The road to a healthier lifestyle often feels like a path paved with self-denial. We’ve all been there, staring longingly at a slice of cake while nursing a watery, flavorless shake. That is where the battle for your willpower is usually lost. But that’s where the best tasting protein shakes feel like an escape from pain and suffering.
But what if you could have your cake and sip it too? Imagine a creamy, decadent liquid that feels less like a supplement and more like a secret treat. Forget the chalky aftertaste of yesteryear—the new generation of protein powders is here. These powders are changing strict dieting into a delightful experience. Get ready to discover the best tasting protein shakes that will make your weight loss journey feel, quite literally, like dessert.
15 Best Tasting Protein Shakes for Your Cravings and Health:
We have culminated the list of the tastiest protein shakes you can find online and in your nearest store. The following ranking is based on the protein and the calories intake per scoop.
Here are the best tasting shakes for your health and taste:
| Rank | Product Name | Calories | Protein Per Scoop | Price per Serving (USD) | Type |
| 1 | Fairlife Core Power Elite (14 oz) | 230 | 42g | $4.79 | Ready-to-drink |
| 2 | Premier Protein Cake Batter (11 oz) | 160 | 30g | $4.48 (~$26.90/6 pack) | Ready-to-drink |
| 3 | Premier Protein Caramel (11 oz) | 160 | 30g | $3.49 | Ready-to-drink |
| 4 | Fairlife Core Power Chocolate (14 oz) | 170 | 26g | $3.58 | Ready-to-drink |
| 5 | Ghost Whey Oreo | 150 | 25g | $1.73 | Powder |
| 6 | Muscle Milk Pro Knockout Chocolate | 220 | 25g | $5.99 | Ready-to-drink |
| 7 | Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (Mocha Cappuccino) | 120 | 24g | $1.55 | Powder |
| 8 | Nesquik Protein Power Chocolate (14 oz) | 290 | 23g | $3.00 | Ready-to-drink |
| 9 | Gainful Custom Protein (Cookies & Cream) | 140–180 | 21g | $1.50 | Custom powder |
| 10 | OWYN Dark Chocolate (12 oz) | 170 | 20g | $3.08 (or $2.47 sub) | Plant-based |
| 11 | OWYN Pro Elite Chocolate (12 oz) | 200 | 20g | $4.49 | Plant-based |
| 12 | Muscle Milk Zero Sugar | 170 | 20g | $3.99 | Ready-to-drink |
| 13 | Koia Cacao Bean (12 oz) | 190 | 18g | $4.99 | Plant-based |
| 14 | Remedy Organics Cacao Essentials | 210 | 16g | $4.99 | Plant-based |
| 15 | Boost Plus Rich Chocolate (8 oz) | 360 | 14g | $3.17 | Nutritional shake |
1. Fairlife Core Power Elite (14 oz)
- Price per serving: $4.79
Now, what about people who are lactose intolerant? Do they have a choice? Yes, indeed! Fairlife Core Power Elite is a 14-oz lactose-free recovery drink. If you are looking for a free alternative, this is it! It is tasty too!
It provides a massive 42 grams of complete protein from ultra-filtered milk. This protein shake is an excellent choice for serious muscle recovery and building lean muscle. Don’t let your lactose intolerance stop you from enjoying treat-like diets!
2. Premier Protein Cake Batter (11 oz)
- Price per serving: $4.48 (~$26.90/6 pack)
Indulge in the delicious taste of this Award-Winning Cake Batter shake. It delivers high-quality protein with 30g of a milk, whey, and casein blend. This powerhouse supports muscle recovery and satiety with just 1g of sugar and 160 calories.
It also contains 24 vitamins and minerals to fuel your daily health. Overall, Premier Protein’s Cake Batter is an excellent low-fat, gluten-free option for protein shakes. You get the taste of cake and the effect of protein powder, which kills cravings and revives energy.
3. Premier Protein Caramel (11 oz)
- Price per serving: $3.49
Premier Protein Caramel shake offers an award-winning, sweet and buttery taste with a smooth texture. The quality shake delivers 30g of protein for muscle support and satiety. It’s a healthy, low-fat choice with only 1g of sugar, 160 calories, and 24 essential vitamins and minerals.
This protein shake is great for supporting overall wellness. Premier is definitely the one for your taste buds and muscle support.
4. Fairlife Core Power Chocolate (14 oz)
- Price per serving: $3.58
According to Lisa Rakestraw on Amazon, “Fairlife Core Power Chocolate is hands down the best. They’re smooth, not chalky, and taste amazing, more like a milkshake than a protein drink. I love that they keep me full without feeling heavy, and they’re super convenient when I’m on the go. Definitely my new favorite!”
Fairlife Core Power Chocolate is a delicious, lactose-free, ultra-filtered milk protein shake. It packs 26 grams of high-quality protein to support post-workout recovery. And the best part of all of it is hidden in a creamy chocolate flavor without the chalky taste.
5. Ghost Whey Oreo
- Price per serving: $1.73
Ghost Whey Oreo delivers an authentic, delicious Cookies & Cream taste thanks to real Oreo pieces in its formula. The quality blend of whey protein isolate, concentrate, and hydrolysate offers 25g of protein for muscle support.
The high-quality 25g of protein per serving, along with digestive enzymes, supports muscle recovery, growth, and overall muscle health. If you love Oreo cookies, you will definitely call this one of your favorite best tasting protein shakes.
6. Muscle Milk Pro Knockout Chocolate
- Price per serving: $5.99
Muscle Milk Pro Knockout Chocolate offers a rich, satisfying chocolate taste in a smooth shake. The quality protein blend provides 32g to support muscle rebuilding and maintenance. Health benefits include a high protein-to-calorie ratio, 1g of sugar, and an excellent source of 16 vitamins and minerals for overall wellness.
It’s a convenient post-workout or meal option. It helps you hit your calorie intake, helps in energy rejuvenation, and tastes good. Who doesn’t want that? We all do!
7. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (Mocha Cappuccino)
- Price per serving: $1.55
Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Mocha Cappuccino flavor is popular for its rich, indulgent coffee and chocolate taste. The powder is high quality, featuring whey isolate as the main protein source. It is renowned for its effortless, smooth mixing with no clumps.
Each serving contains 24 grams of protein and 5.5 grams of BCAAs. They are great support for muscle building, fast recovery, and lean muscle mass maintenance. It definitely justifies being the world’s best-selling whey protein.
8. Nesquik Protein Power Chocolate (14 oz)
- Price per serving: $3.00
Nesquik Protein Power Chocolate (14 oz) is a delicious, nostalgic way to refuel. It packs a big 23g of protein into the classic, low-fat chocolate milk taste you love. It provides 64% more protein than regular Nesquik.
A review left by “Imhim4ever” states that Nesquick protein power chocolate is better than the original. To quote the user, “I’ve used this while bulking, gotta say incredible results, and the taste is better, darker, and richer than the original.”
9. Gainful Custom Protein (Cookies & Cream)
- Price per serving: $1.50
According to Drew B, Gainful’s Cookies & Cream has “Great flavors!” And they aren’t the only ones praising the taste of this protein shake. Gainful’s Cookies & Cream flavor boost provides a delicious, cookie-like taste with zero-calorie sweeteners.
The quality is top-tier, using clean, personalized ingredients free from artificial additives. The powder is health-focused, delivering 19g to 27g of protein to support muscle growth, recovery, and fitness goals.
10. OWYN Dark Chocolate (12 oz)
- Price per serving: $3.08 (or $2.47 sub)
But what about vegans? Do they have some options for the best tasting protein shakes? Yes, they do! The OWYN Dark Chocolate shake offers a rich, satisfying, plant-based dessert experience. Each 12-oz bottle delivers 20g of protein and is free from the top 9 allergens.
Our favorite part about Owyn dark chocolate is that it is a delicious, worry-free way to fuel your body. It tastes great and feels great, too! Exactly what you need to start your workout and reduce your cravings.
11. OWYN Pro Elite Chocolate (12 oz)
- Price per serving: $4.49
OWYN Pro Elite Chocolate is a smooth, great-tasting, dairy-free shake. It boasts high-quality, plant-based 32 g of protein from a complete amino acid blend. Health benefits include supporting muscle recovery and containing a superfoods greens blend, Omega-3s, and probiotics for gut health. It is zero sugar and Top 9 Allergen-friendly.
While the reviews have been mixed on this protein shake, it is advised to add banana and peanut butter for a better taste. As for the protein shake, it is an acquired taste, to say the least.
12. Muscle Milk Zero Sugar
- Price per serving: $3.99
Looking for a sugar-free option? We got you! Muscle Milk Zero Sugar shakes offer a smooth, creamy taste like chocolate milk, with minimal aftertaste. The quality formula provides a blend of fast and slow-releasing milk proteins.
The best part of this protein shake, besides its taste, is that it has 20g of protein, zero sugar, and 100$ calories. They support muscle recovery, satiety, and a reduced-calorie diet.
13. Koia Cacao Bean (12 oz)
- Price per serving: $4.99
Koia Cacao Bean offers a delicious, non-chalky chocolate taste with a creamy, almond milk base. Its quality is excellent and the taste is superlicious. It is a plant-based, dairy/soy-free, non-GMO alternative for the best tasting protein shakes.
The protein shake includes 18g of complete plant protein, just 4g of sugar, and 7g of fiber. It is perfect support for muscle maintenance, sustained energy, and digestive health. And it tastes like coffee!
14. Remedy Organics Cacao Essentials
- Price per serving: $4.99
Remedy Organics Cacao Essentials has a rich, decadent dark chocolate taste. The taste is elegant and not too sweet. The quality is superb, being USDA organic, plant-based, and non-GMO. It is free of any dairy, so it is perfect for people with lactose intolerance.
And you get health benefits from 16g of protein, prebiotics, and adaptogens like maca and ashwagandha. These components give immune support and muscle recovery. Making this one of the best choices for protein shakes.
15. Boost Plus Rich Chocolate (8 oz)
- Price per serving: $3.17
Boost has always been the secret to our energy. It is famous not just for its benefits but also for its creamy taste. It is a high-calorie nutritional shake. Each 8-oz serving delivers 360 nutrient-rich calories and 14g of protein to help gain or maintain weight. It also provides 26 essential vitamins and minerals.
It has been a childhood favorite of many of us. The chocolaty, creamy protein powder with a glass of ice-cold milk is a match made in heaven. It is good for your tongue and great for your body, the two important aspects of the best tasting protein shakes.
Also Read:
- 5 Advantage of Whey Protein
- High-Protein Diet Plan: Benefits, Foods, and How to Get Started
- Peptides vs Proteins: The Hidden Differences That Shape Your Health, Skin & Fitness
Conclusion
The hunt for the best tasting protein shakes ends here. No longer do you need to endure chalky flavors to meet your fitness goals. With so many options like Fairlife and Ghost Whey Oreo, today’s market offers a genuine fusion of nutrition and decadent taste.
Embrace this new era where dieting feels like a treat. By choosing from this curated list, you can satisfy your cravings, fuel your body efficiently, and stay committed to your health journey. And that is what makes these truly the best tasting protein shakes.
FAQs:
1. Are all these shakes meal replacements?
No. Some are, like Boost Plus, but most are simply protein supplements designed for recovery and satiety, not complete meal replacement.
2. Do plant-based shakes taste chalky compared to whey?
Historically, yes, but newer options like OWYN and Koia have largely eliminated the chalky texture with better blending and flavor technology.
3. What is “ultra-filtered milk” in Fairlife shakes?
It is milk processed to concentrate the protein and remove most of the lactose. This results in a smoother, lactose-free, high-protein base.
