This Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie tastes a milkshake, but it’s made without any added sugar. The ratio of ingredients below gives you the perfect texture every time!
Why You’ll Love It
It tastes like dessert. If you’re trying to cut back on added sugar, but you want to enjoy something sweet, this smoothie recipe is the perfect solution. It’s filling enough to make for breakfast, or you can split it for an easy snack.
It’s easy to customize. You only need 5 simple ingredients for this recipe, but you can easily make changes to use up what you have on hand. Try adding protein powder or Greek yogurt for extra protein, or switch up the flavor by adding in cocoa powder or a different nut butter.
It has the texture of a milkshake. Using frozen banana is key to this recipe, as it gives the smoothie an ice cream like texture. You also won’t want to add more liquid than the recipe calls for, in order to keep it thick & slushy!
It’s nourishing. Bananas are a great source of fiber and potassium, which may help to promote heart health. Paired with peanut butter and ground flax seeds, this smoothie packs extra protein and omega-3 fatty acids in each sip.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For a simple smoothie, all you need is frozen bananas (yes, frozen is key!), peanut butter, and a little liquid to help facilitate blending. Be sure to freeze ripe bananas, with plenty of brown spots on their skin, to achieve a sweet flavor in this recipe.
The ground flax seeds add filling fiber and help the shake thicken up even more, but you can omit them if you don’t keep ground flax on hand. Chia seeds or rolled oats would also make an excellent add-in for thickening purposes.
Not a fan of peanut butter? Feel free to use cashew butter, almond butter, or even sunflower seed butter as an easy swap.
How to Make a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
1. Prep the ingredients.
You’ll have an easier time blending the smoothie if you take the time to slice the frozen banana into 1/2-inch coins, or bite-sized pieces first.
Tips for freezing bananas: I tend to freeze bananas whole (just peel them and pop into an airtight container in the freezer overnight) for easy measuring.
Alternatively, you can slice them into coins and then freeze them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, if you find that method easier. You’ll need to transfer the frozen pieces to an airtight container later, to help preserve their flavor.
2. Blend.
Add the frozen banana slices, peanut butter, ground flax seeds, vanilla extract, and almond milk to a blender. Secure the lid and blend until the banana is totally broken down, about 60 seconds.
Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender, as needed, to help keep everything blending smoothly. If you need to add an extra splash of water or milk, you can do that just 1 tablespoon at a time, so the smoothie doesn’t become too runny in texture.
3. Add ice. (Optional)
For a thicker smoothie texture, you can add a handful of ice to the blended smoothie. Secure the lid and blend again, until the ice is totally pulverized, with no visible chunks remaining.
Keep in mind that adding ice will dilute the flavor slightly, so don’t add too much at once! You can always keep adding more, if needed. This is a good option, if you prefer to enjoy your smoothie with a spoon, rather than sipping it through a straw.
4. Enjoy!
Serve this creamy peanut butter banana smoothie right away, for the best flavor and texture.
Have leftovers? Leftover smoothie can be poured into an ice pop mold and stored in the freezer, if you want a frozen treat for later. Or, you can store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours, if you don’t mind a more runny texture later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, of course! You can use any non-dairy milk like oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or even just plain water for blending this smoothie. (Regular milk works, too, if you don’t need a dairy-free recipe.) The combination of peanut butter and frozen banana provides a creamy texture, so the liquid isn’t a big deal in this case.
Feel free to add in a big handful of spinach to this smoothie, if you don’t mind it having a green hue. The spinach won’t affect the peanut butter smoothie flavor, so it’s a great way to get more leafy greens into your life. (If you prefer to use kale, try my Tropical Kale Smoothie, instead.)
Check out my chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie, for another variation.
You can add a squeeze of honey (but it’s not vegan, FYI), a splash of maple syrup, or a pitted date to this recipe, for a sweeter flavor.
Looking for more smoothie variations? Try my favorite PB&J Smoothie, Flax Seed Smoothie, or Oatmeal Smoothie for more ideas.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond milk (or water)
- 1 frozen banana , cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Handful of ice (optional; to thicken)
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, frozen banana, peanut butter, flax seeds, and vanilla. Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the blender as needed.
- At this point you can make adjustments, adding an extra tablespoon of water or milk if the smoothie isn't blending well, or you can add a handful of ice cubes to help it thicken up into more of a slushy texture. Just keep in mind that additions will dilute the flavor slightly, so keep them to a minimum. You can also add a squeeze of honey, or a splash of maple syrup, for extra sweetness.
- Once the smoothie is blended, it's ready to serve right away for the best taste and texture. Top with extra sliced banana or a drizzle of peanut butter, if you'd like.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this peanut butter banana smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
I saw that you posted this today and made it right away. Wow, it really is like a milkshake! So good, and guilt-free without the added sugar. Yum!!
I love your smoothie combinations. Your ratios are always spot-on! I thought 1/2 cup of liquid might not be enough for this smoothie, but it was perfect. (And my frozen banana was even pretty big!)
I make this smoothie with PB2 powder instead of peanut butter and it’s just as smooth and creamy minus the fat and calories. I also add spinach and use it as a meal on the go for busy days. Just found your blog and I’m loving all your content.
Thanks for letting me know! Hope you’ll enjoy more recipes soon. 🙂
How much powder did you use?
I did the same thing and just used the equivalent to what the recipe calls for! Came out so delicious!
I did the same thing as well! It was delicious. Added some cinnamon 😋
Love your peanut butter shake recipe. I can not do flax seed (or chia seeds). What else would you recommend? Thank you.
It’s not necessary for the flavor, so you can leave it out or you could try an extra spoonful of peanut butter or a little avocado for creaminess.
Love this smoothie!
Delicious!!! I love it! Thank you!
This is perfect as written! I want to drink it every day for the rest of my life 🙂
Loved this! I blended with unsweetened almond Malk & it turned out so creamy!
Yummy!
Delish! I used 12 oz of unsweetened almond milk & added non-flavored protein powder. Soo tasty – I love it!
I tried this smoothie and it was delicious and satisfying. I substituted coconut 🥥 almond milk 🥛 and I liked it. Is this substitution ok to achieve the goal we are working toward?
My daughter has a severe peanut allergy. Is there another butter we could try such as almond or cashew? I’m not sure how much it will affect the taste, but she loves smoothies. I would hate to chance it with peanut butter.
Yes, almond butter or cashew butter should work great! I would prefer the cashew flavor, I think. Make sure you check the label on the back of the jar to make sure the nut butter you use isn’t processed in a facility with peanuts, just to be on the safe side.
This is probably my favorite flavour combo ever!! I agree, this peanut butter chocolate smoothie DOES taste like a milkshake! When I’m craving iced cream this is my go to smoothie!
Mmm! Just tried it and it’s the flavor I’m looking for!!
Can this smoothie be made with normal skimmed milk? Also, if we are adding milk, can we add spinach leaves also?
Yes, I don’t see why not! I add spinach to almost all of my smoothies, too. 🙂
The best!
JUst made this as written, yum!
The only thing I did differently is add Hemp protein powder. Everything else, I followed exactly as it is. This smoothie combination is delicious!!!
Took me literally no time to make this and it’s sooo good!
Easy and yummy
I drink this recipe for breakfast every morning…and for a little Kickstart I also add 2-3 teaspoons of Caramel syrup😊 but even without the caramel it’s still delicious😊
One word. Delicious!
This is my favorite smoothie by far!!!! I didn’t have flaxseeds so I used a tablespoon of oats instead. I was also curious about adding kale. Amazingly delicious, thank you!!!
added some greek yogurt and honey-love pb smoothies-thanks!
Did you use the yogurt as a replacement for the water?
loved it. I didn’t have flax but added organic cacao and collagen…it was a great lunch!!! Thanks
This is delicious. It is going to be a regular in my breakfast routine. It was very tasty, hearty and kept me full up to lunch time. Yum!!! 🙂
Oh my yummy stars! I used almond milk and pb2 (2tbsp)and it’s just perfect. Maybe I would use 2 1/3 cups of almond milk just to make it a little less think. I also may try 1 tbsp pb2 and 1tbsp cocoa powder to make it a Reese’s!
Very good. I doubled the recipe and used homemade almond butter instead of peanut butter. Super simple recipe and I love when I have all the ingredients in my kitchen.
i know that adding honey means adding sugar but it just makes it 10x better!
Perfect ratios. Neither the banana nor the PB overpowers. I recently got my blender and this is the first smoothie that came out just right. Can’t wait to make it again tomorrow! Thank you!
Delicious! I added soaked chia seeds instead of flax and was amazing! Thank you for all these wonderful recipes!
Can this shake be refrigerated for a couple of days?
Deeeelicious! Definitely something I would make again!
Best Peanut Butter Smoothie I EVER made(and uneven firgitvthe vanilla)! Measurements are perfect!!
I love PB and Banana. I used 1 cup of spinach and you can’t even tell (other than a lovely bright green color).
Another BIG THUMS UP Megan 👍 I used PB2 w/cocoa and replaced flax seeds with hemp hearts. It turned out so creamy and yummy 😋 QUESTION: Are the nutrition facts based on using water or dairy milk substitute?
Good question. I’d like to know that too.
Ratios were perfect! I added hemp hearts and a little bit of plain yogurt and it was excellent!
Definetly making again
Delicious. I make it with evaporated milk (low sugar) and always add 3or 4 pounces of green vegetables(does not change taste).
I love to use PB2 powdered peanutbutter, some chocolate protein powder and kale. Add a little sweetener if using unsweetened almond milk. It makes a just delish smoothie.
Absolutely delicious!
Okay was a huge fan of this! I added some protein powder to it and it totally masked the taste. Love love love, this recipe thank you!
Delicious. I haven’t added Flax seeds as yet, but I’m gonna try. Thank you!
soo good we added vanilla ice cream and it was to die for
This was unexpectedly good! I did add just a little ice and spinach, as you suggested. Couldn’t taste the spinach at all. Thanks for the yummy new-to-me smoothie recipe!
Very creamy – really is like icecream.
I substituted chia seeds for flax seeds and added and added an extra teaspoon of peanut butter because I’m a big peanut butter fan and wanted a little extra flavor. Will make again!
Delicious!!!!
Wow this is absolutely delicious and the ground flax gives it a milkshake-like consistency. I didn’t feel like a big lunch today so tried this and loved it! This will be my go-to smoothie!
The most delicious smoothie! I used coconut milk for mine and it tasted great. I added some vanilla protein which thickened it up a lot. I just kept adding in coconut milk until it was the right consistency.
Loved It, was always hesitant to try peanut butter smoothie. But turned out great!!
Thank you for posting! I’ve only had peanut butter and banana milkshakes, I will give this a try!