Ninja Creami recipes to power your post-workout routine

You’re already aware that fueling your body before and after training is essential for performance, muscle growth, and recovery, but getting it right doesn’t mean you need to stick to a bland, repetitive meal plan. The most effective nutrition plan is one that’s enjoyable and easy to stick to.

The Ninja Creami can help you achieve this by transforming simple, wholesome ingredients into ultra-smooth, frozen treats that can help refuel your body after a workout.

In this article, we share our favorite and most powerful recipes, with quick alternatives if you don’t yet own a Ninja Creami. Each one is tailored to support recovery, enhance your nutrient intake, and satisfy your sweet tooth, all without the guilt.

During exercise, some of the glycogen stores in your muscles are partially depleted, and your muscles may be broken down or damaged.

After exercise, your body starts to rebuild your stores and regrow or repair damaged muscles, but evidence has shown that what you eat can speed up the recovery and repair process.

Following a workout, your body needs:

• Protein to support muscle repair
• Carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores
• Fluids and electrolytes to rehydrate
• Micronutrients like antioxidants to fight inflammation

So, ensuring your post-workout snack incorporates these vital components will help ensure your body repairs and recovers properly, ready for your next session.

The following Ninja Creami recipes tick those boxes. So, whether you’re craving a low-calorie, high-protein, or nutrient-dense snack, we’ve got you covered.

After a sweaty session, whether it's cardio or conditioning, your body needs rehydrating. This icy slush is perfect, offering a quick burst of natural sugars, water, and a refreshing flavor, all for minimal calories.

Plus, the recipe is versatile, enabling you to pick the flavors you love and create snacks you’ll enjoy.

Ingredients

• 150 to 200 g fresh or frozen fruit
• 100 to 150 ml of water, coconut water, or an electrolyte drink
• Ice cubes
• Optional flavors e.g., mint, lime juice, basil lemon juice

Ninja Creami instructions

1. Blend your chosen ingredients together, starting with the water and then adding the ice cubes.
2. Pulse the mix a few times to blend until smooth.
3. If needed, add a little more water to loosen up the mix before freezing to make a smoother slushie base.
4. Pour the mix into the Ninja Creami pint, making sure it does not go above the max fill line.
5. Place the lid on the pint and freeze for 6 to 8 hours or until the mixture is solid.
6. Once frozen, remove from the freezer and attach it to your Ninja Creami machine. Select the ‘Slushie’ setting and allow the machine to work its magic.
7. Once blended, scoop the slushie mix into a glass and serve immediately.

No Ninja alternative

1. Blend all your ingredients together in a jug blender, starting with the water and then finishing with the ice cubes, until smooth and slushy.
2. Add some more water if the mix is too solid or more ice cubes if it is too wet.
3. Pour into glasses and serve straight away.

This Creami recipe is ideal for morning workouts and supplies your body with carbohydrates from the oats, micronutrients, such as potassium and magnesium from the banana, and protein and healthy fats from the yogurt and flax seeds, making this a well-rounded recovery meal.

Ingredients

• 100 g Greek yogurt
• ½ ripe banana
• 2 tbsp oats
• 1 tsp ground flax seeds
• ½ scoop of vanilla protein powder
• Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
• 80 ml of plant milk (almond, oat)

Ninja Creami instructions

1. Place all the ingredients in the Ninja Creami pint container.
2. Blend using a stick blender or a hand masher to mash the banana as much as possible. Then give the ingredients a good stir.
3. Place the lid on the pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
4. Once frozen, remove from the freezer and place the container in the Ninja Creami machine and select the ‘Lite Ice Cream’ setting.
5. Press ‘Re-Spin’ once. The mix should look nice and creamy, if it is crumbly, press ‘Re-Spin’ again.
6. Serve with a few slices of banana and a squirt of honey for added sweetness.

No Ninja alternative

1. Using a jug blender or stick blender, blend all the ingredients together until smooth.
2. Pour into a bowl.
3. Top with banana slices, a swirl of maple syrup or a dusting of cinnamon, or granola for a delicious smoothie bowl.

This recipe is perfect for building and repairing muscle post-workout. With a scoop of protein powder per serving, it’s perfect after a resistance training or HIIT session.

Ingredients

• 1 scoop or 25 to 30 g of chocolate protein powder
• ½ banana
• ½ tbsp peanut butter
• 150 ml unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp of granola
• 1 tsp cacao nibs

Ninja Creami instructions

1. Add the protein powder, banana, peanut butter, and milk into the Ninja Creami pint.
2. Use an immersion blender to combine until smooth, or add the ingredients to a jug blender before adding to the Creami pint.
3. Freeze the Creami pint with the mix inside and the lid on for 8 to 24 hours.
4. Remove from the freezer and place the pint into the Creami machine and select the ‘Lite Ice Cream’ cycle once.
5. Remove from the machine and make a well in the center of the mix. Pour in the granola, cacao nibs, and 1 tbsp almond milk.
6. Replace the pint container back into the Ninja Creami machine and select the ‘Mix-In’ cycle.
7. If needed, add 1 tbsp of milk and run the pint through the ‘Re-Spin’ setting until you have a smooth consistency.
8. Once smooth, portion into bowls and top with any desired toppings.

No Ninja alternative

If you don’t have a Ninja Creami, this alternative chocolatey, peanut butter smoothie is the perfect alternative.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 frozen bananas (chunks)
• 120 ml unsweetened almond milk
• 1 to 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• Handful of ice (optional)

Instructions

1. Add the banana, protein powder, peanut butter, cocoa powder, and milk into a jug blender or large mixing bowl, if using a stick blender.
2. Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth.
3. Taste and add any ingredients to suit your taste. Add a handful of ice to make the mix colder or thicker, If it’s too thick add more milk, a little at a time, until it is at the consistency you like.
4. Once you have reached the consistency and the taste you like, pour into a glass and serve immediately. Top with chopped peanut butter cup pieces, slices of banana, or a drizzle of peanut butter.

Packed with phytonutrients, vitamin C, and gut-friendly fiber, this smoothie or lite ice cream supports your immune system, helping to fight inflammation after a tough session.

Ingredients

• 150 g frozen mixed berries
• 100 g kefir or live yogurt
• ½ banana
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (soaked)
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp maple syrup or stevia to taste

Ninja Creami instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to a jug blender and blend together until smooth.
2. Pour the mix into the Ninja Creami pint and freeze for 24 hours.
3. Once frozen, remove from the freezer and place in the Ninja Creami machine.
4. Select the ‘Lite Ice Cream’ setting.
5. Press ‘Re-Spin’ once. The mix should look nice and creamy, if it is crumbly, press ‘Re-Spin’ again.
6. Scoop into serving bowls and top with a handful of fresh berries.

No Ninja alternative

1. Add all the ingredients to a jug blender and blend together until smooth.
2. For a firmer texture, freeze for 1 to 2 hours and reblend.
3. Serve in a tall glass.

Post-workout nutrition doesn’t just have to come from a protein shake bottle or a chicken and rice combo. These Ninja Creami recipes are fuss-free, adaptable, and delicious, making them a great pairing for Free Athletes.

Whether your goal is to lose fat, build muscle, or promote your overall fitness, these simple, but sweet treats can keep you on track both nutritionally and physically.

Change up your routine and try these Freeletics x Ninja post-workout snacks for a nutritious and exciting alternative.