Best Strawberry Banana Smoothie
One of the best ways to enjoy summer is drinking a cold and refreshing smoothie made from fresh ingredients. Im definitely a smoothie lover as its so easy to toss a bunch of ingredients into my Vitamix and 30 seconds later have an amazing drink.
And with strawberries in abundance in the markets right now, it only makes sense to whip up this classic strawberry banana smoothie recipe. I can get fancy with smoothies and include chia seeds, collagen, hemp seeds and other fun ingredients, but a simple, straightforward smoothie is just as delicious.
So think of this strawberry banana smoothie as your little black dress. Its a classic. Because whats not to love about fresh, seasonal strawberries, sweet bananas and creamy yogurt?
Is It Good To Have A Smoothie For Breakfast
A smoothie loaded with wholesome and nutritious ingredients is perfect for breakfast. Thats the keyyou need fiber, protein and healthy fats to satisfy, as well as fill you up for hours. Starting your day off with a smoothie helps get your digestive system moving, provides your body with clean, usable energy, and when that smoothie is balanced, helps you avoid the mid-morning sugar crash that comes with a carb-heavy breakfast option.
This banana oatmeal smoothie contains banana , though the natural sugar from the banana is nicely balanced by the oatmeal and coconut milk to help the body slowly and evenly burn the carbs. #nosugarcrash
About This Banana Smoothie
I love cooking with bananas, so I always keep a bunch on hand in my kitchen. In fact, several of my favorite recipes feature this perfectly sweet and starchy fruit! I could eat them practically all day: Eggless Banana Pancakes for breakfast, Banana Cake, Banana Bread, Banana Muffins for desserts and Banana Milkshake for drinks.
Ok, perhaps that is all a bit much for one day. But I still stand by my love for all things banana, and therefore wanted to create a smoothie recipe for a banana-tastic snack to add to my banana-all-day wishlist.
Smoothies can be made from just about any piece of produce. You simply need a fairly soft fruit, a liquid for creating the drinkable texture, and a good blender or mixer.
In this easy 3-ingredient banana smoothie, I use ripe bananas that are about to brown, so they are super sweet and no extra sugar needs to be added. The bananas are blended with thin coconut milk for a slightly tropical taste and great creaminess. And a healthy pinch of cinnamon adds a slightly smoky and sweet flavor!
I usually make these vegan banana smoothies for a healthy and filling breakfast. Theyre also fantastic to quickly blend up for a satisfying snack on the go, or can be enjoyed as a lighter dessert.
I suggest you try this smoothie recipe whenever you need a tasty, satisfying, and filling drink.
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Tips For Making Smoothies
Here are a few tips for making the best smoothies possible:
- Start with ripe fruit. High quality fruit means better taste which makes a delicious smoothie.
- Use frozen fruit. Frozen fruit makes for a creamier, more refreshing smoothie.
- You dont need ice. Since youre using frozen fruit, theres also no need to include ice in the mixture. Your smoothie will be much more flavorful this way because the ice wont dilute the other ingredients.
- Plan ahead. Measure out the fruit for a few batches of smoothies into separate zip-top freezer bags. When its smoothie time, add the contents of one bag to the blender along with the milk and yogurt for a super quick breakfast or snack.
Banana Smoothie Q & A
Is a banana smoothie good for you? What smoothie you prepare for yourself depends completely on what your body needs! This smoothie is a great healthy breakfast or snack throughout the week. Bananas are packed with potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.
This smoothie also has extra fiber and protein from the flax and greek yogurt. If your doctor recommends a low sugar diet for you, keep in mind that bananas have a lot of natural sugar and adjust your meal prep for the week accordingly.
How long can you keep a banana smoothie in the fridge? We recommend eating this smoothie immediately after preparing. If you are prepping this banana smoothie and storing it in the refrigerator, we recommend storing this smoothie in the refrigerator for no longer than two days.
Do you put ice in smoothies? We dont usually recommend using ice in smoothies because it tends to water down the flavor of the smoothie. We recommend using frozen fruit over ice. However, if you are using fresh fruit, feel free to add in a handful of ice to chill the smoothie.
What can replace a banana in a smoothie? Well, in this smoothie we recommend bananas. However, feel free to use a cup of your favorite fruit if you are out of bananas.
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Tips For A Thicker Banana Smoothie
If you want your smoothie to be thicker, increase the amount of Bananas and lower the amount of milk by ½ cup. This will give you a thicker end result. Personally, I found the measurements we used to be good for our family but some people want more of a milkshake end result, so theres how you can do it! Remember that this recipe is easy to adjust to your liking so feel free to tweak it as desired.
Enjoy!
Mike
Can You Use Overripe Bananas
I dont know about you, but when I have overripe bananas on my counter, my first thought is that its time to make Coconut Flour Banana Bread.
If your bananas arent totally black and mushy, its fine to use them in smoothies.
Remember, the flavor of the banana will transfer to your smoothie, so you want to make sure the flavor of the bananas are still appealing to you. Bananas with lots of brown spots are perfect for smoothies, but if the skin is getting borderline-black in color, Id use them for baking instead.
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Why You Should Make This Banana Smoothie
Ive made a version of this easy banana smoothie recipe more times than I can count. Its perfect on its own and is the best base recipe for adding more ingredients like fruit, nut butter, and veggies.
Here are a few more reasons we love it:
- You need less than 5 minutes to make it.
- You can use fresh or frozen bananas.
- Its easy to adapt to what you have in the kitchen.
- This smoothie is perfect for breakfast or a snack.
- Kids love it!
- You can even make the smoothie ahead of time, freeze it, and save it for later.
How To Make The Best Banana Smoothie
My basic smoothie recipe calls for four simple ingredients:
Banana I use one banana to make one large or two smaller smoothies. For the best tasting smoothie, use a ripe banana. For the creamiest banana smoothie, use frozen banana slices. Ive 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. If you dont have oranges on hand, dont worry, you can substitute other fruits like mango, pineapple, and berries.
Plain or Greek yogurt I dont always add yogurt to my smoothies, but when I do have it in the fridge, adding a spoonful ensures a protein-packed and creamy smoothie. For a smoothie without yogurt, add a little extra fruit or include veggies like spinach or kale.
Water or milk To help the ingredients blend, I like adding a splash of liquid to the blender. For a smoothie without milk, use water. It still tastes amazing. For more creaminess add milk .
To make the smoothie, I add everything into a blender and then blend until smooth. For an icy cold smoothie, throw in a handful of ice or use frozen fruits.
We have more easy smoothie recipes! Try our 5-minute strawberry smoothie or this easy blueberry smoothie.
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Can You Use Overripe Bananas In Smoothies
Yes, you can definitely use overripe bananas in smoothies.
Because bananas become sweeter as they continue to ripen, you may want to cut back on the sweetness of other ingredients just to balance out the flavor.
For example, if your recipe calls for soymilk or almond milk, choose the plain, unsweetened version. Or, add some citrus fruits or even veggies to counter the extra sweet bananas.
What Fruit Goes Well With Banana In A Smoothie
Are you making an attempt to determine what fruit goes nicely with banana in a smoothie? The excellent news is that there are some wonderful pairings for it! The dangerous information nicely, there actually isnt any dangerous information. Youll simply must attempt all of them out to find out which you want finest.
Reading: different smoothies with bananas
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How To Make A Banana Smoothie
This smoothie is as easy as 1-2-3. Feel free to add any extra flare or ingredients if youd like. We kept it nice and simple. If you feel like you want to add a serving of vegetables, try frozen cauliflower! If you would like a bit more texture try adding a couple of tablespoons of oatmeal. The options are endless.
How To Make Banana Smoothie
1. First, peel and chop 3 large bananas. Add them to a blender.
Here I have used over ripened bananas. As they are overly sweet, you wont need to add any sweetener.
2. Add ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon powder and ½ cup lite coconut milk. You can swap cinnamon powder with ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or add both.
For a more sweeter taste if you like add 1 to 2 tablespoons of your preferred sweetener.
Continue reading for more recipe variation suggestions!
3. Cover the jar and blend until smooth.
4. The smoothie should be perfectly smooth and creamy. Pour into two serving glasses.
5. Lastly, sprinkle on some toasted nuts and seeds. I sometimes also add chia seeds. This is optional but highly suggested to make the smoothie extra filling, nutritious and add a great bit of crunchiness.
Here I have used a mix of toasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, white sesame seeds and flax seeds. Feel free to add your favorite nuts or toasted seeds.
6. Serve banana smoothies immediately.
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Variations For A Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Not only is a smoothie a fantastic vehicle for nutritious food during the day, but is also very adaptable to your liking. Here are easy variations for this recipe:
- Chocolate. Thinking of having a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie to stave off the temptation of a less healthy dessert? Add a few teaspoons of cocoa powder or a scoop of chocolate protein powder, and this very well may replace your favorite milkshake.
- Protein Powder. This peanut butter banana smoothie has protein because of the peanut butter and Greek yogurt. But if you need an extra boost in your banana smoothie after a workout, add a ½ to 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder .
- Bowl Style. For a new twist, try a peanut butter banana smoothie bowl. Add extra banana or ice to thicken it further, then serve it in a bowl with toppings, such as granola, banana slices, or blueberries, and a drizzle of additional peanut butter.
Can You Put Oatmeal In A Smoothie
Yes, you can put oatmeal in a smoothie! You get all the benefits of a bowl of oatmeal, yet in a smoothie form. Oatmeal is loaded with fiber, which boosts the good bacteria in your gut. Whether you need an on-the-go breakfast or you crave a refreshing sippable morning meal, this delicious banana oatmeal smoothie is a great option.
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Ingredients For This Banana Smoothie
Now that youre convinced its worth a whiz in the blender, here are the ingredients youll need for this banana smoothie! Its just 4 ingredients:
- Ripe bananas at room temperature: No need to freeze a banana here! You can whip up this banana smoothie on the spot.
- Ice: A hefty quantity of ice counteracts the need for frozen bananas.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt gives this recipe a protein boost and helpful probiotics. It also makes for a perfect creamy texture.
- Milk: Just the right amount of liquid makes this smoothie blend up perfectly. You can also use non-dairy milk .
Benefits Of This Smoothie:
Its healthy, creamy, and naturally:
vegetarian, or can be madevegan/dairy-free, if you use vegetable milk
very nutritious
gluten-free
refined sugar-free
If you love coffee and chocolate, check out our mocha coffee recipe!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how you liked it and give it a star rating in the comments below! You can also add a photo of your creation!
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Expert Tips And Tricks
- Freeze fresh strawberries. Fresh strawberries will have the most flavor and will be the sweetest. Freezing them captures that flavor and still results in a cold and creamy consistency.
- Add extra nutrients. Make this smoothie even healthier by adding in spinach, protein powder, oats, and even more fruit.
- Start with the banana. Loading the blender with the softer ingredients next to the blade allows for easier mixing.
- Test for sweetness. The amount of sweetener you need depends on how sweet your fruit and yogurt is. Sample the smoothie then add the sweetener as needed to taste.
Ingredient Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- Pin6673
Im going to admit, ever since spring started Ive been trying to lose a few pounds. One of my all time favorite fun and easy ways to shed a few pounds during the summer is to drink a glass of refreshing smoothie every day either for breakfast or dinner.
Smoothies fill you up for a long time and when made without sugars or added sweeteners can be a great way to get an intake of fruits and vegetables.
This strawberry banana smoothie is made with just 3 ingredients. Strawberries, bananas, and milk or water. You just toss all the ingredients in the blender for a few seconds until its nice and creamy and your done. It really doesnt get much easier than this!
You can also customize it by adding some berries or even some kale for an even healthier smoothie.
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Make Ahead And Meal Prep
Meal Prep: Place 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 banana cut into chunks, and half of a 5-oz. container of yogurt into a freezer safe storage bag. Place in freezer until ready to use.
Day of Serving: Let bag of fruit and yogurt thaw slightly at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Add fruit and yogurt to a blender with ¼ cup milk and 1 tablespoon honey and blend until smooth.
Coffee Banana Smoothie Healthy Grab
This delicious coffee banana smoothie is super tasty and very filling. If you dont have time for breakfast before work, this is something for you! You just have to combine all the ingredients in a blender, pulse until smooth and creamy, and take the smoothie with you. Its coffee and breakfast in one!
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A Banana Oatmeal Smoothie With Healthy Fat
I know, fat isnt always seen as a good thing. Yet hear me out your body actually needs healthy fat in order to process your food properly. Without fat, the body does a poor job digesting food, converting carbs into energy, absorbing fat soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K which are vitally important. For a creamier smoothie use full-fat coconut milk. For a less creamy smoothie, use a homemade coconut milk, or one you can find in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.
How Long Can You Keep A Banana Smoothie In The Fridge
Bananas do turn brown rather quickly, so the best way to enjoy a banana smoothie is right after youve blended it. If you do plan to make ahead or have extra that you want to save for later, it should hold up in your fridge for up to 2 days.
Note that the longer that your smoothie sits, the fewer nutrients will remain, so if you want to reap the health benefits and get the best taste, then drink up at soon as your smoothie is made.
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Best Blenders For Smoothies
When making a smoothie recipe at home there are a few ways you can blend it together. Here are the pros and cons of each method:
- High-speed individual blender such as aNutribullet. This option makes for super easy clean-up, but is best for just 1-2 servings.
- Large high-speed blender such as aVitamix. Best for making a large batch, but calls for more cleanup.
- 6 cup+ food processor such as a Cuisinart Food Processor. A last resort since it does not blend up the smoothie as easily, but it will get the job done.
My Strawberry Banana Smoothie Tips
- Dont use all frozen fruit. If you were to use both frozen strawberries and a frozen banana, youre likely to end up with a super thick texture more similar to my Strawberry Frozen Yogurt recipe. So instead, use fresh strawberries and a frozen banana. If you only have frozen strawberries, let them thaw before using.
- Dont add any sugar. Its crazy that some recipes call for a sweetener with a full fruit smoothie. Mother nature has given us plenty of sweetness in the strawberries and banana so theres no need to add extra sugar.
- Make it with dairy or dairy-free. You can make this strawberry banana smoothie with dairy or dairy-free/vegan. Ive got recipes for both homemade yogurt and a dairy-free coconut yogurt. You can also use regular milk or my cashew milk or any healthy store-bought dairy-free milk or yogurt options as well.
- Dont add ice. Using a frozen banana in the recipe keeps the drink cold, but it doesnt water it down. Adding ice to smoothies makes them watery pretty quickly.
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