Enjoy a chocolate treat that is also a nourishing, high protein snack (14 grams of protein per serving)! Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free, this high protein puppy chow is made with 4 ingredients, requires no baking, and takes under 10 minutes (start to finish) to prepare.

high protein vegan puppy chow in a white bowl

What is Puppy Chow?

Puppy chow—also known as muddy buddies—is a sweet-salty-and-crunchy, crave-worthy snack (for people, not dogs ). Traditional recipes for puppy chow are made by coating crispy Chex cereal in a melty mix of chocolate, butter, and peanut butter, and then tossing in a snowy coating of powdered sugar. It is addicting!

A Nourishing High Protein Alternative

My rendition of puppy chow has all of the great taste, crunch, and simplicity of the original, but with a fraction of the sugar, no added oils or butter, and a mighty boost of protein. Yes, please!

Vanilla plant-based protein powder stands in for the powdered sugar. It works like a charm, adding protein, vanilla flavor, and an additional layer of subtle sweetness to this nourishing protein puppy chow.

This no-bake treat is as fun to make as it is to eat: just melt, stir, coat, and cool. Every handful is a reliable balance of rich, chocolatey goodness and irresistible crunch. Whether you are whipping up a batch for a party, gifting it in little bags, or sneaking bites straight from the bowl, this high protein puppy chow is a reliable snack, guaranteed to please!

overhead shot of high protein puppy chow

Recipe Benefits

High Protein (14 grams of protein per 1 cup serving)
Made with 4 ingredients
Ready in under 10 minutes
Gluten-free (use a certified gluten-free protein powder)
Vegan (egg-free & dairy-free)
Oil-free (no coconut oil, avocado oil, butter or margarine)
No bake
A great portable snack or dessert

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post.Toggle betweenUS Customary(volume) andMetric(weights) for preferred measurement option.

ingredinets for high protein puppy chow in clear glass bowls

Peanut butter– use smooth, creamy peanut butter, or any other smooth nut butter or seed butter (e.g., cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini).
Rice Chex cereal— you can also use chex corn cereal in place of the chex rice cereal, or an equal amount of any other similarly-shaped, light and crispy cereal. Make sure the cereal is certified gluten-free if you want the puppy chow to be gluten-free.
Vanilla flavor vegan protein powder– plant based vanilla flavor protein powder takes the place of powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) found in traditional puppy chow recipes. It adds sweetness, vanilla flavor and a reliable coating all in one feel swoop.
Dark chocolate chips–chocolate chips are melted with nut butter to create the creamy coating for the cereal. I use semisweet chocolate chips or other dark chocolate chips. Use dairy-free vegan chocolate chips, as needed.

Step by Step Instructions for Protein Puppy Chow

Note that the complete instructions are also in the recipe card below.

4 photo collage showing how to make high protein puppy chow

Place cereal in bowl:Place the dry rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl or other large bowl (you need plenty of room to stir the mix).
Melt chocolate and peanut butter: Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a medium size, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stopping to stir each time, until melted and smooth.
Pour & stir: Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the cereal in the bowl. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, gently toss and stir to completely coat, being careful not to break up the cereal.
Coat: Sprinkle the cereal mixture with the protein powder. Gently stir to completely coat the cereal pieces.
Cool:Allow the puppy chow to cool completely before serving.

Cooling Tip

To expedite the cooling, spread the vegan puppy chow on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and (optional) place in the refrigerator or the freezer to quickly set the chocolate coating.

white silicone cup filled with puppy chow

Variations for High Protein Puppy Chow

Here are some other ways you can mix up the puppy chow recipe:

Double chocolatereplace the vanilla vegan protein power with an equal amountchocolateplant-based protein power
Chopped nuts or seeds:add up to ½ cup peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seed kernels. It will up the protein further and add satisfying crunch.
Sprinklesadd in 2 to 3 tablespoons of multicolored sprinkles of any variety, along with the protein powder. I like these dye free, gluten-free, vegan options for all-natural rainbow jimmies and all-natural rainbow sprinkles.
Spicesadd ½ teaspoon of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the melted chocolate mixture before adding it to the dry cereal.
Dried fruitadd up to ½ cup chopped dried fruit, such as dried apricots, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, raisins, or dried cherries.
Almond flour in place of protein powder:An equal amount of finely ground almond flour, or any finely ground nuts or seeds, can be used in place of the plant-based protein powder. If using this almond flour option, I recommend adding 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture.

Storage for High Protein Puppy Chow

Store the high protein puppy chow in an airtight container at (cool) room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator / fridge for up to one week, or the freezer for up to six months.

Tips & Substitutions

Mix is too dry:If the puppy chow mixture seems too dry as you stir in the protein powder, consider melting another tablespoon or two of peanut butter and/or chocolate chips (in a separate bowl) until smooth. Add to the cereal mixture.
Mix is too wet / sticky:If the cereal mix seems too wet or sticky once you stir in the protein powder, consider adding a few more tablespoons of protein powder to the mix.
Vegan protein powder tip:Plant based (vegan) protein powders are typically grain and/or legume based. There is some variation between brands, so you may need to use less with one, more with another, to evenly coat the cereal.TIP:start by adding HALF of the protein powder, then adding more, as needed, to coat the cereal.
Choose sweetened protein powder:I recommend sticking with a sweetened protein powder. Unsweetened protein powder may make the mix too savory.

High Protein Puppy Chow

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Servings: 5 servings

Ingredients

5 cups rice Chex cereal (or corn Chex)
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (certified dairy free and GF, as needed)
1/4 cup peanut butter (see notes for alternatives)
1/2 cup vanilla flavor vegan protein powder

Method

Place the dry rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl (you need plenty of room to stir the mix).
Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a medium size, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stopping to stir each time, until melted and smooth.
Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the cereal in the bowl. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, stir to completely coat, being careful not to break up the cereal.
Sprinkle the cereal mixture with the protein powder. Gently stir to completely coat the cereal pieces.
Cool the puppy chow before serving. Refrigerate, if needed, to more firmly set the chocolate.
Cooling Tip: To expedite the cooling, spread the vegan puppy chow on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and (optional) place in the refrigerator or the freezer to quickly set the chocolate coating.

Notes

Storage Store the high protein puppy chow in an airtight container at (cool) room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator / fridge for up to one week, or the freezer for up to six months. Tips & Substitutions Mix is too dry: If the puppy chow mixture seems too dry as you stir in the protein powder, consider melting another tablespoon or two of peanut butter and/or chocolate chips (in a separate bowl) until smooth. Add to the cereal mixture. Mix is too wet / sticky: If the cereal mix seems too wet or sticky once you stir in the protein powder, consider adding a few more tablespoons of protein powder to the mix. Vegan protein powder tip: Plant based (vegan) protein powders are typically grain and/or legume based. There is some variation between brands, so you may need to use less with one, more with another, to evenly coat the cereal. TIP: start by adding HALF of the protein powder, then adding more, as needed, to coat the cereal. Choose sweetened protein powder: I recommend sticking with a sweetened protein powder. Unsweetened protein powder may make the mix too savory.