Description
This best banana smoothie recipe delivers creamy, delicious smoothies with just four simple ingredients in just 5 minutes. Made with ripe bananas, Greek yogurt, and milk, this easy banana smoothie tastes like café quality while being ridiculously quick and simple to make at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium ripe bananas, peeled and sliced (or 1½ cups frozen banana slices)
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (plain) or regular yogurt
- 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 1–2 tablespoons honey (or to taste)
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ banana, additional for extra thickness
- ½ cup fresh berries
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 scoop protein powder
- ½ cup fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Ice cubes (if using fresh bananas for colder smoothie)
Instructions
- Prepare bananas. If using fresh bananas, peel them and slice into 1-inch chunks. If using frozen bananas, measure out approximately 1½ cups of frozen banana pieces. Fresh bananas create thinner smoothies with lighter texture, while frozen bananas create extra-thick, creamy smoothies.
- Add ingredients to blender. Place sliced bananas, Greek yogurt, milk, and honey into your blender. If using optional add-ins like spinach or berries, add them now. Start with ingredients in this order: liquids first, then soft ingredients, then harder items at the top for better blending, though most blenders handle any order.
- Blend until smooth. Blend on high speed for 30-45 seconds for fresh bananas, or 1-1.5 minutes for frozen bananas, until the smoothie is completely smooth and creamy. The frozen banana version will require longer blending time as frozen fruit is harder.
- Check consistency and adjust. Stop and check the smoothie’s consistency. If too thick, add a splash more milk (about ¼ cup at a time) and blend briefly. If too thin, add a few ice cubes or another slice of frozen banana and blend again. The smoothie should be thick enough to require a spoon but drinkable through a straw.
- Taste and adjust sweetness. Taste the smoothie and adjust honey if needed. If the bananas were very ripe, you may not need all the honey. If they were less ripe, you may want to add the full amount or slightly more. Blend briefly after adjusting.
- Pour and serve immediately. Pour the smoothie into glasses and serve immediately while cold and thick. Smoothies are best enjoyed fresh, though they maintain quality in the refrigerator for 24 hours if stored in an airtight container.
- Optional garnish. Top with a slice of banana, sprinkle of cinnamon, or drizzle of honey if desired. Fresh berries or granola can be added for crunch and visual appeal.
Notes
- Banana ripeness affects sweetness – Ripe bananas with brown spots are sweeter; adjust honey accordingly
- Frozen bananas create thicker smoothies – Perfect for warm weather or if you prefer less liquid consistency
- Fresh yogurt important – Use plain yogurt; flavored versions add unwanted sugar
- Blend thoroughly – Ensure no lumps remain for perfect creamy texture
- Serve immediately – Fresh smoothies taste best immediately after blending
- Make ahead components – Freeze banana slices in portions for quick smoothie prep
- Customize extensively – Add protein powder, spinach, or other ingredients to personalize
- Ice not required – Use frozen bananas instead for natural thickness without diluting as much
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (approximately 10 ounces, 1 of 2)
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 5mg