This banana smoothie is deliciously thick, creamy and full of rich banana flavor. It’s made with just 4 ingredients and perfect for breakfast or a snack.

Banana smoothie in a glass with a straw.

I tried this recipe this morning and I’m in love with it! I really like the flavour and I don’t know if it’s just me but I love the creamy texture I managed to get, I will definitely be using more of your recipes, thank you 

Leah H

The past few weeks I’ve been purposely over-buying bananas at the grocery store, just so I can make this banana smoothie! I love this healthy smoothie because it is so thick, refreshing and satisfying. Most often I make this recipe as is, but sometimes I like to add peanut butter or strawberries. This recipe is easily adaptable!

Ripe bananas with a few brown spots are perfect for baking into banana bread and adding to smoothies because they are naturally sweet. I slice them up, freeze them, and then they’re ready to go into my blender whenever I get a craving for this creamy banana smoothie.

This banana smoothie is one of my easiest smoothie recipes. It’s made with simple ingredients that I always have in my kitchen, so I can make it anytime I need a quick breakfast. My kids also love this smoothie and ask for it often as a snack!

This banana smoothie is best made with frozen bananas, but I’ve also made it with fresh bananas when my freezer stash ran out. The smoothie just turns out a bit thinner made with fresh bananas. Frozen bananas help to chill the smoothie and make it extra thick and creamy, similar to a milkshake.

Overhead view of banana smoothie in a glass with a few banana slices.

Why I Love this Banana Smoothie

  • It’s filling and made with wholesome ingredients.
  • You need only four simple ingredients and five minutes to make this banana smoothie.
  • It’s a great way to use up extra ripe bananas.
  • It’s easily adaptable – see my ideas below!

How to Freeze Bananas

When you find yourself with more ripe bananas than you can eat, freeze them and you’ll have frozen bananas ready whenever you want to make a smoothie.

  • To freeze bananas, start by peeling the bananas and slicing them into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
  • Place the sliced bananas in a zip-top baggie and squeeze out any excess air. Or, freeze in another airtight container.
  • Freeze for at least 8 hours and up to 1 month, then add the frozen bananas to your favorite smoothie recipes.
  • The bananas may stick together a little as they freeze, but you can easily separate any big clumps. It’s ok if a few banana slices are stuck together when you put them in your blender.
  • To prevent bananas from sticking together you can first flash freeze the banana slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and then transfer them to an airtight container. I usually don’t bother with this extra step.
Ingredients for banana smoothie.

Banana Smoothie Ingredients

  1. Bananas! The ripeness of your bananas will affect the taste of your smoothie. For a sweeter smoothie, use bananas that are riper. Frozen bananas are best because they help to thicken the smoothie. If you forget to plan ahead and don’t have frozen bananas, you can use fresh. If using fresh bananas you may want to blend in a few ice cubes to chill the smoothie.
  2. Greek Yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt is my preference to keep this smoothie lower in sugar, but you can also use vanilla yogurt.
  3. Milk. Use your milk of choice. Dairy milk, almond milk and oat milk are all good options.
  4. Vanilla. This is my secret ingredient! A little bit of vanilla extract adds a hint of sweetness and delicious flavor to this banana smoothie. You can omit the vanilla extract if you’re using vanilla Greek yogurt.

Recipe Variations

Choose one or more of these extras to add to your smoothie to boost the flavor and nutrition!

  • Add a teaspoon of ground flax seeds or chia seeds to add more fiber and other nutrients.
  • Adding 2-3 tablespoons of raw old-fashioned oats makes this banana smoothie a more filling breakfast.
  • Mixing in a spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter will boost the protein in this banana smoothie. Try my Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe.
  • Add a fresh peeled orange for a citrus twist, or try my favorite Orange Smoothie.
  • Cinnamon pairs well with bananas, so try blending in a pinch of cinnamon. Add a teaspoon of cocoa powder for a chocolate banana smoothie. Or try my Chocolate Protein Smoothie (made without protein powder).
  • If you like a sweeter smoothie, blend in a teaspoon or two of honey or pure maple syrup.
  • To make this smoothie dairy-free and vegan, use a dairy-free yogurt or replace the yogurt with more banana. Also be sure to use a non-dairy milk.
  • Make it fruity by adding berries. I highly recommend my Strawberry Banana Smoothie!

How to Make a Banana Smoothie

This banana smoothie is quick and easy to make. All you have to do is add the ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.

However, I have a few smoothie-making tips that I’ve learned through experience (I’ve made a LOT of smoothies!). These tips can help you to make the best smoothie, every time.

  • Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothie. Frozen fruit or veggies, such as cauliflower, help to thicken and chill your smoothie.
  • Err on the side of using less liquid to begin with. You can always add more liquid to get to your desired consistency.
  • Layer the smoothie ingredients for the most efficient blending. Greens, such as spinach or kale, should be at the bottom of the blender to give them a head start on blending up smoothly. The same goes for raw oats, nuts and frozen fruit. Add ingredients such as nut butters or yogurt on top of the fruits and vegetables to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of your blender.
  • Begin blending on low speed and increase to higher speed as the smoothie starts to blend together.
  • Don’t overfill the blender. If you are making a double or triple batch of smoothies to feed a crowd, start by adding only part of the frozen ingredients. Then add more once you get the first addition blended smooth. I do this when I make enough smoothies to feed myself and my five kids. If you fill the blender too full to start with it will be difficult to blend the smoothie.
  • As you blend, you may have to occasionally stop and stir, shake, or use your blender’s tamper to mix the ingredients. Sometimes you can get an air bubble at the bottom that prevents the blender from mixing the smoothie.
  • If you make smoothies often, a high powered blender can save you time and effort.
Banana smoothie in a glass garnished with banana slices and cinnamon.

More Favorite Smoothie Recipes

Banana smoothie in a glass with a straw and sliced bananas.
4.90 from 19 ratings

Best Banana Smoothie

Servings: 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This healthy Banana Smoothie blends up deliciously thick and creamy! It's full of rich banana flavor and made with just 4 simple ingredients.
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced banana, frozen is best, about 1 large banana
  • ¼ cup Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla
  • ¼ cup milk, dairy, almond, oat milk, etc.
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, adding more milk if needed to reach desired consistency.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Frozen banana helps to thicken and chill the smoothie. If your banana is not frozen you can add a few ice cubes to chill the smoothie.
  • Nutrition information is for smoothie made with plain Greek yogurt and whole milk.
Serving: 8g, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 688mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 195IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 124mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast, Snack
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