Long a staple in grocery and convenience store shelves, many people are familiar with Muscle Milk’s pre-made shakes (my wife and I have used them ourselves for years). But can they also boast one of the best protein powders on the market? BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Kate Meier teamed up with registered dietitian nutritionist Chelsea Rae Bourgeois to take a closer look at this macro-packed supplement.
Following BarBend’s supplement testing methodology, Meier rated her experience with Muscle Milk Protein Powder, while Bourgeois analyzed the formulation. We weren’t ecstatic about the artificial ingredients, but we think it could be a solid option for people who need a hefty dose of protein (32 grams!) and help reaching their daily values of key vitamins and minerals. Check out the rest of our Muscle Milk review to see what else we thought about this popular protein powder.
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
With 32 grams of protein per serving, this impressive protein powder can help you achieve your nutritional goals while serving as a satiating option in-between meals. Additionally, the formulation utilizes whey and casein protein to reap fast-releasing and slow-releasing benefits in one fell swoop.
Muscle Milk Protein Powder Video Review
Check out former BarBend editor Nick English’s full breakdown of Muscle Milk Protein Powder. Keep in mind that since this video was published, Muscle Milk has made a few changes to its formula.
Main Takeaways
- This affordable protein powder features one of the highest protein counts we’ve ever tested — 32 grams per serving.
- The ingredient label reveals lots of artificial ingredients and additives.
- Its formula is NSF Certified for Sport, so it is clear of 270 commonly banned substances.
Muscle Milk Protein Powder Specs
| Price per serving | $2 |
| Flavors | Banana Crème, Chocolate, Cookies ‘N Crème, Strawberries ‘N Crème, Vanilla Crème |
| Calories per serving | 280 |
| Protein per serving | 32g |
| Fat per serving | 9g |
| Carbohydrates per serving | 21g |
| Protein sources | Whey protein concentrate, milk protein isolate |
| Sweeteners | Acesulfame potassium, sucralose |
Holy protein, Batman. We’ve tested over 130 protein powders and the protein content in Muscle Milk Protein Powder is one of the highest we’ve ever tried. Most powders on the market offer about 20 to 25 grams per serving, but as our expert reviewer and registered dietitian nutritionist Chelsea Rae Bourgeois points out, it’s not only the protein in Muscle Milk that’s higher than usual.
“Muscle Milk’s Genuine Protein Powder provides a whopping 32 grams of protein per serving,” she says. “But with more protein comes more carbs and fat, making this a calorie-dense protein powder.” A typical protein powder offers one primary benefit — lots of protein. All the carbs, fat, and calories in Muscle Milk reminded us of the best meal replacement shakes. As Bourgeois adds, this could be a positive or negative. “For those who want to boost their protein intake without skewing their carb and fat intake, this may not be the protein powder for you.”
However, there’s a reason Muscle Milk has a reserved parking spot in the pantry of BarBend editorial member and certified trainer Kate Meier. “I’ve tried a ton of protein powders and this is genuinely one of the best-tasting out there — especially the Vanilla flavor.” She suspects this could be due to the artificial sweeteners on board, but the Meier clan still gobbles it up. “My whole family loves it — plus whether you mix it with water or milk, they’re both great.”
After consulting with an accredited, third-party lab, Muscle Milk Genuine Protein Powder landed squarely in the top 50% of the more than 150 protein powders we’ve tested for accuracy and purity. Along with its four A’s (for pesticides, phthalates, bisphenols, and label accuracy), it earned a C overall. Check out our full results below.
Overall, we aren’t huge fans of the additives and less-than-natural formulation, but this NSF-Certified powder could be a good option for people who need those macros, as well as athletes worried about consuming banned substances. There are several artificial ingredients, but if all-natural formulas aren’t a major concern for you, Muscle Milk Protein Powder could be a solid choice.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Muscle Milk Protein Powder
The whey protein concentrate in Muscle Milk means it’s relatively high in carbs, fats, and calories compared to other leaner options. That split may not be ideal for someone solely focused on upping their protein, but could help others hit their daily macro count. Take a look at who we think Muscle Milk Protein Powder may work for.
Recommended for:
- Athletes looking to get some extra macros in their protein shake
- Those who want to replace a whole meal
- Competitive athletes who need a NSF Certified for Sport protein supplement
Not Recommended for:
- Anyone who prefers all-natural ingredients
- People sensitive to dairy products
- Someone in the market for a protein powder for weight loss
Our Experience Using Muscle Milk Protein Powder
After mixing up over 130 protein powders, the BarBend team is, shall we say, familiar with these popular supplements. With its high protein, vitamin, and mineral content and delicious flavors, certified personal trainer Kate Meier and registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois think Muscle Milk fits the bill for people looking for a bit more than the average powder.
For every protein powder we’ve tested, including Muscle Milk, we provide ratings of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) across categories like formulation, taste, solubility, and more. Here’s a detailed look at what we learned while using Muscle Milk Protein Powder.
Ingredients and Formulation
When our expert reviewer Chelsea Rae Bourgeois took a look at Muscle Milk’s nutrition facts, she saw several eye-popping numbers. “Muscle Milk packs 32 grams of protein into each scoop of their Genuine Protein Powder, which I think is pretty remarkable,” she says. “But the fact that it includes all 9 essential amino acids is even more impressive.” Even the best protein powders for weight gain generally land somewhere around 20 to 25 grams of protein per serving.
Protein isn’t the only macro you’ll be getting, though. “Each serving provides around 9 grams of fat and 20 grams of carbs, making it a calorie-dense protein powder,” Bourgeois adds. Along with 35% of the daily recommended value for vitamins A, C, and D, each serving includes a considerable amount of magnesium (50% daily value) and calcium (45% daily value).
All those micronutrients were a huge plus for Bourgeois, but she docked this formula a few points for another inclusion. “Muscle Milk Genuine Protein Powder scores a 3.75 out of 5 for its formulation with high marks for its vitamin content and deductions for the artificial ingredients and additives,” she says.
Muscle Milk Protein Powder’s nutrition facts read like a veritable who’s who of artificial ingredients: Sucralose and acesulfame potassium (artificial sweeteners), maltodextrin (common filler used for thickening), sodium caseinate (milk derivative used as a binder), canola oil, and more.
While Muscle Milk has been one of BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Kate Meier’s go-to powders, she has no illusions about its formula. “We’ve used Muscle Milk for years. It’s not the only protein I use, though, because it’s not a great formula,” she says. “I like the protein content (32 grams!). I’ve never experienced any side effects, but there’s a crap ton of artificial ingredients in here.”
Taste
Meier is very familiar with two of Muscle Milk’s five flavor options — Vanilla Crème and Chocolate. “Both of these flavors are just so so so good,” she says. “Vanilla Crème tastes like a straight-up milkshake — very true to the ‘Crème’ in its name.” The taste category unsurprisingly earned a 5 out of 5 from Meier, but again, she’s aware of why Muscle Milk is one of the best-tasting protein powders she’s had.
“I credit all the artificial flavoring for how good this is. Maybe not great for the body, but oh so good for the taste buds,” Meier adds. “I will say that if you don’t like artificial sweeteners (this has sucralose), you’ll definitely pick up on that taste, so you may not love this.”
Solubility
While not quite as easy as Muscle Milk’s ubiquitous shelf-stable protein shakes, mixing up the powder was still a breeze for Meier. “I’ve used this every way you can use the powder — in a smoothie, in milk, and in water,” she says. “It’s always a 5 out of 5 unless you try to just stir it with a spoon. I’d go with a shaker cup to help avoid any clumps.”
Like any of the best protein powders, what you choose to mix the powder with can affect both its taste and mixability. “I definitely think it’s best with milk,” Meier says. “But even with just water, the texture is smooth and it still tastes great. I usually add it to a smoothie with fruit and milk.”
Price Per Serving
In addition to the hefty dose of protein (32 grams), each serving packs in a decent amount of calories (280), carbs (21 grams), and fat (9 grams). For roughly $2 per serving, that’s a solid dose of macros, but compared to many protein powders we’ve tested, it’s slightly above average. Another of our top-rated powders — Legion Whey+ — rings up at $2 per serving, but it’s also one of the best clean protein powders we’ve personally tried. However, Muscle Milk’s protein content bests just about every option out there.
Meier also factored in how easy it is to get Muscle Milk when she rated its price per serving 4 out of 5. “What’s nice about Muscle Milk is the price and convenience,” she says. “We can just grab it at the grocery store or order it on Amazon. My son loves it, so we get the 5-pounder and all use it.” There are a few ways to knock off a few bucks to your order online. On Amazon, it’s eligible for Prime Shipping, plus you can subscribe for regular deliveries to trim a bit from each order total.
Third Party Testing
For any supplement you’re adding to your diet, it’s important to have an independent set of eyes checking its makeup. “I love that Muscle Milk is NSF Certified for Sport,” Meier says. “That gives it an extra layer of transparency.” NSF tests for over 270 substances that have been banned by major athletic associations. That’s obviously reassuring for competitive athletes, but everyone can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that Muscle Milk’s formula is free of these substances, as well.
Muscle Milk Vs. Premier Protein
Premier Protein is another well-known powder that you can find in most grocery or big box stores, plus its protein content is rather close to Muscle Milk’s impressive 32 grams per serving. With 2 to 3 grams of carbs and 150 calories to go along with its 30 grams of protein per serving, it resembles most protein powders, but exceeds the average of 20 to 25 grams of protein.
“That’s about as high-protein, low-carb, and low-calorie as you can go in a protein powder,” says certified personal trainer Jesse Zucker. “If you’re looking for the best protein powder for muscle gain, you may want something a bit higher-calorie — but you can always add whole foods to your shake to bulk it up.”
The most notable difference between the two is that macro count. The carbs (21 grams), fat (9 grams), and calories (280) per serving in Muscle Milk means you’ll need to consider how that jives with your diet. “Premier Protein‘s Whey Protein Powder is an efficient way to increase your protein intake without skewing your other macronutrients or exceeding your calorie goal,” explains our expert reviewer Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD, rating its formula 3.75 out of 5 — the same score as Muscle Milk.
Both include artificial sweeteners and additives, but Premier Protein has not been third-party tested. Muscle Milk Protein Powder has been NSF Certified for Sport, which tests for 270 widely-banned substances, giving competitive athletes peace of mind.
The price per serving for each can vary depending on whether you buy in bulk, subscribe for regular deliveries, or catch a sale on Amazon. Muscle Milk actually doesn’t sell their products on their site, so on Amazon, you’re looking at anywhere from $1.39 to $2.67 per serving. You can get Premier Protein on their website for about $2.49 per serving, but going through Amazon drastically cuts that price down to $1.38 — a difference of one entire cent.
All in all, the major difference between these two popular protein powders is the macro count. I’d say if you are concerned about getting enough carbs, fat, and calories, Muscle Milk would be the way to go. However, for a leaner, protein-focused powder, Premier Protein could be a good option.
Read our full Premier Protein Powder Review.
What to Consider Before Buying Muscle Milk Protein Powder
As you explore the vast ocean of protein powder options, remember that each one offers different formulas for varying prices. Muscle Milk loads up on protein and other macros, but you’ll also find some artificial ingredients. Here are a few key factors to keep top of mind as you decide whether it’s a good fit for you.
- Protein Content: Most protein powders contain roughly 20 to 25 grams per serving, so the 32 grams in Muscle Milk is — to put it mildly — robust. If your regular diet is coming up short in protein, this hearty dose could help bridge the gap.
- Calorie Content: Muscle Milk offers up 280 calories per serving, which is approaching the amount found in meal replacement shakes. Many protein powders hover around 110 to 130 calories per serving, so whether you’re trying to cut weight or build muscle, don’t forget to factor in how many calories you’re consuming with each two-scoop serving.
- Price: When you go searching for a protein powder, you’ll find that most land around $1.50 to $2 per serving, so Muscle Milk lands at the top of that average range. While you can save by subscribing for regular deliveries or purchasing through Amazon, keep in mind that you may use it daily when you consult your budget.
- Natural Ingredients: Muscle Milk Protein Powder’s ingredients list is riddled with artificial ingredients like sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and canola oil. If you have any dietary restrictions or prefer a cleaner formulation, make sure to take a good look at the label.
Muscle Milk Protein Powder Vs. Competitors
To provide a sense of what else is out there in this price range, we lined Muscle Milk Protein Powder up against two of our top-rated protein powders. Since it contains loads of both macros and calories, we also included a meal replacement shake — Ka’Chava Whole Body Meal — for comparison.
[Related: Ka’Chava Meal Replacement Review]
| Muscle Milk Protein Powder | Transparent Labs Whey Protein Powder | Xwerks Grow | Ka’Chava Whole Body Meal | |
| Price per serving | $2 | $2 | $1.96 | $4.66 |
| Flavors | Banana Crème, Chocolate, Cookies ‘N Crème, Strawberries ‘N Crème, Vanilla Crème | Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Peanut Butter, Strawberry Milkshake, Unflavored, Dark Chocolate, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, Cinnamon French Toast, Sugar Cookie, Mocha, Peanut Butter, Vanilla Oatmeal Cookie, Blueberry Pancakes | Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Vanilla | Chai, Chocolate, Coconut Acai, Matcha, Vanilla |
| Calories per serving | 280 | 130 | 110 | 240 |
| Protein per serving | 32g | 28g | 23-25g | 25g |
| Fat per serving | 9g | 1g | 0-2g | 7-8g |
| Carbohydrates per serving | 21g | 1g | 1-2g | 21-25g |
| Protein type | Whey protein concentrate, milk protein isolate | Whey protein isolate | Whey protein isolate | Plant-based protein blend |
| Sweeteners | Acesulfame potassium, sucralose | Stevia leaf extract | Stevia leaf extract | Lo Han fruit extract |
All three protein powders here (including Muscle Milk) cost roughly the same — $2 per serving. Since they all ring up for about the same amount, we can focus on the ingredients and taste to see which holds the most value for you.
First of all, if you’re looking for flavor variety, the 14 options from Transparent Labs Whey Protein Powder far exceed the five and four from Muscle Milk and Xwerks Grow, respectively. All three earned scores of 5 out of 5 from our team, so if exotic or specific flavors are a deciding factor for you, Transparent Labs has the edge.
[Related: Transparent Labs Whey Protein Powder Review]
Muscle Milk outdoes the other two protein powders in macros (including protein) and even matches or bests Ka’Chava in terms of calories, protein, fat, and carbs. If you want to isolate the protein from these other macros, either Transparent Labs or Xwerks might be your best bet, but for loading up on these macronutrients, either Muscle Milk or Ka’Chava would be the way to go.
What separates Muscle Milk from all three of these, however, is its ingredients. You’ll notice these three utilize natural sweeteners like Stevia leaf or Lo Han fruit extract, as opposed to the artificial boogeymen sucralose and acesulfame potassium in Muscle Milk. It doesn’t stop there, though. Muscle Milk includes other additives and artificial ingredients, while these three offer cleaner and simpler formulas.
Places to Buy Muscle Milk Protein Powder
Curiously, you can’t order Muscle Milk from their website, but it is available on Amazon, as well as major retailers like Walmart.
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Muscle Milk is owned and operated by California-based Cytosport. Many of the best Muscle Milk products — pre-made shakes, mass gainer, protein bars, and more — are available in grocery stores and big-box stores like Target or Costco. But if you need to order it online, Amazon might be the best value. It’s eligible for Prime shipping, plus there are always periodic sales, plus the option to subscribe and save 5% on each order.
The return policy will differ depending on where you buy it from. On Amazon, customer scores average 4.5 out of 5, with over 11,000 ratings. Like the BarBend team, users highlight its taste, solubility, and its high protein content.
Our Final Verdict on Muscle Milk Protein Powder
If you’ve passed Muscle Milk Protein Powder in your local grocery store and never stopped to take a peek, here’s our headline: Lots of Protein! The 32 grams per serving is one of the highest protein counts among the 130-plus powders we’ve personally tested. Along with that sizable dose of protein comes more macros (carbs, fat, and fiber) than typical products that zero in on protein.
We’ve been using Muscle Milk for years and its delicious flavors are BarBend tester favorites, but we think we know why — artificial sweeteners. Our expert reviewer and registered dietitian nutritionist didn’t like the additives, either. But for anyone on a tight budget or who needs help hitting their daily macro and micronutrient values, Muscle Milk Protein Powder’s formulation has a lot to offer.
Muscle Milk Protein Powder FAQs
Is Muscle Milk Protein Powder good?
BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Kate Meier (and her whole family) swear by the Vanilla Crème and Chocolate flavors, rating their taste 5 out of 5. That enticing milkshake-like experience is likely due to the artificial sweeteners on board, but in the Meier household, it’s a tasty post-workout treat.
Is Muscle Milk a whey protein?
Yes, the high-quality protein is Muscle Milk is a combination of whey protein concentrate and milk protein isolate. Anyone intolerant of lactose should consider how it may affect their digestion. Different types of protein confer different benefits, so double-check that Muscle Milk lines up with your weight management or muscle growth targets.
How much protein is in Muscle Milk Protein Powder?
Muscle Milk Protein Powder packs in 32 grams of protein per serving. Most protein powders we’ve tried (over 130 of them) average around 20 to 25 grams. Whether you want to increase muscle mass or cut a few pounds, factor in how much protein will help you reach your health and wellness goals.
