This Banana Protein Shake recipe is made with clean, nourishing ingredients like banana, natural protein powder, milk and honey. It makes an ideal breakfast smoothie or post-workout shake, because it is energizing, refined sugar-free and super easy to make. Learn how to make a healthy homemade protein shake with this quick and simple recipe!
You are going to love this banana protein smoothie recipe, because it is so easy to make and is made entirely with nutritious ingredients. It makes a fast, portable breakfast that will kick-start your day and will keep you feeling full all morning. It is also an ideal post-workout shake that will refuel your energy and help your muscles to heal after exercising.
Does a Banana Go Well in a Protein Shake?
Absolutely! Bananas are a great source of energy for the body and are perfect for eating before or after a workout. Bananas also add a good dose of potassium and dietary fiber to a protein shake. In addition, the mild flavor of a banana pairs well with any flavor protein powder.
Are Protein Shakes Good For You?
Yes! Protein shakes are an excellent choice for breakfast, a snack, or meal replacement. All adults require between 46-56 grams of protein each day (source). Protein shakes are an effortless way to meet that need. In my opinion, the best protein shake recipes rely on protein powder to provide protein. Protein powder has many benefits, including the following:
- Aids with weight loss
- Repairs muscles from exercise
- Functions as a appetite suppressant
- Boosts metabolism
- Helps build muscle and strength
You can use a plant-based protein powder (pea, chia, or brown rice) or an animal protein powder (whey, casein, or collagen), depending on your preferences. Just make sure the protein powder you use is free from additives, artificial sweeteners, and fillers. Lastly, always remember that organic is best.
Is it Better to Drink a Protein Shake Before or After a Workout?
Many studies show that protein helps your muscles to repair and rebuild after exercise. For that reason, many people drink protein shakes after their workouts to aid this process.
Interestingly, new research suggests that how much protein you consume per day is of more importance than the time you consume it, in order to gain muscle mass (source). For that reason, you can choose which time you prefer or is most convenient for you. Personally, I always drink have a protein shake after a good workout.
Are Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?
Yes! As long as protein shakes are made with clean, junk-free ingredients, they are great for weight loss. Protein shakes are a rich source of protein (hence the name) and protein is an important nutrient for weight loss. As I stated earlier, getting an adequate amount of protein in your diet reduces your appetite and boosts your metabolism. Consuming a healthy dose of protein daily also helps you lose body fat without losing muscle.
Banana Protein Shake Ingredients
Alright, so let’s talk ingredients. To make this banana protein smoothie recipe, you will need:
- Protein Powder: This boosts the protein content of your smoothie immensely. If you can, use an organic and natural protein powder that contains no additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. I love and use this one from Thrive Market.
- Banana: This gives your smoothie a rich and creamy consistency. It is also a great source of potassium and dietary fiber.
- Milk: This serves as the liquid base for the smoothie. I usually use low-fat dairy milk.
- Honey: This adds natural and unrefined sweetness. Not all packaged honey is created equal, so I recommend using one that is 100% pure, raw, and unfiltered for optimal health benefits. I use this one from Thrive Market.
- Ice: This helps thicken the shake. Although, if I don’t have any ice in the freezer, I just make my protein shake without it.
The ingredients I’ve linked to above can be ordered from Thrive Market, which is an impressive online store that sells healthy, organic food and natural products at 25-50% below retail prices. I like to think of it like Amazon (online retailer) meets Costco (low, wholesale prices) meets Whole Foods (all nutritious, junk-free foods).
If you want to purchase anything from them, you will need to sign up for a Thrive Market membership. However, if you’re a reader of my website, you will get an exclusive bonus when you join:
How to Make a Banana Protein Shake
To make this homemade banana protein shake recipe, simply:
- Add all of the ingredients – milk, banana, ice, honey, and protein powder – to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and serve it right away.
That’s it! A smoothie is quite possibly the easiest healthy meal to make at home. 🙂
How to Make this Recipe with Vanilla Protein Powder
If you want to use vanilla protein powder instead of plain protein powder in this recipe, you definitely can. I recommend using a high-quality vanilla protein powder that is naturally flavored and sweetened, like this one from Thrive Market.
To make your shake, simply make the recipe as written below (using a scoop of vanilla protein powder instead of unflavored protein powder), but omit the honey. If your protein shake is not sweet enough after you’ve blended it, then feel free to sweeten it to taste with honey or another natural sweetener.
Tips for Making Homemade Protein Shakes
Here are some things I have learned over the years about making protein shakes:
- When adding your ingredients to your blender, always add the liquid first near the blades. This will help your blender to run a bit more easily whenever you are making a shake.
- Use a good-quality, high-powered blender such as a Vitamix or a Ninja that will easily break up frozen fruit, vegetables, ice, and any other dense ingredients into oblivion.
- If you don’t think you need a high-powered blender, an individual-sized blender such as a Magic Bullet is a great alternative. The biggest benefits of using a small blender are that it will help you save time on clean-up, it takes up less counter space, and it’s much less expensive than a big fancy countertop blender.
Possible Recipe Variations
This homemade protein shake recipe is very flexible with regards to variations. For example, feel free to…
- Swap in non-dairy milk: I generally use dairy milk when making shakes, but you can use any kind of milk you like. Unsweetened almond, coconut, soy, hemp, oat, or any other type of plant-based milk are all fabulous options.
- Add some spice: A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla all taste delicious in smoothies.
- Use a different sweetener: Instead of honey, you can substitute another natural and unrefined sweetener, such as maple syrup or agave nectar. Alternatively, you can throw in one or two pitted dates instead of a liquid sweetener.
- Stir in some collagen: Adding collagen peptides to shakes and smoothies boosts their protein content even further. Collagen is also known to improve the condition of skin, hair, nails, joints, ligaments, and is great for gut health. I recommend using one that is all-natural, unflavored, and unsweetened. I use this one from Thrive Market.
Those are just a few suggestions, so feel free to experiment with whatever ingredient swaps or additions that sound good to you. 🙂
More Protein Shake Recipes to Try
Looking for more protein shake inspiration? Here are some of my favorite recipes on the blog:
- Strawberry Protein Shake
- How to Make a Homemade Protein Shake
- Chocolate Protein Shake
- Green Protein Smoothie
- Vanilla Protein Shake
The Easiest Way to Make Protein Shakes
If drinking a protein shake is a part of your daily routine, you have to check out SmoothieBox. SmoothieBox is a protein shake delivery service that uses only the best, organic produce with no added sugar or artificial ingredients.
Each box comes with between 20 to 25 pre-portioned smoothie pouches that contain a blend of flash-frozen fruits, vegetables, and seeds. You also have a choice of either grass-fed collagen, vanilla whey, chocolate whey, vanilla vegan, or chocolate vegan protein powder to add to your box. SmoothieBox’s shake mixes are available in four tasty flavors – Berry, Green, Clementine and Cacao.
To make a protein shake, simply pour the contents of a smoothie pouch into your blender. Then add a scoop of protein powder, your liquid of choice, and blend until creamy. Depending on how much liquid you use, each smoothie pouch will yield one 16-20 ounce smoothie, or two 8-12 ounce smoothies.
The price varies between $5.56 to $7.44 per smoothie and shipping is always free. You can choose to have a one-time order or a monthly subscription. If you choose to have a subscription, it can be paused, delayed or cancelled at any time. SmoothieBox also offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied for any reason. As an added bonus, my readers will get a discount on their order using the link and code below:
Click here to get $15 off your first SmoothieBox with the code EASYEATS!
If you want to learn more about all of my favorite smoothie and protein shake delivery services (including SmoothieBox), check out these posts on blog:
- The Top Healthy Protein Shake Delivery Services
- The Best Organic Smoothie Delivery Companies Online
- Top 7 Healthy & Affordable Smoothie Delivery Companies
Alright, now you know why you should drink protein shakes and have also learnt my favorite hack for making them at home. Without further delay, here is the recipe! If you make this Banana Protein Shake recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡
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Banana Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, of choice
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1 scoop plain (unflavored) protein powder
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
Notes
- For easy blending, add the milk first near the blades when adding the ingredients to your blender.
- Vanilla protein powder can be substituted for the plain protein powder. If you’re going to do that though, I recommend omitting the honey from the recipe.
Nutrition
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Just whipped this up, since I had all of the ingredients at home already and it is SO GOOD! I’ve found my new favorite breakfast smoothie! Thanks!!
Hi Jessica, that’s great! I’m so glad you liked the protein shake. You’re very welcome!
Wow, This sounds yummy also healthy recipe. And looking, easy to make. I will try it for sure. Thank you so much for sharing this yummy recipe with all of us.
Thank you so much for your kind words. You’re very welcome! 🙂
Hi, Alia. Easy and Healthy recipe. I really loved it. I will make it for my kids.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Hi Melissa, thanks so much! You’re very welcome! 🙂
Are the calories for one serving and the recipe is for two, right?
Hi Jennu! That is correct, all nutrition amounts (including calories) is per serving, and the recipe yields 2 servings. 🙂
Best post workout shake ever!! Its high protein and tastes delish!! <3
Aww thanks Julie! 🙂
Love this protein smoothie – its so easy and healthy.
Thanks Melanie! I am so glad you enjoyed the protein shake recipe!