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The best banana smoothie, made with just 5 simple ingredients. It’s super creamy, easy to make and packed with protein, fiber and potassium.
Sharing another new smoothie recipe with ya! And this one is for all my banana lovers out there!
This banana smoothie has a super creamy texture and plenty of natural sweetness thanks to the frozen bananas and some added protein thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt. The week I tested this recipe I made it every day for a mid-afternoon snack. It’s seriously so delicious, refreshing and easy to make!
Why You Gotta Try This One
I’ve made a lot of smoothies over the years, but this one is in a league of its own when it comes to simplicity. It’s just frozen bananas, a splash of almond milk, creamy Greek yogurt, and a few pantry staples—but somehow it hits the spot every single time. It’s not trying too hard, but still feels like a treat.
I love making this when I want something satisfying that doesn’t feel heavy. And it’s also super easy to customize: want a little extra protein? Add some powder. Craving a twist? Toss in a spoonful of peanut butter or a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s flexible, comforting, and honestly just a really solid go-to.
Banana Smoothie Ingredients
- unsweetened almond milk – the liquid base for this smoothie. I like using unsweetened almond milk as it’s light in calories and doesn’t have an overpowering taste, but feel free to use your favorite dairy-free or regular dairy milk. I just recommend using unsweetened milk since the bananas add plenty of sweetness to this smoothie.
- frozen bananas – the star ingredient! Using frozen ripe bananas is key for this recipe and what gives this smoothie its thick and creamy consistency.
- plain greek yogurt – adds creaminess and protein to this smoothie. I like using plain full-fat Greek yogurt but feel free to use your favorite type of yogurt. You could use a flavored variety like vanilla yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt if you need this recipe to be vegan.
- vanilla extract and cinnamon – both are nice flavor enhancers and complement the sweetness of the bananas nicely.
Flavor Variations to Try
- Chocolate banana: Add a scoop of cocoa powder for a chocolate banana smoothie.
- Peanut butter banana: Peanut butter + banana = the best flavor combo ever! Add a scoop of peanut butter for a delicious peanut butter banana smoothie.
- Strawberry banana: Add a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries or follow my recipe for strawberry banana smoothie or strawberry banana protein smoothie.
How to Make
This banana smoothie couldn’t get any easier to whip up. Just place all your ingredients into a high-speed blender like a Vitamix and blend until smooth.
Pour the smoothie into a glass and top with fresh banana slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy!
Brittany’s Tips
Just a few quick tips to help you get the best results every time!
- Use frozen bananas: This is key for that thick, creamy texture without needing ice. I like to peel and slice bananas before freezing so they blend easily. If you’re new to this, check out my full guide on how to freeze bananas.
Blend on low first: Start blending at a lower speed and work your way up. It helps everything break down evenly.
Don’t overdo the liquid: Start with less milk and add more as needed to reach your preferred consistency.
Smoothie Storage Tips
- Use an airtight container: Pour your smoothie into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. I like using wide mouth mason jars, but a thermos works too.
- Fill to the top: Try to fill the jar all the way to the top to limit air exposure and prevent oxidation.
- Refrigerate promptly: Seal the jar and pop it in the fridge right away.
- Shake before drinking: When you’re ready to enjoy it, give the smoothie a good shake or stir.
- Drink within 24 hours: It’s best enjoyed fresh, but it’ll keep in the fridge for up to a day.
- Want to store longer? Freeze the smoothie in ice cube trays. When you’re ready to enjoy, just blend a few cubes with your favorite liquid for a quick snack!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 frozen bananas
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- Dash of vanilla
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Ice cubes, if needed
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour smoothie into a glass and top with fresh banana slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!
Notes
- Vegan option: Use dairy-free yogurt or sub with extra banana and a scoop of plant-based protein powder.
- No protein powder: Greek yogurt adds plenty of protein, but you can also use cottage cheese or skip it entirely if you’re keeping things simple.
- Sweeter smoothie: Add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup or a pitted date if your bananas aren’t super ripe.
- Make it a bowl: Use less liquid for a thick smoothie bowl and top with granola, sliced banana, and nut butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Equipment
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- Snickers Protein Smoothie
- Sweet Potato Smoothie
- Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Chocolate Blueberry Smoothie
- Tropical Green Smoothie
- How to Make Protein Shakes
Be sure to check out all of the banana recipes as well as the full collection of smoothie recipes on EBF!
Oh my!! I am so incredibly amazed at how delightful this smoothie is!! I looove cooking and baking from scratch, but was honestly struggling to find inspiration to create something for lunch today. I decided a smoothie would be lovely on the 90 degree day we were having. I went onto your website to find a strawberry smoothie, but was distracted by the banana smoothie. I had recently chopped up fresh bananas into the freezer and thus had PLENTY. I used raw milk instead of the almond milk and added in 2 tablespoons of an unsweetened whey protein powder, so I know that the flavors were not 100% the same as what you had written in the recipe, but it was absolutely delightful nonetheless! My husband tried my smoothie and then kindly grinned and asked if I could make him the same exact smoothie! 🙂 Thank you for sharing such a simple, and yet delicious smoothie recipe!
Ahh this made me smile so big! I’m so glad you and your husband loved it — even with your own tasty twists! Raw milk and whey sound like perfect subs, especially on a hot day. Thanks so much for the sweet note and for making the recipe your own!
Thank you for taking the time to respond!! The fact that you took time out of your day to respond to my comment made ME smile so big! haha! So I’m glad that we were both able to make each other smile. 🙂
Can you use unfrozen bananas?
Hi Maggie – Using frozen ripe bananas is key for this recipe and what gives this smoothie its thick and creamy consistency. I have tips above on how to easily prep and freeze your bananas. Hope that helps and you enjoy this recipe!
What can I use for replacement for the greek yogurt? My mom & sister can’t have dairy.
Thank you! I love your blog and I like the name “Eating Bird food”.
Claire- aka a baker
You can swap the Greek yogurt with a dairy-free yogurt of choice or more liquid if you don’t have any yogurt on hand.
This smoothie was delicious! I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk. It tasted like a banana milkshake!
YUM! Sounds amazing and I’m so glad you’re loving this recipe, Angela. Thanks for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!