Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowls
This Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl takes the classic strawberry banana smoothie and transforms it into a thick, creamy version that you can eat with a spoon. Best of all, it comes together in just 5 minutes, making it a perfect option for busy mornings.
This version is packed with protein, easy to customize, and thick enough to hold plenty of toppings. If you have leftover frozen strawberries and bananas, you have to try my Strawberry Banana Acai Bowl for an antioxidant boost. Make a variation of this healthy smoothie bowl with my Mango Strawberry Smoothie Bowl (No Banana) for a banana-free option.
Whether you need a quick breakfast or a post-workout meal, this smoothie bowl is an easy and delicious choice with over 20 grams of protein.
As a former personal trainer and nutrition coach, I’ve worked with thousands of busy women looking for quick, high-protein meals that don’t feel restrictive. Smoothie bowls are a great way to add more texture and variety to your morning routine while still getting the same nourishing benefits of a traditional smoothie.
Ingredients
- Frozen Strawberries – frozen strawberries are best for this recipe. I almost always have a bag on hand and they are such a great budget friendly item compared to fresh strawberries.
- Bananas (fresh or frozen) – I recommend freezing your bananas, it’s what helps create the best texture for this banana smoothie bowl. Check out these tips on how to freeze bananas for smoothies. If using fresh banana, add about 1/4 cup of ice to the smoothie.
- Dairy free milk (or water) – use whatever you have on hand.
- Chia seeds (or ground flax) –to thicken the smoothie and also provide extra fiber and healthy fats. Fiber helps to make the smoothie more filling.
- Vanilla protein powder– I use and recommend a vegan protein powder, as it helps to create that thick, creamy smoothie texture. Check out the tips below if using whey protein or collagen peptides.
- Toppings of choice (see below for ideas)
How to make a smoothie bowl
- Start by adding all the ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth (usually on high for 1-2 minutes).
Pour into a bowl or a large cup and top with your favorite toppings.
Top tips
- Use frozen fruit when possible. This creates a cold, incredibly refreshing smoothie bowl. If you only have fresh, add between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of ice to create the perfect texture.
- Prep in advance – make smoothie packs with pre-measured frozen strawberries and banana. When you are ready to serve, simply pour the fruit packs in the blender, add milk, chia seeds and protein powder and blend.
- Customize it! Add your favorite nut butter or peanut butter or a handful of frozen veggies (cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, kale) to make the smoothie even more filling and packed with nutrition.
- If you are using a whey-based protein, add 2-3 tablespoons of oats along with the protein powder, if you are using collagen, use ¼ cup of oats in addition to the collagen peptides.
- Save leftovers in ice cube molds to use in smoothies later this week/month or freeze into popsicle molds. The popsicles are extra fun when you have toppings added to the smoothie bowl leftovers.
Smoothie bowl toppings
- Fresh fruit
- Coconut flakes (regular or toasted)
- Chocolate chips (mini are extra fun)
- Granola or cereal
- Nut butter (almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter, sunbutter)
- Nuts or seeds (almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- Hemp hearts
- Chia seeds, ground flax
- Drizzle of maple syrup or honey
Other breakfast smoothie bowl additions
- Healthy fats: Avocado, nut butter or nuts for healthy fats
- Yogurt for probiotics and protein. If you add yogurt, reduce the amount of milk by the amount of yogurt added.
- Veggies: Cauliflower rice, frozen zucchini, cooked beets (refrigerated or frozen), frozen spinach or kale (will turn the smoothie bowl green). You may need to add a splash more milk to account for the extra veggies.
- Powdered supplements like: Camu camu (for Vitamin C), Maca powder , Ashwagandha or mushroom powder
- Spices: Cinnamon, ground or fresh ginger, nutmeg
- Sweetness: If you add more ingredients like frozen vegetables, you may want to add a touch of sweetness from maple syrup, pitted dates, date syrup, or honey (not vegan).
Common questions
How do you thicken a smoothie bowl?
Smoothie bowls are typically thickened by using just enough liquid to blend up the other ingredients. You can also add things
- Chia seeds
- Ground flax seeds
- Vegan protein powder (this will absorb some of the liquid making it thicker)
- Rolled oats or quick oats – just like your morning oatmeal, the oats will absorb some of the liquid when blending.
Can you make this without banana?
Yes, you can substitute mango for banana without changing the recipe. Another great option would be to add ½ of an avocado or ½ cup of frozen cauliflower rice and 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or 1-2 pitted medjool dates for added sweetness.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries (frozen, fresh)
- 1/2 cup bananas
- 1 cup dairy free milk
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 serving vegan vanilla protein powder (or 1/4 cup oats)
Instructions
- Add 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup frozen banana, 1 cup dairy free milk, 1 tablespoon chia sees and 1 serving of vanilla protein powder.
- Blend until smooth (1-2 minutes on high).
- Pour the smoothie in a bowl and add your favorite toppings.
Equipment
Notes
- Use frozen fruit when possible. If using fresh fruit add 1/4-1/2 cup ice.
- Customize it! Add your favorite nut butter or peanut butter or a handful of frozen veggies (cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, kale) to make the smoothie even more filling and packed with nutrition.
- Save leftovers in ice cube molds to use in smoothies later this week/month or freeze into popsicle molds. The popsicles are extra fun when you have toppings added to the smoothie bowl leftovers.
- If you are using whey protein, add 2-3 tablespoons of rolled oats to get the right texture.
- If using collagen peptides, add 1/4 cup rolled oats (and likely a little sweetener) to get the right taste and texture.
