Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream

This Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream is the perfect, easy protein ice cream base for all your Ninja Creami creations – with over 30 grams of protein per pint!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or haven’t been on social media over the past year), you’ve likely heard of the viral Ninja Creami. It’s a pretty incredible machine that allows you to take seemingly any ingredient and turn it into a luxuriously creamy ice cream.

And despite it sounding too good to be true, it really is pretty awesome. Particularly if you’re like myself and you’re prioritizing protein, the Ninja Creami is a fabulous way to up your protein intake.

Who need to drink another protein shake when you can turn it into a truly delicious, creamy ice cream?!

This Ninja protein ice cream is my personal go to protein ice cream. It’s simple and incredibly easy to customize with flavor swaps and ingredient mix ins.

Looking for more Ninja Creami protein ice cream recipes? You’ve got to check out this protein acai bowl with acai ice cream, protein pumpkin ice cream, and strawberry cottage cheese ice cream (gives total strawberry cheesecake ice cream vibes!).

Why This Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipe is SO Good:

• It’s incredibly simple, with just 2 base ingredients needed.
• As long as you have a Ninja Creami, it’s low maintenance to make.
• High protein! One pint has over 30 grams of protein (with a customization to double it – check the variations below).
• Lusciously thick and creamy.
• Extremely customizable, between flavor swaps and mix-ins.
• It’s SO good!

Ingredients Needed

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Protein Shake: You need an 11-12 ounce individual protein shake, whatever flavor you like! And truly, is this is the main ingredient here, it’s imperative that you like the taste of the protein shake. No matter how much the Ninja Creami can transform texture, it can’t make you like a protein shake you detest!
• Instant Pudding Mix: use sugar free or regular, just be sure it’s the powdered instant pudding mix. And you can use whatever flavor complements your protein shake of choice.
• Cream Cheese: while you could skip this ingredient, I truly feel that just a tablespoon of neufchatel cream cheese or whipped cream cheese adds a little balance of flavor and a little extra indulgent-feeling creaminess to your protein ice cream.

Step-by-Step Directions

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

1. Add ingredients to a Ninja Creami pint container.
2. Whisk or use an immersion blender to blend ingredients thoroughly.
3. Freeze for 24 hours.
4. Complete a spin on the “Lite Ice Cream” setting of the Ninja Creami.
5. It’ll likely look a little powdery, so add a tablespoon more protein shake, milk, or cream.
6. Run the “Re-Spin” cycle and the result should be a thick and creamy protein ice cream.

Expert Ninja Creami Tips

Why is my Ninja Creami Powdery?

A powdery Ninja Creami is common after the first spin when making light or high protein Ninja Creami ice creams. Ninja Creami protein ice cream and light ice creams typically need 1 or 2 Re-Spin cycles. If it’s really powdery, try adding a tablespoon of protein shake, milk, or cream before you Re-Spin. I find the magic combination is usually 1 spin, add 1 tablespoon liquid, and 1 re-spin!

Why is my Ninja Creami Too Soft?

If your ice cream is very soft and more soft serve or a Wendy’s Frosty consistency, you either did not freeze your mixture long enough, or you’ve added too much liquid during a Re-Spin. I know it’s tedious, but freeze for 24 hours! And when adding liquid before a Re-Spin, only add a tablespoon (unless you want it softer, then by all means, add an extra tablespoon or two!).

Why is my Ninja Creami Not Soft Enough?

Let it not fully freeze, or allow it to sit out for 20-30 minutes before spinning. You also can add a total of 2-3 tablespoons of extra liquid before you Re-Spin, to allow for a softer consistency.

How Do I know if I need to Re-Spin?

If after your first spin your ice cream is powdery or just not quite creamy enough, run a Re-Spin. If it’s very powdery (like most protein ice creams), add that tablespoon of extra liquid.

Use Quality Ingredients

The Ninja Creami is pretty magical, but you still need to like the ingredients you’re using! So if you’re making a protein ice cream – use a protein shake and/ or powder you like! If you’re adding fruit or making a sorbet, use fruit that tastes good for you. For example – I personally find canned fruit to always have a metallic taste, even when transformed in a Ninja Creami, so I prefer to thaw frozen or use fresh when making those bases.

Have Fun with Mix-Ins

Once you have a good base you enjoy (like a good protein ice cream base), change it up with flavor variations and different mix ins!

What Else Can You Make in a Ninja Creami?

Ice creams, light ice creams, protein ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and more!

Protect Your Ears!

The Ninja Creami is pretty loud, so guard your ears! And please protect the ears of any kids helping out in the kitchen.

Substitutions & Variations

• Protein Shake Flavor Swap: Try changing up the protein shake flavor for different variations – they make protein shakes in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, caramel, cookies and cream, and more.
• Extra Protein: If you’re really dialing up your protein intake, blend a scoop of protein powder into your protein shake ice cream base for significantly more protein per serving.
• Have fun with mix-ins! Try mixing in additions like graham crackers, mini chocolate chips, caramel, pralines, honey roasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, fresh fruit, chopped cookies, mini M&Ms and more!
• Dairy-free protein shakes and dairy free instant pudding mixes are available, if that’s a need.

Storing Ninja Creami Leftovers

What do you do if you have Ninja Creami leftovers? Well, you have two options:

1. Refreeze and Re-Spin: Simply level and smooth the top of any leftover ice cream inside the Ninja Creami pint, place it back in the freezer, and spin it again when you’re ready to enjoy again.
2. Thaw Slightly/ No Re-Spin: Refreeze your leftovers, then when you’re ready to enjoy, set it out on the counter for 10-15 minutes, or freeze for 10-15 seconds until slightly softened.

If you have any mix-ins in your ice cream, I recommend just thawing and avoiding a re-spin. Doing another spin cycle after you already have mix-ins completely obliterates whatever mix-ins there were (which can impact the taste and texture of the ice cream, too).

Supplies You’ll Need

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(Of course) you need a Ninja Creami. Chances are, if you’ve gotten this far, you already have one. But if not – I highly recommend!

There are several types of Ninja Creamis: the original Ninja Creami, the Ninja Creami Deluxe, and (what I have) the Ninja Creami Breeze.

• 7-in-1 Ninja Creami: The original Ninja Creami with 7 settings, Ice Cream, Sorbet, Lite Ice Cream, Smoothie Bowl, Gelato, Milkshake, and Mix-In.
• Ninja Creami Deluxe: The Deluxe is a more comprehensive Ninja Creami, offering 11 pre-set programs to the originals 7.
• Ninja Creami Breeze: The Breeze is a more compact machine, designed to still be powerful but take up less space and fit more easily on countertops under cabinets.

If you’re a big fan of prepping a lot of Ninja Creami recipes in advance, I highly recommend also investing in additional pint containers.

More Ninja Creami Recipes:

• Decadent Raspberry Chip Ice Cream
• Ninja Creami Mango Sorbet
• Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt
• Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
• Acai Ice Cream
• Protein Pumpkin Ice Cream

Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more balanced nutrition and simple, healthy-ish recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram!