Name: Nuts and Seeds Protein Granola
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 15 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups old fashioned oats; 1 cup quinoa, popped and toasted; 1 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds; 1/2 cup unsalted pecan halves; 1/2 cup unsalted almonds; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted; 1 tsp salt; 1/3 cup honey; 2 tbsp maple syrup (optional, add for extra sweetness)

If you want to make a high protein granola recipe without protein powder then you need to lean in to the natural protein content of this delicious nuts and seeds protein granola. A base of popped quinoa, mixed nuts, and pumpkin seeds fills this homemade granola with 7 grams of protein per serving, fiber, and healthy fats making it a tasty snack or crunchy addition to yogurt parfaits or oatmeal.

Jump To Recipe

As a dietitian, one of the biggest scams that I think many people have been convinced of is that you cannot hit your protein goals without protein bars or supplements. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good protein powder as much as the next person but it is NOT required to hit your protein goals.

Instead of relying on supplements to hit your protein goals, look for opportunities to use the natural protein content of foods to boost the protein content of your recipes overall. While some people may feel limited to animal based proteins, there are plenty of plant based proteins to incorporate as well.

Some of my favorite plant based proteins are nuts and seeds because they are easy for on the go snacking, give you a ton of fiber along with the protein content, and are incredibly versatile making them easy to incorporate into recipes like this nuts and seeds protein granola.

While traditional granola is heavy on the oats and low in the protein, I changed the ratios of this granola to be equal parts nuts and seeds to oats which boosts the protein content, fiber content, and adds tons of healthy vitamins and minerals. Plus, it’s delicious!

The key ingredient in this nuts and seeds granola recipe is the popped quinoa which not only adds a toasted flavor to your granola but also adds 24 grams of high quality protein. If you want to make a high protein granola recipe without protein powder, this is the granola recipe for you!

Let’s get to the recipe:

Nuts and Seeds Protein Granola

Why you’ll love this protein granola recipe:

This homemade granola with protein will quickly become one of your favorite crunchy snacks or topping to have in your pantry because it is:

Full of natural protein: This high protein granola only has 7 grams of natural protein per serving! While I love protein powder as much as the next person, you can definitely make granola with protein without any protein powder in sight. Here’s where the protein comes from:
- Popped quinoa: 24 grams
- Pumpkin seeds: 22 grams
- Pecan halves: 6 grams
- Whole almonds: 15 grams
- Old fashioned oats: 20 grams
Heart healthy: This protein granola recipe is full of heart healthy nuts and seeds like pecans, pumpkin seeds, whole almonds, as well as fiber rich oats. With their high fat content, nuts and seeds are calorie dense foods and this granola is roughly 220 calories per serving.
Made with popped quinoa: The secret ingredient to this granola recipe is the homemade popped quinoa. Quinoa is loaded with high quality protein which helps boost the protein content of your recipe and using popped quinoa adds a delicious nutty flavor!
Shelf stable and perfect for on the go: Like most granolas, this granola can be prepped on a weekend and stored in your pantry throughout the week. This makes it perfect for a grab and go snack that you can toss into a backpack, diaper bag, or purse.
Customizable: You can make this granola recipe different every time by switching up the nuts that you add! While almonds and pecans are two of my personal favorites, you could also add macadamia nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and others for different nutrition and flavor.
Nutritious: Nuts and seeds are full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that

You’re going to love adding this nuts and seeds protein granola to your yogurt bowls or simply enjoying it by the handful!

glass jar of protein granola with nuts and seeds.

Popped quinoa and how to make it:

As I mentioned, the key ingredient for this recipe is the popped quinoa. To make this granola high protein, I decreased the amount of oats in the recipe and added a full cup of protein rich popped quinoa instead. This easy swap decreases the total carbohydrate content and adds over 25 grams of protein!

What is popped quinoa? Great question. It’s simply quinoa that has been popped in a skillet for a very short amount of time at a high temperature. Similar to popcorn, adding quinoa to a very hot pan will actually pop the outer shell and give it a softer crunch and a toasty flavor. Yum!

So how do you make popped quinoa? It’s easy to do but you really have to be paying attention to ensure that you do not burn it! Here’s how to make popped quinoa at home:

Heat a medium cast iron skillet over medium/high heat until the surface is very hot. If you do not have a cast iron skillet, use any medium sized pan that can be warmed over high heat.
Add 1/4 cup of quinoa to your hot pan and begin to stir them immediately. Do not overcrowd the quinoa! You should hear the quinoa popping and may even see the quinoa jumping around in the pan, very similar to how popcorn reacts. Keep stirring, your quinoa can burn very quickly!
Warm in the pan, stirring consistently, for 30 seconds to 1 minute until your quinoa is slightly golden. Remove from the pan immediately and add to a separate bowl to set aside and cool. Tip- It is best to slightly undercook the quinoa than to burn it on the stove. It cooks fast.
Repeat this process, using 1/4 cup of quinoa at a time, until you have toasted and popped all of your quinoa.

This is probably the “hardest” part of this recipe, but I really do think it is essential. Popped quinoa will have a slightly softer crunch and a delicious nutty flavor that I think you will love in this granola recipe. The most important thing is to pay attention, stir often, and do not let your quinoa burn!

high protein granola on a yogurt bowl with fresh fruit.

Ingredients you’ll need for your protein granola:

This nuts and seeds granola recipe is loaded with wholesome, protein rich ingredients like:

Old fashioned oats: Oats are the base of most granola recipes and old fashioned oats tend to work the best. If you want to boost the protein content even higher, try using this protein oat mix. Oats add roughly 20 grams of protein to this recipe.
Quinoa: We will pop the quinoa prior to mixing all of our granola ingredients together. I used white quinoa for this recipe but you can use any kind that you prefer. The quinoa adds almost 25 grams of protein to this recipe.
Whole almonds: Choose unsalted almonds for this recipe. Almonds will add 15 grams of protein to this recipe.
Pecan halves: The pecan halves add a nice texture and flavor to this granola recipe and will also add about 6 grams of protein.
Pumpkin seeds:.Raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds are a fantastic, plant based protein to add to your recipes and will add 20 grams of protein to this granola.
Vanilla extract: For flavor depth.
Salt: Use unsalted nuts and add a pinch of salt on your own. If you use salted nuts in your recipe, skip adding the salt!
Honey: You can use honey or agave nectar for some sweetness.
Maple syrup: Optional but adds another level of sweetness.
Coconut oil: This adds a delicious coconut flavor to your recipe but also helps make your granola crispy and forms great clusters.

That’s it!

ingredients needed for high protein granola.

Step by Step Instructions:

1) Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line a medium sized baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place a medium sized cast iron skillet over high heat and warm for 5 minutes until the surface is very hot. Add 1/4 cup of quinoa to the skillet and begin stirring immediately, reduce your heat to medium. Similar to popcorn, you will hear and see the quinoa "popping".

Pop your quinoa for 30 seconds to one minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning, then pour into a bowl. Repeat this process until you have popped all of your quinoa. *Note- really pay attention on this step. Popped quinoa adds a delicious nutty flavor to your recipe but is VERY easy to burn.

2) Add your oats, popped quinoa, nuts, and seeds to a medium sized mixing bowl.

3) Top with your melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, honey, salt, and maple syrup then mix until well combined.

4) Place your protein granola onto your lined sheet pan and press into an even, thin layer of granola. The tighter you pack your granola, the better clusters you will have at the end.

5) Bake at 325 for 25 minutes and do not stir the granola while it bakes. Allow the granola to cool then break into clusters and enjoy! For storage, your protein granola can be placed in an air tight container and stored at room temperature.

Swaps, substitutions, and serving suggestions:

Here are a few ways to serve your nuts and seeds protein granola recipe:

Add it to yogurt bowls: Serve this high protein granola recipe with vanilla greek yogurt and some freshly sliced strawberries for a balanced, high protein snack.
Serve it with oatmeal: Add a scoop of your protein granola to some oatmeal for a boost in plant based protein.
Eat it like cereal with milk: Use this protein granola as a high protein cereal substitute. Serve it with milk for a boost in protein!
Bake it into bars: You can easily make this high protein granola into high protein granola bars by baking it into thicker bars.
Eat it as a snack: This protein granola recipe is delicious as a grab and go snack and perfect for diaper bags, purses, or gym bags!

And more! Make this recipe your own and tag me on instagram with any fun ideas you come up with!

Recipe FAQ:

What are the macros of this high protein granola recipe?
1. Here are the macros per serving (1/4 cup):
  1. Calories: 220
  2. Fat: 13 grams
  3. Carbohydrates: 25 grams
  4. Protein: 7 grams
Do I have to make popped quinoa?
1. No, you don't! I highly recommend trying this recipe with the popped quinoa component because it softens the texture and adds a nutty flavor but you can easily make this with uncooked quinoa if preferred.
How long can I keep this high protein granola recipe for?
1. This granola recipe can be stored at room temperature in an air higher container for 2-4 weeks.

Other granola recipes that you will love:

Looking for other homemade granola recipe ideas? I have a few recipes on my blog that I think you will love:

air fryer granola — Peanut Butter Air Fryer Granola

Get the recipe

maple pecan granola — Easy Maple Pecan Granola

Get the recipe

*These blogs may contain affiliate links. Any purchase made through my links gives me a small commission and supports Lauren Twigge Nutrition

Nuts and Seeds Protein Granola

Nuts and Seeds Protein Granola