These 3-Ingredient Anti-Inflammatory Brownie Recipes Are Packed With Protein

One way to instantly score brownie points with someone you’re trying to sweeten up (including yourself)? Make a big ol’ batch of brownies, of course.

In an effort to make that as easy as possible—imagine: a chaos-free kitchen without flour and measuring cups strewn across the countertops and a mountain of messy dishes in the sink—we’ve rounded up a series of tasty three-ingredient or less brownie recipes that take the guesswork out of baking. Each of these bars are made with ingredients you likely already have on hand, too, meaning that impromptu baking sessions are more than welcome and highly encouraged.

Best part: Every single one of the easy brownie recipes below is loaded with nutritional benefits, including antioxidants, protein, and fiber. What’s not to love?

4 ultimate nutrient-dense easy brownie recipes for every occasion 

1. Chewy Chocolate Brownies

First things first, let’s start with a plain and simple three-ingredient chewy brownie recipe by Kirbie’s Cravings. It’s made with unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and egg whites—(yep, that’s it)— and still tastes rich, decadent, and incredibly chocolatey.

According to researchers, chocolate has been scientifically linked to boosting longevityand serving as a natural mood booster. Say. No. More. But before we bolt to the candy aisle at the store, keep in mind that it’s the cocoa in chocolate that contains the most antioxidants thanks to its flavonoid content. To that end, dark chocolate (and cocoa powder) will have a higher concentration of cocoa, as opposed to white or milk chocolate. Cocoa also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help inhibit or delay cellular damage either combating free radicals in the body.

All to say, these brownies that are made with cocoa powder have it all: Taste, benefits, and require minimal effort to make. Talk about a triple whammy.

Get the recipe: 3-Ingredient Chewy Brownies

2. Black Bean Brownies

We’re all for finding simple ways to turn some of our favorite foods into a slightly better version of themselves. In today’s iteration of this, we’ve discovered that you can easily turn a boxed brownie mix into a glowed-up, high-protein version with just one simple ingredient: beans (another longevity-boosting essential). But, as the saying goes, don’t knock it ‘till you try it. Indeed, this recipe two-ingredient black bean brownie recipe by Simple Nourished Living deserves all of the hype.

To make these high-protein brownies, the recipe developer blends a can of black beans into a puree before adding it to the boxed brownie mix. The moisture from the beans helps to bind the dry ingredients together, which transforms into a delicious, decadent dessert packed with protein and fiber. Geeee-nius. 

Get the recipe: 2-Ingredient Black Bean Brownies 

3. High-Protein Brownie Fudge

Pressed for time? Looking for a quick and easy single-serve recipe? Say no more. In a recent TikTok video by @leah.roga, we discovered by far the easiest way to get a brownie fix minus the fuss. Enter: High-protein brownie fudge. To make it, Leah combines a mashed banana, five tablespoons of cacao powder, and a scoop of protein powder (she uses a chocolate cupcake-flavored one). Then, she stirs all of the ingredients together before baking it in a small ramekin at 350ºF for 15 minutes. Before you know it, you have a delicious DIY brownie fudge recipe for one with nearly 24 grams of protein that takes potentially less time to make than it does to eat.

Get the recipe: High-Protein Brownie Fudge

4. No-Bake Breakfast Brownies

Don’t have access to an oven (read: it’s currently occupied with an avalanche of pots and pans)? Want to eat brownies for breakfast? We’ve got you covered on both accounts with this no-bake breakfast brownie recipe by Hungry Happens that’s the best of both worlds. It’s made by combiniang softened Medjool dates (hi, potassium!), protein-packed peanut butter, and cacao powder. Best part? They take no longer than 30 minutes flat—from start to finish—to make. And, of course, you can enjoy these for lunch, dinner, or snacktime, too. Who’s judging? Certainly not us.

Get the recipe: 3-Ingredient No-Bake Breakfast Brownies

One decadent black bean brownie recipe coming right up: