Name: Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 1 d 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16-oz protein shake of choice (see notes below); Optional: Additional sweetener to taste; Optional: 1/4 cup Mix-ins of choice

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Making high protein ice cream in the Ninja Creami is a great way to increase protein intake while satisfying your sweet tooth!

It’s super easy to make Ninja Creami protein ice cream with just a couple of ingredients!

three scoops of Ninja Creami protein ice cream in chocolate flavor are served in a dessert cup.

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There are many fabulous things about the Ninja Creami ice cream maker.

With the ability to make small batch recipes, the endless flavor options available, or the ease with which you can whip up a pint of a frozen treat, it’s no surprise this kitchen appliance has become quite popular.

But one of my favorite features is the ability to easily customize the ingredients, which is perfect for those who may have dietary restrictions.

Whether you’re trying to cut back on sugar, need dairy-free treats, or want to increase your protein intake, it’s easy to make a sweet treat in your Ninja Creami machine with very few ingredients.

You can even make frozen desserts with ingredients that aren’t often used in traditional ice cream recipes, giving even more flexibility.

That’s where this Ninja Creami protein ice cream comes into play! It’s super simple to make, and it’s a healthy ice cream recipe you can feel good about.

It’s one of the easiest high protein Ninja Creami recipes, and is easy to customize.

chocolate protein ice cream in a Ninja Creami pint, with an ice cream scoop in the ice cream.

Protein Ice Cream in the Ninja Creami

To make this easy ice cream recipe, you really only need one ingredient, and that’s a protein shake of your choice.

I used the Bolthouse Farms chocolate protein shake, because that’s what I can easily find in my local grocery store.

I know many people love the Fairlife shakes, so if you can find those, give them a try!

With the variety I used, the entire pint of ice cream has 30 g protein, but this will all depend on your variety.

Because the protein shake is the main ingredient in the ice cream, you’ll want to choose a shake that you actually like. Freezing it isn’t going to magically make it taste better!

I have also found that sometimes the final product is less sweet than the unfrozen base is, so if you want to, you can add a bit of sweetener to your shake before freezing.

Depending on your needs, you could use sugar, maple syrup, honey, monkfruit sweetener, or another sweetener of choice.

If you want to increase the fat content of the ice cream, you could also add some heavy cream. But all you really need is the shake!

If you don’t want to use a protein shake, try making Ninja Creami cottage cheese ice cream, Ninja Creami strawberry frozen yogurt, Ninja Creami peach frozen yogurt, Ninja Creami strawberry cottage cheese ice cream, or Ninja Creami chocolate frozen yogurt for a high-protein treat.

Or try my Ninja Creami Oreo protein ice cream for a cookies and cream delight, or my Ninja Creami chai tea protein ice cream for a spiced dessert.

Craving something tropical? Give this Ninja Creami protein Dole Whip a whirl!

close-up view of a couple of scoops of protein ice cream from the ninja creami, served in a dessert cup shaped like an ice cream cone.

How to Make Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream

It’s super simple to whip up a pint of delicious protein ice cream!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Protein shake of choice
Optional: additional sweetener of choice
Optional: mix-ins of choice

overhead view of a dessert cup with three scoops of Ninja Creami chocolate protein ice cream in it. The remaining pint of ice cream and a spoon are in the background.

How to Make it:

(Full printable recipe card is located below)

Prepare the base. Pour the protein shake of your choice into a Ninja Creami pint container. If using, add sweetener and stir to dissolve.

Freeze. Close the lid on the pint and transfer it to a level surface in your freezer. Freeze for at least 24 hours.

Spin. Remove the pint from the freezer and take off the lid. Place the container into the outer bowl apparatus and secure the outer bowl lid.

Place the outer bowl into the Ninja Creami machine and press the Lite Ice Cream button to process.

two photos; one shows the overhead view of a Ninja Creami pint container of chocolate protein ice cream; the other shows the outer bowl locked into the Ninja Creami machine and a woman's hand pointing to the Lite Ice Cream button.

Re-spin if needed. Remove the pint and check the consistency of the ice cream.

If it appears crumbly, you can re-insert it into the machine and press the Re-spin button to process it again. If it’s still crumbly after that, add a tablespoon of milk and Re-spin again.

two photos; one shows a Ninja Creami pint container of crumbly-looking protein ice cream; the other shows the same pint after re-spinning, where the texture is rich and creamy, like soft-serve ice cream.

Add mix-in, if using. If you’d like to add a mix-in to your ice cream, such as chocolate chips or cookie pieces, create a well in the ice cream that’s about 1/2-inch wide and extends to the bottom of the pint.

Place the mix-in into the well, then insert the pint back into the machine and use the Mix-in function to process.

Serve and enjoy!

overhead view of a pint of Ninja Creami protein ice cream with an ice cream scoop in it.

Notes and Adaptations:

Be sure to choose a protein shake that you like, since it is the main ingredient here.
Your protein shake will need to have either some sugar or fat in it, in order for it to work in the Ninja Creami. Skip any varieties that are both sugar-free and fat-free.
Feel free to add flavor enhancers prior to freezing, if desired. You could add a sweetener of choice (sugar, monk fruit sweetener, maple syrup, etc.), a teaspoon of vanilla extract or other flavoring, etc. You can add your favorite mix-ins after processing.

Recommended Equipment:

Yield: 1 pint

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream

Making protein ice cream in the Ninja Creami machine is an easy way to enjoy a frozen treat without the guilt!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 5 minutes

Ingredients

16-oz protein shake of choice (see notes below)
Optional: Additional sweetener to taste
Optional: 1/4 cup Mix-ins of choice

Instructions

Pour protein shake into a Ninja Creami pint container, being careful not to exceed the max fill line on the pint.
If using, add sweetener to taste and stir to dissolve.
Close lid on the pint container and place on a level surface in your freezer for at least 24 hours.
Remove pint from freezer and take off lid. Place pint container into the outer bowl apparatus, locking the outer bowl lid into place.
Secure the outer bowl apparatus into the Ninja Creami machine. Press the Lite Ice Cream button to process the pint.
Remove the pint from the machine and check the texture of the ice cream. If it appears crumbly, reinsert it into the machine and use the Re-spin button to process again. If it's still crumbly, add a tablespoon of milk and Re-spin again.
Optional: If you're using a mix-in, create a well in the ice cream that's about 1/2-inch wide and extends to the bottom of the pint. Add mix-in pieces to the well and insert the pint back into the machine. Use the Mix-in function to incorporate.

Notes

Be sure to choose a protein shake that you like, since it is the main ingredient here.
Your protein shake should have either some sugar or fat in it, in order for it to work in the Ninja Creami. Skip any varieties that are both sugar-free and fat-free.
Feel free to add flavor enhancers prior to freezing, if desired. Mixtures are usually slightly less sweet-tasting after freezing. You could add a sweetener of choice (sugar, monk fruit sweetener, maple syrup, etc.), a teaspoon of vanilla extract or other flavoring, etc.
For a cookies and cream version, try my Ninja Creami Oreo protein ice cream recipe.
Check out our list of helpful Ninja Creami accessories!