5-minute chocolate pudding cups made with protein shake, topped with strawberries — low-carb and sugar-free.
These high-protein chocolate strawberry pudding cups are a fast, creamy dessert you can mix in minutes. A chocolate protein shake is whisked with pudding mix until thick, then portioned into cups and finished with fresh strawberries. Every cup delivers 15 g of protein and only 4 g net carbs.
Low-carb, sugar-free, and perfect for meal prep or a grab-and-go snack.
⏱️ Recipe Details
- Prep: 5 min
- Chill: Optional
- Servings: 4 cups
- Protein: 15 g per cup
- Net Carbs: 4 g per cup
- Calories: 110 per cup
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Pudding Cups
- 15 g protein per cup — a high-protein dessert snack
- Only 4 g net carbs
- Sugar-free
- Ready in about 5 minutes
- No baking required
- Creamy chocolate pudding with fresh strawberry topping
- Easy to portion for meal prep
- Perfect for a grab-and-go snack
🥄 Health Notes
High protein: A chocolate protein shake does most of the work.
Low carb: Sugar-free pudding mix keeps the carbs low.
Sugar-free: Use sugar-free pudding and an unsweetened protein shake.
Meal-prep friendly: Makes 4 ready-to-grab cups.
⭐ Key Element — Whisk Until Thick
Keep whisking for a full 1–2 minutes after adding the pudding mix. This is what helps the cups set properly and become creamy instead of staying runny.
🛒 Ingredients
Pudding
- 1 bottle (11 oz) chocolate protein shake, such as Premier Protein
- 1 box (1 oz) sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
- Optional: 2–3 Tbsp Greek yogurt or light cream cheese for extra thickness
Topping
- ½ cup diced strawberries
🔄 Swaps
Vanilla cups: Use a vanilla protein shake and sugar-free vanilla pudding.
Higher protein: Stir in 1 extra scoop of chocolate protein powder.
Berry mix: Top with raspberries or mixed berries instead of strawberries.
No shake: Use unsweetened almond milk plus 1 scoop chocolate protein powder.
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Pour the Shake
Add the chocolate protein shake to a mixing bowl.
2. Whisk in the Pudding Mix
Sprinkle in the sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix. Whisk continuously for 1–2 minutes, until the mixture thickens.
If using Greek yogurt or light cream cheese, add it at this stage and mix until smooth and creamy.
3. Portion
Spoon the pudding evenly into 4 small cups.
4. Top
Add diced strawberries to each cup.
5. Serve or Chill
You can eat the pudding right away, or cover the cups and refrigerate until ready to serve.
For a firmer texture, chill for 20–30 minutes. The pudding will thicken even more in the refrigerator.
💡 Pro Tips
- Use instant pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding.
- Whisk longer than you think — the pudding mix needs time to thicken properly.
- If meal-prepping, add the strawberries just before serving so they stay fresh.
- A cold protein shake thickens faster than one at room temperature.
- Store the pudding in small lidded cups for an easy grab-and-go snack.
📊 Nutrition
Per 1 cup:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Protein | 15 g |
| Net Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Total Fat | 2 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
Nutrition estimates are based on one chocolate protein shake, sugar-free pudding mix, and strawberries divided into 4 cups. Exact nutrition values can vary depending on the protein shake and other brands used.
🍌 Variations
Chocolate Banana
Top with a few thin banana slices if your carb budget allows.
Mint Chocolate
Add a drop of peppermint extract and skip the strawberries.
Peanut Butter Swirl
Stir 1 teaspoon of sugar-free peanut butter into each cup.
Layered Cups
Add a spoonful of Greek yogurt underneath the chocolate pudding for a parfait-style look.
🧊 Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 3 days | Store covered; add strawberries before serving if possible |
| Freezer | Not ideal | Texture becomes icy after thawing |
| Meal Prep | 3 days | Perfect in small lidded cups |