Name: Simple Banana Smoothie Recipe (without Yogurt)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 medium banana, fresh or frozen; 1 cup 2% milk, or non-dairy milk of choice; 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

This thick and creamy banana smoothie is easy to make with only four simple ingredients. You can also customize it with different fruits, sweeteners, and mix-ins.

It’s the perfect choice for a satisfying, healthy breakfast or snack in minutes.

When you’re craving an indulgent banana smoothie but out of yogurt or can’t include it in your diet, fear not!

This recipe offers a solution to satisfy your craving for a thick, creamy, flavorful banana smoothie without yogurt.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity.

With just four ingredients, it serves as a blank canvas for you to add more fresh or frozen fruits, a handful of berries, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, warming spices, and so on to make a banana smoothie that is uniquely yours.

The best part?

You can whip it up in minutes, ensuring that creamy banana goodness is always within reach even when yogurt isn’t!!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Here are four reasons why this delicious smoothie recipe is a keeper:

Only 4-ingredients. The result is a thick, velvety smoothie despite being made with only four ingredients and no yogurt.
No added sugar. Vanilla and cinnamon emphasize the sweetness of fresh or frozen bananas, so it’s super satisfying without the need for extra sugar.
It can be made dairy-free. You can use your favorite plant-based milk to make a dairy-free and vegan version.
Versatile. It’s a great choice whether you’re rushing out the door in the morning, needing a quick and satisfying snack, or seeking a nutritious sweet treat.

Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this healthy smoothie recipe:

Here’s a brief overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make a simple banana smoothie without yogurt:

Bananas – Bananas are a quick and convenient way to make a sweet, creamy smoothie loaded with potassium and dietary fiber. Use ripe bananas, but not overripe, as they are too sweet and won’t result in a creamy consistency.
Milk – Whole milk has a higher fat content, which makes smoothies more decadent and indulgent, but you can also use 1%, 2%, or skim milk. Or a non-dairy alternative, like almond, cashew, oat, or coconut milk. Just know that the consistency might not be the same.
Vanilla extract – To enhance flavor, please only use pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste. No fake stuff!
Cinnamon – Cinnamon adds a warm, spiced flavor that works well with bananas’ natural sweetness. A little goes a long way, so start with a small pinch of cinnamon and add more to taste.

How to Make a Banana Smoothie Without Yogurt

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to make the best yogurt-free banana smoothie:

Gather the ingredients: Place fresh or frozen bananas in a food processor or blender, along with the milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Blend and enjoy: Pulse the ingredients a few times, then blend until smooth and creamy. Pour the banana smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make this simple smoothie:

Fresh vs. frozen bananas. You can make this with fresh or frozen bananas. However, I recommend using frozen if you love thick, ice-cold smoothies. Frozen fruit is also easier to blend into a smoother, luscious consistency.
Freeze bananas overnight. If you want a creamier texture, peel, slice, and freeze the banana the night before for a refreshing smoothie in the morning.
Add ice cubes. Adding a handful of ice cubes can also help achieve a thick, ice-cold consistency. This works best if you have a high-power blender.
Adjust sweetness to taste. Vanilla and cinnamon intensify the banana’s natural sweetness, so you don’t have to add more sweetener. However, you can add honey or maple syrup to taste if you want a sweeter smoothie.

Variations

Now it’s your turn!

Here’s a list of ways to refine this banana smoothie recipe to your tastes and dietary preferences:

Add protein powder. For a filling breakfast smoothie, add a tablespoon of vanilla protein powder to boost the protein content. In this case, adding less banana is best, or your smoothie may turn out too thick.
Boost the nutrients. Add chia seeds, ground flax seeds, cacao nibs, shredded coconut, or toasted coconut flakes to make this smoothie more nutrient-dense and filling. Or, top it with a dollop of creamy almond or cashew butter.
Add other fruits. If you want more flavor and nutrients, toss in fresh or frozen fruits like mango, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Add leafy greens. To make a green smoothie, add spinach or kale. The banana will overpower the flavor of the greens, and you will get an extra nutritious banana smoothie.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Transfer the leftover smoothie to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, giving it a good stir before enjoying it again.

Freezing: Pour the smoothie into an airtight container, leaving some space at the top for expansion, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge and reblend to restore the creamy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few related questions about making a banana smoothie:

How do you thicken a banana smoothie without yogurt?

You really don’t need yogurt to make a thick banana smoothie. A simple blend of frozen banana and milk makes the ideal thick and creamy smoothie.

You can also incorporate frozen fruits like berries, mango, or pineapple or ingredients like avocado, nut butter, silken tofu, chia seeds, or oats for thickness.

How do I make this a chocolate banana smoothie?

Add a tablespoon of raw cacao powder, cocoa powder, or chocolate protein powder to upgrade your banana smoothie with rich chocolate flavor.

You can also use chocolate syrup or chocolate chips if the added sugar is okay,

More Healthy Drink Recipes

Here are a few more recipes for you to try:

Simple Banana Smoothie Recipe (without Yogurt)

Yield: 2 smoothies

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Homemade smoothies are easy to make using fresh ingredients. You can whip up this delicious banana smoothie in just a few minutes.

Ingredients

1 1/2 medium banana, fresh or frozen
1 cup 2% milk, or non-dairy milk of choice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

Place bananas, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon into a food processor or blender.
Pulse a few times, then puree until smooth.

Notes

You can use either fresh or frozen bananas for this smoothie. However, if you love thick, cold smoothies, I recommend using frozen bananas. Frozen fruit is also easier to puree into a smooth consistency.

Nutrition Information

Yield 2 Serving Size 1/2 of recipe
Amount Per Serving Calories 140Total Fat 2.7gSaturated Fat 1.6gTrans Fat 0.1gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 9.8mgSodium 58mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2.5gSugar 17gProtein 5g

Nutrition facts provided on this website are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a qualified health care provider for personalized diet advice and make sure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.