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This chocolate banana smoothie tastes like a healthy chocolate milkshake! Get your fix with these good-for-you ingredients.

Two glasses of chocolate banana smoothie with colorful straws

Here’s a way to get your chocolate fix while eating something healthy: try a chocolate banana smoothie! This smoothie is full of good-for-you ingredients, but tastes like a healthy chocolate milkshake. It’s sweet enough to feel like a treat, but not so intense that it feels like dessert.

Bananas, cocoa powder, and Greek yogurt make magic in the blender with just a little maple syrup for sweetener. This recipe is perfect for when you’re craving a treat (and my kid thinks it’s actual ice cream!).

Ingredients for This Chocolate Banana Smoothie

There’s not a lot to this chocolate banana smoothie. In fact, I developed it around ingredients I always have in my pantry and fridge. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:

Bananas: Here’s the best part: no freezing necessary! Use room-temperature bananas and lots of ice to get that perfect creamy texture.
Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is ideal for adding to smoothies because it’s packed with protein and has probiotics for a healthy gut. Skip this to make it a vegan smoothie.
Milk: Use any type of milk here, dairy or non-dairy. Add more non-dairy milk for vegan.
Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder gives that signature chocolate flavor when combined with the sweetener.
Maple syrup: Maple syrup is my sweetener of choice; you can also use honey or agave syrup.
Ice: Add quite a bit of ice, and it all comes together into a smooth, chocolaty puree.

Two glasses of chocolate banana smoothie with colorful straws and bananas nearby

Protein Add-Ins

Want to add a little more protein to your chocolate banana smoothie? Here are my best recommendations, both plant-based and dairy protein:

Peanut butter: What could be a better pairing? Peanut butter goes hand in hand with chocolate and banana (it also adds a hint of plant-based protein). Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons. Adding peanut butter increases the calories, but also makes this smoothie more filling.
More Greek yogurt: Double the amount in this recipe for an even more filling smoothie. This is great for breakfasts or post-workout snacks.
Protein powder: You can always hide protein powder in smoothies! Typically, I prefer to avoid it because it can leave an odd aftertaste. But this smoothie would be a good one since the chocolate flavor is strong enough to mask it.

Vegan Variation

Prefer to have a vegan smoothie? You can easily make this chocolate banana smoothie plant-based by doing the following:

Cut the Greek yogurt.
Use oat milk or almond milk, adding a little more as needed until it blends.
Consider adding peanut butter for added plant-based protein.

Dark Chocolate Version

Are you a dark chocolate lover like me? Here’s what you can do to turn this into a dark chocolate banana smoothie.

Use Dutch process cocoa powder (sometimes labeled dark cocoa powder or Dutched cocoa).
Start with 3 tablespoons of Dutch process cocoa powder and add more to taste.
You may also need to add a bit more sweetener to counter the cocoa’s darkness.

Dutch process cocoa powder is essentially a dark chocolate version of cocoa powder. It’s been treated with an alkali to neutralize its pH, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor. I use it in lots of my recipes to get a rich chocolaty flavor, like Flourless Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Banana Muffins.

Smoothie Storage

This smoothie is best served immediately. For leftovers, store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Dutch process vs regular cocoa powder in ½ tbsp measuring spoons — Here’s the difference of cocoa powder vs Dutch process cocoa powder

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Dietary Notes

This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the variation in the recipe.