Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich
intro
Warm, toasty, creamy, and naturally sweet, this classic peanut butter banana sandwich is a satisfying, no-fuss comfort food ready in 5 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Steps
Prep all ingredients first: peel 2 medium ripe bananas (200g total) and slice into uniform 1/4-inch thick rounds; measure out 120g (8 tbsp) creamy peanut butter, 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, then lay 4 slices of soft white sandwich bread on a clean wooden cutting board.
Use a dull butter knife to spread 30g (2 tbsp) of creamy peanut butter evenly across one full side of each of the 4 bread slices, spreading all the way to the crusts to avoid dry bites; sprinkle the 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon evenly over the peanut butter on 2 of the 4 slices.
Arrange the 1/4-inch thick banana slices in a single, slightly overlapping layer across the peanut butter on the 2 cinnamon-dusted bread slices, using roughly 100g (1 medium banana) per sandwich; avoid stacking slices more than one layer high to prevent filling from falling out during cooking.
Top each banana-topped bread slice with the remaining 2 peanut butter-covered bread slices, positioning the peanut butter side face-down toward the bananas; press gently on the top of each assembled sandwich to help the layers adhere and prevent sliding during toasting.
Place a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat (3/10 heat setting on most electric stovetops); add 1 tbsp (14g) of unsalted butter and swirl the pan until the butter is fully melted and foaming slightly, about 30 seconds, taking care not to let the butter turn dark brown.
Carefully place both assembled sandwiches into the buttered skillet; cook for 1.5 to 2 minutes on the first side, until the bread touching the pan is deep golden brown and crispy to the touch, turning the heat down to low if the bread starts to brown faster than 1 minute.
Use a thin metal spatula to carefully flip each sandwich, then add the remaining 1 tbsp (14g) of unsalted butter to the pan, tilting the pan to let the melted butter flow under the sandwiches; cook for another 1.5 to 2 minutes until the second side is deep golden brown, the peanut butter is fully melted and oozing slightly at the edges, and the banana is soft and warm. Transfer sandwiches to a cutting board, slice each diagonally into two triangles, and serve immediately.
Tips
2.Keep stovetop heat at medium-low throughout cooking: high heat will burn the bread crust before the peanut butter melts and the banana warms through, resulting in a charred outside and cold filling.
3.For extra texture, swap creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter; add a 1 tsp drizzle of honey per sandwich over the banana slices if you prefer a sweeter, more indulgent treat.
OMG, my 3 kids went absolutely feral for these! I used crunchy peanut butter like I always keep in the pantry, sliced the bananas super thin, and they were begging for seconds before they even finished their first half. 5 minutes total cook time? Perfect for those chaotic after-school snack rushes when everyone is hangry and climbing on the counters. 10/10 will be making this every single week now.
Really solid quick snack! I slathered a little extra peanut butter on both slices of sourdough so it didn’t get soggy from the banana, cooked it on my cast iron griddle instead of a regular nonstick pan, got that perfect crispy, golden crust. Only reason it’s not 5 stars is I wish I’d thought to add a tiny drizzle of wildflower honey before grilling, next time for sure.
Game. Changer. I’m a broke college student with basically a mini fridge and a tiny sandwich press in my dorm, and this took literally 4 minutes to make? I used the cheap creamy peanut butter from the campus market, a slightly overripe banana I had sitting on my desk, and it tasted better than any $12 cafe toast I’ve bought near campus. Why didn’t I think of grilling my PB banana sooner?
I brought cut up triangles of these to our neighborhood block party potluck last weekend and they were gone in 10 minutes flat! I added a thin layer of Nutella on one side for a little chocolatey twist, and people were coming up to ask me for the recipe all afternoon. Even the picky toddlers at the party were munching on them, no complaints!
Made this before a long day hike last weekend and it kept me full for 3 hours on the trail! I used whole grain bread, natural no-sugar peanut butter, added a sprinkle of chia seeds for extra protein, and wrapped it in foil to toss in my pack. No sogginess, even when I ate it halfway up the mountain, it was still warm and delicious. Great quick pre-adventure meal.
Tasted great, but I tried to make these ahead for meal prep and store them in the fridge, and by day 2 the bread was super soggy from the banana moisture. Definitely better fresh, I don’t recommend pre-making these for the week unless you’re going to freeze them maybe? Flavor is 10/10 but meal prep friendliness is 2/10 for me.
Made this for a lazy Sunday brunch with my roommate, and we paired it with iced coffee and a side of bacon? *Chef’s kiss* I added a tiny dash of flaky sea salt on top of the peanut butter before adding the banana, and the sweet-salty combo was out of this world. So simple but feels like such a fancy treat.
Great base recipe! I swapped the regular peanut butter for almond butter (what I had on hand) and added a few thin slices of strawberry along with the banana, grilled it up on vegan whole wheat bread. Super tasty, quick, and fits my plant-based diet no problem. Would make again.
My 7 year old is the pickiest eater on the planet, like will refuse 90% of the snacks I make for him, and he ate two whole ones after his baseball practice last night. I didn’t even change anything! Just regular white bread, creamy Jif, ripe banana, grilled until the bread was toasty. I almost cried when he asked if we could have it for dinner too.
Just made this as a midnight snack after getting home from a late shift, and holy cow it hit the spot. I didn’t even have butter for the pan, just sprayed a little cooking spray, and it still got that perfect crispy outside with warm, oozing peanut butter and soft banana inside. Way better than the cold granola bar I was gonna reach for.
Solid post-workout snack! I used high-protein peanut butter, Ezekiel bread, added a sprinkle of hemp seeds and a dash of cinnamon, and it clocked in at just over 300 calories with 18g of protein. Grilled it quick on my countertop grill, and it was the perfect sweet treat after my morning run without making me feel sluggish. Only knock is it’s a little higher in carbs than my usual go-to, but worth it for a treat.
Guys!!! I’m 19 and I’ve never cooked literally anything for myself besides microwave mac and cheese, and this actually turned out perfect??? I was so scared I’d burn it, but I followed the directions exactly, cooked it on medium-low for 2 minutes per side, and it’s so good. I feel like a real chef now lmao.
My granddaughter taught me how to look up recipes on this site, and this is the first one I tried! Takes me back to when my wife used to make these for our kids when they were little, I forgot how good a warm peanut butter and banana sandwich is. Cooked it in my old cast iron skillet just like she used to, turned out perfect. Think I’ll make these for our next family Sunday dinner.
I had a grilled PB&J banana sandwich from a food truck at a festival last summer and I’ve been chasing that high ever since, and this recipe is exactly it! I added a little dollop of raspberry jam on one side just like the truck did, and it transported me right back. 5 minutes, zero fancy ingredients, better than takeout.
This is now in our regular weeknight rotation for those nights when we get home late from soccer practice and dance class and don’t have time to make a big dinner. Serve it with a side of carrot sticks and apple slices, and it’s a full, balanced meal that the whole family eats without complaining. Can’t beat that!
Super yummy! I think I had my heat a little too high at first because the first side burned a little bit, but I turned the stove down to medium-low for the second side and it came out perfect. I added a few mini chocolate chips inside and they got all melty, it was like eating a warm dessert without being too heavy. Next time I’ll watch the heat closer!