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, it 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.

Ingredients

Making smoothies at home is super simple and normally only requires a few basic ingredients. Common choices include fruit, milk or juice, and a sweetener, if needed.

The ingredients we will be using include:

• 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.
• Bananas – If using frozen strawberries, it’s best if you use room temperature bananas. 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.
• Milk – Almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and soy milk will all work equally as well in this recipe.
• Honey – 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!

How to Make

These are the few simple steps for how to make a strawberry banana smoothie at home:

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 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.

Nutrition and Calories

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.

This strawberry banana smoothie is not necessarily low in sugar or carbohydrates. However, it does boost tons of nutritional benefits such as loads of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, and probiotics.

If you would like to lower the calories, carbohydrates, and sugar, opt for a lower-calorie milk such as almond milk. Also, leave out the sweetener or replace it with a non-nutritive sweetener such as Stevia extract.

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 when frozen, you can follow these steps for freezing fresh strawberries:

How to Freeze Strawberries

1. Rinse and dry fresh strawberries. You don’t want extra moisture, 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.

Different Variations

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.

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.

FAQs

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 (if any) depends on how sweet your fruit and yogurt is. Sample the smoothie then add the sweetener as needed to taste.

Other Frozen Fruit Smoothies

• Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie
• Peach Banana Smoothie
• Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Tropical Green Smoothie
• Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie