The Best Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

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After baking approximately 5,000 loaves of banana bread for my banana bread loving kids over the years, we agree that this is The Best Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips recipe! It’s soft, incredibly moist, perfectly sweet, and made with simple pantry ingredients. Of course my kids love their banana bread with chocolate chips, but that’s completely optional. Whether you’ve got overripe bananas sitting on your counter or you just need a cozy, crowd-pleasing bake, this banana bread delivers every single time.

I swear my family asks for bananas at the grocery store just to let them get brown so I’ll make banana bread. Seriously, when I say we love banana bread, I mean it. My 3 kids can devour a whole loaf of banana bread in just 1 day. Sometimes I’ll change it up and make these irresistible Banana Bread Cookie Bars or take a shortcut with a Cake Mix Banana Bread.

We love the chocolatey addition mixed in, but you could go with traditional chopped walnuts or pecans, or leave it plain. Either way, this banana bread is scrumptious! Another secret? A mix of melted butter and oil for unbeatable texture, plus brown sugar for that rich, bakery-style flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread

• Super moist and tender (thanks to butter + oil combo)
• Easy, one-bowl recipe
• Perfectly sweet with deep banana flavor
• Customizable with chocolate chips or nuts
• Freezer-friendly and great for meal prep

What You’ll Need

Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips! On the recipe card below, click “print recipe” and from there you can print out the page or screenshot it to save to your phone’s photo album.

Pin this recipe to save to Pinterest so you can make it later! You can Pin It from the recipe card below. Just click the “Pin Recipe” button. If you’d like to follow me on Pinterest , my page is Steph Gigliotti.

I’ve put all the ingredients and supplies you’ll need to make this Banana Bread into a grocery list for you to add to your next Walmart order. Grab the full Shopping List here.

• 9×6 Loaf Pan
• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• Optional: 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped walnuts/pecans

How to Make the Best Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Generously grease or line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper.

Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, vegetable oil, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth. I like to use a whisk versus an electric mixer with this recipe to ensure I don’t over mix the batter and get the softest bread.

Add dry ingredients: Whisk in the flour and baking soda until just combined.

Fold in bananas
Gently fold in the mashed bananas. Add chocolate chips or walnuts if using.

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.

Cool & slice
Let cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish! ⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. 📌Save this recipe to make later and share with a friend!

Tips for Perfect Banana Bread

• Use very ripe bananas: The darker and spottier, the better for sweetness and flavor!
• Don’t overmix: Stir until just combined to keep it soft and tender.
• Check early: Ovens vary—start checking at 50 minutes. I find cooking times vary season to season or even day to day! Some days when I bake this bread it needs 55 minutes, other days it needs a full hour or even 65 minutes.
• Cover if needed: Foil helps prevent over-browning on top. If the bread isn’t completely baked at 50 minutes place a piece of foil over top so the top doesn’t burn.

Variations & Add-Ins

Switch things up based on what you have:

• Chocolate chip banana bread (family favorite!)
• Walnut or pecan banana bread
• Cinnamon swirl (add a ribbon of cinnamon sugar)
• Cream cheese swirl for a bakery-style twist

How to Store Banana Bread

• Room temperature: Store covered for up to 3 days
• Refrigerator: Up to 1 week (warm slices before serving)
• Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months

FAQ’s

Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes! Just thaw and thoroughly drain any excess liquid before using.

Why is my banana bread dense?
Overmixing the batter or adding too much flour can make it dense. Be sure to only mix until the ingredients are incorporated and don’t pack the flour when measuring.

Can I make this into muffins?
Absolutely—bake at 350°F for 18–22 minutes.

Can I make it without mix-ins?
Yes! It’s delicious plain or loaded with extras.

More Banana Favorites

• Banana Split Poke Cake
• Cake Mix Banana Bread
• Banana Bread Cookie Bars
• Frozen Banana Treats

Final Thoughs

This truly is the best banana bread recipe—simple, reliable, and incredibly delicious. It’s the kind of recipe you’ll come back to again and again, whether for breakfast, snacks, or a sweet treat with coffee.

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