Carrot Banana Smoothie Creamy High-Protein Detox
My Carrot Banana Smoothie is a refreshing balance of sweet and tangy with carrots, banana, lemon, ginger, and turmeric. It’s a delicious snack, post-workout shake, or satisfying breakfast with 36 grams of protein from greek yogurt, protein powder and cashew butter.
This carrot banana smoothie recipe is a great way to fuel your body with simple ingredients while enjoying a creamy texture and delicious flavor. Ripe bananas and raw carrots blend beautifully with cashew butter, Greek yogurt, and a touch of fresh ginger for natural sweetness and a tangy flavor. Plus, with over 36 grams of protein, it’s perfect for keeping you satisfied.
I make this banana carrot smoothie all the time—it’s one of my favorites for a refreshing, nourishing start to the day. Whether you’re looking for a healthy, protein-packed snack or a post-workout treat, this smoothie checks all the boxes with wholesome ingredients and vibrant flavor.
Why You’ll Love This High-Protein Carrot Banana Smoothie Recipe
- Packed with protein: This carrot banana smoothie has over 36 grams of protein to keep you full and energized.
- Simple ingredients: Made with raw carrots, ripe bananas, and pantry staples—easy and wholesome.
- Delicious flavor: A naturally sweet blend with a creamy texture, tangy lemon, and warming ginger.
- Perfect for detox: The fresh ginger and turmeric help create a refreshing and vibrant smoothie experience.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best carrot smoothie:
Almond Milk: My favorite variety is unsweetened vanilla flavored almond milk. Swap for oat milk, cashew milk, or regular dairy milk for a different base. You can also use coconut water.
Greek Yogurt: I use plain, 5% fat greek yogurt. You can also use plain dairy-free yogurt for a vegan option or cottage cheese for extra protein.
Frozen Banana: Try fresh banana with a handful of ice, or use frozen mango for a twist. A ripe brown spotted banana will give the most natural sweetness.
Fresh Carrots: Raw carrots are ideal, but cooked carrots can work for a softer blend. You can use full-sized carrots or baby carrots.
Vanilla Protein Powder: Choose a plant-based protein, collagen powder, or plain protein powder. This is my favorite organic protein powder. This is my favorite organic vanilla-flavored protein powder.
Cashew Butter: This adds healthy fats, creaminess and flavor. Feel free to use any seed butter, including almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter. But I like cashew butter best because it has the most subtle flavor.
Lemon Juice: This gives the smoothie a light, tangy flavor that is so delicious! Lime juice also works equally well for a citrus kick.
Fresh Ginger: You might be surprised by using ginger in a smoothie, but it gives a wonderful aftertaste. Ground ginger can replace fresh if needed.
Turmeric: I love adding this for a touch of flavor and a deeper orange color. Feel free to omit or use a pinch of cinnamon for a different warm spice.
How to Make My Creamy Carrot Banana Smoothie Recipe
Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making my easy breakfast smoothie. The instructions are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
Step 1: Blend the Smoothie
Add all the ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth and creamy. If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of extra almond milk.
Taste and adjust sweetness or thickness if needed by adding more banana or milk.
Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!
Expert Recipe Tips
Use frozen bananas: They create a thicker, creamier texture and add natural sweetness.
Pre-chop your carrots: For smoother blending, slice or chop the carrots before adding them to the blender.
Extra protein: Add a scoop of collagen or a tablespoon of chia seeds for even more protein.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Post-Workout Smoothie: Perfect for refueling with protein after a workout.
- Healthy Breakfast: Pair with a boiled egg or a handful of nuts for a complete meal.
- Snack Time Treat: Enjoy it chilled as an afternoon pick-me-up.
- Smoothie Bowl: Pour into a bowl and top with sliced bananas, granola, and hemp seeds.
- Kid-Friendly: Skip the ginger and turmeric for a sweeter, milder taste kids will love.
- Dessert Alternative: Freeze the smoothie into popsicle molds for a healthy frozen treat.
- Balanced Meal: Serve alongside a whole grain toast for extra carbs and fiber.
- Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie: Blend with a spoonful of cream cheese and a splash of vanilla extract for a dessert-like twist.
- Spinach Smoothie Boost: Add a handful of fresh spinach for extra greens without compromising flavor.
- Pineapple Juice Refresh: Swap almond milk with pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
- Vanilla Greek Yogurt: Mix in vanilla Greek yogurt for an extra creamy protein boost.
- Sweet Potato Power: Try adding a scoop of cooked sweet potato for extra nutrients and natural sweetness.
- Flax and Hemp: Sprinkle flax seeds and hemp hearts on top for a healthy crunch and added fiber.
- Coconut Flakes: Top your smoothie bowl with coconut flakes for a tropical finish.
- Pitted Date Sweetness: Blend in a pitted date if you want extra natural sweetness.
Do you love smoothies? Check out more of my easy and nutritious breakfast smoothie recipes:
- Blueberry Protein Smoothie Detox with Lemon Banana
- Detox Smoothie with Cucumber Pineapple and Ginger
- Snickers Smoothie High Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter
- Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie with Cottage Cheese
- Chocolate Sweet Potato Smoothie High-Protein
- High-Protein Berry Smoothie Cottage Cheese
- Healthy High-Protein Green Smoothie
- Protein Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Healthy Banana Smoothie High Protein
Selecting the Right Protein Powder for Smoothies
When choosing a protein powder for your smoothies, you’ll generally find two main types: animal-based and plant-based. Both offer unique benefits, so the best choice depends on your health goals and dietary preferences.
Animal-Based Protein Powders
Animal-based options are known for their complete amino acid profiles, which support muscle recovery and growth. They’re often faster to digest than plant-based varieties, making them ideal for post-workout smoothies. Personally, I tend to skip these since my meals already provide plenty of animal protein.
- Whey Protein
- Casein Protein
- Egg Protein
- Beef Protein
- Collagen Protein
Plant-Based Protein Powders
Perfect for vegan and vegetarian diets, plant-based protein powders are diverse and often lower in fat and cholesterol. While not all are complete proteins, combining different sources can create a well-rounded amino acid profile.
- Pea Protein
- Brown Rice Protein
- Hemp Protein
- Soy Protein
- Quinoa Protein
- Chia Protein
- Flaxseed Protein
Sweeteners in Protein Powders
The type of sweetener used can impact both the taste and how your body reacts. Here are some common types to be aware of:
- Artificial Sweeteners: Calorie-free but can cause digestive issues for some people.
- Sugar Alcohols: Lower calorie alternatives that may lead to bloating.
- Natural Sweeteners: Options like monk fruit and stevia offer sugar-free sweetness with a strong flavor.
- Traditional Sweeteners: For a natural touch, honey or maple syrup can be used sparingly.
Ultimately, the best protein powder and sweetener for your smoothie comes down to your taste preferences and nutritional goals. If you’re unsure, consulting a dietitian can help you find the perfect match for your lifestyle.
Here are Amazon links to my favorite naturally sweetened protein powders that are very affordably priced:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Carrot Banana Smoothie Creamy High-Protein Detox
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup greek yogurt
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 carrot (medium)
- 3 tablespoons vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth and creamy. If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of extra almond milk.Taste and adjust sweetness or thickness if needed by adding more banana or milk.Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!
Video
Absolute best! As good as the Gingerbread smoothie. Again, I add whole cashews and whole Ginger — if you have a really powerful blender, no need to grate the Ginger.
My husband recently had a bout with dehydration and spesis (spinal cord injury person in a wheel chair) and was hospitalized it was so bad. So now I set out small drinks such as this one for him and he feels really treated and I know he’s getting hydrated and healthier. What a blessing!
That’s so great you’re using this smoothie to help your husband stay hydrated! It sounds like you’re taking good care of him – that’s wonderful!
Would substituting Peanut Butter Powder for the cashew butter work? I normally use the powder version to reduce calories when peanut butter is required but wonder if peanut butter flavor would overpower & if cashew works better
Hi Teresa, yes, you can substitute the peanut butter powder for cashew butter. I haven’t tried it, but yes, it will have a stronger flavor than cashew butter. Please let me know how it turns out 🙂
GM Nicole I just made this delicious smoothie . I kicked it up a notch and added one mandarin orange and one tablespoon of golden flax seed for more fiber. I didn’t have cashew butter so just added raw cashews instead. It paired very well with everything and sweetened it with a little stevia. Thanks for your channel😋
Hi Lecia, thank you so much for sharing this with me! I love your substitution ideas. Thank you for sharing them 🙂
Just made this and it is truly delicious. 😋 I put a date in mine as my protein powder is unsweetened and unflavoured and it was just enough sweetness. I was in smoothie heaven. Totally love the addition of ginger and turmeric. Beautiful colour too.
Hi Virginia, I love your addition of the date for sweetness! That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Dear Nicole, this smoothie was so thick and creamy, the flavours were delicious you actually felt healthy drinking it !! Beautiful colour to the smoothie as well , I topped mine with banana slices , I only had ground ginger but it worked . The tip about the ice cubes with a fresh banana was good to know 👍❤️ This will be on my favourites list , even my husband liked it 😍 Thanks again Nicole XX
Hi Susan, thank you so much for sharing this with me!!! I’m glad you found the frozen banana tip helpful 🙂
Drank this after my workout. Yummy and refreshing!
I’m so glad you liked it, Samantha!
You are going to love the sweet and tangy flavor of this easy smoothie!