This healthy banana orange smoothie, with paleo, vegan and whole30 options, really benefits from the addition of avocado! It adds extreme creaminess and nutrition that you won’t find in other smoothies. Perfect for brightening your dreary wintery days!
I regularly make my other avocado smoothies, this raspberry smoothie and chocolate avocado smoothie, but my favorite is probably this orange banana smoothie.
Especially during miserable winter days. It always puts me in a good mood!
I know there’s nothing tropical in it, but it makes me feel in a tropical mood. If that’s such a thing.
Simple ingredients
This banana orange smoothie uses four basic ingredients you probably already have.
You just need:
- Bananas
- An orange (juice + zest)
- Avocado
- Yogurt (or milk)
If you don’t have any yogurt on hand, it’s still great with just milk in it. It’s just thinner. I’ve used regular milk, cashew milk and canned coconut milk, and they all taste great.
Should you want to omit the avocado, that’d be fine, but the smoothie won’t be as creamy. It’ll also be quite a bit sweeter.
I would not recommend skipping the bananas! The orange juice or orange isn’t enough to sweeten this smoothie. The bananas also add bulk and creaminess.
If you need a banana-free smoothie, try my raspberry coconut smoothie instead. It also uses avocado but since there’s nothing sweet in it, you need to add a bit of sweetener.
Paleo, vegan, whole30 options
It’s an easy swap – just use coconut milk yogurt and milk, or whatever compliant yogurt and milk you’d like.
I love the flavor of coconut milk yogurt in this smoothie, but whatever you have will be tasty.
For more paleo vegan smoothies, check out my paleo blueberry smoothie and apple smoothie.
Want your smoothie cold?
If you want your smoothie to be really cold, make sure to use cold ingredients. If everything is at room temperature, you can cut your bananas into chunks and freeze them for 1 hour.
Frozen avocado also works! In my ultimate guide to avocados, I have lots of tips on all things avocados, including how to freeze them.
So if you go crazy buying avocados on sale, go check out how to freeze them. They’re great for smoothies!
I usually have half an avocado and some bananas in the fridge and don’t need my smoothies to be super cold, so I don’t usually use any frozen ingredients.
The color
Depending on your avocado, this smoothie will have a very light orange color, like in the photos and video or a light green and orangeish color. If you want to avoid the green color for kid reasons, don’t use the dark green part of the avocado that clings onto the skin.
But! Those darker green parts have the largest amount of health-boosting antioxidants. So I’d only avoid using that part if your kid would be weirded out by a light green color.
Or save those parts for these healthy fudgesicles or these healthier raspberry truffles!
If you’re making this orange banana smoothie for picky kids, note that if you make the smoothie and then refrigerate it, the top layer will turn a little brown due to the avocado. Using a stretchy, airtight silicone lid for glasses will help prevent that. If you don’t have one, remove the top part of the smoothie, with a spoon, eat it, and then give the smoothie to your kids. ;)
Does it taste like avocado?
It most definitely does not taste like it has avocado in it. It tastes like a wonderful blend of bananas and orange.
The orange zest is important to get the orangey taste. If you just use the juice, it’s not very orangey.
You can toss in half an orange instead of the orange juice. That would add quite a bit of fiber and pulp. Could be a good or bad thing, depending on what you like!
A healthy smoothie!
With avocado, orange and bananas, this is one healthy smoothie. I love starting my day off with something like this, rather than donuts, waffles, etc., knowing that I’m getting in some nutrition.
Health benefits of avocados
Avocados have been deemed a superfood with a variety of health benefits, and rightfully so. They’re packed with many essential nutrients, are naturally cholesterol-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, low in sodium, and high in fiber.
Avocados are a good source of 20 necessary vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and potassium. Vitamin C is great for promoting a healthy immune system; vitamin K is necessary for healthy bones; vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps repair cells; folate helps with the production of new cells and is needed for a healthy pregnancy, and potassium is great for lowering blood pressure.
They’re also great for healthy skin, hair, and nails; lowering the risk of depression; fighting cancer; and with the amount of fiber they have, they’re great for improving digestion.
The majority of the fat in an avocado is unsaturated fat which helps increase HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol), making them great for lowering your overall cholesterol levels and a heart-healthy choice in the battle against heart disease.
Adding avocados in smoothies is a great way to add nutrition and creaminess to your smoothie without clashing with other flavors. They’re also great in pudding, like this healthy mint chocolate pudding and chocolate raspberry pudding!
Banana nutrition
Bananas are as nutritious as they are delicious!
Bananas have numerous health benefits that help moderate blood sugar levels; are high in fiber, improving digestive health; are a great dietary source of potassium and magnesium, which are essential for heart health; contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents; and because of resistant starch, they fill you up (as do these 100% whole grain banana pancakes!).
Bananas are one of the best fruits for vitamin B-6, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium, and they give you lots of energy.
Bananas make this heart-healthy smoothie blend taste great and add extra essential nutrients and fiber to your day.
What makes oranges so healthy
Oranges are a low-calorie, highly nutritious citric fruit.
They’re a good source of fiber that promotes heart health; an excellent source of Vitamin C which means it’s a powerful antioxidant and aids in immune system support; a great source of potassium, and helps to lower blood pressure.
Oranges are good for clear skin, lowers the risk of cataracts with thiamine, and helps fight cancer-causing free radicals. An orange provides 6% of the daily calcium needed to keep your muscles, organs, and bones strong.
Interestingly, when you’re feeling anxious, vitamin C can lower your stress hormone, cortisol, and reduce your blood pressure, so including oranges in your daily diet is helpful to maintain calmness in a stressful world. So would these vegan orange cookies. ;)
Overall, the healthy benefits of oranges combined with the added benefits of bananas and avocados, make this hearty blend a super-smoothie packed full of nutrition and amazing tasty goodness!
If you’re like me and add avocados to your smoothies, what is your favorite flavor combination? And for another refreshing drink, this try frozen lemonade!
Orange Banana Smoothie (paleo, vegan option)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 2 small servings
Ingredients
- 2 medium or large bananas (about 120-150 grams each, without peel)
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) plain Greek yogurt (use compliant coconut milk yogurt for paleo / vegan / whole30)
- zest of 1 orange (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) orange juice or 1/2 peeled, deseeded orange (80 grams)1
- 1/2 medium avocado (80 grams)
- optional - more orange juice or milk (use paleo / vegan / whole30 compliant milk, if desired)
Directions
- Optional step - cut the banana into chunks and freeze for 1 hour. This makes your smoothie colder. Using refrigerated ingredients that are already cold also do the trick.
- Blend everything together in a blender or a food processor.
- If you want the smoothie thinner, add milk until you're satisfied with the consistency. Serve immediately.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 day. Note that after sitting for a while, the top layer will turn a little brown due to the avocado. Just mix it in and it won't be as noticeable. Or remove the top part if you've got picky kids.
Notes
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55 comments on “Banana Orange Smoothie – Super Rich, Creamy, Delicious!” — Add one!
You are the smoothie queen and this is such a great combo!
ooooh so creamy with the banana and avocado . . thanks for sharing!
Such a treat! So smooth, creamy and delicious!
The colour is so gorgeous and refreshing!! I need a cup of this for myself. <3
I love how filling it is for breakfast! The avocado makes it so creamy and yummy.
“So this means this orange banana avocado smoothie has 5.5 servings of fruit. The whole smoothie is quite a few calories for one person in one go, but at least it’s healthy. Let’s say it’s two small servings, shall we?”…I like the way u think, Lady.😏 Thanks for the Recipe!
Haha. It seemed logical, right? ;) You’re welcome for the recipe! I hope you enjoyed it.
This Smoothie Sure lookes like summer, sun and beach time!
I’m glad you think so, too! Hope you get to try it out. :)
With the start of the New Year comes our search for tons and tons of healthy smoothie recipes! This one is DELICIOUS but I used an orange instead of orange juice. Bring on the smoothies!
Definitely a good idea to use the whole fruit instead! I’m happy you enjoyed it. :) Thanks for your comment!
This smoothie was great! The second time that I made it, I changed a few things. I added one banana instead of two and added one peeled and sliced green apple. I also added a handful of baby spinach to make it healthier, and a pinch of salt to bring out the sweetness of the fruit. To make it more appealing to my three year old, I also added two teaspoons of maple syrup. It tastes great and my whole family loved it. You can’t taste the spinach at all. Very good. I love your recipes!
I love your changes! I’ll have to try adding some spinach. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the smoothie (and the other recipes!) Thanks a bunch for your feedback. :)
I am sooooo happy I found your site. I’ve been enjoying your baking so much and I have moved over to your drinks for awhile. Your smoothies are amazing! I tried your banana pie one (flax works perfect!) then this one. I actually danced around in the kitchen. I just made it again and I’m happy to say I’ve hidden kale in it! Thank you so much!
Thanks so much, Erin! I’m thrilled that you’re liking the recipes. :) And kale in this smoothie?! Oh my. Can you really not taste it? I really dislike veggies and am always trying to find ways to make them edible but it’s hard when you only have access to frozen kale and spinach! Thanks a ton for your feedback. :)
Thanks for this recipe! My daughter downed about 3/4 of her serving and that’s the most breakfast I’ve been able to get in her since school started 3 weeks ago!
I’m so happy your daughter enjoyed it! I especially love this one in the morning. It’s a nice way to wake up! Thanks so much for your feedback. :)
The smoothie was delicious! My daughter doesn’t like eating bananas but she loved the smoothie!
I’m so happy to hear that, Mary! I’m happy that you found a way to get your daughter to eat bananas. :) Thanks so much for the feedback!
Banana and orange seems like a delicious combination! I have tried avocado smoothies, and they are a great way to get that extra nutrition in a yummy treat!
Agreed! So much more fun than with plain avocados, right?! :D
Bananas in your smoothie?! Whaaaat? Anyways, those pictures make me want to go some place hot like that :( Which is pretty unlikely since my hubby doesn't particularly want to go anywhere hot. Laying on a beach is not his idea of an awesome vacation… That just means I really can't wait for summer here(he'll have to go to the beach and camping with me and the kids :D) Cannot wait for this summer! Anyways… Just wanted to say I love avocado in smoothies now, I think you might have introduced me to that a long time ago. Yummy :D
I'm doing an experiment! I read that the allergy-ness of bananas varies depending on the time. So far I've had quite a few and haven't gotten sick. YAY! I'll be so excited if I can have bananas again! And aren't avocado smoothies the best? I mean, at least they are for people who don't like avocados plain. :)
I think they probably made the serving size of avocados tiny so people wouldn't be so scared of the fat content. I say, bring it on! So this means that when I use 4 avocados in my guacamole recipe and then share it with my husband, I'm eating 10 servings?! I kind of scoff at that because honestly, who can keep track of all that? Not me, that's for sure! Plus, I don't worry about healthy fats. They're filling and harder to overeat as long as you're eating them with something else!
I love your husband's comments about the boat and the hammock!
Have a great weekend Erin!
I know… it's crazy! I use 1/2 at a time. And I'm not worried the least bit about healthy fat. Bring it on is right! :)
Those photos look sooo nice! I want to be there right now! haha. I can't wait to try this smoothie Erin, it looks delicious!!
Me too. Especially now when it's all snowy and dark. Ugh. Oh well. We can look at the pictures. :)
oooh, this looks really good. i've been wanting to make avocado smoothies, but haven't gotten around to it. i love this!
You have to try! It's a great way to make your smoothies really creamy. :)
I love the smoothie, the magical island and a small argument with Mr. T. as well. I must tell you that banana smoothie was the first thing I had on the 1st of January. It did not contain orange and avocado, but it was not a time to think. It was a time to drink liquids. Happy New Year to you two :)
Hahaha. So I guess you had fun? :) Happy New Year to you two, too!
I got a vitamix for Christmas and I've been obsessed with making smoothies ever since! Must try this vibrant one asap!
A Vitamix?! Aaah, you're so lucky! Go make this now and report back, okay? :)
I bought a Vitamix 9 days ago and have used it at least once a day. It takes up some real estate on my kitchen counter, but it's worth it. I make a large green smoothie every morning, and sometimes soup for dinner. Yes, it makes hot soup. It also makes sorbet and ice cream–truly a miracle appliance. I'm looking for a home for my blender, ice cream machine, and food processor.
Wow! My home will gladly accommodate them; if not all of them, at least one of them. I have a blender that will take over an hour to blend this smoothie to an unsmooth consistency. Lucky you. And kudos to you Erin. Greeeeat job. Stumbled on your site today.
Haha. You are so generous to offer your home as a storage place for their appliances! ;) Do you have an immersion blender? I’ve started using that instead of a blender or food processor for my smoothies. Takes less time and way less cleanup and they’re like $20. Can’t beat that! Thanks a bunch for your nice comment and sorry for the slow reply. :) I hope you’ll find some recipes over here that you can make!
I love the paradise photos. I can see how this smoothie would take you right there!
It really does! I'm allergic to bananas but still drank one of these just because it was so darn… tropical island-like.
This is how you win your argument: The person goes from lying in the ocean to the hammock because they want to take a nap, and if they take a nap in the ocean they will get burned by the sun for lack of shade/ and or they will drift too far away and become like Tom Hanks in Cast Away.
And even though I don't like bananas (trust me when I say I have tried them on multiple occasions) this smoothie looks really pretty and refreshing :)
Hahaha. That's most excellent reasoning, right there! "For lack of shade." Love it. :)
bananas and orange and sunshine. I need one of these in my life after a VERY windy, cold, blustery gray weekend. Erin, a huge smoothie like this would cheer up those dull days and weather!
Then you'll need the whole recipe for yourself! That's not a problem though. Gotta get those servings of fruit in. :)
The smoothie looks crazy good right about now! And so do those island pics! I was just in a place like that recently and it feels like a lifetime ago already. Why do vacations ever have to end!!
I wish I just came from a place like that! I came from Prague… like 3 weeks ago. That was nice but no, not the same. ;)
hahaha i am loving your paradise pictures…those are such a tease when i look out to our winter white wisconsin..beautiful..yet not quite paradise…smoothies – i need to get back into my addiction of smoothies!
You do! They're so quick and healthy and satisfying. And I'm happy you like the pictures. It's kind of embarrassing how long I searched for the "perfect" ones. :)
Oh gosh for a moment I thought that was you and I felt so jealous :-) This place sure looks like paradise. Maybe some day!! I love smoothies, we make them all the time. I even freeze them as ice pops. So convenient. I actually just made a Mango Lasi that is out of this world. I think I could have added even some rum for a grown up version :-) Anyhow, great smoothie and great source of fruit, I love it.
Really? Haha. I wish I had money to take off to this make believe island paradise. :) Lasi? I have to do some googling! And rum… I thought about that too but didn't dare! It was breakfast for Mr. Texanerin, after all. :)
This smoothie sure looks like summer, sun and beach time. Way to make the 'island paradise' come to you if you cant go there.
Hidden like this even might consume avocado.
This is what you're living, isn't it? I'm jealous. I think we're all jealous! And you don't like avocado? Or your husband?
Haha…yeah some days are like this. Went to the beaches over the holidays. But Asian city life is quite different from the island paradise ;)
Oops…meant to say 'I' would eat avocado like this, hubby probably too, if I don't tell him its in there ;) Neither of us are big fans.
I'm just going to sit here and stare at those pictures for a while ;)
Great smoothie, really like how bright and full of flavour this sounds!
If only the actual smoothie part were bright! But that's okay. It tastes bright. :)
This looks delicious! And you + your husband are too funny – i love the idea that the playing dolphins drove them to the hammock. HA!
Haha. Yes. On our island of puppies and smoothies… :)