Banana Smoothie Recipe

Why I Love This Banana Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are one of my favorite breakfasts and they work equally well as a filling snack. While I think banana smoothies are a perfect blank slate to transform into a Chai Tea Smoothie or Peanut Butter Smoothie, sometimes I just want to enjoy that banana goodness.

So this smoothie recipe can be made simply with banana and cottage cheese or yogurt. You can even pop in a handful of greens for extra fiber and color. When I make a banana smoothie to enjoy for breakfast I’ll often add a scoop of protein powder to make it extra filling to keep me going all morning. (You can use vanilla or chocolate protein powder to add a bit of flavor contrast.)

To save time, keep a stash of sliced, frozen bananas at the ready so you can have a smoothie any time the mood strikes. Here are a few more reasons why I love this banana smoothie recipe:

• Smooth and creamy. A blend of cottage cheese or yogurt and banana combine to make an incredibly rich and creamy drink that goes down so easily! It’s like enjoying a milkshake, but so much lighter!
• Satisfying. Even if you don’t add protein powder, the protein in the cottage cheese or yogurt is enough to fill you up! You can stir in a little nut butter if you want a little extra protein, too.
• Adaptable. Look at this banana smoothie recipe as your jumping-off place for all sorts of flavor and ingredient additions. Keep it plain and simple with bananas, or add a little ground cinnamon, cocoa powder or hot fudge sauce, fruit, and more.
• Versatile. Smoothies are a super breakfast option, a post-workout treat, or a sweet afternoon snack. You can whip up a smoothie any time of the day and it will always be welcome.

Ingredient Notes

I’ve outlined what you need to make this smoothie below, plus some notes to consider when you gather up your ingredients. You can make this as a simple banana smoothie, or turn it into a spinach banana smoothie depending on your mood. Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

• Greens: Add a handful of baby spinach, kale, or another other dark, leafy greens. This is an optional addition to the smoothie.
• Banana: Use a very ripe, frozen banana.
• Cottage Cheese: Or use plain Greek yogurt if you prefer.
• Milk: Use your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk.
• Protein Powder: I love to add a scoop of protein or collagen powder to make this into a banana protein smoothie.
• Ice Cubes: See my notes below for how much ice to add to your smoothie. 
• Garnish: Banana slices, mini chocolate chips, cacao nibs, a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder, or whipped cream.

How to Make a Banana Smoothie

Blend and drink, what could be easier? Here’s how to make this banana smoothie recipe. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Add to a blender. Place the ingredients in a blender (leave out the optional garnishes).
• Blend. Now blend until smooth.

Smoothies are best enjoyed just after they’re made, so I didn’t include storage suggestions in this post. However, if you do have any leftover banana protein smoothie, place it in an airtight container such a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and store it in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Tips & Variation Ideas

I love the simplicity of this banana smoothie recipe and once you master it, consider branching out into flavors and throwing in a variety of add-ins. Follow my tips below to make a perfect smoothie, then try some of my variations.

• Choose cottage cheese. Many people like to use yogurt in smoothies for creaminess and protein. I prefer cottage cheese over yogurt to perform the same purpose. Even if you don’t like cottage cheese, you’ll find that it blends in smoothly and adds richness. A bonus is that cottage cheese doesn’t have the tartness of yogurt, and the bit of salt enhances the natural sweetness of the fruit.
• Add sweetener or not depending on the banana. If your banana is overripe and sweet, you shouldn’t need any additional sweetener or sweetened yogurt but feel free to adjust as needed. I like to add a little maple syrup or honey to give my smoothie a touch of extra sweetness.
• Use frozen bananas. If you are wondering how to freeze bananas, I have a post just for you! Learn How to Freeze Bananas easily (tip: if you plan to use the bananas for smoothies, I advise slicing them first before you freeze them rather than leaving them whole. This will make your life easier when it’s time to make the smoothie.).
• Toss in ice sparingly. If you are using frozen fruit, you may not need to use ice at all. Ice can water down a smoothie if you use too much of it. I use ice sparingly, adding just a cube or two depending on how smooth I need to make the smoothie. This is another matter of personal preference, and if you prefer a more icy smoothie, go ahead and add more ice.
• Go vegan. Easily make this a dairy-free, vegan smoothie by substituting your favorite dairy-free yogurt for the cottage cheese. If you need a little extra sweetener, choose maple syrup rather than honey.
• Do add-ins! I love adding extras to my smoothies. This banana smoothie recipe creates such a nice base that takes well to so many additions. Try nut butter such as peanut or almond butter, seeds like chia or flax seeds, chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, ground spices, and vanilla or almond extracts.
• Make it a mixed fruit smoothie. I love adding frozen or fresh fruit to a banana smoothie for more color and flavor. Berries are a favorite, but I also love seasonal stone fruit like peaches, cherries, and nectarines.
• Get more inspiration: For more banana smoothie ideas, check out my post on Easy Banana Smoothies which will give you even more tips and ideas for the best banana smoothie.