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Premier Protein shakes are some of the best pre-made protein shakes on the market today.
If you’ve ever purchased a protein shake before, you know that they can sometimes be pretty…gross. With many shakes out there having weird aftertastes or artificial flavors, they seem to disappoint more often than not.
But when it comes to Premier Protein, I truly think they are one of the more palatable protein shakes out there.
While I might put a Fairlife protein shake just above a Premier Protein Shake, they’re very close in my mind. However, while Premier Protein makes a great protein shake, I don’t love every single flavor.
I’ve tried 11 different flavors (so far), so I want to rank them for you to help you choose the right Premier Protein shake for you.
Please note that these are my own personal rankings, and if I’ve learned anything while reviewing countless protein snacks, it’s that we all have vastly different tastes. Just because I don’t love a flavor, it doesn’t mean you won’t!
However, my tastebuds are never wrong, so you can trust my ranking.
If you go through this ranking and want to find any Premier protein shakes for yourself, I tend to always find these at Target.
Premier Protein Nutrition Facts
Every flavor of Premier Protein contains nearly identical nutrition facts, so I won’t factor them into my ranking.
Each 11oz shake contains 160 calories, 3g of fat, 4g of carbs (1 g fiber and 1 g sugar), and a whopping 30g of protein.
That protein content is impressive when you consider that a typical scoop of protein powder contains around 120 calories and 25 grams of protein.
These shakes use a blend of whey and casein proteins as their protein source, which are both high-quality sources of essential amino acids. These shakes are packed with a ton of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B6, Calcium, Vitamin K, and so much more. Each vitamin you’ll find contains at least 25% of daily value, which is awesome.
Plus I find the addition of casein protein always tastes better than whey protein alone.
Do you need protein shakes?
I’m reviewing these protein shakes for you, but I want to make it clear that you don’t NEED to drink protein shakes.
Protein shakes are a great way to get extra protein, which is very helpful if you struggle to get enough protein in your diet.
If you’re looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, getting enough protein is crucial for building and maintaining muscle mass, and these shakes are a great way to do that.
They are also a good option for those following a keto diet or trying to lose weight, as they are low in added sugar and carbs, so they can really help in those cases.
One thing to keep in mind is that while Premier Protein shakes are a great source of protein, they should not be the only source of protein in your diet. It’s important to get a variety of protein sources in your diet, including whole foods like meats, dairy, beans, and nuts.
That being said, Premier Protein shakes can be a great addition to your diet and an easy way to get in some extra protein.
Premier Protein Consistency & Texture
In terms of overall taste and texture, Premier Protein shakes are thick and smooth, very similar to a milkshake.
They don’t have any grittiness, which can be an issue with some protein shakes, especially when you make them yourself at home. The sweetness of the shakes varies depending on the flavor, but for the most part, you’re not going to taste any artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners.
I also didn’t find that these protein shakes had any bad aftertaste. Unlike the Muscle Milk shakes I reviewed, there was no unpleasant bitterness here.
Okay, now let’s get into the ranking.
Premier Protein Shake Flavor Ranking
11. Winter Mint
No offense winter mint, but I cannot stomach the combination of mint & chocolate, so this has to be last for me.
It would be unfair for me to actually judge this one, and it may very well be delicious, but I’m a rare breed that hates mint chocolate.
I’m sure it’s delicious for those who enjoy that flavor combo, but I can’t do it. If you do like mint chocolate, this shake might be a great option for you. From what I can tell based on other reviews online, it has a refreshing mint flavor and a rich chocolatey taste, so it sounds like Premier Protein nailed it.
10. Peaches & Cream
I want to love this one, but I have to rank it toward the bottom.
While I can see the appeal of peaches and cream, I just don’t like anything peach-flavored. It’s nothing personal, it’s just my personal preference (or lack thereof).
That said, if you do like peaches, this shake might be a good option for you, especially based on the fact that the reviews I’ve seen are overall very positive.
This protein shake still has a smooth and creamy texture, and the peaches and cream flavor is definitely present.
I just can’t do peach flavor, so it has to take the bottom spot.
9. Bananas & Cream
Like the peaches and cream flavor, I just don’t love banana flavoring.
That said, I will give Premier Protein credit for creating a flavor that definitely tastes like bananas and not that artificial banana flavor you find so often. But it’s just not my cup of tea
If you are a fan of banana-flavored drinks, especially if you make your own banana protein shakes or “nice cream” at home, you might really enjoy this one. The banana flavor is strong and authentic, and the shake drinks like a milkshake.
8. Cake Batter
I actually love cake batter flavored snacks, so I had high hopes for this shake.
Unfortunately, this flavor wasn’t quite what I was expecting or hoping for. The cake flavor wasn’t very strong, and it tasted more like an overly sweet vanilla
It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. That said, if you like sweet and strong vanilla protein shakes, you might enjoy this one.
In my opinion, you’re much better off just going with the vanilla flavor that you’ll find much higher in this ranking.
7. Chocolate Peanut Butter
If you’re hoping for a protein shake that tastes like a peanut butter cup, you’re gonna be disappointed by this flavor.
While the peanut butter flavor is decent, it reminds me of peanut butter protein powder, which has an almost artificial sweetener flavor to it.
For me, it’s comparable to having a peanut butter protein bar and having it taste like peanut butter protein powder instead of authentic peanut butter.
The chocolate flavor definitely helps, but in terms of peanut butter cups, it missed the mark.
6. Cookies & Cream
While this flavor doesn’t quite taste like Oreo cookies, it’s still a decent option.
I’ve had better cookies & cream shakes in the past, but this one is passable for what it is.
You shouldn’t expect Oreo flavor, but you definitely get a taste of that smooth cream flavor combined with dark chocolate cookie.
Is it bad? No, certainly not. But the flavor isn’t quite what I was hoping for, so it can’t quite crack the top 5.
5. Caramel
OK, now we’re talking.
This flavor is definitely on the sweeter side, but I don’t find it overly sweet.
It almost reminds me of butterscotch, and it makes for an absolutely delicious post-workout drink.
If you have a pretty big sweet tooth, this caramel flavor will suit you. If you don’t love sweets, I can see this one being a little bit much for you.
This flavor is actually one of my favorites to pour over a bowl of cereal (specificially Cinnamon Toast Crunch) to use in place of milk, and it also works extremely well as a coffee creamer.
4. Chocolate
Chocolate is always a classic, and there isn’t much to dislike about this flavor.
Simply put: If you like chocolate milk, you’ll love this protein shake. It reminds me a ton of the chocolate Fairlife protein shake, which is also a winner.
If you want a rich flavor that isn’t overly sweet, this chocolate protein shake delivers.
3. Vanilla
Yes, vanilla can be a bit boring to some, but I love it.
Call me basic, but I almost always reach for a vanilla protein shake when choosing a post-workout shake.
I especially like using vanilla-flavored shakes to mix into other foods and use in recipes because you can always add ingredients to spice up the flavor.
This vanilla flavor from Premier Protein is about as good as you’ll find if you’re a fan of vanilla. It has a rich vanilla flavor like a vanilla milkshake…what more could you want?
2. Café Latte
If you love coffee as much as I do, you’ll love this flavor.
It’s rare to find a protein shake that actually tastes like coffee, and most end up tasting mostly like chocolate with just a hint of coffee. However, this one truly tastes like a delicious cup of coffee with protein.
Plus, it has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, which is a great bonus.
If you’re looking for a protein shake that can act as a coffee replacement or a mid-day pick-me-up, this one is definitely worth trying. As a coffee lover, this is easily one of my favorites.
The only downside to this flavor is that it may not be the best option for post-workout due to the addition of caffeine. If you’re hopped up on pre-workout or coffee from before your workout, you may not want the extra caffeine.
1. Strawberries & Cream
Strawberries and Cream is definitely my favorite of all the Premier Protein flavors.
If you love strawberry milk or strawberry milkshakes, you’re going to love this one. It reminds me so much of the Hershey’s strawberry shakes that I used to drink all the time as a kid, so maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but it is so good.
This flavor is also incredible if you toss it into a blender with some frozen strawberries to make a thick protein smoothie.
Strawberries & Cream tastes like a smooth, thick, delicious strawberry milk, and it easily takes my top spot.
Other Premier Protein Flavors & Products
Premier Protein offers other flavors, including limited seasonal flavors, that I haven’t yet tasted. If I try them in the future, I’ll be sure to add them to this ranking, but here are the flavors that I have not yet tried:
- Root Beer Float
- Pumpkin Spice
- Cinnamon Roll
Premier Protein also offers powder, including vanilla protein powder and chocolate protein powder, but I don’t find it nearly as good as the shakes. You definitely can’t buy the protein powder and expect it to taste like the shakes, that’s for sure! They also used to sell protein bars, but at the time of writing this, it looks like they’ve been discontinued.
If you’re looking for anything from Premier Protein, their products are all available at major retailers like Whole Foods and can also be found on store shelves with other popular dietary supplements. If you’re in a pinch, places like CVS and Rite Aid always seem to be fully stocked.
Overall Thoughts of Premier Protein Shakes
To summarize, my top flavors are Strawberries & Cream, Cafe Latte, and Vanilla.
My least favorite flavors are Peaches & Cream, Bananas & Cream, and Winter Mint, but it’s worth noting that they aren’t necessarily bad. Those 3 flavors in particular are flavors I don’t typically enjoy, so the protein shakes just don’t do it for me. You may love them!
When it comes to choosing the best flavor, it really comes down to personal preference.
Some people may prefer the rich chocolate-y taste of the chocolate flavor, while others may prefer the refreshing coffee flavor of the caffe latte. No matter what your preference is, there’s so many different Premier Protein shakes that you’re sure to find one you enjoy.
Whether you want to drink them as a post-workout shake, a meal replacement shake, or just a convenient protein source on the go, they’re truly a great option. Are they the best protein drink out there? When it comes to taste, you’ll have to decide that for yourself, but they’re definitely one of the best options.
