Easy Banana Smoothie (5 Ingredients)

The best banana smoothie, made with just 5 simple ingredients. It’s super creamy, easy to make, and packed with protein, fiber, and potassium.

Sharing another new smoothie recipe with you! And this one is for all my banana lovers!

This banana smoothie has a super creamy texture and lots of natural sweetness from the frozen bananas and a little added protein from the addition of Greek yogurt. The week I tried this recipe I made it every day for a mid-afternoon snack. It really is so delicious, refreshing and easy to make!

A banana smoothie in a glass, topped with fresh banana slices and a dash of cinnamon.

Table of Contents

Why you will love this smoothie

Simple ingredients: You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this smoothie!
customizable: This is the perfect base recipe for a banana smoothie, but feel free to make this smoothie however you like!
Healthy: Bananas are high in fiber, antioxidants, and several essential nutrients like potassium and vitamin C. Greek yogurt provides a good amount of protein, making it a balanced and healthy smoothie option.
Delicious: The combination of bananas, Greek yogurt, and almond milk creates a rich, creamy, and naturally sweet shake.

Measured ingredients to make a banana smoothie: cinnamon, vanilla almond milk, frozen bananas, ice, and Greek yogurt.

Ingredients and Substitutions

unsweetened almond milk – the liquid base for this smoothie. I like to use unsweetened almond milk as it’s low in calories and doesn’t taste overpowering, but feel free to use your favorite non-dairy or regular cow’s milk. Coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or soy milk are all great options! I only recommend using unsweetened milk as the bananas add a lot of sweetness to this smoothie.
frozen bananas – the star ingredient! The use of frozen ripe plantains is key to this recipe and what gives this smoothie its thick and creamy consistency. They are also a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6. See below for tips on how to freeze bananas or follow my complete guide on how to freeze bananas.
plain greek yogurt – adds creaminess and protein to this smoothie. I like to use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt, but feel free to use your favorite type of yogurt. You can use a flavored variety like vanilla yogurt or a non-dairy yogurt if you need to make this recipe vegan.
vanilla extract and cinnamon – both are nice flavor enhancers and complement the sweetness of the bananas very well.

Side by side photos of a blender with the ingredients to make a banana smoothie before and after blending.

How to do

This banana smoothie couldn’t be easier to make. Simply place all of your ingredients in a high speed blender like a Vitamix and blend until smooth.

Pour the smoothie into a glass and top with fresh banana slices and a dash of cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy!

Woman's hand pouring a banana smoothie into a glass.

How to Freeze Bananas for Smoothies

The key to getting the perfect creamy ice cream texture in your banana shake is to use frozen bananas. This is how I usually freeze my bananas for smoothies:

Peel – The most important step is to peel the banana before freezing it! I have frozen whole bananas with skin on before and it was a disaster to remove the skin. Trust me, you are going to want to peel first.

Slice – After peeling the banana, you can cut the fruit in half or in large pieces. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or silicone baking mat. Make sure the banana pieces are arranged in a single layer and not touching each other so they can freeze without sticking.

Freeze – Freeze for 1-2 hours or until bananas are frozen.

Transfer – After freezing the bananas, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe storage container for more efficient storage. I usually like to store frozen bananas in my Stasher bags. You can also toss the bananas in a bag without freezing them first, but this usually causes them to stick together and makes it more difficult to remove just one or two pieces at a time.

Banana Smoothie Variations

The combinations are endless when it comes to this easy banana smoothie recipe! Here are some ideas:

Chocolate Banana: Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder for a chocolate banana smoothie.
Banana with peanut butter: Peanut butter + banana = the best flavor combination! Add a tablespoon of peanut butter for a delicious peanut butter banana smoothie.
banana strawberry: Add a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries or follow my recipe for Strawberry Banana Smoothie or Strawberry Banana Protein Shake.
Add vegetables: Turn this into a more nutrient-dense green banana smoothie by adding a handful of spinach or kale to this smoothie.
Add more protein: For an extra protein kick, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
add superfoods: Mix in a tablespoon of chia seeds, flax seeds, or a teaspoon of spirulina for extra nutrition.
Make it sweeter: If you want more sweetness you can add a touch of honey, maple syrup, stevia or 1 medjool date.
vegan: Swap the Greek yogurt for your favorite non-dairy yogurt.
Make a Smoothie Bowl: If you want a thicker shake, start with just 1/4 cup milk and add more as needed. Transfer to a bowl and add your toppings of choice!

Two banana smoothies in glasses with straws.

Tips for Storing Smoothies

Store the smoothie in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid (I like to use wide-mouthed jars, but a thermos would probably work great too). Close the container and place it in the fridge as soon as possible.
Try to fill the bowl to the top to avoid excess air which will cause the batter to brown.
Take the smoothie out of the fridge when you are ready to drink it. Give it a good shake and enjoy.
Plan to drink the shake within 24 hours; probably won’t last much longer than that. For longer storage, consider freezing the smoothie in ice cube trays. When you’re ready to enjoy, scoop out a few cubes and add them to your blender with a little liquid and blend until smooth for an easy snack.