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I love oatmeal for breakfast yet sometimes I don’t have time to wait for it to cook. So I’m taking everyone’s staple breakfast and turning it into a filling banana oatmeal smoothie loaded with all the flavors you love in the morning as well as natural energy to get you through your day.
Why this Oatmeal Smoothie Rawks
Wonder if it’s good to have a smoothie for breakfast? A smoothie loaded with wholesome and nutritious ingredients is perfect for breakfast. That’s the key—you need fiber, protein and healthy fats to satisfy, as well as fill you up for hours.
Start your morning off nourished with a thick and creamy banana oatmeal smoothie. It tastes like a delicious oatmeal cookie! Using plant-based wholesome ingredients like oatmeal, bananas, cinnamon, and coconut milk, this is one of the best oatmeal smoothie recipes and the ultimate ‘fast food’ breakfast.
This banana oatmeal smoothie recipe contains banana (shocker!), though the natural sugar from the banana is nicely balanced by the oatmeal and coconut milk to help the body slowly and evenly burn the carbs. #nosugarcrash
Ingredients You’ll Need
In order to make a hearty breakfast, I always start with fresh ingredients. Here’s what I put in my oatmeal smoothie in the morning.
- Rolled oats: Contribute a subtle nuttiness and a smooth, creamy texture that blends beautifully into the smoothie. For the best flavor, opt for fresh, high-quality oats.
- Coconut milk: Brings a lush, velvety texture and a hint of tropical flair. Choose unsweetened coconut milk for better control over the sweetness. Here is my guide for the best coconut milk brands—canned and carton or you can learn how to make coconut milk.
- Frozen banana: Delivers natural sweetness and a luxuriously thick texture. For maximum flavor, use bananas that are fully ripened before freezing. You can see my guide on how to freeze bananas if you need more tips.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and complexity with its sweet and spicy undertones. A pinch can make the flavors pop without overpowering the smoothie.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses the smoothie with a touch of sweet, fragrant depth. Look for pure vanilla extract for a more robust flavor.
- Maple syrup (optional): Introduces a gentle, earthy sweetness. Ideal for balancing flavors, use sparingly to enhance without overwhelming.
- Homemade Protein Powder (optional): I love this blend of hemp, flax, and chia seeds. It adds a natural boost of protein to any smoothie and is great for breakfast.
How to Make a Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
My banana oatmeal smoothie is easy and the perfect breakfast to start the day off right. You can make it any morning with these quick and easy steps.
- Put the rolled oats, coconut milk, frozen banana, cinnamon, and vanilla extract into a blender.
- Start blending at a low speed to combine the ingredients, then gradually increase to high speed. Blend for about 1-2 minutes, or until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Pour the smoothie into a glass and, for an extra touch, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top or garnish with a few rolled oats.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
- Too thick: If your smoothie is too thick, add a little coconut milk and blend again until smooth.
- Too thin: Add another half a frozen banana for a thicker smoothie.
- Swap coconut milk: If you’re watching your calorie intake, opt for lighter versions of coconut milk.
- Add frozen fruit: For a refreshingly cool smoothie, be sure to add at least one kind of frozen fruit.
Health Benefits of a Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
All of the wholesome ingredients in this healthy oatmeal smoothie come together for a healthy and nutritious drink. Aside from the irresistible oatmeal cookie flavor, this healthy recipe offers 3 key benefits:
1. Rich in fiber: While we all know fiber is a good thing, do we know if we’re getting enough fiber each day? According to the US Library of Medicine, only 5% of Americans are getting enough fiber each day. That’s why smoothies are such an important addition to your diet! Blended fruits and veggies give you a great fiber boost to aid in digestion, as well as help keep you regular.
One serving of my banana oatmeal smoothie gives you almost 20% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. So blend up and drink up–your body will thank you later.
2. Healthy Fat: I know, fat isn’t always seen as a good thing. Yet hear me out; your body actually needs healthy fat in order to process your food properly. Check out my guide on healthy fats and how to use them. Without fat, the body does a poor job digesting food, converting carbs into energy, absorbing fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K… which are vitally important.
3. Naturally low in sugar: Many quick breakfast options are loaded with extra sugar. While that might make you feel a rush of morning energy, it’s just not sustainable for a busy day. Instead, this banana oatmeal sweet talker with a straw has less than 20 grams of sugar per serving, and balances out that sugar with healthy fat from the coconut milk + fiber from the oatmeal. These ingredients help the body break down the natural sugar, then turn it into usable energy.
Want to help your blood sugar even more? Use a plant-based protein powder, like my homemade protein powder, to give this banana oat smoothie recipe an extra 10 grams of protein + 4 grams of healthy fat. This superfood blend helps keep you full longer, as well as provides more energy.
Common Questions
Yes, you can put oatmeal in a smoothie! You get all the benefits of a bowl of oatmeal, yet in a smoothie form. Oatmeal is loaded with fiber, which boosts the good bacteria in your gut. Whether you need an on-the-go breakfast or you crave a refreshing sippable morning meal, this delicious banana oatmeal protein smoothie is a great option.
While a blender is ideal, you can try mashing the banana and mixing it with finely ground oats, milk, and other ingredients, though the texture may not be as smooth.
You can replace bananas with other fruits like mangoes or berries, swap almond milk for dairy milk or other plant-based options, and add protein powder or nut butter for extra nutrition.
You can store a banana oatmeal smoothie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but it’s best enjoyed fresh for the best taste and texture.
More Plant-Based Oatmeal Recipes
If you make this Banana Oatmeal Smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 banana frozen
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp maple syrup optional
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- If smoothie is too thick, add a little extra coconut milk and blend again. For a thicker smoothie, add another 1/2 frozen banana.
- With coconut milk, you can choose canned or refrigerated. Look for light versions if you’re watching your calories. Or make your own coconut milk.
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
Has anybody tried this with regular cow’s milk instead of coconut milk? If so, how’d it end up?
We think it’d be just as good with cow’s milk, yet haven’t tried that option out. Anyone else? If you give it a blend with the moo let us know! 🙂
Update: I tried it with 1% cow’s milk, and it turned out delicious! Reminded me of an oatmeal cookie.
Thanks so much for the update Mike!! Good to know. Heading for my blender now…
I tried it with cow’s skim milk and omitted the syrup. It was sweet and delicious.
Can you use Irish Oatmeal instead of rolled oats
Irish or steel cut oats would work just fine in this smoothie. 🙂
Anybody try this with a little spinach? Seems like the taste wouldn’t change too much.
I think that is a great idea. If you don’t use too much, the green makes them suspicious, they or you will never taste it,
Spinach is really mild and a bit of it would work great here! Give it a blend and let us know what you think.
Do you use canned coconut milk?
Our fav is homemade coconut milk, which is super easy to make. Check out How to Make Coconut Milk. Yet, if that’s not an option we use full-fat canned coconut milk too. 🙂
I’ve made this smoothie almost every day for the past two weeks. I like it to be more like thick milk (versus a smoothie) so I can quickly slurp it down, so I use a non-frozen ripe banana and add ice when blending to make it cold. My toddler godson tried it for his afternoon snack and loved it too. Thanks for a wonderful, simple recipe.
So glad you like this one so much, Nicole!
vitamix link to deal doesn’t work
Oh no, sorry about that Kim! These deals are dependent on timing and inventory and Vitamix may be all out of the blender that was listed in Jen’s secret deal. Def sign up for our newsletters if you haven’t already; we often team up with Vitamix to offer special deals on their awesome blenders! 🙂
My new favorite smoothie. I used Almond Milk, which I normally have in the house rather than Coconut. Thinking of adding some cocoa for a chocolate version.
Adding cacao powder for a chocolate version would taste delish!
Can’t wait to try this! Is it okay to have this banana oatmeal smoothie EVERYDAY? Keep rawking on!
Hey Sam! Sure, you can drink the same smoothie every day if you like! But def check out our other awesome smoothie recipes if you decide to mix it up and try some different ones!
This smoothie is amazing! It was like dessert. I seriously almost licked the blender clean. I followed the recipe, but didn’t get more than 8 ounces out of it, the recipe says 16. Not sure what I did wrong.
So glad you loved it— it’s really, really good! And you didn’t do anything wrong Julia. We had an issue with the serving size with the recipe card. I just went in and fixed that and now it should get you that full 2 cups of goodness. Keep on rawkin’ girl!
Can’t wait to try this tomorrow morning
After you try it, come back and let us know what you thought, Iris!
I just made this smoothie for dinner— yep. Was out doiing yard work and the time flew by and I didn’t want to cook something, so I decided to embrace Smoothie Sunday. And this smoothie was AMAZING! I loved how substantial it was (def makes a good meal!). The flavors we’re nice too— great job Jen and the rawkstar team!
That sounds like a great and simple dinner! I’ve eaten oatmeal for dinner so why not an oatmeal smoothie?! 🙂
This was delicious! I used homemade coconut milk with a scoop of cashew cream.
Another hit….added a touch of maple syrup and a teaspoon of almond butter….perfection….thank you.
That sounds delicious! 🙂
Do you use canned coconut milk or boxed?
Using canned coconut milk will give your smoothie a creamier texture but either one will work!
I dont have coconut milk. Can i use almond milk
Definitely!
This looks great! What’s your take on using peanut butter with this recipe?
I think adding a little bit (maybe 1-2 Tbsp.) of nut butter would taste great in this smoothie! We prefer almond butter over peanut butter but I think any type of nut butter would do. 🙂
It’s always nice to receive a new smoothie recipe, regardless of the day or time (it’s now 5pm here in Greece). This one looks simple and delicious. I have been adding 2 tablespoons of oats to my smoothie every day for the past 5 months in order to help lower my LDL cholesterol level (and with success).
That’s awesome, Marianne!
Thanks for a fun smoothie recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try today.
It’s delicious!