Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry banana smoothies are creamy, healthy, and delicious. They are made with fruits, thick Greek yogurt, and milk. You only need a few ingredients and a few minutes to make this naturally sweet and tasty snack that tastes like a sinful milkshake. It is the perfect drink after a workout, hanging out at the pool, or enjoying it at home watching television with the family. I will let you in on a few secrets and share with you many recipe variations, so you never run out of options.

If you are looking for a fresh and refreshing drink during a hot summer day, then this Homemade Strawberry Banana Smoothie is the perfect choice.You do not have to tell the kids it is healthy—they will not even notice! It tastes like a delicious shake you get at the ice cream store, but it is made of all healthy ingredients, so you do not have to feel guilty for giving it to them or for drinking one yourself.

I used to get these at my gym after a workout, but now I make my own because they are much cheaper, and I know exactly what is in them. I hate not knowing what is in the food I eat or drink. This recipe is just fruit, yogurt, and milk. I also like to add some vanilla extract and honey to mine for more flavor. If you use frozen fruit, it takes about five minutes to mix this up.

My kids love these, too. I let them make their own since they are so easy to whip. They always seem to like more of what they make themselves. Sometimes, I like to have one of these delicious smoothies with a healthy snack like veggies or fruits, or you can try this frozen yogurt bark made with just two ingredients.

Why you will love this recipe

• It is ready in minutes: You can make one of these smoothies in just five minutes.
• They are healthy: Do not feel guilty about indulging in this delicious treat.
• It is easy to make: You need only a few ingredients and a blender.
• They are kid-friendly: The kids can make them, and they love to eat them, too.

What you’ll need to make strawberry banana smoothie

Special items:

• High-speed blender – I use a Vitamix blender, but any blender will do.

The ingredients for strawberry banana smoothie

• Strawberries – My frozen strawberries are what I use.
• Banana – I prefer a fresh banana to sip my smoothie, but you can use a frozen one for thicker smoothies.
• Milk – For less fat, I prefer using 2% milk.
• Greek yogurt – I use strawberry flavor to add to the strawberry flavor.
• Vanilla – This is optional for extra flavor. 
• Honey – Optional if you want a sweeter smoothie.

How to make a strawberry banana smoothie?

1. Gather the ingredients: First, measure and add all the ingredients to your blender.
2. Pulse: Pulse to blend until smooth.
3. Adjust and serve: If it is too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more fruit or add ice. Then, serve it immediately.

Expert tip

Frozen or fresh fruit

Unless the frozen fruit has added sugars or preservatives, it is as good for you as the fresh stuff. Not only that, but it stays fresh longer. You can keep frozen strawberries and bananas for over a year, whereas fresh fruit lasts about a week to 10 days. To ensure you get the best fruit, buy your fresh fruit and freeze it yourself. Then, you know exactly what you are getting and how long it has been frozen.

Another reason why frozen fruit is a better deal is because it is so much cheaper. You can get frozen strawberries for half the price of fresh strawberries. And you only get the edible parts of the strawberries when you buy frozen, so you are getting a great bargain. Have you ever noticed how much of the strawberries you do not eat? The same goes for bananas. No peels. Just delicious frozen bananas.

Now, frozen fruit is almost a necessity for smoothies. Not only does it make your smoothies thick, but it also prevents you from having to add anything to them. When you add ice to them, they get watered down as they melt. And if you add oats or peanut butter, those are calories you do not need. So, frozen is better.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Other fruits: If you do not have strawberries or bananas, you can use something else or add more fruits like blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, and oranges.
• Add protein: To add protein to your smoothie, you can add a scoop of protein powder. Vanilla or strawberry flavor, I also like to add chocolate protein powder for a strawberry chocolate smoothie.
• Applesauce: Make your applesauce and add it to your smoothie for extra sweetness and thickness.
• No honey: You could use pure maple syrup instead of honey to make your smoothie sweeter.
• Other extracts: Try some different extract flavors like banana or strawberry to bring out more flavor.
• Different yogurt flavors: Another way to change the flavors a bit is to use a different kind of yogurt, like vanilla or lemon.
• Greens – if you are seeking more nutrients and vitamins, it is great to add some spinach, kale, celery, or other types of green to it. Also, it is a great way for kids to serve and enjoy the needed vitamins!
• Nut butter: Add more protein and fat to the smoothie by adding a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter.
• Non-dairy yogurt: there are plenty of non-dairy choices out there. Some of the most popular ones are soy, coconut, and almond-based yogurt and milk.
• Flaxseeds: They are great to use in this recipe as they work amazingly well to thicken the drink. Also, they are very healthy and packed with omega-3, proteins, and antioxidants.

Serving suggestions:

You can have these smoothies as a snack or an after-workout boost.

• These would go great with my healthy but delicious strawberry spinach salad with lemon, garlic, and vinegar dressing.
• Have a glass of this yummy drink with a slice of banana bread fresh from the oven.
• It is great as a post workout snack if you add some protein powder.
• Serve them for breakfast with these strawberry pancakes with cheesecake filling. 
• This is the perfect refreshing drink when BBQing in the backyard, or just relaxing by the pool.
• Pour it into a bowl, top it with sliced fruit, nut butter and granola, for a smoothie bowl.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need ice to make a smoothie?

Although I usually use ice in my smoothies, mostly when I use fresh fruit, you can make one without it. The trick is to use frozen fruit. You can buy bags of frozen fruit at the grocery store or freeze your own for better value and fewer preservatives. The more frozen fruit you use, the thicker the smoothie will be. In other words, you can use frozen strawberries and fresh bananas for a sippable smoothie and freeze everything for a spoonable smoothie.

How else can I thicken my smoothie?

There are other ways to make your strawberry banana smoothie thick if you do not have frozen fruit and do not want to use ice. For example, you can add chia seeds. These babies do not seem like they would make anything thick, but they are pretty amazing. They absorb liquid like little sponges and swell up into gel. And they taste great, too. Oats are another delicious way to thicken your smoothie. Just add a scoop and whip it.

Are strawberry banana smoothies good for you?

Strawberry banana smoothies can be very healthy if you add nothing unhealthy to them. In other words, keep the ingredients healthy. Bananas are full of potassium, fiber, vitamins B6 and C, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Strawberries have lots of vitamin C, fiber, polyphenols, and phytochemicals. Greek yogurt is low in calories and sugar and has vitamins A, B12, protein, riboflavin, and calcium.

What should you never put in your smoothie?

Because strawberry banana smoothies are supposed to be healthy, there are certain things you should not put in them. The first one is sugar. Of course. Strawberries and bananas are sweet enough. If not, add honey. Any flavored, high in sugar yogurt. Juice with added sugar is also not a good idea because most juices are full of sugar. If you do use juice, make sure it is unsweetened. Dried fruit is also not recommended. It is not as filling as fresh or frozen and typically has sugar added.

What is the right blender to use for homemade smoothies?

There are plenty of blenders out there, and all of them are great choices. It just depends on what additional functions you want. Some of our favorite picks broken by price are listed below:

Under $30: Hamilton Beach – this will serve you well for this price range.

Under $100: Ninja Blender– this is a great blender for the price with great reviews and good quality. 

Over $300: Vitamix – quite expensive but this is a professional-grade blender, so it has plenty of functions and options. If you plan on making smoothies often, then we suggest getting one, as it is one of the best. 

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: For the best results, your smoothies should be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Otherwise, keep them in an airtight container for up to 48 hours. Add some ice and put it in the blender to thicken it again.   
• Freezing: You could also freeze it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. It will stay fresh for up to two weeks. Be sure to put it back in the blender to get it ready to drink or eat again.    
• Defrost: You do not have to defrost it overnight. Take it out; it will be ready to drink after you pulse it in the blender.

More smoothie recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Use frozen fruit or ice to make your smoothie thicker.
• Another way to thicken your smoothie is to add chia seeds, oats, or nut butter.
• Do not use sugar, sugary yogurt, or dried fruit in your smoothie to keep it healthy.
• If you use juice, make sure it is unsweetened.