This 4-ingredient Almond Butter Protein Chia Smoothie provides a boost of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, and makes for a healthful breakfast or snack.
This blog post is sponsored by Almond Breeze. The content and opinions expressed here are mine.
For those of you who are all about a quick and easy smoothie for breakfast or snack, this yummy Almond Butter Chia Smoothie packs a nutrient punch.
A boost of protein, a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and easy to digest carbohydrates, this simple smoothie recipe is like giving your body a big nutritious hug.
Did you know liquid clears your body four times faster than solid food? When I learned that nifty fact, I began drinking smoothies daily.
A great way to re-set your metabolism is to annihilate a nutritious smoothie or creamy soup, such my Golden Beet and Fennel Soup. The body is very receptive to food in liquiform.
When we think of detox smoothies, we tend to think of the famous green smoothie. Green smoothies are awesome, and I’m all about adding a handful of spinach to my protein smoothies, but we also need protein and fat in order to support digestion.
You can absolutely add a handful of spinach or kale leaves to this smoothie to make it green!
I find that a ripe frozen banana and unsweetened almond milk is base camp for a sweet, healthy treat, so most of my protein smoothies are founded on this duo.
This almond butter chia smoothie recipe is just so silly simple.
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this healthy smoothie recipe.
Ingredients for Almond Butter Chia Smoothie:
Ripe Frozen Banana: The all star ingredient that adds creaminess and sweetness to the smoothie. I like to peel a ripe banana and freeze it in advance.
I often do this to multiple ripe bananas at a time so that I can store them in a zip lock bag in the freezer for those times I need a delicious smoothie. If your banana isn’t frozen, toss some ice cubes into the blender so that it turns out nice and cold.
Milk of Choice: Pick your favorite milk for smoothie making. I like almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk. Unsweetened vanilla almond milk is always a great option.
Unsweetened Almond Butter: Almond butter adds healthy fats to the smoothie and also gives it a little richness. Peanut butter or cashew butter works here too. Add an extra 1 to 3 tablespoons almond butter to make this easy recipe more calorically dense.
Chia Seeds: One of the star ingredients, chia seeds add an infusion of omega-3 fatty acids. Just be sure to drink the smoothie immediately after preparing it or the chia seeds will thicken the smoothie. You can add flax seeds in addition to or in lieu of chia seeds.
Collagen Peptides or Protein Powder: Add your favorite protein powder or collagen powder to turn this into a meal in a glass. For plant-based protein, use hemp protein powder, pea protein powder, or rice protein powder instead of whey protein.
Optional Additions:
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1/2 to 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 handful baby spinach
This recipe as written includes 21 grams of protein. Not too shabby for a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning!
Occasionally, I’ll toss in some oats for added thickness, flavor and fiber!
How to Make This Smoothie Lower in Carbohydrate:
Looking for a lower sugar or lower carbohydrate smoothie? Simply replace the frozen banana with frozen cauliflower. I prefer using frozen cauliflower that was previously steamed, as I find cooked cauliflower is easier on my digestive system than raw.
Be sure to sprinkle in some extra cinnamon, a touch of vanilla extract and/or cocoa powder for added flavor if you go with cauliflower.
Recipe Additions:
I always have the ingredients for this smoothie on hand, and it’s perfect to use as a blank canvas for other smoothie add-ins, such as maca powder, hemp seeds, cacao powder, and/or your favorite fruit and leafy greens.
Add any of your favorite fruit to change up the flavor. I prefer leaving it on the creamy/almond butter/chocolate end of the smoothie spectrum.
How to Make Almond Butter Chia Smoothie:
Add all of the ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until completely smooth. Taste the smoothie for flavor and make any adjustments you’d like. You can add more almond butter, more protein powder, cinnamon, vanilla extract, etc.
Pour into a glass and enjoy! Note that the smoothie will thicken as it sits due to the chia seeds. For the best results, drink the smoothie soon after preparing it.
If you love making smoothies, here are some of my favorite smoothies
More Healthy Protein Smoothie Recipes:
- Immunity Boosting Tropical Smoothie
- Good Digestion Smoothie
- Liver Detox Smoothie
- Pineapple Green Protein Smoothie
- Adaptogenic Protein Smoothie
Enjoy this banana almond butter smoothie for the perfect breakfast!
Almond Butter Chia Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe banana peeled and frozen
- 3/4 cup Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almondmilk
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond butter
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 scoop collagen peptides
Optional Add-ins:
- Ground cinnamon
- Maca Powder
- raw cacao powder
- Blueberries or fruit of choice
- Spinach or leafy green of choice
Instructions
- Put it all in a blender and blend until smooth.
Nutrition
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This is an excellent smoothie. I added 1 scoop of protein powder and a good handful of raw spinach. Also, it was plenty sweet, and needed nothing else!
Thank you.
Wahoo! I’m so happy to hear you like it, Debbie! I love the idea of adding spinach!
Calorie count per serving?
I tried this a couple times and it’s one of my favorites. I feel full until lunch which is 7 hours away from my morning start.
I’m so happy to hear it, Emily! Thank you for sharing! xo
Magnificent web site. Lots of useful information here.
I am sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you on your sweat!
I want to start making smoothies, but I detest bananas. Do you have a go-to banana sub that still provides the smoothie thickness without the banana taste?
For Karen who doesn’t like bananas-
I got kind of bored of banana so was looking for alternatives, read up that frozen white Cannellini beans or black beans (cacao base smoothie?) ( if you can eat legumes) also make a good nutritious substitute to banana which also thickens the smoothie, has very little taste and makes smoothie smoooooth + keeps the chill
Otherwise, thickening ‘agents’ like chia seeds or flexseed meal – they will thicken up the liquid over a little time so you have a smoothie like consistency and helps get you full
hopes this helps!
Lev
Just freeze the fruit that you do like and throw it in a smoothie. The fact that it’s frozen with thicken it up. You can always add ice and Chia seeds to make it thicker. Bananas add sweetness, but you can add dates instead to make your smoothie sweeter Hope that helps!
Delicious. I replaced almond butter with cashew butter (it’s what i had on hand). Also used a T of hemp seeds instead of chia seeds, with additional add-ins of a tsp of maca, a T of date paste (for added sweetness) and a handful of kale stems.
Just made this smoothie and I’m drinking it right now….SO delicious!! Loved adding a touch of cinnamon. I am adding this to my list of favorite smoothies.
So happy to here it, Sara! I love adding cinnamon to my smoothies too – it’s great for blood circulation and gives the drink a nice sweet warmth 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Everyone needs a big beautiful area rug!! 🙂 And I love smoothies, love love love them! That is normally what I have for breakfast. I love this tasty almond butter version! It looks fantastic!
I’m thinking an area rug like The Big Lebowski’s (pre-pee) is exactly what I need 😉 Glad you like the smoothie!
Pretty sure THIS is the smoothie that’s going to turn me into a smoothie addict. Total gateway drug.
Heck yea. So simple. So full of banana. It’s just a win all the way around 😀
Unless I don’t have time to whip it up in the morning, smoothies or “nana ice cream” are always my go-to for breakfast! There are just too many delicious options and easy ways to devour some good fruits, veggies and protein packed goodness! 🙂
Huzzah for the healthy smoothie! And for coffee and Liam Hemsworth! (Also, NO TV?? Baby I’m amazed by you.)
Almond butter+banana is my FAVORITE smoothie combo, yesss! I agree with the adult things and living with intention, plus sometimes it’s hard to furnish a place because there are so many options but what do you even doooo?! I feel ya.
Mmm this looks easy and healthy!
Oh, my vote is for Liam Hemsworth! He is a hot-tee. 😉
And it’s probably a good thing that you don’t own a TV. They’re pretty much just a drain on all productivity.
This smoothie though- it’s so simple yet so complete. And I’m all for anything that involves drinking almond butter. 🙂
Area rugs = yay. Wall to wall = nay. Almond butter chai seed smoothie = DOUBLE YAY!
Televisions are overrated. I barely watch the three we own. They’re mainly used during football season by my man child roomie. This smoothie looks swell, real swell. Pinned.