Banana Cashew Smoothie Recipe
Lately, I’ve been super obsessed with smoothies in the morning. Specifically, adding chia seeds to smoothies for extra nutrition, like this Strawberry Banana Chia Seed Smoothie! Similarly, this Banana Cashew Smoothie with chia seeds and extra protein is filling and such a great way to start the day. Not to mention it’s super thick and creamy, so you can enjoy it any way you want! Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Ready in 5 Minutes: Perfect for busy mornings or a post-workout treat.
- 21 Grams Protein: The vanilla protein powder combined with chia seeds adds so much healthy protein to this smoothie.
- Creamy & Dreamy: Frozen bananas and cashew butter make for the smoothest texture ever – it literally tastes like ice cream!
- Customizable: Swap in almond butter, coconut milk, or even chocolate protein powder—so many options!
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Ingredients in a Banana Cashew Milk Smoothie
The ingredients are so simple! You’ll just need a high-speed blender and 6 simple ingredients to get started:
- Cashew Butter – Lightly salted is my favorite for that sweet-and-salty vibe, but feel free to use unsalted or almond butter.
- Frozen Bananas – Frozen is key! Peel, slice, and freeze them overnight for that perfect frosty texture.
- Milk – Regular dairy milk is perfect for higher protein, but I also love using almond, cashew milk, or coconut milk.
- Cinnamon
- Chia Seeds
- Vanilla Protein Powder
- Toppings of Choice – Granola, chopped pistachios, walnuts, or anything you want!
Why Add Chia Seeds to Smoothies
I started adding chia seeds to my smoothies because they’re small, but mighty! They’re full of fiber, omega-3s, and essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, making them a nutritional powerhouse. These little seeds help keep you full longer, add a creamy texture to your smoothie, and are incredibly easy to use—just toss them in and blend! It’s such a simple way to elevate your smoothies with both nutrition and texture.
You’ll Also Love: Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Pudding
How to Make a Cashew Smoothie
It’s so easy to make this Cashew Smoothie recipe with frozen bananas and chia seeds! Here’s a quick overview for how to put it together:
- Add all of the ingredients to the blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses (or bowls), add toppings, and enjoy!
Tips for Making this Banana Cashew Butter Chia Seed Smoothie
- Cashew butter is sold at most stores, but I think almond butter would be amazing as well. I personally like using lightly salted cashew butter for a hint of sweet/salty, but feel free to use whatever you prefer!
- Slice up the bananas and place them in plastic sandwich bags to freeze overnight! This is the only part of the smoothie that’s actually frozen, so be sure to do this the night before.
- Almond milk for a subtle nutty flavor, coconut milk for a tropical twist, or regular milk if that’s what you have on hand (and for a higher-protein smoothie).
- If you love a sweeter smoothie, try adding a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
- Make homemade smoothie packs by pre-portioning the ingredients (except the milk) into freezer bags so they’re ready to blend whenever you need them!
Variations
- Fruits: Add frozen berries, pineapple, mango, or even a handful of spinach or kale for extra nutrients.
- Nut Butters: Swap cashew butter for almond, peanut, or sunflower seed butter.
- Superfood Boosts: Toss in flaxseeds, hemp seeds, spirulina, or a scoop of greens powder.
- Chocolate Twist: Mix in cocoa powder or use chocolate protein powder.
- Sweeteners: Add a date, honey, or maple syrup for extra sweetness.
- Flavors: Enhance with spices like nutmeg or cardamom, or add a splash of vanilla extract.
Meal Prepping Chia Seed Smoothies
Did you know you can actually prep chia seed smoothies ahead of time? Just blend the smoothies together, pour into mason jars with airtight lids, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them in the fridge for about 2-3 hours before or pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, stirring often and breaking up the smoothie until it gets to the right consistency.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love
- Easy Chocolate Banana Smoothie
- Strawberry Acai Smoothie Bowl
- Turmeric Pineapple & Kiwi Kale Smoothie
- Dragon Fruit & Goji Berry Smoothie
- Golden Glow Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie
- Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie
- Matcha Smoothie Bowl
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Banana Cashew Butter Chia Seed Smoothie
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cashew butter
- 2 medium frozen bananas
- 1 cup milk (regular, cashew milk, coconut milk, or almond milk)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
- toppings of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the cashew butter, frozen bananas, milk, cinnamon, chia seeds, and protein powder in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses, add any toppings you want, and enjoy!
Notes
- Cashew butter is sold at most stores (or on Amazon), but I think almond butter would be amazing as well. I personally like using lightly salted cashew butter for a hint of sweet/salty, but feel free to use whatever you prefer!
- Slice up the bananas and place them in plastic sandwich bags to freeze overnight! This is the only part of the smoothie that’s actually frozen, so be sure to do this the night before! 🙂
Georgia says:
This smoothie is so good! I had a bunch of chia seeds leftover and didn’t want to make more chia pudding so I gave this recipe a shot and it’s so tasty while being super healthy.
Rhonda says:
Oh, this is the best. It’s like dessert but it’s good for me!
Dee says:
This smoothie was delicious and the perfect start to my day!
Kelly says:
This smoothie is such a delicious and healthy way to start the day. I made it this morningn and it was creamy and so delish!
JOL Team replied:
So glad you loved it Kelly! Thanks for sharing!
tiktok live app says:
This Banana Cashew Butter Chia Seed Smoothie looks amazing! I love how you’ve combined such delicious ingredients. Can’t wait to try this for my breakfast tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe!
Emily Kemp says:
Oh, I love the sound of this smoothie, cashew butter is my fave!
Holly says:
This is so good, I’m trying to stop myself from drinking it all in a few minutes. Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Christine McMichael replied:
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Holly! 🙂
Jennifer A Stewart says:
I love freezing the bananas beforehand as I don’t have to use any ice in my smoothies. I even freeze my pineapple too. Making smoothie packets has saved my time in the morning too! I hate cleaning the blender but because we have so many dishes all the time I have to run my dishwasher every day so my blender just lands in there.
Christine McMichael replied:
Yes, me too! So perfect for smoothie packets. Love it!
Natalie says:
Oh, I hate washing my blender too! But when I take few sips of a smoothie I forget about the trouble. Frozen banana smoothies are my favorite ones. Can it be easier to make a healthy meal on to go?! No, I don’t think so. And only a mad-man would say NO to this banana cashew beauty. It looks delicious!
Christine McMichael replied:
Haha that’s so funny. Glad I’m not the only one! So true 🙂
Daniela Anderson says:
What a fantastic drink for a great start of the day! I’m a big fan of smoothies and chia seeds add extra goodness to them. It must be really tasty, not to mention healthy and nutritious.
Christine McMichael replied:
Thank you, Daniela!
Molly Kumar says:
I LOVE Smoothies !! They are my goto meal option and your recipe looks fabulous. I can so imagine the delicious flavors of banana and cashew butter would mix together to give such a smooth flavorful drink.
Christine McMichael replied:
Me too, Molly! 🙂 So good!