toppings will provide you with lasting energy, but will also increase the calories.
How Much Protein is Really in Protein Waffles?
You better believe this protein waffles recipe packs a protein punch! Per two waffles there are 31 grams of protein and 19 grams of fat. All that protein is coming from a quality
How to Make Keto Protein Waffles
Ready to make waffles that are fluffy and sweet without all the added sugar? Well then you’ve come to the right place. These waffles take just 5 minutes to make and you’ll be eating before you know it! If you’ve tried this recipe before you know it’s delicious, but if not; these low carb waffles will knock your socks off. So without further a -do let’s get started!
Equipment
There’s really no way to get around it, you will need a waffle maker. If you want to use a pan and make pancakes instead of a waffle you can. However, know that your pancakes may not be as crispy on the outside.
Ingredients
For starters you will need your “flour” base, which in this recipe is protein powder. To the dry ingredients you will also need to add salt and baking powder. If you don’t have or don’t want to use
For wet ingredients you will need butter. We love butter in recipes because of its cream taste, but you can sub it for coconut oil. Coconut oil does have a different flavor profile so keep that in mind. If you want coconut and chocolate themed protein waffles, coconut oil will work great. Just know your recipe idea before hand for the best end flavor. Finally you will need an egg as well as almond milk for thinning the waffle batter. (Optional: you can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe for extra flavor).
Making High Protein Waffles
Begin by melting your butter in the microwave. You can do this in any microwave safe glass measuring cup, or small mixing bowl. Make sure that you work in 30 second intervals so the butter doesn’t explode and cover your microwave.
Next add your egg into the butter. NOTE: the butter should have cooled a bit first, or your egg should be at room temp. If the butter is hot and the egg cold, your egg may cook early. Optionally you can also add 1-2 egg whites for extra protein.
Whisk together the egg and butter until fully combined.
Now add the dry ingredients into the wet. This will be your protein, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and salt.
Stir the wet and dry mixture together until there are no more clumps. If your waffle batter is too thick you can add a bit of almond milk to thin it out.
Preheat your waffle maker and pour 1/2 of the recipe in. Do not overfill the waffle maker or it will spill out the sides and make a huge mess. Once the batter is in, close the lid and let your waffle cook. When it finishes steaming and turns golden brown the waffle will be done. Repeat with the remaining batter until there is none left.
Serve the waffle immediately with your favorite recipe toppings. Check out our ideas below!
Topping Keto Waffles
Protein waffles make a great recipe on their own, but everything is better with a little whipped cream! We came up with a few of our favorite toppings for these gluten free protein waffles, but let us know in the comments below what your favorite is!
- Sugar Free Maple Syrup– A classic like no other is waffles and
maple syrup . Get yourself a high quality sugar freemaple syrup and enjoy a thick stack of keto protein waffles. - Peanut Butter- Peanut butter and nut butters in general make great waffle toppings. Both peanut butter and almond butter are high in fat which balances out macros when you want to make protein waffles keto.
- Greek Yogurt- A low sugar greek yogurt like the Two Good brand makes a great creamy dipping option for protein waffles. An easy to make yogurt dip requires 1/4c plain yogurt and 2 tbsp sugar free
maple syrup . You can add a little extra stevia for sweetness, but overall this is a great dipping addition that tastes even better as a waffle meal prep. - Chocolate Chips-Sugar free
chocolate chips taste great in this waffle recipe. Make protein waffles and pour them into the waffle iron. Sprinkle a few sugar free chips on top and close your waffle maker. Voila a super simple, yet delicious low carb recipe. - Berries and Cream- There’s nothing like whipped cream and berries to top off a delicious Sunday brunch. Try strawberries and cream for shortcake style waffles.
Creating a High Protein Meal
Whether you are a body builder or a normie, protein is important. These waffles pack in 31 whole grams of protein which is quite a bit. However, if you’re looking to blend your powdered protein consumption with some whole foods try a few of these easy meal builders:
- Bacon- Not only will bacon add a little extra protein, but it will also add extra fat which is important on the keto diet.
- Eggs- Eggs have all the essential amino acids making them a great complete protein source (2). Scramble or fry an egg or two to go with your protein waffles.
- Savory Waffles- If you used unflavored
protein powder you essentially have an open canvas to create sweet or savory waffles. Try making savory waffles with some chives, chopped chicken breast, and sesame seeds for extra protein. They taste extra delicious dipped in a little tamari mixed with sesame oil.
Feel free to get create with this recipe and make both sweet and savory waffles to hit your protein goals. Balancing a protein with a fat also makes for a killer keto combination that will keep you fuller longer. Let us know below your favorite waffle combinations or mix- ins.
More Keto Waffle Breakfasts
Want another breakfast recipe to try? Check out our favorite low carb waffle recipes that only require a few ingredients and a waffle iron:
- Classic Keto Waffles– We used a blend of flours to achieve that authentic waffle texture while still keeping it low carb.
- Low Carb Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches– Grab out the bacon, eggs, and your waffle iron, it’s time to make the best breakfast sandwich ever.
- Bacon and Cheddar Cauliflower Waffles– Who said you can only have sweet waffles? We made this savory low carb recipe in our waffle iron in just under 30 minutes.
Keto-Friendly Protein Waffles Recipe
If you are anything like us, you always have a post-dinner sweet tooth. We know you don’t want to ruin your diet by downing an entire pint of Halo Top or eating two bars of Lily’s chocolate. So, what do you do? You make this keto friendly protein waffles, that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but fill you up so you won’t give in to the very common late-night snacking!
Recipe can be quickly added to MyFitnessPal – Search “KetoConnect – Keto Protein Waffles”
Keto Protein Waffles Recipe
What You Need:
- waffle maker
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop (30g) protein powder
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- liquid (water, almond milk, flax milk) to thin out the batter
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in a pyrex measuring cup or small mixing bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and combine using a fork.
- Preheat you waffle iron and pour 1/2 of the recipe into the iron. Close the lid and cook until cooked and browned. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve immediately with additional butter or your favorite sugar free maple syrup.
Video:
Notes
Serving Size: 2 Medium Waffles
Written by
Megha Barot
Megha has always been a passionate cook, but she took this to a new level after starting her keo journey in 2015. She loves creating new recipes and producing educational content for KetoConnect, which she co-founded in 2016 with Matt. Her passion for healthy eating and personal development continues to thrive. She's the proud mom of two awesome kids.
Leela Ray says
Made this with Juice Plus complete and almond milk and it was great! Not nearly as dry as other protein powders I’ve tried. Thank you for the easy breakfast!
Jessica says
This is such a good base recipe! I love the lightness and crispness that you get with these waffles. I made it according to the recipe the first time and it tasted great, and then this time I made a pumpkin spice variation where I subbed canned pumpkin for the butter and then added lots of cinnamon and nutmeg. Very tasty and the texture was about the same as the original recipe!
Priscilla Braham says
Tried this recipie twice. I can’t even force myself to take more than one bite and I’m not even a picky eater. Not good at all.
Jessica says
Very easy and very tasty! I added a dash of cinnamon mixed with monkfruit sugar but otherwise followed the recipe. The waffles came out light and crispy!
Miranda (KetoConnect) says
Sounds like yummy additions! Glad you liked them!
cheril says
This was great. I used Tera’s simply pure, unflavored whey protein powder. I added a little vanilla stevia drops. I could amp up the flavor next time with some cinnamon or vanilla extract. Great texture. They were light and fluffy. I didn’t need to add liquid. I got 3 mini dash waffles.
Sebbie says
Tried this recipe and meh.
The texture was good, but the flavour on its own was off-putting to say it mildly. Even when it was cooking, it smelled of warm protein powder (not nice) and the finished product had a strong eggy taste, even though my protein powder was chocolate flavour.
The mouthfeel is VERY dry. The tbsp of butter was definitely not enough. Maybe 3 would do, and try adding some strong flavouring such as cinnamon to mask the eggy taste. It’s still a good option if you’re craving waffle and/or battling temptation…
And whenever you have time, ry making a more ‘sophisticated’ waffle, for better everything all around.
betsy boyd says
These waffles are great! they taste to me the most like regular flour waffles…. even my grand kids like them…. Thanks!!!!
Lisa says
Honest review: A bit dry but better than chaffles. I may try 1/2 this and 1/2 Chaffle recipe or maybe less protein powder and 2 tbs of butter or 1 tbs butter and 1Tbs of coconut butter. I used the unflavored protein powder because the Quest has carrageenan in it. But not sure the soy lecithin in the Isopure is good for you either. I did buy some flavorings called ooo flavors and like the reviews said on Amazon you can’t taste the flavor. It must have to do with the heating process. I put cinnamon roll flavor in the waffles. I made some syrup by combining butter, brown sugar swerve and heavy whipping cream together. I let it cool and put the maple flavor in it and it tasted like maple syrup. Not the consistency, though, but good. I will continue to play with this recipe. I will say that I cooked the first on longer and it was crispier but way drier. Thanks for this recipe and all of the ones that you put out there.
Danyell- The Lucky Stove says
These were absolutely fantastic!! My family and I loved it and honestly, we can’t stand most protein powder waffles, pancakes ?! You guys made us a fan! I’ll be promoting this on my website as well as sharing it with my friends
Sonia Sharp says
This is an amazing recipe! My carb count per serving only came out to be 1.4 grams because I used Trader Joe’s Non-flavored Pea Protein and almond milk.
Catherine Kurowski says
You state you should not use protein powder that uses carrageenan and then state one of your favorites is quest cinnamon crunch – which lists carrageenan as an ingredient. Have the ingredients changed, have you changed your mind about this ingredient or did it just slip past you?
Amy Bishop says
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Vonda Little says
I will use a different protein powder because some isopure protein powder has sucralose in it not keto I would use the unflavored one r another protein powder that has good ingredients in it
Chrisnali says
Not sure if I did something wrong, but these were really not great! I had to wash it down using coffee, they were chewy and hard to swallow. Advise if I perhaps did something wrong.
Misty C. says
These keto protein waffles are seriously AMAZING!!! I’ve tried other keto frozen waffles that are pre-made and they don’t even compare to how delicious these keto waffles are!! And they are so easy to make!! I love quest foods and this did not disappoint. I also used Walden Farms pancake syrup and that was the perfect compliment! Though they were delicious even without anything on them. Thank you SO much for another great recipe!!
Jill Cusack says
I followed this recipe to the letter & even though they LOOKED like perfection ……….. once I took a bite it was completely DRY & powdery. NOT for eating, to be sure! This recipe, along with your complete macro muffins were 🙁
Jean orfe says
This recipe is great and turned out better than any Protein Waffle I have had to date. No need for syrup or butter. It was good right out of the waffle Iron. YUM
Aubrey says
Oh. My. Goodness. Light. Fluffy. Airy. Sweet. Perfection.
Lisa Madinger says
I just tried your whey protein waffles they were amazing.
But have one ? They were very soft and like turned to mush when adding syrup, is this the way they are supposed to be? Did I do something wrong and can I fix it
Tracy Graham says
Total Game changer. I only had unflavored isopure whey protein so I used this and heavy whipping cream for my liquid, with a splash of water. These were HUGE! Moist and worked perfectly for a breakfast sandwich. I lost my scoop for my protein powder so struggled with the quantity. Watching megha make them it appeared she used maybe 1/2 cup? It would be good to know. I used 1/3 cup and added a tablespoon just in case. These were excellent.