Here's how to make the very best banana smoothie recipe without yogurt! This easy banana smoothie is creamy, delicious, and tastes like a dairy-free milkshake, just like this thick strawberry banana smoothie!
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Ingredients needed
- Fresh bananas: Overripe bananas will make your smoothie sweeter. I personally like to use bananas with only a few brown spots. But It's also a great way to use up ripe bananas!
- Frozen bananas: You also need frozen bananas to make this smoothie have the best texture! If you don't have frozen bananas you can use more fresh bananas.
- Ice cubes: Mixing bananas with ice cubes for this smoothie makes it extra creamy and cold! This is key to making a creamy smoothie without yogurt.
- Milk: If you are dairy-free use almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
- Honey: I like to sweeten this smoothie slightly! If your bananas are quite ripe or have brown spots you will not need to add honey. If you are using yellow bananas that have a little green or no brown spots, I would add honey to bring out the flavor.
Optional Additions (customized this banana smoothie and make it deluxe):
- Creamy peanut butter or almond butter: High in protein and healthy fats! Almond butter banana smoothie? Yum!
- Cocoa powder: Adding some cocoa powder to make a chocolate banana blend - it will taste like a Wendy's frosty!
- Hemp hearts: With a bit of hemp hearts you will stay full longer and they will increase the healthy fats your body needs!
Most of the smoothies I make are without dairy. Try these other yogurt-free smoothie recipes like this red cherry raspberry smoothie, and this creamy mango smoothie!
What can you use instead of yogurt in a smoothie?
If you ran out of yogurt or do not eat yogurt, here's what you can do to adjust your smoothies. Instead of adding yogurt to smoothies, you can add more milk, thick canned coconut milk, apple sauce, fresh bananas, or ice to make it creamy.
Danika's nutrition insight on bananas
I always like to share my expertise in nutrition in these recipe posts, so let's chat about bananas! Browner bananas are sweeter and have a higher sugar content. If you are looking to balance your blood sugar levels use a less ripe banana (one with no brown spots).
Bananas contain potassium, selenium, magnesium, folate, vitamin C, B vitamins, and vitamin D.
Eating bananas can support people with ulcers, diarrhea, potassium deficiency, and high blood pressure.
This information was gathered from Prescription for Dietary Wellness by Phyllis A. Balch and Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford.
Have lots of ripe bananas?! Try this moist banana bread!
Instructions for a dairy-free banana smoothie
Follow these step-by-step photos from my kitchen to make your own healthy and thick banana smoothie without yogurt!
Freeze Bananas: If you don't have frozen bananas in your freezer, you want to start by slicing three bananas to freeze. Without frozen bananas, the smoothie will be really runny. * If you have a high quality or high powder blender you don't need to cut your bananas before freezing them.
Place the bananas in a plastic bag as a single layer, close the bag and place it in the freezer for 5 hours or overnight until fully frozen.
Once the sliced bananas are frozen: Place the two fresh bananas, milk, and honey (and any optional ingredients you are using) into the blender container.
*Placing soft ingredients in the blender first when possible is best practice (instead of placing frozen fruit right on the blades) and it will blend more easily.
Next place the 3 frozen bananas on top of the soft foods. Start with a handful of ice (about 1 cup) and add more if you want it thicker.
Start the blender on low and then increase to high speed for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Turn the dial back to low before stopping the blender, and scrape down the sides. If the blender is struggling or if you want a thinner smoothie add more milk.
Continue blending until smooth. Pour the creamy thick banana smoothie into glasses. This makes one large smoothie or two medium smoothies.
Recommended for smoothies
For a thick smoothie, a good blender is key! I use my Vitamix blender daily and think it is the number one purchase for making healthy food in the kitchen!
Other smoothies you may like
Here are all my favorite smoothie recipes! If you have more frozen bananas try my classic strawberry banana smoothie recipe!
Tell me what you think of this banana smoothie without yogurt!! Would you take 15 seconds to give a star rating and review just below the recipe? it would mean the world to me as this little food blog grows.
BEST Banana Smoothie (recipe without yogurt)
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 3 frozen bananas *note below if you don't have fresh bananas
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ - ½ cup milk
- 4 big ice cubes (about 1 cup)
Optional:
- 2 tablespoons nut butter
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 1 tablespoons cocoa powder
Instructions
- If you don't have frozen bananas: Start by slicing 3 bananas, placing them on a tray or in a bag as a single layer and freeze overnight or 5 hours until completely frozen.
- Make the smoothie: place the 2 fresh bananas, milk, and honey (and any optional ingredients you are using) into the blender container. Next place the 3 frozen bananas on top of the soft foods. Start with a handful of ice (about 1 cup) and add more if you want it thicker.
- Blend: Start the blender on low and then increase to high speed for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Turn the dial back to low before stopping the blender, and scrape down the sides. If the blender is struggling to blend or if you want a thinner smoothie add more milk. Blend until smooth.
- Spoon the smoothie into glasses. Enjoy right away! Keep the smoothie in the fridge if you aren't drinking it right away.
Notes
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- Add greens: Throw a handful of spinach in to increase the nutrient density of this smoothie! Or add 1 teaspoon of spirulina.
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- More protein: Add 1 big scoop of vanilla protein powder, or nut butter (almond butter or creamy peanut butter) for extra protein and healthy fats.
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- Cinnamon or chai concentrate: A pinch of cinnamon goes a long way and compliments the rich banana flavor! Or use chai concentrate instead of milk!
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- Add oats: To make this higher in protein, make this an oatmeal smoothie by adding ¼ cup of quick oats! Perfect to have as a filling on-the-go breakfast!
Nutrition
Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N
I create snack recipes with healthy ingredients that are mostly already in your kitchen. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and I care about giving my kids real food. Let me share my nutrient-dense easy snacks with you.
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