Chocolate Banana Smoothie (Creamy & Delicious)

What’s not to love about a 5-ingredient healthy smoothie recipe that also tastes a lot like a Wendy’s frosty? Make this chocolate banana smoothie for breakfast or a post-workout snack.  

This deceptively simple healthy chocolate banana smoothie is surprisingly delicious! As a chocolate-lover, I find myself making this one often. Using frozen bananas is key because it makes this smoothie extra thick and frosty.

Honestly, it reminds me of Wendy’s chocolate frosty (and who doesn’t love those!).

To make this smoothie more filling, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder. I had vanilla on hand, but you can also use chocolate protein powder for an extra chocolatey smoothie.

Be sure to also check out the suggested variations for ideas on how to customize this smoothie with new flavor combos. Personally, I’m a big fan of the coffee version. 

If you want more even more ideas, check out my full list of healthy smoothie recipes. It’s filled with delicious and creative smoothies that are super easy to make and perfect for busy mornings.

Ingredients for Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Use these simple ingredients packed with nutritional value to make this delicious chocolate banana smoothie recipe that is gluten free and easily adaptable to vegan or dairy free diets.

• Banana: you’ll want to freeze a few bananas in advance so you can make this banana smoothie. Although you can use fresh bananas, you’ll get that delicious thick and frosty consistency by using frozen bananas. Ripe bananas are sweetest, so use those if you can. Remember, even though fruit has natural sugar, bananas will not make you fat!
• Milk: feel free to use your milk of choice (dairy milk or dairy-free options like oat milk, cashew milk, almond milk, soy milk) all work well. If using a plant-based milk, use an unsweetened one. I often use unsweetened almond milk. 
• Yogurt: to get more protein, calcium, and gut-loving probiotics, add some yogurt to this smoothie. I like to use plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt for creaminess. Unsweetened vanilla yogurt is also delicious. Use a non-dairy yogurt if making a vegan/dairy free smoothie.
• Cocoa Powder: this adds the chocolate flavor to the smoothie – just make sure to reach for an unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also use cacao powder. 
• Protein Powder: add filling protein to this smoothie by mixing in your favorite protein powder. Use either a vanilla or chocolate protein powder. If you want a vegan version of this smoothie, make it with a plant-based protein powder rather than one that contains whey. 

Variations

Add Peanut Butter: chocolate and peanut butter are a great pair. Add in 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter to your smoothie before blending or do 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter powder like PB2 to make a chocolate peanut butter smoothie. Almond butter is a delicious option too.

Add Some Veggies: sneak in a serving of vegetables into your smoothie by adding up to ½ cup of frozen riced cauliflower. I know it sounds a bit odd, but I actually love adding frozen cauliflower to smoothies! I promise, you can’t taste it and it doesn’t change the color of the smoothie like spinach or kale does. (Although, you could add a handful of greens too if you’d prefer.)

Sweeten It up: if you like a sweeter smoothie you may want to add a pitted medjool date or a tablespoon of maple syrup, honey, agave nectar or other sweetener or choice.

Add Coffee: make it a mocha smoothie by adding a couple teaspoons of espresso powder or using ¼ cup of coffee and just ½ cup of milk for the liquids in the smoothie. If you love coffee, you might like this healthy coffee smoothie!

Add Healthy Fats and Fiber: one of my favorite ways to give my smoothie a boost of fiber (we could all use more!) and healthy fats is to add a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. 

How to Make a Chocolate Banana Smoothie

This healthy chocolate banana smoothie is simple to put together in a few steps.

Prep: Add all of your smoothie ingredients ( frozen banana, milk, yogurt, protein powder, cocoa powder) to a high powered blender. 

Blend: Start on low speed and gradually increase speed as the ingredients start to mix. Puree until smooth. 

Enjoy: Pour this delicious smoothie into a glass and enjoy! You could also serve it as a smoothie bowl with sliced banana, peanut butter, and/or granola. 

Can I Use Fresh Bananas for this Smoothie?

Yes, you can use fresh bananas for this smoothie, but for a thick milkshake texture you’ll get the best results using frozen bananas. If you want, you can add a handful of ice cubes to help thicken and chill the smoothie. 

Are Chocolate Smoothies Healthy?

Yes, chocolate smoothie recipes like this one can be incorporated into a healthy diet. Bananas are a great source of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber while the cocoa powder provides tons of antioxidants.

Including protein powder (or even a tablespoon of nut butter) helps stabilize your blood sugars. Yogurt makes this smoothie extra creamy and provides some probiotics – which support a healthier gut microbiome.