This is a variation of our kefir smoothie base recipe. A smoothie is a great way to start your morning, fuel a workout, or satisfy a craving for something cold, creamy, and sweet! This banana berry kefir smoothie is delicious, easy to make, and packed with healthy ingredients!
Must-Know Cooking Skill to Level Up your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out this video to master the basics:
Plus, we’ve got an awesome Knife Skills 101 course to help you slice and dice like a pro (for other recipes)!
Culinary Tips for the Best Berry Banana Smoothie
If you want to make this banana berry kefir smoothie for breakfast and are in a time crunch, place all of the non-frozen ingredients in your blender’s jar and place it in the fridge the night before. Add the frozen ingredients in the morning and blend!
Spinach has a milder flavor than heartier greens like kale, so if you are unsure about the flavor of greens in your smoothies, start with spinach. Leafy greens will turn your beautiful pink smoothie a greenish/brownish hue, but we promise it will still taste great!
If your smoothie’s too thick, just splash in a little more liquid. Too thin? Toss in extra fruit or ice to thicken it right up!
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Banana: Swap it for another creamy fruit like mango or avocado for a smooth, luscious texture.
- Berries: No berries? No problem! Any frozen fruit will work beautifully.
- Kefir: Mix ½ cup plain Greek or regular yogurt with ½ cup milk (or a milk substitute) for a creamy, probiotic-rich alternative.
- Spinach: Kale makes a great substitute, though it has a slightly stronger flavor. Skip arugula or mustard greens—they’re a bit too bold! If you’re unsure about adding greens, really ripe bananas are your secret weapon for masking their taste.
Recipe Variations: Make it Your Own!
Add a dash of real vanilla or almond extract for extra flavor.
If the smoothie is a bit too tangy for your taste, add some honey or agave.
For a higher protein berry smoothie, add 1 Tablespoon of nut butter, chia seeds, and/or ground flax seeds.
Need some kefir smoothie recipe inspiration?
Use our base recipe as a guide, try out these other tasty variations, and then make your own signature flavor!
Kefir Smoothie Base Recipe
Beet Blueberry Smoothie with Kefir
Strawberry Kefir Smoothie with Oats
Which Blender is Best for Smoothies?
Any blender will work! While a Vitamix does indeed make the creamiest smoothies, we realize they are expensive! Any full-size blender, single-serve blender, immersion blender, or even food processor will do the job.
Want to level up your kitchen game? Check out our Essential Equipment Guide for all the must-have tools!
Are Smoothies Healthy?
Whole fruit is best the way to go, but smoothies are a deliciously easy way to pack in tons of fruits and veggies in one sip! This blend brings together fresh banana, juicy berries, creamy kefir, and nutrient-packed leafy greens for a tasty, nutritious boost.
Banana
Bananas are rich in fiber and potassium. The natural sugar in bananas (and all fruit) does not count against your daily sugar budget. Aim to include fruit in all of your meals so that you fill up on beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, water, and phytonutrients!
Berries
Berries aren’t just sweet and juicy—they’re little powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants! This delicious combo helps keep your heart happy and fight off inflammation.
Kefir
What is kefir? What kind should you buy? Kefir is a fermented milk beverage – basically a pourable yogurt drink. It is high in probiotic cultures, which makes for a happy gut. We recommend buying plain varieties to avoid added sugars and organic, if you can afford it. Select a fat content that works with your overall diet. If you tend to consume a lot of foods high in saturated fat, a low-fat or fat-free variety is your best choice. If you limit saturated fat in your diet, whole milk varieties are fine.
Read more about the health benefits of probiotics here!
Leafy Greens
Leafy green veggies are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote health and help fight diseases. Blending spinach into a kefir smoothie is an easy way to help improve your health!
Dive into our ingredient guide to discover the freshest, tastiest picks for all your recipes—because great ingredients make all the difference! 🌟🍎
Serving Suggestions
Kefir smoothies can be a meal on their own or can be paired with our overnight oats, energy bites, whole wheat muffins, or granola for a deliciously satisfying breakfast.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Got Leftover Banana Berry Kefir Smoothie?
Keep leftovers in the fridge and enjoy the next day. This smoothie can hold for longer than a day in the fridge, but it will start to separate. Simply shake before drinking for nutritious smoothie goodness!
Want more healthy breakfast recipes? We have a ton!
Check out these easy base recipe ideas, and as always, adjust to YOUR taste!
Dairy Free Smoothies Base Recipe
Greek Yogurt Smoothie Base Recipe
Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
Share the Love – Leave us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Banana Berry Kefir Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain kefir
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
Additions to YOUR taste
- 1 cup lightly packed spinach
- 6-8 ice cubes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and puree. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ Questions:
Is a banana berry smoothie healthy?
Can I use fresh berries instead of frozen berries?
What can I use instead of kefir in a banana berry smoothie?
Can I make this banana berry smoothie without spinach?
Absolutely. Spinach is an optional addition. The smoothie will still be delicious without it. If you want to add greens but prefer a mild flavor, spinach is a good choice.
How can I make my banana berry smoothie thicker?
For a thicker smoothie, add more frozen fruit or a few ice cubes. You can also use a frozen banana instead of a fresh banana for an extra-creamy texture.
This Post Has 6 Comments
I like this with berry mix or with a combination of pineapple, mango, and peaches. I like to use the ‘ice crush’ mode on the blender first, then use the high speed blend mode. A good way to get your fruit every morning!
Way to make it your own!
I did this yummy it was delicious and nobody even knew there was spinach in it!!! Thanks so much!
Yay! Banana hides the spinach flavor so well 🙂
This was great. I added an extra banana to stretch it to 3 servings.
So glad you enjoyed it! I often add an extra banana for exactly the same reason 🙂