Easy Banana Smoothie

Banana Smoothies are the best morning breakfast go-to recipe! Before you get all weird about a liquid meal, give one a go. I am pretty sure they will knock your socks off and might just become your favorite breakfast item.

overhead of banana smoothies with sliced banana


 

A Banana Smoothie is an excellent choice for a smart and delicious breakfast or snack.

This is one of the quick and easy breakfast ideas that I tend to lean on when I want a healthy start to my day. In just 5 minutes you can have the perfect breakfast that will keep you hunger-free until it is time to have lunch.

I see so many smoothie recipes with an ingredient list a mile long. I do not have the time or the patience for that jazz. I need quick and easy or else it won’t happen.

sliced bananas on a cutting board

The basics for this breakfast smoothie are just 4 ingredients:

  • Bananas
  • Yogurt
  • Vanilla
  • Ice
banana smoothie ingredients on burlap

And even the vanilla and ice can potentially be omitted depending on your taste. If I use plain Greek yogurt, I add vanilla, but if I use vanilla flavored yogurt, I leave it out. You can even try your hand at making homemade yogurt.

And same for the ice. If you use frozen bananas, you might not need ice at all, or at least half. Water might even be necessary to thin it out.

ingredients for banana smoothie in a blender

How do I freeze bananas?

Freezing bananas is easy, but you need to do one thing. PEEL THEM. I, in a lapse of common sense, froze my bananas with the peel on. You can’t peel a frozen banana.

  1. Peel your bananas.
  2. Cut them into 2-3 inch pieces.
  3. Place them in an airtight plastic bag and release as much air as possible.
  4. Freeze for up to 6 months.
smoothie pouring into a glass

Did you know that bananas contain many of the important nutrients that your body is looking for? That includes potassium and magnesium which are two things linked to a healthy heart.

They also have vitamin C and fiber which means they are great for general well being and for your digestive health. This also translates means they are filling. Bonsu tidbit, they are generally low in terms of calories.

If that wasn’t enough, bananas come with many other amazing health benefits.

overhead of banana smoothie in a glass

They are low on the glycemic index meaning they won’t cause a spike in blood sugar when you eat them which means you won’t get sleep after one of these shakes. If that isn’t a superfood quality, I don’t know what is.

What Can I Add to my Smoothie?

Want to pump up the protein? Add a scoop of protein powder. Try putting some nuts or a bit of nut butter (i.e. almond butter or peanut butter).

two banana smoothies in cups

Try almond milk or coconut milk to thin it out and add flavor. You can even sub this out for yogurt.

Personally, I love to keep frozen fruits in the freezer and I will add everything from some raspberries to a few slices of mango.

Heck, make a strawberry banana smoothie if the mood strikes you. Sometimes I even add in some cinnamon for a banana bread kind of flavor.

hand grabbing for banana smoothie in a glass

No matter which variation of this easy banana smoothie recipe you choose to go with, it will turn out delicious! With so many options to choose from, getting bored with your healthy breakfast is not in the cards.

PRO TIP: buy ripened bananas which are all yellow and maybe even browning in little spots. The sugars in these bananas are more concentrated which means you won’t need to add any sweetness.

Best of all, they are portable. Grab the blender, throw everything in, give it a blitz, transfer it to a cup and you are out the door. Healthy, easy, and tasty. These Banana Smoothies are a great way to start the day.

easy banana smoothie recipe for pinterest

How to make bananas ripen faster:

  1. Microwave– The quickest way, but least likely to produce super sweet results. Nuke it for 30 seconds to one minute. Basically, you are cooking it and allowing the sugars to release a little before you put it into the recipe.
  2. Oven- the same concept as the microwave. Heat to 350 degrees and bake for 5-30 minutes.
  3. Brown Paper Bag – My mother used this technique, but it still takes about a day. Place your bananas in a brown paper bag and roll it closed. Ethylene will build up and speed up the ripening process.
  4. Tropical Environment – Everything ages faster in the heat. Place your bananas someplace warm, like in a sunny window. It will still take up to a day, depending on how ripe the banana was to begin with.
  5. Single them out – lastly, pull your bananas apart. They ripen much faster separated than they do still hooked together.

If you loved this smoothie recipe, make sure you check out these other easy healthy breakfast ideas:

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Purple Power Smoothie Recipe- Healthy smoothie recipe to help you stay full and lose weight. With loads of fresh fruit, this protein shake also uses Greek yogurt and milk!
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When it comes to easy breakfast recipes, this Breakfast Pizza tops the list! With just a few ingredients and a homemade sauce, this pizza is the best!
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Easy banana smoothie recipe
overhead of banana smoothie in a glass

Banana Smoothie

5 from 4 votes
Add protein powder, peanut butter, chocolate, pineapple, strawberries or other delicious fruit to make yourself a custom Banana Smoothie! You can also switch up the yogurt flavor or go plain.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend until smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 297 kcal, Carbohydrates: 58 g, Protein: 12 g, Fat: 3 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 11 mg, Sodium: 151 mg, Potassium: 919 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 45 g, Vitamin A: 175 IU, Vitamin C: 12 mg, Calcium: 388 mg, Iron: 0.3 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 297
Course: Breakfast, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana smoothie
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    This looks amazing! I don’t have much time in the morning for myself, but i’m sure I can squeeze in this tasty 5 minute breakfast! Thank you!