Blueberry Banana Smoothie

This healthy Blueberry Banana Smoothie tastes incredible, fills you up, and makes a perfect snack or on-the-go breakfast option. It's refreshing, delicious, and packed with protein. 

I just love a good smoothie. They are tasty, packed with fruits and veggies, and refreshing on a hot day.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite blueberry banana smoothie recipe. It's so good! It's creamy and nutritious, and no one will ever guess it's made with spinach. 

Not only is it packed with flavor, but it’s also loaded with essential nutrients from fresh or frozen blueberries, bananas, chia seeds, spinach, and almond. milk

You can feel good about drinking this smoothie any time of the day. Smoothie lovers also won't want to miss this Green Smoothie and Banana Berry Protein Smoothie.

Why We Love this Blueberry Banana Smoothie

There are so many things to love about this smoothie.

• Naturally sweet without needing to add honey, maple syrups, or artificial sweeteners
• Made with just 5 ingredients, but easy to customize and change to fit your tastes
• Healthy and nutritious from bananas, blueberries, spinach, and chia seeds

Ingredients, Substitutions, and Extras

Here’s what you’ll need to make this tongue-tingling nutrition-packed smoothie at home:

• Unsweetened almond milk: Every smoothie needs some sort of liquid in order to blend correctly. I used unsweetened almond milk to give this smoothie a slightly creamy and nutty flavor. You can adjust the amount I used slightly depending on how thick or runny you prefer your smoothies to be. Swap in any regular or alternative milk including coconut milk, oat milk, and dairy milk.
• Spinach: Spinach is my favorite green to put into smoothies because it’s packed with nutrition, yet its mild flavor doesn’t change the flavor profile of the recipe. That makes it perfect to use in smoothies for kids! Swap in kale if you prefer or leave it out. 
• Banana: Bananas are one of my favorite fruits to add to smoothies. They help thicken it up, sweeten it naturally, and lend a terrific flavor that pairs well with almost any other fruit combination. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the smoothie.
• Frozen blueberries: As the primary fruit in this smoothie recipe, blueberries provide a delicious flavor and antioxidants. Not to mention that beautiful blue/purple color! I always have frozen blueberries on hand for smoothies which is a great way to make this smoothie all year long.
• Chia seeds: Chia seeds are chock full of nutrients including antioxidants, omega-3 fats, and fiber. You don’t need to grind them up to get their benefits; simply toss them into your smoothie when you blend everything together.

Extras

If you wan to make this smoothie extra nutritious and healthy, add any or all of the ingredients below. 

• Avocado: Gives this smoothie a decadent, rich creaminess while also adding in some healthy fats. This is completely optional but it makes for a super creamy smoothie and you can't taste it at all. 
• Almond butter: I like to add almond butter for a punch of protein and a delicious nutty flavor. This is totally optional but makes the smoothie more filling.
• Spices: Cinnamon and ground ginger add depth to this flavor profile. These are also optional but add so much flavor. Fresh ginger is also delicious. 

Note: For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this smoothie recipe, check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Tips and Ideas

Here are a few tips to help your smoothie come out perfectly every time as well as a few ideas on how to add variety to your smoothie.

• Add sweetness: If you like a sweeter smoothie, add some honey, Medjool dates, or maple syrup to this smoothie.
• Add yogurt: If you want a thicker smoothie, add some Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt can be a bit tart, so if that bothers you, simply add a dash of vanilla and some honey or agave.
• More fruit: Try this smoothie with all kinds of berries including strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. It's also delicious with mango, pineapple, cherries, or peaches. 
• More nutrition: Add in flax seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, or pumpkin seeds for more nutrients.
• Try different kinds of milk: You don’t have almond milk, you can substitute any type of milk (dairy or non-dairy). This smoothie is delicious with water or coconut water as well. 
• Add oatmeal: Add ¼ cup of oats in the blender for a thicker, even more filling like an oatmeal smoothie.
• Add toppings: A spoonful of nuts, seeds, or granola to the top of your smoothie can make it feel fresh and new.
• Make a smoothie bowl: Turn your smoothie into a smoothie bowl by pouring your smoothie into a bowl and adding some fresh banana slices or granola on top.

What To Serve With A Smoothie

A good smoothie can go with almost anything! Here are a few lip-smackingly delicious ideas.

• Eggs: Egg dishes such as Broccoli Parmesan Baked Oven Omelet, Ham and Cheese Egg Muffins, or Quinoa Egg Muffins are a healthy complimentary dish.
• Oatmeal: Baked Blueberry Buttermilk Oatmeal pairs perfectly with this blueberry banana smoothie. Blueberries all day!
• Muffins: Muffins like Banana Quinoa Chia Muffins and Zucchini Carrot Muffins and smoothies make a terrific on-the-go meal.
• Pancakes: And of course, you can never go wrong with smoothies and pancakes (or waffles) such as Flaxseed Meal Pancakes (Low Carb), Healthy Greek Yogurt Pancakes, or Protein-Packed Oat Waffles.

Tips for Making Smoothies

Although smoothies are relatively easy to make, these tips ensure that your homemade smoothies come out delicious every time. 

• Use the right blender and start slow: High-speed blenders (like Vitamix, Blendtec, and Ninja blenders) all work really well for smoothies. Start with the blender on a slow speed and then turn up as it begins to blend for best results.
• Blend tougher ingredients first: One trick for a really creamy smoothie is to start by blending tougher ingredients like greens, vegetables, seeds, or oats. Once those have broke down, add the softer ingredients. 
• Use the right amount of liquid: If your blender is struggling, there probably isn't enough liquid. Try adding some additional milk or water to help things blend.
• Use frozen fruit: Fruit is usually frozen at the height of the season so it is almost always sweet and full of flavor. It also means you don't need to add any ice to the blender and water down the flavor. Although fresh and frozen fruit will work, we almost always use frozen. 

Smoothie Bag Prep and Storage

There are two easy ways to make this smoothie in advance:

• Make smoothie bags: Add all of the ingredients (except the milk) to a small freezer-safe bag or container. When you are ready to make it, dump the contents of the bag into the blender and add the milk. Blend until smooth and creamy.
• Leftover smoothies: If you have leftover smoothie, you can place it in the fridge. It will tend to melt and get runnier the longer it is stored. However, the flavor profile will still remain the same. To revive the smoothie, you can put it in the freezer for a few minutes to thicken it back up. Or my favorite way to “fix” a runny smoothie is to put it back in the blender with some ice cubes.