Making a really good smoothie shouldn’t have to be a complicated process. And the recipe that I’ll be sharing today is undoubtedly proof of that. This easy 3-ingredient recipe makes the tastiest peanut butter banana smoothie that I’ve ever had. It’s so incredibly easy to make too — just add a bit of milk into a blender along with your peanut butter and one large banana. Despite the fact that this smoothie only includes three ingredients, it still offers a balanced mix of healthy fats, protein, carbs, and fiber making it a perfect choice for a quick and easy meal replacement.

Easy Preparation with a Gourmet Taste

The reason this smoothie recipe works so well is because each of the three ingredients used ends up offering a whole lot to the overall package. Starting with the large sliced frozen banana, you’ll be getting a lot of essential nutrients including fiber, potassium, B-vitamins, and a surprisingly potent amount of antioxidants. (1) Bananas aren’t usually the first fruit that people think of when they picture antioxidant rich food sources (that distinction usually goes to blueberries and other berry varieties) but they’re definitely an excellent option for providing your body with bioactive compounds that help to fight the oxidative stress that can contribute to disease.

In order to make this smoothie nice and satisfying you’ll be adding two tablespoons of natural peanut butter. This provides a solid mix of three healthy fat types — saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. While many people unfortunately still tend to shy away from saturated fats, they definitely aren’t the heart disease causing demon that they’ve been made out to be over the years. Instead, saturated fats (along with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) should definitely be a part of a balanced diet — it’s the trans fats that you should be avoiding. Consuming essential fatty acids is an excellent way to improve your overall cholesterol profile and reduce your risk of heart disease. (2)

Last but not least this recipe calls for ⅔ cup of milk to use as your liquid base. I usually use 2% milk when I make my smoothies as it offers a good mix of saturated fats and protein, but you should definitely feel free to get a little bit flexible here depending on your own goals. If you’re currently trying to gain muscular weight and you need more calories, you can just as easily use whole milk instead. On the other hand, you could also completely replace the milk with an option like unsweetened almond milk if you’re sensitive to dairy or just looking for a lower calorie option. Just use whatever works best for you — there’s no right or wrong way to make your own smoothies!