This pineapple banana smoothie is easy to make with only 5 ingredients. Plus, it's super thick and satisfying, with Greek yogurt and milk! This deliciously creamy smoothie featuring frozen banana and pineapple is a great option for a quick breakfast or snack on the go.
Note: this post was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2023, with improved instructions.
This pineapple banana smoothie is the height of refreshment - it's nice and thick, ice cold, sweet, and just a bit tangy! And it's super creamy, thanks to both milk and Greek yogurt. You can also adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey to suit your own tastes.
I also appreciate this banana pineapple smoothie because it requires no fresh fruit. Instead, it uses both frozen pineapple and banana. This is for two reasons: (1) it's easier to make the pineapple and banana smoothie whenever the mood strikes; and (2) the frozen fruit makes the smoothie super thick without ice, so the flavor is super concentrated and...well, fruity!!
(But, if you want to substitute fresh fruit, you can see my tips for that down below in the Additions and substitutions section!)
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Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Frozen pineapple: I just purchased frozen pineapple chunks from the grocery store, but if you have extra fresh pineapple, of course you can freeze it yourself to save for this smoothie.
- Frozen banana: while I have seen frozen banana chunks in my grocery store's freezer aisle, I always seem to have overripe bananas on my counter, so I froze some myself. I talk more about how I like to freeze bananas for smoothies in my kiwi banana smoothie post.
- Greek yogurt: I like using Greek yogurt because the texture is extra thick, but regular yogurt will do also. I also use unsweetened yogurt because I like to control the sweetness myself by adding in the honey. But, you can substitute sweetened yogurt if you like the flavor (just be more sparing when adding in the honey at first).
- Honey: this is to add sweetness as discussed above, you could substitute agave syrup just as easily if you prefer.
- Milk: I used whole milk, which I like because it gives an extra bit of creaminess and richness. You can use any kind of milk you like, however.
Step by step photos
Making this smoothie with pineapple and banana couldn't be simpler! Here is a step by step breakdown on how to make it. For full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts, please see the recipe card down below.
And, if you'd like to see a brief slideshow how-to, check out my web story for this recipe!
1. First, just add all the ingredients into a blender. I recommend this Vitamix blender (affiliate link) because it's super powerful and blends even tough ingredients with ease!
2. Then, go ahead and blend all the smoothie ingredients together until... well, smooth! I like to start on low and slowly increase the speed as the ingredients start to combine.
But, don't over-blend because the smoothie will start to get watery as the frozen ingredients begin to warm up. Since this smoothie is quite thick, it's helpful to have a tamper tool (affiliate link) to help agitate the ingredients in the container.
3. Once the smoothie is combined, you can taste it and blend in a bit more honey if you like. When it's tasting good to you, go ahead and pour it into a glass and enjoy!
Tips and tricks
- This banana pineapple smoothie makes a little over 16 fluid ounces, which is good for one large serving or two small servings.
- If you need more than 16 ounces, work in batches rather than adding double ingredients to the blender, to make sure there is enough room in the blender to easily combine the ingredients.
- The pineapple banana smoothie is quite thick, so if you don't have a tamper tool to help stir the ingredients as they blend, you may need to add a splash of extra liquid to help the ingredients get going. Just start small and add more as needed so the smoothie isn't too runny.
- As I mentioned, I froze my own bananas, but purchased my frozen pineapple chunks. If you want to freeze your own to save for smoothies, here is a great resource on how to freeze fresh pineapple!
Additions and substitutions
Smoothies are great because they are so easy to customize to your own tastes. Here are a few ideas on how to switch up this pineapple banana smoothie:
- Try substituting fruit juice for the milk. Pineapple juice would be a natural fit, or how about peach nectar?
- You can also swap flavored yogurt for the unsweetened plain yogurt, but just be mindful of the added sweetness when deciding how much honey to add.
- If you don't have Greek yogurt, you can use an equal amount of plain regular yogurt. The smoothie will be a little thinner in texture but it will still be delicious!
- Here are some other smoothie add-ins that would go well with the banana and pineapple flavors: almond butter, baby spinach, fresh or frozen blueberries, cacao nibs, coconut, or fresh grated ginger (ginger is powerful so use only a tiny amount!).
Substituting fresh fruit for frozen
I prefer to use frozen fruit for this pineapple banana smoothie because it helps the smoothie have a nice, thick and creamy texture. I also find it convenient to just grab prepped fruit from the freezer without having to worry about whether it's ripe or not.
That being said, you can definitely substitute either fresh banana or pineapple if you like. The smoothie will be thinner, so you may wish to start with less milk at first and add more as needed to get the desired texture.
I would not add both fresh banana and pineapple. Instead, use either one or the other, since the smoothie's texture really does benefit from having at least some frozen fruit.
Serving suggestions
This smoothie tastes great just served straight up - in a tall glass, with maybe a fun straw! But, if you want to add a little more pizzazz, here are some serving suggestions for you:
- Try topping the smoothie with small chunks of either fresh or frozen pineapple and/or banana.
- You can also garnish the smoothie with a sprinkling of shredded coconut, chia seeds, cacao nibs, or an extra drizzle of honey.
- For a special breakfast treat, turn this smoothie into a smoothie bowl! Instead of pouring the smoothie into a glass, scoop it into a shallow bowl. Then cover the entire surface with an arrangement of your favorite fruits, nuts, granola, or cereal. Enjoy your delicious smoothie bowl with a spoon!
- This pineapple banana smoothie is filling enough on its own to serve as a quick breakfast or snack on the go. But, it would also go great with my recipes for fried bologna and egg sandwich, cheater home fries, or raspberry oatmeal!
Storage instructions
- This pineapple banana smoothie tastes the best when enjoyed immediately after blending.
- However, you can cover any leftover smoothie and store it in the fridge to save for later.
- The leftover smoothie will taste the best if you consume it after only a couple hours in the fridge. But, it can still be eaten up to 24 hours after making.
- After storing in the fridge, give the smoothie a quick stir before enjoying.
Make ahead instructions
As I mentioned in the above Storage instructions, this smoothie will taste the absolute best when made and consumed fresh. However, there are a couple shortcuts you can take ahead of time to make prep easier:
- Measure out the amount of banana and pineapple chunks you need for one smoothie. Store them together in a small baggie or container in the freezer.
- Measure out the amount of yogurt and milk you need, and keep them stored together in a small glass jar or food storage container in the fridge.
- With both the fruit and dairy pre-measured, you can just grab all the ingredients, dump them in the blender, and you are good to go! (And for the honey, I just drizzle in a little bit - you don't really need to measure it exactly unless you want to!)
Recipe FAQs
This smoothie calls for milk, Greek yogurt and honey, which are not vegan. But, if you make some substitutions, you can definitely have a vegan version of this pineapple banana smoothie. First, swap out the milk and yogurt for plant-based versions. (I really like this brand of cashew yogurt!) Then, rather than using honey, you can substitute an equal amount of agave syrup.
Yes, you can substitute either fresh banana, or fresh pineapple, for the frozen versions. But, as I explained in the Additions and substitutions section above, I would not substitute both fresh pineapple and banana, because the smoothie will be too watery.
This smoothie is made without ice, and instead uses both frozen banana and frozen pineapple. The frozen fruit helps to make the smoothie thick, and keeps it nice and cold! You can add ice to the smoothie if you would like to, but it's not necessary.
Here is an easy way to freeze bananas for smoothies. First, place one peeled banana in a small zip top bag. Then seal the bag, removing as much air from the bag as possible.
Then, from the outside of the bag, press your finger across the banana several times to break it into smaller chunks. This way, you don't have to dirty a knife or cutting board to slice the banana first. I show a picture of what this process looks like on my kiwi banana smoothie post.
Also, be sure to write the date on the baggie so you know how long it has been in the freezer. The bananas should last well for 3 months in the freezer!
Related recipes
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Print📖 Recipe
Pineapple Banana Smoothie
This quick and easy smoothie uses frozen pineapple and banana, so you can make it any time! It's super thick and creamy thanks to milk and Greek yogurt, making this smoothie a satisfying breakfast or snack on the go.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
- Category: breakfast, drinks, snacks
- Method: blend
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 medium frozen banana, cut into chunks (about 1 cup/131 g banana chunks)
- 1 cup (131 g) frozen pineapple chunks
- â…” cup (158 ml) milk
- â…“ cup (80 g) unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 1 - 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to the pitcher of a blender.
- Place the lid on the blender and blend just until smooth, starting on low and increasing the speed as the ingredients begin to combine. (If needed, add an additional splash of milk to help the ingredients start to blend, or, better yet, use a tamper tool to help combine the ingredients while blending.)
- Taste the smoothie and blend in additional honey, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
This smoothie makes a little over 16 fluid ounces (473 ml). If you need more than that, work in batches rather than adding double ingredients to the blender to make sure there is enough room in the blender to easily combine the ingredients.
The honey is optional, feel free to add as little or as much as you prefer to tailor the smoothie's sweetness to your tastes and the ripeness of the fruit you are using.
You can easily substitute agave syrup for the honey if desired.
The nutrition information below was calculated with whole milk and 2% yogurt, and 1 tablespoon honey. This nutrition information is an estimate only. The nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brands and exact amounts of ingredients used. This information was provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full nutrition disclosure policy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 58.9 g
- Sodium: 104 mg
- Fat: 6.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 76.4 g
- Fiber: 5.4 g
- Protein: 15.5 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg
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