Learn how to make this light and refreshing Watermelon Banana Smoothie recipe with 4 ingredients in 5 minutes from a dietitian!
Nothing beats fresh watermelon on a hot summer day. Whether I serve it by itself, with Tajin, or in smoothies, my kids can't get enough of it!
I hadn't thought to serve watermelon as a delicious drink until a few years ago when I was in Belize. We went to a restaurant known for blended watermelon drinks where we were able to watch them in action.
They scooped out fresh watermelon and blended it right up, adding a few other ingredients of course. Such a great idea! It looked so easy, so I went home and gave it a try!
It turns out that the water content makes it so that you don't have to add much (if any) additional liquid and there's enough natural sugar in watermelon and banana to make it nice and sweet. 😅
And the idea of adding fresh lime was inspired by Chipotle's new Watermelon Limeade. The key ingredients they use are "watermelon, lime, and sugarcane".
Still, I really wanted to make a watermelon smoothie without added sugar, so I decided to use banana. I add just enough banana to sweeten this smoothie, but not so much that it stands out. I know you'll just love it!
Serve this easy smoothie recipe poolside as an afternoon snack or as a sweet hydrating beverage on a hot summer day. You can also pair it with a more filling snack like a Banana Carrot Muffin or Nut-Free Trail Mix.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe If you have a sweet tooth like me, you'll love how easy it is to make a healthy smoothie that tastes sweet!
- Simple Ingredients 4 ingredients! Actually, just 3 healthy ingredients if you don't count ice! Watermelon, banana, lime, and ice. Chia seeds are optional.
- No Added Sugar Watermelon and banana have natural sweetness, so there's no need to add even more. 😍
- Uses up leftover watermelon Using fresh watermelon to make smoothies is a great way to use up left over watermelon.
- Kid-Approved Kids love the watermelon flavor in this smoothie! It does have a very mild banana flavor, but it's not very noticeable. Kids also love the bright red color from the ripe watermelon, which happens to fit right in with a Memorial Day or 4th of July themed party or barbecue! 🤩
🍉Fun Facts About Watermelon
- Watermelon is about 92% water, so it's excellent for hydration.
- Watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene, which has several health benefits.
- Studies have shown that people who eat watermelon often have an overall higher diet quality.
🙋♀️Dietitian Tip
Chia seeds are an easy and convenient way to add fiber, protein, and omega-3 fats (known as healthy fats) to a variety of foods, including smoothies.
But because they can affect the color and consistency of smoothies, start by adding a small amount and see if your kids notice.
If your kids don't seem to mind the change, then the next time you could add more.
Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon Use seedless watermelon. Good source of various vitamins (including vitamin C), minerals, and phytonutrients.
- Banana I use frozen bananas for best results. If you prefer fresh banana over frozen, make sure it's very ripe. Bananas are a good source of fiber and potassium.
- Lime Use fresh lime juice. It helps to balance out the sweetness.
- Chia Seeds (optional) Either black or white chia seeds can be used. Traditional black chia seeds will dull the color of this smoothie. Chia seeds contain omega-3 fats, fiber, protein, and various minerals.
👩🍳How to Make This Banana Watermelon Smoothie
Here's a summary of how to make this watermelon smoothie with banana. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Add all ingredients to the blender, starting with the watermelon pieces.
- Blend just enough that all ingredients are incorporated (about 20-30 seconds).
- If you or your kids don't want to drink it with the foam on top, pour it through a fine-meshed strainer before you serve it. See the image below for how I do it.
Helpful Tips
- Avoid over-blending for optimal temperature and texture.
- Chia seeds will affect the color and texture of this smoothie. If your kids are not adventurous eaters, I suggest making this smoothie without chia seeds the first time you make it.
- A fresh, ripe banana can be used in place of frozen banana.
- You don't need to use a high-speed blender to make this recipe. Any blender should work.
- When the smoothie settles, there will be a foam like consistency on the top. The foam is caused by the insoluble fiber from the fruit. This is to be expected.
- Stir the smoothie frequently as you drink it to lessen the amount of foam on top or use a fine-meshed strainer to remove the foam before you serve it (see the picture above).
- Add a splash of coconut water if you prefer a thinner smoothie.
Questions You May Have
One nice juicy lime will give you about two tablespoons of lime juice. Still, there have been plenty of times when I've had a hard time getting even one teaspoon from one lime.
For this reason, I always buy at least one extra lime. If nothing else, I will have some left that I can use to make homemade guacamole!
Banana, strawberries, and tropical fruits like mango and pineapple mix well with watermelon.
This is a thin smoothie. You could thicken it by adding chia seeds, more frozen fruit, or Greek yogurt.
You can but I don't recommend adding much. Personally, I think adding protein powder to this particular smoothie would not taste good.
Of course, I could be wrong. So, if you make this with protein powder, please let me know how it turns out!
More Easy Smoothie Recipes
Did you make this watermelon smoothie and love it? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below to let me know. A 5-star rating is the best compliment!
Don't forget to snap a pic of your delicious smoothie and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Watermelon Banana Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 Blender I use a Vitamix
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh watermelon pieces Seedless. Rine removed.
- ½ banana frozen
- ½ cup ice
- ½ lime juiced
Optional Ingredient
- 1-2 teaspoon chia seeds white or black chia seeds
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed.
- Blend for about 20-30 seconds, just until all ingredients are blended well.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Avoid over-blending for optimal temperature and texture.
- Fresh banana can be used in place of frozen banana.
- If using fresh banana, it should be ripe or slightly over-ripe.
- When the smoothie settles, there will be a foam like consistency on the top. The foam is caused by the insoluble fiber from the fruit. This is to be expected.
- Stir the smoothie frequently as you drink it to lessen the amount of foam on top.
- Chia seeds will affect the color and texture of this smoothie. If your kids are not adventurous eaters, I suggest making this smoothie without chia seeds the first time you make it.
- This recipe is easily multiplied so your kids and their friends can enjoy it!
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