What’s the Best Chocolate Protein Powder? I Tasted 9 So You Don’t Have to
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Confession: I have developed a slight obsession with protein smoothies. What started as a means to recover from intense workouts has turned into a morning self-care routine—and I’ve got a generous supply of supplement powders to show for it. But here’s the thing: I’ve noticed that many chocolate protein powders don’t deliver in terms of flavor. Even when I order chocolate-flavored shakes from local juice shops, I can barely (if at all) detect any notes of chocolate.
Naturally, this inspired my newfound quest to find a good chocolate protein powder that’s both tasty and filling. So, if you’re a chocolate lover like me and you’re still searching for the ideal brand to boost your blends, you’re in luck—I tasted some of the best chocolate protein powders so you don’t have to.
18 High-Protein Foods to Have on Your Radar
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How I Chose the Best Chocolate Protein Powder
In vetting brands, I kept five key criteria top of mind:
Nakeisha Campbell
The Control Smoothie Ingredients:
Rather than sticking with a simpler recipe, I made my daily go-to blend my control group. Typically, I use my NutriBullet to mix the following ingredients with vanilla protein powder because the sweet, warm vanilla flavor notes shine through to create a tasty mixture overall. So, I figured I’d experiment with chocolate powders to see if they would have a similar effect.
1 cup of Chobani oat milk
1 banana
1 handful of Spinach
1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons of raw almond butter
1 tablespoon of chopped roasted almonds
1 tablespoon of honey
From Orgain to POWKids, keep reading to see my honest reviews of these chocolate protein powders.
The 9 Best Chocolate Protein Powders, Ranked
9. Truvani Plant Based Chocolate Protein Powder
amazon
Value: 15/20
Quality: 16/20
Blendability: 18/20
Taste: 10/20
Protein content: 19/20
Total: 78/100
Of all the brands I've tried, this one confuses me the most. It boasts just six natural ingredients and I’ve seen rave reviews from customers, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish a full serving. The flavor just felt…off. Like I was drinking an earthy vegetable supplement with the slightest hint of artificial dark chocolate (yes, even though it has no preservatives or artificial sweeteners). Plus, I noticed that this powder doesn’t offer much else in terms of nutrition, besides protein. Osn a brighter note, the mixture is not extremely grainy, it’s pretty easy to digest and it has just 130 calories per serving.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Pea protein, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, alkalized cocoa
Protein: 20 grams per serving
Sugar: 2 grams
8. Green Regimen Chocolate Protein Powder
amazon
Value: 15/20
Quality: 19/20
Blendability: 17/20
Taste: 12/20
Protein content: 20/20
Total: 83/100
This powder creates a pretty thick and hearty shake, and it’s slightly grainy in texture. The chocolate flavor is noticeable, but I can also taste the veggie powder blend (which includes kale, cabbage, parsley and broccoli), and that makes for a strange, off-putting flavor combo. Still, I like that this formula is jam-packed with superfoods that promote gut health, and it has no weird aftertaste, thanks to the absence of artificial sweeteners. One serving of this vegan-friendly powder has 160 calories and it can double as a meal replacement.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Organic pea protein, organic hemp protein, organic maca root, organic spirulina
Protein: 25 grams per serving
Sugar: 2 grams
7. Power Life High Impact Chocolate Whey Protein Powder
amazon
Value: 15/20
Quality: 19/20
Blendability: 19/20
Taste: 18/20
Protein content: 12/20
Total: 83/100
Tony Horton's new premium blend is designed to support healthy muscle development and aid with digestion, so this one’s ideal for anyone who’s looking to promote muscle growth and recovery. I like that I can instantly detect a pleasant chocolate flavor and it blends smoothly, but at nearly $60 a jar (which seems large, but since it's filled by weight, contains just 23.4 ounces), it falls a bit short in the value department. Also, compared to other brands on this list, the protein content per serving is quite low. But if you’re looking for superior taste, this one ranks higher on the list.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Marine algar, digestive enzyme blend, alkalized cocoa powder, pink Himalayan sea salt
Protein: 15 grams per serving
Sugar: 0 grams
6. Orgain Plant Based Creamy Chocolate Fudge
amazon
Value: 16/20
Quality: 19/20
Blendability: 16/20
Taste: 15/20
Protein content: 19/20
Total: 85/100
This blend definitely has the taste of a fudgy, chocolatey brownie. There’s a bit of an artificial aftertaste (though not unbearable), and I like that the chocolate flavor is prominent, but not too overpowering or sweet when combined with the other ingredients. However, my biggest turnoff is the grainy texture. I’m not a fan of mixtures where I can still feel the small powder granules on my tongue. Even so, I’m impressed by the brand’s clean ingredients and nutritional value, so I know my body is getting what it needs to stay energized.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Organic pea protein, organic brown rice, organic cocoa, organic chia seeds
Protein: 21 grams per serving
Sugar: 0 grams
5. Nufyx Heavenly Protein Powder Dreamy Chocolate
amazon
Value: 15/20
Quality: 19/20
Blendability: 18/20
Taste: 17/20
Protein content: 17/20
Total: 86/100
The ingredients are clean and functional, each serving has just 100 calories and, per the brand’s advertising, it "tastes like a milkshake." Quite frankly, I beg to differ on that last claim, because after adding a packet to my smoothie, it was just…OK. The chocolate notes are rather mild, and the texture is a bit gritty. Also, the stevia sweetener leaves an unpleasant aftertaste, but it does deliver in terms of digestibility.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Organic pea protein, organic cocoa, organic lucuma fruit
Protein: 18 grams per serving
Sugar: Less than 1 gram
4. Aloha Organic Plant-Based Chocolate Protein Powder
amazon
Value: 18/20
Quality: 19/20
Blendability: 20/20
Taste: 15/20
Protein content: 17/20
Total: 89/100
It’s like drinking an Aloha protein bar in liquid form, but with a little less flavor. After devouring their pre-made shakes and several of their bars, I came to realize that the brand’s products all share a distinct, sweet taste that I can’t quite put my finger on—perhaps because of their unique protein blend. But surprisingly, I’m not thrilled by their chocolate protein powder. The chocolate flavor is nearly impossible to detect, making it rather bland, but I like that it has great dissolvability (talk about smooth!). It’s also easy on my stomach, and it keeps me full for a solid three hours, thanks to the fiber and iron content.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Organic brown rice protein, organic hemp seed protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic pea protein, organic cocoa, cinnamon
Protein: 18 grams per serving
Sugar: 4 grams
3. Designer Wellness Whey Gourmet Chocolate
amazon
Value: 17/20
Quality: 17/20
Blendability: 19/20
Taste: 17/20
Protein content: 19/20
Total: 89/100
I really wanted to love this protein powder, particularly because I’ve devoured at least a dozen containers of the vanilla flavor. Surprisingly though, this version didn’t blow me away. The gourmet chocolate has a pleasant, but very (and I mean very) subtle taste. For this reason, I was almost tempted to throw it back into the blender and add a spoonful of cacao powder for an extra kick, but on its own, I will say that it at least complements the other ingredients. Some major pluses? It blends well and curbs my hunger for a few hours, without making me feel like I’ve guzzled a giant, calorie-heavy milkshake. Each serving has just 110 calories and is a significant source of calcium, thiamin, magnesium, zinc and vitamin D.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: GMO-Free Prebiotic Vegetable Fiber, Probiotics, Alkalized Cocoa, Monk Fruit
Protein: 20 grams
Sugar: 2 grams
2. POW Kids Chocolate Protein Powder
pow kids
Value: 17/20
Quality: 18/20
Blendability: 19/20
Taste: 18/20
Protein content: 17/20
Total: 89/100
PowKids was formulated specifically for children, and after seeing footage of happy kids taste-testing this protein powder, I just had to try it for myself. The brand, which includes calcium, vitamin D and choline to foster brain health, packs a lot of punch in the flavor department. I used just two scoops (the recommended serving depends on the age group), and it essentially transformed my smoothie into a glass of rich chocolate milk. My only caveat? It leaves a slight chemical aftertaste (likely due to the stevia).
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Grass-fed whey protein isolate, organic cocoa, vitamin D
Protein: 18 grams per serving
Sugar: 0 grams
1. Muscle Milk Genuine Protein Powder
amazon
Value: 18/20
Quality: 17/20
Blendability: 20/20
Taste: 19/20
Protein content: 20/20
Total: 94/100
I won’t lie, the calorie count for this almost made me skip this option altogether, but I’m so glad I didn’t. At 280 calories per serving, this mixture comes the closest to a satisfying chocolate milkshake—sans the ridiculously high sugar content. Muscle Milk gave my smoothie an amazing flavor boost, resulting in a silky, rich blend that legit made me forget I was drinking something healthy. It’s worth noting that each serving has a healthy dose of potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, C & D.
Fast Facts
Standout ingredients: Milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, organic oat fiber, alkalized cocoa powder
Protein: 32 grams per serving
Sugar: 3 grams
