57 Healthy Banana Recipes (The Best of the Bunch)
Have some overripe bananas that need to be used asap? Or just tired of eating bananas the same way over and over? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together our 57 favourite healthy banana recipes in this post!
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We need no excuses to share banana recipes. One of the most loved fruits the world over they come in all sorts of varieties and sizes, and are readily (and cheaply) available most of the year round (although it wasn’t always so).
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Insanely nutritious, they sport huge amounts of potassium, vitamin B6 and fibre and help with cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Finding new, tasty and fun ways to incorporate them into your diet isn’t always easy however, so we’ve put together a list of several of our favourites from all around the world wide interweb thing.
That being said, let’s get more concrete and…
…Dive into this list of our 57 favourite banana recipes!
Apart from the standard smoothies, banana breads, muffins and pancakes you can make very tasty ice cream, energy bars or even curry dishes with it. See for yourself below!
1. Healthy Oatmeal Banana Pancakes
Bonus: ultimate nostalgia food
After a healthy and easy breakfast recipe, you can rustle up quickly? Try our oatmeal banana pancakes, served with blueberry syrup!
2. Spinach Banana Smoothie
Bonus: great after a workout
A super healthy and creamy smoothie, perfect for summer. You won’t even realise you’re eating spinach (or drinking it).
3. Banana Oatmeal Fitness Cookies
Bonus: great fitness cookies
Just mix bananas and oats and bake them for 15 minutes. Perfect for when you need an energy boost on the go! To make them a bit moister add a teaspoon of coconut oil into the batter!
4. Spicy Kiwi Banana Smoothie
Bonus: vitamin C, calcium, fiber, protein, iron and potassium
A super easy and super healthy green and white spicy kiwi banana breakfast smoothie. High in vitamin C, fiber and potassium.
5. 2 Ingredient Banana Egg Pancakes
Bonus: easy recipe with just 2 simple ingredients
This world’s simplest pancake recipe contains just two simple ingredients (egg and banana) and is super quick – just minutes from bowl to plate! One of the most delicious banana recipes ever! And my personal favorite.
Hey, why not try out this recipe right away before scrolling further down to the other ideas? Let me pass you the instructions right here 🙂
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Mash up bananas in a large bowl.
- Whisk eggs (using a fork is just fine!) and add to banana paste.
- Fry gently in a pan on low-medium heat with a little heated oil or butter.
Nutrition
6. Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich
Bonus: packed with protein, not just a hangover cure
Simple to make and refuels those important nutrients and amino acids to have you feeling better in no time.
7. Banana Bonkers Overnight Oats
Bonus: video tutorial included
A beautiful mix of bananas, cacao powder, and peanut butter for this oatmeal. All three ingredients are known for their “affinity” to each other.
8. Banana Curry
Bonus: great time-to-taste ratio
Make the perfect banana curry with our stress-free and much-loved recipe. It’s so easy you can’t go wrong – from pan to plate in minutes!
9. High-Protein Lentil Pancakes
Bonus: added protein from the lentils “hidden” in this dish.
There is no time for chit-chat when fluffy lentil pancakes are to be cooked. Just follow a few deliciously easy steps.
10. Muffins with Sweet Apple Chunks
Bonus: really effortless and healthy
A super speedy muffin recipe that proves healthy, eggless snacks are far superior to any others!
11. Gluten Free & Vegan Banana Bread
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: high in potassium, Vit C and fibre
Love banana bread, but want to make it vegan? Our vegan banana bread recipe is simple and made with store-cupboard staples. Depending on the sweetness of the bananas consider adding some sugar!
12. Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie
Bonus: high in potassium, Vit C and fibre
A powerhouse of a smoothie, perfect for a quick breakfast or as your post-workout drink. Works just as well with other berries like strawberries, raspberries etc, fresh or frozen.
13. Banana Mug Cake
Bonus: healthy dessert
The ideal snack for beating sugary cravings in a healthier way. Very easy and quick to make – from cupboard to sofa in less than five minutes!
14. Bulgur Porridge
Bonus: super quick and vegan
Revitalize your mornings with this whole grain, vegan breakfast. With no added sugar, this breakfast will get your day to a great start!
15. Homemade Acai Bowl
Bonus: rich in anti-oxidants, fibre, protein and healthy fats
What is an acai? How to use it in a smoothie bowl? Answers to all these questions and more inside! For best results, use acai puree.
16. Chia Breakfast Pudding
Bonus: omega-3 benefits due to the chia seeds
Make tomorrow’s breakfast today! Soak chia seeds overnight and your busy morning is off to a seamless start! Use the natural sweetness of overripe bananas to sweeten the pudding.
17. Authentic Vegan Banana Pancakes
Bonus: fluffy without eggs
Tasty & Healthy – complete with easy-to-follow cooking instructions compiled by the best pancake makers around!
18. Silken Tofu Vegan Ice Cream
Bonus: perfect vegan dessert for summer, high in protein
This creamy vegan ice cream recipe requires only easy ingredients and no special equipment, except a blender. Get the delicious flavor and perfectly creamy texture without the dairy and too much sugar.
19. Cashew Chocolate Milkshake
Bonus: vegan, dairy-free, high in protein
A smoothie full of smooth, rich, creamy, delicious chocolatey flavor, and also ridiculously quick to make!
20. Healthy Banana Bread!
Protein: 4.6g
Calories: 233kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 5 mins
Recipe by: CookieAndKate
Bonus: easy recipe
Put your overripe bananas to good use with this healthy banana bread recipe. With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up the most delicious bread ever!
21. Vegan Banana Creme Brûlée
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: FeastingOnFruit
Bonus: protein from nutrient-dense hemp seed
Sweet and creamy under a sugar-shell just waiting to be shattered by your dessert-hungry spoon. It’s time we creme brûlée again…
22. Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
Protein: 7.6g
Calories: 328kcal
Ready in: 2 hours 10 minutes
Recipe by: PinchOfYum
Bonus: a delicious way to use up extra bananas
This whole yummy thing is just sweet, ripe frozen bananas that have been smoothed out in the blender and then laced with a little vanilla, a little cinnamon, and a good dollop of peanut butter creaminess.
23. No Bake Banana Bread Blondies
Recipe by: TheBigMan’sWorld
Bonus: gluten-free, Paleo and vegan
Just four ingredients, one bowl, and 5 minutes is all that is needed to whip up these easy, delicious no-bake banana bread blondies! These blondies are soft, fudgy, and are healthy too! Chocolate chips optional!
24. Vegan Coconut Banana Cheesecake
Calories: 88kcal
Ready in: 15 min
Recipe by: VeganFamilyRecipes
Bonus: thick and creamy filling
A 6 ingredient amazing-tasting vegan cheesecake. Best way to use up a bunch of bananas at one go!
25. Avocado Banana Cacao Mousse
Ready in: 5 min
Recipe by: TastingPage
Bonus: Health benefits of avocados and cacao
Avocado mixed with cacao and banana produces a creamy, rich, healthier dessert with no dairy or refined sugar.
26. Banana Bread Breakfast Casserole
Protein: 11g
Calories: 326kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes
Recipe by: SimplyStacie
Bonus: perfect for holiday mornings
Use up your brown bananas and leftover bread in this crowd-pleasing breakfast recipe! It comes together in 10 minutes, bakes for 1 hour and is a recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again.
27. Strawberry Banana Frozen Yogurt
Protein: 4g
Calories: 172kcal
Ready in: 5 min
Recipe by: SuperHealthyKids
Bonus: can be easily adapted
No ice cream machine required for this Healthy Instant (5 minutes or less) Strawberry Banana Frozen Yogurt with only 5 ingredients!
28. No Bake Banana Chip Bars
Protein: 18g
Calories: 183kcal
Ready in: 30 min
Recipe by: RealHealthyRecipes
Bonus: packed with high quality protein, perfect for a hike
Quick, no bake protein bars that are gluten free, and only contain wholesome ingredients? AND it comes with a drizzle of dark chocolate? Yes please!
29. Banana Flaxseed Waffles
Calories: 185kcal per waffle
Ready in: 35 min
Recipe by: DishbyDish
Bonus: great way to up your omega-3 levels due to the flaxseeds
A delicious combination of sweet, ripe bananas and ground flaxseed, mixed in a batter of just five ingredients, and made into crispy waffles.
30. Simple Creamy Banana Oatmeal
Protein: 11g
Calories: 345kcal
Ready in: 12 minutes
Recipe by: RunningOnRealFood
Bonus: naturally sweetened
This simple creamy oatmeal is made with just a few wholesome ingredients and is ready in just 10 minutes (for another fab oatmeal recipe, try this creamy cherry oatmeal). Dig into this filling and nourishing bowl of oats anytime you want a warm and cozy breakfast to start your day.
31. Banana Mango Smoothie Breakfast
Protein: 19g
Calories: 421kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: TheForkedSpoon
Bonus: super fun to make
Rumored to be the most important meal of the day, start yours with this Banana Mango Smoothie Breakfast Bowl with Bee Pollen and Turmeric.
32. Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Protein: 8.2g
Calories: 330kcal
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: ChoosingChia
Bonus: high in fiber and protein
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal is a fun twist on eating oatmeal for breakfast. This oatmeal is baked in the oven and tastes just like your eating a warm slice of freshly baked banana bread!
33. Banana Peach Smoothie
Protein: 10g
Calories: 258kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: TheHealthyEpicurean
Bonus: highly customizable
A simple banana peach smoothie made with Greek yogurt, milk and honey.
34. Honey Baked Bananas
Protein: 1g
Calories: 127kcal
Ready in: 16 minutes
Recipe by: HungryHealthyHappy
Bonus: low fat and vegetarian
Just 3 simple ingredients and less than 130 calories for a super sweet dessert – this is one of our favorite healthy banana recipes!
35. Chocolate Nice Cream Parfait
Protein: 14g
Calories: 209kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: VeggieInspired
Bonus: zero sugar, perfect for any time of day
Chocolate ice cream that’s healthy enough for breakfast! It’s loaded with nutritious ingredients, packed with protein and fiber and cool and creamy! Eat it for dessert too! No one will know it’s good for you!
36. Almond Flour Banana Muffins
Protein: 8g
Calories: 213kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: CookAtHomeMom
Bonus: freezer-friendly & portable
These Almond Flour Banana Muffins are super fluffy, lightly sweet, and jam packed with flavor! They’re absolutely delicious, plus gluten free friendly, and made with no refined sugar or oil.
37. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Protein: 13g
Calories: 333kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: HealthyishAppetite
Bonus: no obscure ingredients, the flavours are on point
This creamy and delicious strawberry banana peanut butter smoothie requires just four ingredients and comes together fast for a balanced and tasty meal or snack on the go.
38. Healthy Banana Oatmeal Waffles
Protein: 16g
Calories: 410kcal
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: HauteAndHealthyLiving
Bonus: fiber, healthy fats and no flour
Start your morning off right with these delicious and healthy oatmeal waffles. Made with bananas, chia seeds and oats, they are a good source of fibre and nutrients, giving you plenty of energy to face the day!
39. Banana Almond Butter Smoothie
Protein: 11g
Calories: 257kcal
Ready in: 4 minutes
Recipe by: KiipFit
Bonus: health benefits of almond butter
This creamy Banana Almond Butter Smoothie is rich, thick and a protein packed breakfast. It’s the most refreshing grab and go meal for busy mornings.
40. Air Fryer Bananas
Protein: 1g
Calories: 124kcal
Ready in: 11 minutes
Recipe by: CookEatLiveLove
Bonus: great recipe for healthy treat
A delicious banana recipe for the whole family to enjoy, with just four easy ingredients (more family friendly recipes in our healthy school lunch recipes!)! Best part? There’s no added sugar!
41. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Protein: 2g
Calories: 73kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: LemonsAndZest
Bonus: perfect snack for school
The perfect peanut butter snack for when you have ripe bananas to use up (and if you like this combo, try our peanut butter and banana wrap too!). Sweeten with maple syrup or honey for bite-sized goodness
for the whole family to enjoy, with just four easy ingredients! Best part? There’s no added sugar!
42. Coffee Banana Smoothie
Protein: 6g
Calories: 224kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: iKneadToEat
Bonus: love coffee? You gonna love it 🙂
Coffee Banana Smoothie is a healthy and delicious way to start your day. Made with only 6 ingredients, it’s ready in less than 5 minutes!
43. Banana Churros
Protein: 1.3g
Calories: 157kcal
Ready in: 7 minutes
Recipe by: CutsAndCrumbles
Bonus: perfect for Mexican-themed parties
Who would have thought you can make churros out of bananas? Ole! Use brown sugar if you like, for added caramelisation.
ith just four easy ingredients! Best part? There’s no added sugar!
44. Fruity Banana Flapjacks
Protein: 3g
Calories: 244kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: FamilyFriendsFood
Bonus: easy way to eat more fruit!
Deliciously moist and chewy flapjacks with banana and dried apricots, drizzled with dark chocolate. Store in airtight container to lock in freshness.
45. Old-fashioned Banana Cream Pie
Protein: 7g
Calories: 114kcal
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: FoodMeanderings
Bonus: sugar free and no bake
This Healthy Banana Cream Pie with a graham cracker crust is a no bake, lighter and healthier version of an old-fashioned banana cream pie with a homemade pudding. It’s also Weight Watchers friendly!
46. Two Minute Tahini Pudding
Ready in: 2 min
Recipe by: Trinity’sKitchen
Bonus: easy and healthy dessert
This pudding is so simple that you can whip it up in a flash and be tucking into it a few short moments later.
47. Peanut Butter Banana Bars
Protein: 11g
Calories: 599kcal
Ready in: 8 minutes
Recipe by: PlantBasedOnABudget
Bonus: decadent but healthy snack
Time to put bananas on a stick and turn them into delicious decadent snacks! You will absolutely love these Peanut Butter Banana Bars!
48. Spinach Banana Pancakes
Protein: 9g
Calories: 537kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: PlantBasedOnABudget
Bonus: St. Patrick’s Breakfast Dream
Add some green pop to your breakfast pancakes with Spinach Banana Pancakes! You won’t even taste the greens but will fall in love with the color!
49. Banana Bread with Ricotta
Protein: 7.2g
Calories: 388kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes
Recipe by: TheLittlestCrumb
Bonus: a great way to use up leftover ricotta and ripe bananas
This banana bread with ricotta is the most delicious banana bread you will ever have! Made with ricotta, olive oil and ripe bananas for a rich, moist breakfast bread that you’ll eat right out of the oven.
50. Banana Oat Blender Muffins
Protein: 11g
Calories: 430kcal
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: VeggiesDon’tBite
Bonus: a family pleaser
These vegan gluten-free blender muffins are super easy and so tasty. Made with bananas and oats, they are healthy enough for breakfast!
51. Easy Baked Oats For One
Protein: 11g
Calories: 334kcal
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: CookingWithElo
Bonus: cake-like texture
These baked oats for one are made in single-serving ramekins and make an easy and nutritious breakfast. This recipe is vegan, egg-free and gluten-free.
52. Banana and Chocolate Wrap
Protein: 10g
Calories: 327kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: TinAndThyme
Bonus: TikTok wrap hack
This tortilla wrap hack is a super simple way of creating a mess-free, easy-to-handle, layered tortilla sandwich (and if that sounds good, you need to try some of these other vegetarian wraps too!). It takes two minutes to toast and the melted chocolate helps hold everything together.
53. Banana Carrot Smoothie
Protein: 8g
Calories: 389kcal
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: CookingWithMammaC
Bonus: pretty wild combo of carrots and bananas. But it works!
This healthy Banana Carrot Smoothie tastes like carrot cake! It’s accented with walnuts, cinnamon, allspice and a little Greek yogurt for tang. You’ll love it!
54. Peanut Butter and Banana Bars
Protein: 9g
Calories: 278kcal
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: BowlOfDelicious
Bonus: perfect pre-hike/pre-run/pre-workout snack
This homemade oat, peanut butter, and banana energy bars recipe has only 5 ingredients, and they’re high in protein, healthy carbs, and fiber!
55. Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Protein: 11g
Calories: 387kcal
Ready in: 4 hours 5 minutes
Recipe by: LemonsAndZest
Bonus: great for quick weekly meal prep
Just like banana bread straight from the oven, but with barely any effort, these Banana Bread Overnight Oats are perfect for a quick breakfast on busy mornings.
56. Banana Cake
Protein: 7g
Calories: 631kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes
Recipe by: SimplyStacie
Bonus: great for parties and holiday gatherings
An amazingly moist cake covered in cream cheese frosting. Best way to use up those brown bananas!
57. Flourless Chocolate Banana Bread
Protein: 8.2g
Calories: 328kcal
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes
Recipe by: ASimplePalate
Bonus: can be made into muffins
You will love every bite of this flourless banana bread. It’s naturally sweet, has a slight peanut buttery taste, and truly, the best banana bread recipe ever!
Banana FAQ
After all those banana recipe, let’s answer a few important questions that might have brought you here as well.
Where do bananas originate from?
Bananas originated from Southeast Asia, today’s Indonesia, Philippines or Malaysia. They come in all sorts of varieties and sizes and are nowadays grown in most tropical areas around the world.
Just a quick heads up: you won’t find plantain recipes here, this post solely features the “dessert” banana!
Are bananas healthy?
Bananas are very nutritious, containing potassium, vitamin B6 and fibre and can help with cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Is it OK to cook a banana?
Absolutely! While there are plantains, a type of banana specifically cultivated for cooking, there are also many cooked dishes using the dessert banana.
As the name already gives away, you’ll find many desserts using regular bananas, but also main dishes or breakfasts, like this bulgur porridge or this banana curry here.
When baking, grilling, or frying bananas you shouldn’t be too worried about losing any nutrients. When you boil them you’d have to accept a few nutrient losses flushed away with the water.
How to freeze bananas?
Bananas are best frozen when they’re spotty. Peel, dice, then chuck them into a plastic bag or container. Unfortunately, the pieces stick to glass or metal containers and you’d have a hard time getting them out.
Avoid that 🙂
How many bananas can I eat per day?
This depends on your personal calorie needs. For most healthy people 1-2 bananas per day would be moderate. Consider mixing up your fruit intake regularly to make sure you get nutrients bananas lack.
What do bananas go well with?
These are my absolute favorite banana pairings:
- Peanut butter (of course!)
- (Dark) chocolate
- Walnuts
- Coconut
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Mango (this!)
- Pineapple
- Blueberries
- Greek Yogurt
- Eggs (together in a pancake!)
Most of these combinations will work wonderfully with baked bananas or just as a smoothie. Regarding the eggs: see my favorite pancake ever here.
If you found this post useful or inspiring (or both!) we also have a couple more compilations to check out – this badass quesadilla one for example, or this cool zoodle collection! Don’t know what a zoodle is? Take a look 🙂
Hauke Fox
I’m always on the lookout for these damn smart recipes. You know, those that only take a few minutes to put together and taste delicious. Vegetarian Cooking at home is a way to take back control over what I eat. I don’t like what many companies do to animals and the environment with their products.
This article has been medically reviewed by James LeBaigue MSc Learn More
James LeBaigue MSc
James has a Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Human Nutrition.
He loves combining his scientific knowledge along with food in the real world, and these recipes are the result.
He’s on top of all the latest evidence and guidelines to make sure our nutrition advice on the website is as accurate as it can be.
By day he works as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in a busy NHS GP Practice.
Each recipe is tested and then eaten (much to James’ delight), many times before it is deemed worthy to be published. Bon appetit!
Comments
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31 comments
I,m going with BANANA bread lets see how it comes out
I made it a couple of times, it’s delicious!
Banana Oatmeal Fitness Cookies are about as delicious as old socks. Strictly for emergencies.
I have to object. My daughter only gets food way surpassing the quality of old socks. And she still loves these. Strictly for all occasions including emergencies!
doon malai is best rice
For the banana curry? Good to know, thanks!