My favorite banana smoothie recipe takes less than five minutes to make. It’s delicious on its own, or you can easily customize it with your favorite fruits, nut butter, or a handful of greens. Plus, you can whip up a batch and freeze it for later. I share my tips below.
Key Ingredients
Banana: I use one banana to make one large or two smaller kid-size smoothies. For the best smoothie, use a ripe banana. For the creamiest banana smoothie, use frozen banana slices. I’ve shared how I freeze bananas for smoothies below. Half an orange: When I have oranges in the house, I love adding them to my morning smoothie. It adds extra vitamin C and tropical flavor. Substitute oranges with other fruits like mango, pineapple, or berries. Plain or Greek yogurt: I love adding a spoonful for extra creaminess and protein. For a smoothie without yogurt, add a little extra fruit or include veggies like spinach or kale. Water or milk: I add a splash of liquid to the blender to help the smoothie ingredients blend. For a smoothie without milk, use water. It still tastes amazing. For more creaminess, add milk (dairy or non-dairy both work).
How to Make the Best Banana Smoothie
To make banana smoothies, I add the banana, orange, yogurt, and a splash of milk or water to a blender and then blend until smooth. For an icy cold smoothie, throw in a handful of ice or use frozen fruits. Enjoy your smoothies straight away, or save them for later. You can keep this smoothie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours (I use a mason jar with its lid). The ingredients may separate over time, but you can shake the jar before serving. You can also freeze banana smoothies! I add my smoothie to a freezer-safe bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Then I freeze them. They last in the freezer for 1 to 2 months. Thaw your frozen smoothie overnight or run under warm water for a minute, and blend until smooth.
How To Freeze Bananas for Smoothies
To make these smoothies even easier, freeze bananas or other fresh fruit into portions. You can even prepare and freeze smoothie packs for a grab-and-blend smoothie option. To freeze bananas or other fruit for smoothies:
Banana Smoothie Variations
This smoothie recipe is delicious, but you can also use it as a base for other smoothie recipes. Here are some suggestions:
Add more fruit (fresh or frozen). I love mango, pineapple, and berries. Try this strawberry banana smoothie or this blueberry smoothie. Add greens like spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. I add one to two cups. See this green smoothie for inspiration. Add healthy fat with some avocado. Add more protein and fiber with hemp, chia, or your favorite protein powder. A tablespoon of peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or other nut butter will add nuttiness and extra sticking power. Add some chocolate with a tablespoon of cocoa powder or cacao nibs. Add fresh ginger, turmeric, or dried spices like ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ground turmeric.
1/2 orange, peeled and quartered 1/3 cup Greek yogurt 1/4 cup water or milk (dairy or non-dairy) 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, optional 2Add yogurt and water (or milk). 3Turn the blender on and blend until creamy and smooth. 4Taste, and then adjust with honey if needed.
