Description
This easy 5-minute smoothie recipe is the perfect healthy breakfast or snack that requires just five simple ingredients and a blender. Naturally sweet, incredibly creamy, and endlessly customizable, it’s a family-friendly favorite that delivers nutrition and delicious flavor in every sip.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large frozen banana, broken into chunks
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, or your favorite)
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, almond, oat, or coconut milk)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, adjust to taste)
- Optional add-ins: 1 handful spinach, 1 tablespoon nut butter, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1 scoop protein powder
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients. If you haven’t already, peel and slice your banana, then freeze it in a freezer bag for at least 2 hours or overnight. This step is crucial for achieving that thick, creamy texture. Gather all your other ingredients so everything is ready to blend.
- Layer your ingredients properly. Add your liquid (milk) to the blender first – this prevents the blender blades from getting stuck and helps everything blend more smoothly. Next, add your Greek yogurt, followed by the frozen banana chunks and frozen berries. If you’re using any optional add-ins like spinach, nut butter, or seeds, add them now. Add your sweetener last if using.
- Blend on low, then increase speed. Start your blender on the lowest setting for about 10 seconds to break up the frozen fruit. This prevents strain on your blender motor. Then gradually increase to medium-high speed and blend for 45 to 60 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy with no visible chunks.
- Check consistency and adjust. Stop the blender and check your smoothie’s thickness. If it’s too thick to blend properly, add a splash more milk (1 to 2 tablespoons at a time) and blend again. If it’s too thin, add a few more frozen berries or a couple of ice cubes. The perfect smoothie should be thick enough to eat with a spoon but still drinkable through a straw.
- Taste and adjust sweetness. Give your smoothie a quick taste test. If you’d like it sweeter, add a little more honey or maple syrup and blend again briefly. Remember that the natural sweetness will depend on how ripe your banana was and what type of berries you used.
- Serve immediately. Pour your smoothie into glasses and enjoy right away for the best texture and temperature. Smoothies tend to separate if they sit for too long, though a quick stir will bring them back together. Garnish with fresh berries, a sprinkle of granola, or a mint leaf if you want to make it extra special.
Notes
- Make it a smoothie bowl: For a thicker, spoonable consistency, use only ¾ cup milk instead of 1 cup, and serve in a bowl topped with granola, fresh fruit, coconut flakes, and seeds.
- Protein boost: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder or 2 tablespoons of nut butter to make this more filling and turn it into a complete meal replacement.
- Green smoothie version: Add 1 to 2 handfuls of fresh spinach or kale. You won’t taste it at all, but you’ll get extra vitamins and minerals.
- Tropical variation: Replace berries with frozen mango and pineapple, and use coconut milk for a vacation-worthy tropical smoothie.
- Adjust thickness: Remember that smoothies thicken as they sit. If making ahead, you may need to add a splash more liquid when ready to drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (8 ounces)
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 8mg