Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Creamy and healthy, this Strawberry Banana Smoothie is quick to make with just 5 ingredients! Frozen strawberries, banana, yogurt, milk, and honey are blended into a perfectly sweet drink. Make this smoothie for a simple and easy breakfast, or as a refreshing afternoon snack! 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

Classic strawberry banana smoothies are the BEST… especially when it comes to these hot summer months.

It’s great first thing in the morning for a breakfast on-the-go. Or as a snack after a good workout. There is just nothing quite as refreshing as blended up fresh fruit with a touch of yogurt and milk.

And honestly, this creamy smoothie reminds me of a longtime childhood favorite of mine—strawberry milk.  (Did you love that stuff, too?)

This healthy drink is FULL of fresh strawberry and banana flavor. It is also ultra creamy, and super easy to whip up.

I’m talking… 5 minutes flat from start to finish of blending together ingredients.

This is the perfect smoothie full of fresh ingredients for busy mornings when the whole family needs a quick breakfast.

Ingredients

Making a homemade strawberry banana smoothie recipe at home is super easy and normally only requires a few simple ingredients:

• Strawberries. Frozen is the best type to use since it will help chill and thicken the drink. However, you can also freeze fresh strawberries by following the instructions below. Look for a sale at your local grocery store. It’s easy to freeze strawberries at home.
• Bananas. If using frozen strawberries, it’s best if you use a room-temperature, ripe banana. Their softer texture will enable the smoothie to blend up more easily when mixed with frozen strawberries.
• Yogurt. Plain or vanilla yogurt is recommended for this recipe. If you are vegan or avoid dairy, opt for a coconut milk or almond milk yogurt alternative. Plain Greek yogurt is the perfect way to add in some protein, as well.
• Milk. Regular dairy like whole milk, or almond, cashew, coconut, oat, or soy milks will all work equally well in this recipe.
• Sweetener. If you want to add a touch of sweetness, honey, agave nectar, or pure maple syrup work great.  However, if your strawberries are already pretty sweet, you may not need this! You can use granulated sugars or natural sweeteners.

How to Make a Strawberry Banana Smoothie?

Below, you’ll find the simple steps for making an easy strawberry banana smoothie recipe at home:

How to Freeze Strawberries

If you have a lot of fresh strawberries you can always freeze your own. Then use them to add to your smoothie later!

In order to prevent the strawberries from sticking together, follow these steps for freezing fresh strawberries:

1. Rinse and dry fresh strawberries. You don’t want extra moisture as it will cause them to stick!
2. Prepare the fruit. Remove the stems and if you want, cut into 1-inch pieces for recipes. You can also leave them whole once the stems are taken off.
3. Place fresh strawberries on a wax or parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze for at least 3-4 hours or up to overnight.
4. Store strawberries in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag. These can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Combine Ingredients

When making a smoothie recipe at home, there are a few ways you can blend it together. You need a high-powered blender. Here are the pros and cons of each method:

• High-speed individual blender such as a Nutribullet. This option makes for super easy clean-up, but is best for just 1-2 servings.
• Large high-speed blender such as a Vitamix. 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.

Add all of the smoothie ingredients to the bowl or pitcher. Be sure to place softer ingredients closer to the blades for the best results.

Blend It Up

Blend for 1-2 minutes. If the blades aren’t catching everything, you might need to add a little bit more milk.

Keep running the blender until you get the perfect smooth and creamy consistency. Use less liquid if you like a thick texture in your fruit smoothie.

Garnish and Serve

Serve with a sliced strawberry and a straw.

If you want to change up this strawberry smoothie recipe a little bit, you can also try these additions:

• Blueberries, pineapples, or mangoes. Fresh or frozen will both work great. If frozen, you may need to add more milk.
• Spinach. For added fiber and nutrients. While this will add a green color to your smoothie, it won’t change the taste.
• Nut butters. This boosts the flavor and the little extra fat will keep you full.
• Fish oil, oats, spices, or protein powder. Mix in anything else to add more flavor or nutrients.
• Chia seeds or flax seeds. Adds some extra health benefits, like fiber.
• Scoop of protein powder. It makes for a thicker smoothie and keeps you full for longer.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: 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. 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.
• To Store: Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free and vegetarian as written.  Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Whole30: Omit the sweetener altogether.
• Vegan: Make sure to use a plant-based milk and yogurt.
• Paleo: Avoid refined sugar. Also, use a plant-based milk and yogurt.

Are strawberry smoothies healthy?

Yes, strawberry banana smoothies are healthy! Both strawberries and bananas have beneficial nutrients, like calcium and vitamin C. And, by using healthier milk, yogurt, and sweetener options you can keep this smoothie lower in calories and sugar but still get that creamy texture. 

Learn more about how healthy smoothies are!

What does a strawberry banana smoothie contain?

Strawberry banana smoothies contain frozen strawberries, bananas, yogurt, milk and a sweetener. A strawberry banana smoothie typically has anywhere between 200-300 calories per 8-10 oz. serving. This particular recipe comes in at 244 calories per serving. It’s a great way to get in healthy nutrients and enjoy a delicious smoothie.

Do you need milk in a smoothie?

While you do need a liquid in a smoothie, you don’t have to use milk. The beauty of smoothies is how versatile they are. Depending on the flavor, you can use milk, orange juice, water, coffee, or anything else you have on hand.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Freeze fresh. 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.
• Meal prep. You can get everything together for this smoothie the night before, then throw it in the blender in the morning.
• 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 (if any) depends on how much natural sweetness your fruit and yogurt have. Sample the smoothie, then add a touch of honey or sweetener as needed.

Other Frozen Fruit Smoothies

Fruit smoothies can be an easy and healthy breakfast or a satisfying snack. These other flavors are so delicious.

A Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie, Peach Banana Smoothie, and Mixed Berry Smoothie are full of classic flavors the whole family will love.

Spinach Fruit Smoothie and Pineapple Coconut Smoothie are super refreshing.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is like dessert in a glass.