A rich and creamy healthy chocolate smoothie loaded with protein thanks to a secret ingredient that you totally can’t taste – beans! It’s like a chocolate protein shake but made without any weird ingredients. Naturally sweetened with just banana and dates, this bean smoothie is totally vegan and dairy-free, and I promise it’s delicious!
Whether you’ve been here for a while or you’re brand new, I want you to do something for me.
Close your eyes.
Cross your arms across your chest.
Let your body fall backwards.
I promise I’ll catch you.
That’s right my friends, we’re doing trust falls today. Trust falls right into putting beans in your smoothies, and I promise that I’ll catch you.
I’m sorry, did you say bean smoothie?
Yes, friends, I did. Bean smoothie! Black bean smoothie! Chocolate black bean smoothie! It’s like a chocolate protein shake, but without any weird stuff in it. Unless of course you consider putting beans in your smoothies weird, and then I guess it has weird stuff in it. I’m ok with it!
What goes into this healthy chocolate smoothie?
I like to call this my Chocolate Black Bean Brownie Smoothie. It tastes like you’re drinking a brownie, but is so hella delicious you won’t even believe it. You’re gonna need the following:
- Beans –> Yes my friends, this is a bean smoothie going down.
- Banana –> Preferably frozen.
- Cauliflower –> Preferably frozen.
- Dates –> Medjool is where it’s at.
- Hemp seeds –> For extra protein.
- Cocoa powder –> Helllloooo chocolate!
- Cinnamon –> Just a pinch
- Plant-based milk –> Oat milk is my jam, but you do you.
If you’ve ever had some hippy dip friend who tried to pass of a tray of black bean brownies as a dessert, that friend will love this smoothie. (Ps – I am totally that friend)
Can you taste the beans?
This is a bean smoothie, but cross my heart and hope to die, you can not taste the beans. They just blend up creamy and delicious and are totally disguised by the other delicious flavours. You can’t taste the frozen cauliflower either, if you’re worried about that. It adds bulk, dietary fiber, and makes this chocolate smoothie icy cold and refreshing.
Hemp seeds add another boost of protein, and sweetened with just a frozen banana and a couple of medjool dates (one is perfect for me, but you can add two if you prefer things to be on the sweeter side), this healthy chocolate smoothie is vegan, naturally sweetened, and naturally protein-rich. It’s great for practically everyone!
Can I make this smoothie in advance?
You bet you can! This Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie recipe is a great option for Make-And-Freeze Smoothie Packs.
What kind of milk should I use?
I used almond milk when I first started making this smoothie, but these days my plant-based milk of choice is oat milk, so that’s what I use more often than not. Any plant-based milk that you’re into will do just fine.
Do I need a fancy blender?
The best blender is the blender you have… that’s how the saying goes, right?
To be honest, I’ve made this smoothie in a variety of blenders ranging from not that fancy to fancy AF, and the main difference is the smoothness of the drink. If you have a less powerful bender you may find a few chunks of cauliflower or dates left behind, but that’s not a big deal.
Until recently I was using this blender, which is a total workhorse, but I’ve since upgraded to this blender, which I looooove.
Hey Nutrition Lady, are black beans healthy?
Black beans are a good source of folate, dietary fiber, protein, phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium and vitamin K. So yeah, they’re pretty dang healthy.
The protein-plus-fiber combination in black beans is one of the things that makes black beans so special. A one cup serving contains 15g of fiber (over half of the daily recommended intake), and 15g of protein. Much of the fiber is indigestible, which supports digestive health, particularly in the lower part of our digestive tract.
The protein-fiber combination is also key in stabilizing blood sugar levels, as both protein and fiber move through our digestive systems at a moderate pace. This is especially important in a drink like this healthy chocolate smoothie. Black beans are also rich in soluble fiber, which is helpful for lowering blood cholesterol levels and supporting cardiovascular health.
Other tasty smoothies you might enjoy:
Carrot Apple Ginger Smoothie
Berry Fennel Smoothie
Pear Ginger Springtime Smoothie
Date Almond Smoothie
The Greenest Smoothie
Banana Cardamom Breakfast Shake
Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie
A rich and creamy healthy chocolate smoothie loaded with protein thanks to a secret ingredient that you totally can't taste - beans!
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1-2 medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and sprinkle cocoa nibs over the top if desired. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Using 2 dates makes this smoothie very sweet. I prefer just one, but if you're accustomed to a sweeter drink or your banana isn't very sweet, you can go for two.
- You can't taste the frozen cauliflower at all! It adds thickness and a good amount of dietary fiber to the smoothie.
- You can't taste the black beans, I promise!
- This makes one LARGE smoothie for a hungry person, or two smaller snack-sized smoothies.
- Nutrition values are an estimate only!
This recipe was originally published July 27, 2014. It was retested, rephotographed, and updated March 28, 2019.
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Veggie Bessie says
July 27, 2014 at 2:06 amWhat a great idea! Will definitely be trying this! Thanks for sharing!
themuffinmyth says
July 28, 2014 at 10:08 pmGlad you like it! Let me know what you think 🙂
Rachelle says
September 3, 2015 at 1:27 pmThere is an error in your article. 1/2 C Black Beans provides 6 or 7 grams of protein not 15 as stated in your article.
1 C = almost 15 grams. The Chocolate smoothie recipe is delicious but does not provide the full amt of protein you stated.
Katie Trant says
September 4, 2015 at 8:45 amI’m not sure where you’re seeing this, Rachelle? In the “Know What You’re Eating Section” it does day 1 cup = 15g protein. I don’t provide nutrition information for the smoothie its self.
Max says
December 22, 2015 at 10:59 amRachelle, the article does state that 1 cup of the smoothie contains 15g of protien. You are correct that 1/2 cup of black beans provides ~7g protein. However, there is no error in the 15g claim: the other ~8g of protein comes from hemp seeds, banana, and almond milk. The respective protein content of these foods may vary depending on the brand.
Katie Trant says
December 24, 2015 at 9:42 amGreat point, Max!
prasath says
January 27, 2018 at 4:54 pmhi there 🙂 if u want to increase the amount of protein , you can use mature black beans instead boiled one raw beans contain 21gram protein per 100 grams beans !! hope it helps u to find some protein. thank u .
Bonnie Nunley says
April 21, 2016 at 1:25 amOk so can I substitute unsweetened coco powder, can I use soaked flax seeds and what can be used from pantry if no dates. Dr is insistent that I loose weight due to my diabetes. I also have budget concerns and would also prefer going ALL NATURAL not using store/chemically enhanced protein powders.
Katie Trant says
May 3, 2016 at 2:05 pmHi Bonnie, it is unsweetened cocoa powder that the recipe calls for. Soaked flax seeds would be fine. The dates add natural sweetness as well as some dietary fiber. You can leave them out, or add a touch of maple syrup if you don’t have dates.
Catherine Gale says
November 20, 2015 at 8:29 pmI absolutely loved this!
Thank you for the recipe.
Katie Trant says
November 21, 2015 at 10:27 amYay! Glad you liked it!
Darla Phelps says
May 24, 2017 at 2:44 pmI want to try this but go dairy free. What could I use for liquid?
Katie Trant says
May 24, 2017 at 5:04 pmThere is no dairy in the recipe as written.
alissa2014 says
July 27, 2014 at 8:39 amOhhhh…I love this idea! I’m on a smoothie kick lately and I’ve been looking for some new ideas. This just might be my after-workout snack later today 🙂
themuffinmyth says
July 28, 2014 at 3:47 pmI hope you like it! It may sound a bit funky, but I promise you you won’t even taste those beans.
Em says
July 27, 2014 at 11:30 amYes, brilliant! I’m a vegetarian uncomfortable with the idea of protein powder as well, so this is such a smart idea for a post-workout smoothie. Made this for myself today after some strength training and appreciated that it’s easy *and* delicious.
themuffinmyth says
July 28, 2014 at 3:49 pmI’m glad you liked it! It’s nice to know we can source protein from whole foods and don’t have to go to powders, isn’t it?
andmorefood says
July 27, 2014 at 7:09 pmI’ve been pondering the evolution of my eating philosophy too – I used to be so fixated on HEALTHY HEALTHY HEALTHY that it was unknowingly stressful.. now I just strive for variety and unprocessed food!
tsooveere says
July 28, 2014 at 4:52 amWhat freedom that must have brought!
themuffinmyth says
July 28, 2014 at 3:48 pmA variety and unprocessed food is just the ticket in my opinion!
tsooveere says
July 28, 2014 at 4:52 amGreat Post! And I must admit two things.
1. I’ve had a similar revelation lately in the way I practice (I’m a Nutritionist). I used to believe that if I just told people how to be ‘Healthy’ I would get people well. Now I realize that I have to inspire people to be healthy and they in turn inspire the world around them. It’s been life changing.
And 2. Your photos are stunning and it’s what caused me to read this post.
Keep up the good work.
Tam
themuffinmyth says
July 28, 2014 at 3:50 pmThat’s a great way to look at nutrition! And you’re absolutely right – people definitely pay it forward when they’re inspired. Thanks so much re: my photos 🙂
Trish says
July 29, 2014 at 8:38 amAre the beans raw or cooked?
themuffinmyth says
July 29, 2014 at 8:40 amCooked! Canned beans are also fine when you’re in a hurry.
Randiah says
December 16, 2015 at 7:32 pmI don’t know if someone asked this before, but are the beans raw or cooked? I have dry black beans (not canned) so do they need to be cooked fully before I can use them in the smoothie? I think this could be a great post-workout smoothie and I LOVE Black beans! 🙂
Katie Trant says
December 24, 2015 at 9:41 amHi Randiah, the beans definitely need to be cooked first. I like to cook up big batches of dried beans and keep them in the freezer, perfect for tossing into a morning smoothie!
Marie says
September 7, 2014 at 9:11 pmI’m loving this right now! I soak the dates and seeds (I used chia) in the almond milk for 15-20 minutes before blending to help my processor along and it comes out great. I’ve also been adding maca, which is new to me, and it works well. Thanks for the recipe!
P.S. Sorry for the caps. It seems to be set to set like that as It doesn’t make a difference whether I have caps turned on on my keyboard or not. Your fill in sheet still come up like this.
Katie Trant says
September 8, 2014 at 6:27 amI love maca in my smoothies (or in overnight oats, yum!) and I imagine the malty flavour would work perfectly in this smoothie. Great idea!
Marie says
September 7, 2014 at 9:13 pmOops, I see it doesn’t come up that way when posted. Forget my comment:)
Mae says
September 26, 2014 at 5:13 pmJust did this! I used 3 fresh figs, chia seeds, and added a bunch of greens and I can’t even tell. This is the fullest I’ve ever been off a smoothie and it is also one of the most delicious I’ve had!
Katie Trant says
September 27, 2014 at 7:04 amMmmmm, fresh figs would be so good! I’m so glad you liked the smoothie. People think the beans are weird, but you can’t taste ’em and you get so much good nutrition, and like you said, satisfaction. Yay!
Jess says
December 28, 2014 at 12:12 pmThis recipe is delicious!! I made it this morning with canned Eden Organic no salt added black beans and I could not even taste the beans! I will definitely be enjoying this smoothie on a regular basis. Thank you 🙂
Katie Trant says
January 3, 2015 at 4:29 pmGlad you like it! You can’t taste the beans at all, can you? Now you’ll be adding beans to all kinds of smoothies!
Amy says
December 29, 2014 at 4:47 pmThis sounds perfect, but I’m a smoothie newbie. If I were going to add greek yogurt – would I just add a container of yogurt, or would I substitute it for some of the almond milk?
Katie Trant says
January 3, 2015 at 4:31 pmHi Amy, sorry for the delayed response – I was away on holidays without my computer! If you were going to add Greek yoghurt you could reduce the almond milk a bit. This smoothie is already quite thick due to the banana and black beans, so you’ll definitely want some of that liquid in there. It really depends on how think your Greek yoghurt is. If it’s quite thick you could add almost all of the almond milk. If it’s less thick try reducing the almond milk by about 50%. Experiment a bit and let us know how it goes.
grannkyklump says
February 16, 2015 at 5:03 amRandom question – do I need to cook the beans first? Or do I use the straight out of the box uncooked?
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
February 16, 2015 at 11:12 amIf the beans are from a can then they’re already cooked – simply give them a good rinse and they’re ready to use. If they’re dried beans then they will need to be soaked and cooked before you can use them in the smoothie, or anywhere else for that matter!
Natalia says
March 6, 2015 at 11:01 amYes! this should work gorgeous together! Love your pictures, do delicious!
Katie Trant says
March 6, 2015 at 4:40 pmIt’s a great combination, so healthy and filling!
Chris H says
March 27, 2015 at 3:43 amThis is a silly question. I like using all frozen ingredients in my smoothie except for the almond milk. Can I use frozen cooked black beans? I’m not usually a fan of black beans but if I can’t taste it in my smoothie that would be a plus.
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
March 27, 2015 at 7:22 amCertainly you could use frozen beans! It’ll make the smoothie thicker, so you might need to add a bit of extra almond milk, but the frozen beans should blend up beautifully so long as you’ve got a powerful enough blender, and make it like a thick and creamy (but healthy!) milkshake. Let me know how it works out.
Emma says
May 26, 2015 at 6:46 pmOoooh, will give this a try next week. Very clever!!
Catherine Gale says
July 17, 2015 at 8:58 pmJust found your website and made this smoothie. I have to say that it is absolutely delicious…. thank you!
Katie Trant says
August 2, 2015 at 6:12 pmGlad you liked it, it’s one of my favourites!
Julieann Hanson says
September 23, 2015 at 3:29 pmI LOVE this smoothie. I wanted more plant based protein for my workouts. It’s delicious!!!
Katie Trant says
September 24, 2015 at 8:27 amIt’s one of my favourites for packing in so much protein without using protein powder. And it’s delicious to boot!
Anun says
December 16, 2015 at 5:38 pmHey! This recipe looks great. I wanted to ask, could I add oats and peanut butter into this shake and blend it as well. Would it make the taste bad or make it taste even better? Oats and peanut butter are really great sources of protein and carbs as well. Since oats is generally tasteless, I was scared that the peanut butter may not complement the cocoa powder.
Katie Trant says
December 24, 2015 at 9:41 amHi Anun! You can add pretty much anything you want to a smoothie, that’s the beauty! Try it out with oats and peanut butter and let us know how it turns out. Chocolate and peanut butter is pretty much one of my favourite combos, so I bet it’ll be delicious! It might be thicker due to the oats, so you may need to add some extra liquid. Go for it!
Angel says
February 28, 2016 at 6:27 pmI just tried this and it was awesome! I didn’t have almond milk but I had vanilla Westsoy so I used that. It upped the protein to 24g and the beans make it extremely filling and you can’t taste them at all! Thanks for posting this yummy recipe 🙂
Sarah Grace Spann says
April 19, 2016 at 7:13 pmWow so unique I might just have to try it! Even though maybe for dessert as that much beans in the morning may not be the best for my tummy 🙂
xo,
Sarah Grace
Katie Trant says
May 3, 2016 at 2:04 pmIt’s delicious enough for dessert, that’s for sure!
Rob says
May 10, 2016 at 7:03 pmWould chia seeds work in place of hemp? Can’t wait to try this smoothie.
Regards …
Katie Trant says
June 28, 2016 at 9:21 amYou could use chia… it would change the consistency and the protein content, but would still be completely delicious!
Jan says
May 7, 2016 at 10:59 pmNice recipe, Katie. I never tried a smoothie with chocolate in it so I might give it a try! 🙂
Katie Trant says
June 28, 2016 at 9:21 amI hope you like it!
Autumn says
June 6, 2016 at 12:25 pmI found your blog yesterday while searching for a mung bean recipe— I made the mung bean and coconut curry recipe last night and it was amazing! I’m really loving your site and have found quite a few recipes I want to try.
I’ve got a question about this smoothie–I live in Thailand, so unfortunately black beans are really hard to find. I can buy them imported but they’re quite expensive. However, Japanese black soybeans are everywhere and very cheap. Do you think those would work in a smoothie?
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
June 28, 2016 at 9:27 amYou could use any bean that has a relatively neutral flavour. So soybeans, adzuki beans, white kidney beans etc, would all be just fine!
Abigail says
September 18, 2016 at 9:54 pmLoved it. A tad too much cinnamon I think. Thanks for the share
Katie Trant says
October 3, 2016 at 10:11 amSometimes I skip the cinnamon altogether, but I do enjoy it with the kick as well!
Nataly Beyer says
October 17, 2016 at 2:55 amHow long should the black beans be soaked before using?
Katie Trant says
November 11, 2016 at 9:39 amNo soaking required – you want to use cooked or canned black beans.
Donna says
October 21, 2016 at 6:27 pmJust made this – DELICIOUS! I didn’t have dates on hand so I sweetened with a little Agave. You would never know there are beans in this drink. So different and very satisfying after a hard workout. I plan or checking out your other recipes.
Jamie says
October 25, 2016 at 1:24 pmThank you so much for this recipe! I used less almond milk to make it a smoothie bowl and added kidney beans & spinach. It was amazing 🙂
Katie Trant says
November 11, 2016 at 9:40 amYum! I bet that would make a great smoothie bowl!
Anna Powell says
December 20, 2016 at 1:27 amWow, what an interesting idea using black beans in the smoothie. Just pinned this recipe. thanks,Anna
Katie Trant says
December 21, 2016 at 8:55 pmI hope you enjoy it!
Mickey says
February 17, 2017 at 6:29 pmI’ve been making smoothies like this for a while no and love them. Do you use raw beans or lentils or do you soak and cook them first? I have also used chick pea power as a protein source and I am wondering about the danger of lectins, I would appreciate your thoughts.
Katie Trant says
February 19, 2017 at 11:29 amI use beans that either come from a can (well rinsed!) or that have been soaked and cooked. I don’t think that raw beans would blend up very well! Legumes, are almost always cooked in some way before we consume them, which leaves only a negligible amount of lectins, making these foods safe to eat for the majority of people.
Maren says
July 24, 2017 at 2:15 amNot sure why I’ve never thought of using black beans in my smoothies.. genius! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Katie Trant says
July 24, 2017 at 8:03 pmI hope you like it! One of my favourite ways to pump up the protein without using protein powders.
Donna says
January 13, 2018 at 7:52 amHi, Katie
This smoothie is really looking so delicious. The ingredients are healthy. I love Banana and Almond milk in my smoothie. . Thanks for putting them together.
Katie Trant says
January 14, 2018 at 8:28 pmBanana and almond milk and BEANS! It’s the ultimate combo!
Elaie says
May 13, 2018 at 3:52 amWhat can I use in place of cauliflower?
Katie Trant says
May 14, 2018 at 6:22 amWell, you can just leave it out of cauliflower doesn’t work for you. Or if you want to replace it with another vegetable you could throw in some spinach (I often use frozen spinach) or broccoli (same, frozen broccoli). You really can’t taste any of those options so long as you use them in moderation.
Jessica J Tschida says
June 1, 2018 at 10:14 pmAre you using cooked, riced, or raw chunks of cauliflower from the freezer?
Katie Trant says
June 3, 2018 at 9:20 pmI use frozen cauliflower straight from the freezer, but I’ve definitely used chunks of raw cauliflower from the fridge before, too.
Maclean says
July 6, 2018 at 12:40 amI just rediscovered this recipe! Still so good! I love how chocolatey and rich it is!
Your recipes never disappoint!
Katie Trant says
July 7, 2018 at 1:23 pmIt’s one of my all-time favourites – I’m glad you enjoy it as much as I do!
Kimberly Adkison says
July 15, 2018 at 6:35 pmLove, love, love this smoothie. So satisfying when I want a treat, and it sure tastes like a treat even though I know what’s in it! I always have a few bags prepped in the freezer so I can quickly whip one up. Having my favorite smoothies prepped in the freezer was a game changer for me since I often am in a hurry when I want a smoothie. Thanks Katie.
MNAsh says
July 19, 2018 at 11:15 pmAs always, soooo good!
stacy says
September 3, 2018 at 2:51 amI’ve love black bean brownies but never thought of putting them in a smoothie. This was delicious! Thanks!
Katie Trant says
September 3, 2018 at 8:54 amI’m so glad you tried it! It’s one of my favourite recipes, and once you get past the idea of beans in smoothies it’s incredibly delicious!
ChristA says
November 7, 2018 at 2:22 pmI just discovered this recipe. Bought black beans to try it… and it’s absolutely delicious 😋 Thank you!! Would never have come up with it myself. Straight into my top 5 for sure! Used less almond milk to thicken it as I love to spoon my smoothies.
Love from Holland, Christa
alice toth says
January 14, 2019 at 8:22 amAbsolutely FABULOUS smoothie! I was skeptical about the beans and the cauliflower but both were not noticeable at all, it was just delicious. I also added a tablespoon of ground flax seeds and used pumpkin pie spice because I was out of cinnamon. Both my husband and I loved it! I found out about this recipe from the Exam Room podcast through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, I’m so glad they shared it!
Katie Trant says
January 14, 2019 at 9:27 amSo glad you enjoyed this smoothie, Alice! And thanks for tipping me off – I had no idea they’d shared the recipe 🙂
EmiLy says
March 14, 2019 at 3:40 pmI can’t believe I waited so long to try this. It’s unbelievably tasty. I’m addicted.
LARISSA says
May 17, 2019 at 11:23 amJust made this and it tastes soooo good! I served 1/2 a portion of it in a bowl with a swirl of homemade almond butter and was deslish!!
Katie Trant says
May 18, 2019 at 4:04 pmOoooh, I love the idea of making this into a smoothie bowl!