High-Protein Banana Yogurt Pudding Recipe with Greek Yogurt

This High Protein Banana Pudding delivers about 22 grams of protein per serving and tastes like the classic dessert. It’s a no-bake recipe that takes roughly 15 minutes to prepare (plus chilling time) and makes a healthy dessert, snack, or even a breakfast option.

Banana pudding is a dessert that’s hard to resist, and this high-protein version gives you every reason to enjoy it. I make this pudding frequently for meal prep—it’s simple, satisfying, and pairs well with other fridge-friendly breakfasts and snacks.

It’s creamy, naturally sweet, and packed with banana‑vanilla flavor while using simple, wholesome ingredients like cottage cheese or Greek yogurt and fresh bananas. It’s easy to customize and stores well for a few days in the fridge.

Recipe Highlight

• No cooking required: Mix, layer, refrigerate—done.
• 6 ingredients: Uses a short list of pantry staples and your choice of Greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese.
• Great for meal prep: Make it the night before—flavor improves after chilling.
• Easily customizable: Add protein powder or powdered peanut butter for more protein, or omit add-ins for a simpler pudding.

Ingredient Notes

Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt (2–5% fat) creates a rich, creamy base. You can substitute blended cottage cheese for a milder flavor—just blend until smooth before using.

Protein powder: Optional. Vanilla protein powder adds protein and slightly thickens the mixture. If you prefer a peanut-butter twist, swap in powdered peanut butter.

Banana: Use bananas at the ripeness you enjoy. I prefer yellow with a few spots, but use what tastes best to you.

Cookies: Traditional Nilla wafers work great, but ladyfingers or shortbread-style cookies can be used if you can’t find Nilla wafers.

How To Make High-Protein Banana Pudding

*This is an overview. The full recipe with exact measurements and details follows in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Whisk together Greek yogurt (or blended cottage cheese), protein powder (if using), maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth.

Step 2: Spoon a layer of the yogurt mixture into a serving dish or jar.

Step 3: Add a layer of Nilla wafers (or your chosen cookie).

Step 4: Add a layer of sliced bananas.

Step 5: Repeat layers until the container is full, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or, ideally, overnight for best flavor and texture.

How To Store

Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cookies will soften with time, which is normal. Freezing is not recommended, as the texture will change.

Jess’s Tips

• Chill it overnight: While two hours is fine, the pudding deepens in flavor after an overnight rest.
• Use the right bananas: Choose the ripeness you enjoy eating—there’s no need to use overripe fruit unless you prefer it.
• Blend cottage cheese: If using cottage cheese, blend until completely smooth before combining with the other ingredients.
• Taste and adjust: If your protein powder is sweetened, you may not need much maple syrup—taste the mixture before layering.
• Portion it: Layer into small mason jars or glasses for convenient grab-and-go servings.

Frequently Asked Questions