Orange Banana Smoothie

Embrace summer with this bright and creamy orange banana smoothie! It’s only 5 ingredients with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Perfect for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack.

Why You’ll Love it:

This orange juice and banana smoothie is a match made in citrus heaven! It’s bright and zippy from the orange, yet sweet and creamy from the banana and yogurt.

• Protein – It boasts 10 grams of filling protein! Add a scoop of protein powder for even more.
• Antioxidants – Oranges and their juice are full of immune boosting flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C!
• Refreshing – Refreshingly sweet and summery!

It only takes 5 minutes to make AND it’s a great way to use up bananas before they go bad. Don’t toss your bananas! Peel them, transfer them to a Ziploc bag, and freeze them for smoothies instead.

Key Ingredients:

• Frozen banana – My frozen banana was on the larger side. If your bananas are small, use 1 1/2. Don’t forget to freeze a banana the night before. Just peel it, cut it in half, and transfer to a Ziploc bag. It should be ripe and sweet!
• Mandarin orange – A mandarin orange adds tangy sweetness. Mandarins boast an impressive amount of vitamin C which is beneficial for your skin and immune system.
• Greek yogurt – I used plain nonfat Greek yogurt. For a sweeter smoothie, use vanilla Greek yogurt. Both add high-quality protein and creaminess.
• Orange juice – For a boost of orange flavor! For the best flavor and nutrients, use fresh squeezed juice and not from concentrate.
• Honey – To tame the tang a little. Feel free to add as much or little as you like.

How to Make an Orange Banana Smoothie:

It’s super simple! Here’s what you need to do:

• Combine ingredients: Combine all the ingredients in your blender. I always start with the soft ingredients and end with the frozen. It gives the blades something to catch. The liquid can go in anytime.
• Blend: Start your blender on low, then gradually increase the speed. Blend until smooth.

• Adjust: Check your smoothie for sweetness and consistency. For a thicker smoothie, add a handful of ice or more frozen banana chunks.
• Serve: Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

Expert Tips:

• Bananas greatly vary in size! For a thicker smoothie, use more frozen banana. I used one large banana. If your bananas are small, increase the amount to 1 1/2.
• For a frostier texture, add ice. I prefer a smooth texture so I don’t use ice. If you prefer an icy texture, add 1/2 cup of ice cubes.
• Consistency is a personal preference and it’s easy to adjust. For a thicker smoothie, use more frozen banana or less liquid. For a thinner smoothie, use more liquid or fresh banana.

Substitutions & Variations:

• Dairy-free & vegan: Swap the Greek yogurt with a vegan substitute. Swap the honey with maple syrup.
• Protein: Add 2 tablespoons of vanilla protein powder for a boost of protein. Or for a boost of plant-based protein, add 1 tablespoon of hemp hearts.
• Orange: If you swap the mandarin with a larger orange, decrease the amount of orange juice. Otherwise the smoothie will be too thin.

Storage:

Smoothies are best enjoyed right away! I always make my smoothies fresh, especially since they only take 5 minutes to make.

If you want to store it, you can make it into smoothie popsicles! Pour it into smoothie molds, add popsicle sticks, and freeze overnight.

FAQs:

More Smoothie Recipes:

• Tropical Carrot Banana Smoothie
• Tropical Smoothie Sunrise Sunset Recipe
• Cold Fighting Smoothie
• Clear Skin Smoothie