Best Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are a delicious way to eat more fruits and vegetables, and with just a few minutes of prep time they are perfect for quick snacks and breakfasts. This collection of Smoothie Recipes includes the best fruit smoothie recipes, green smoothie recipes, breakfast smoothies and more!
There is so much to love about smoothies! They’re easy to make, refreshing, and perfect for sipping on the go or as you work. Most smoothie recipes call for just a handful of ingredients, and they can be a great way to add more fiber, protein and other nutrients to your diet. The best part is that you can use up what you have on hand – there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to smoothies, and so many delicious flavor combinations.
To help you get ideas going for your next blended drink, I’ve collected my favorite smoothie recipes below. Whatever you’re craving, whether it be sweet and fruity, chocolate or peanut butter, I have a smoothie flavor for you!
How to Make a Smoothie
Making a smoothie is as easy as adding the ingredients to your blender and blending until smooth! Here are a few tips for how to make the best smoothie.
- Add some frozen fruit. You’ll need at least some of your smoothie ingredients to be frozen in order for your smoothie to turn out thick, not watery. Fruit is an ideal base for a smoothie because it adds natural sweetness and fiber.
- Try adding a veggie. Spinach is a common smoothie ingredient that blends in easily and won’t make your smoothie taste like spinach. Or try other leafy greens, such as kale or swiss chard. Cauliflower is another vegetable that you likely won’t taste if you add it to your smoothie. Or try carrot, cucumber, zucchini or cooked beets.
- Make it sweet. Ripe bananas are an easy way to add natural sweetness to a smoothie. If you freeze your bananas before adding them to smoothies, they can also help to thicken the smoothie. If you prefer to make smoothies without banana, you can add a few teaspoons of honey or pure maple syrup for sweetness. Or your smoothie may have enough natural sweetness from the fruits you’ve blended in.
- Make it creamy. If you love creamy smoothies, then adding Greek yogurt is a great option. It also adds filling protein, to make your smoothie more satisfying.
- Choose your liquid. Dairy free, plant based options include almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk and coconut water. You can also use dairy milk.
- Extras make it even better. There are so many ways to boost the nutrition of a smoothie! Nut butters such as almond butter, peanut butter and cashew butter add healthy fats and protein. Avocado adds fiber and healthy fats. Seeds such as ground flax seeds, chia seeds and hemp seeds add nutrients. Plain Greek yogurt adds protein. Or add a bit of lemon juice, cinnamon, fresh ginger or vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of your drink.
- Blend until fully smooth. A high powered blender makes it easy to blend everything well, from raw carrots to kale and berries. Start with the blender on low speed and then gradually increase the speed until fully blended.
Best Smoothie Recipes
Now on to the recipes! Whether you’re looking for a healthy breakfast, quick snack or way to sneak in some extra greens, there’s a smoothie for every occasion in the list below.
Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Fruit smoothies are well-loved for good reason. They’re naturally sweet and their beautiful colors make them extra appealing. Adding plain Greek yogurt to a fruit smoothie will make it deliciously creamy, like a healthy milkshake!
When you’re craving the ultimate fruit smoothie experience, this Berry Smoothie always satisfies! This healthy smoothie is made with 3 kinds of berries, plus Greek yogurt to make it deliciously smooth and creamy. This one is perfect for an after school snack!
This creamy Mango Smoothie will give you a taste of the tropics! Made with mango, banana and a touch of vanilla, this sweet smoothie is sure to become a favorite. Use dairy free yogurt and plant based milk to make this creamy smoothie a dairy free treat.
This healthy Banana Smoothie is the best! It’s made with just 4 ingredients and blends up thick and creamy. If it’s pure banana flavor you’re craving, then this is the smoothie for you!
This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is sweet and creamy and bursting with fresh strawberry banana flavor. Add some old fashioned oats to this recipe to make it more filling for breakfast, or enjoy it for snack or even dessert. With its pretty pink hue, this simple smoothie is irresistible!
Made with frozen blueberries, spinach and oats, this healthy Blueberry Smoothie is perfect for breakfast! Greek yogurt makes this fruit smoothie creamy and the blueberries give it a gorgeous color. It’s best to fully blend this smoothie with a high powered blender to create a smooth texture and vibrant color.
Here’s another smoothie with a bright, beautiful color: Raspberry Peach Smoothie. This fruity smoothie is bursting with fresh raspberry flavor. It’s quick and easy to make with 5 ingredients. Enjoy this one on a hot and sunny afternoon!
This Strawberry Milkshake Smoothie tastes like a strawberry milkshake, but it’s much healthier! It’s naturally sweetened with fruit and gets its creaminess from Greek yogurt. This one is a kid favorite!
This Orange Smoothie has the best bright citrus flavor! Made with orange, banana and a touch of vanilla, this refreshing smoothie is irresistible!
Green Smoothie Recipes
Green smoothies get their beautiful green color from leafy greens such as spinach or kale. If you’re just starting out with green smoothies, I recommend using spinach because of its neutral flavor and they way it blends smoothly. Once you’re a green smoothie pro, try heartier greens such as kale, arugula or chard. For tips on how to wash and store kale for smoothies, see my post on how to prepare kale.
This Green Smoothie is light and refreshing, and the perfect green smoothie for beginners. Spinach, avocado, banana and frozen fruit are a delicious combination in this easy smoothie recipe. It’s my favorite green smoothie!
This Kale Smoothie is an easy way to sneak in some extra leafy greens! It has protein and fiber to keep you full, and a creamy, fruity flavor. Pear, banana, frozen peaches and mango make this smoothie especially delicious!
If you’re looking for the ultimate refreshing green smoothie, this Green Monster Smoothie is it! This tasty smoothie is packed full of healthy fruits and greens, plus flax seed for an added boost of nutrients and fiber. We love to make this smoothie on a hot summer afternoon.
Enjoy a taste of the tropics with this Tropical Green Smoothie. Pineapple, orange and banana are a delicious combination, and you won’t taste the kale in this healthy smoothie one bit! This one also has chia seeds, which blend in smoothly and help to thicken the smoothie.
Breakfast Smoothies
A breakfast smoothie typically has uncooked old fashioned rolled oats blended into it. The oats help to bulk up the smoothie and make it extra filling for breakfast. Of course, any smoothie can be enjoyed at breakfast time, but here are a few of our favorite breakfast smoothies.
This Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie recipe can be made with blueberries, strawberries, or your favorite fruit. Old fashioned oats help to thicken the smoothie and make it a satisfying and filling breakfast. This one is a kid favorite!
Apples and pears are a delicious combination in this Apple Smoothie! This fall-inspired smoothie has a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. It’s thick and creamy, with the delicious flavors of apple pie.
My Blueberry Smoothie and Pumpkin Smoothie recipes also have oatmeal in them.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
These smoothies have fun flavors and are filled with satiating ingredients like nut butters, oats and Greek yogurt. Who could resist a smoothie made with chocolate, peanut butter or pumpkin?
This Chocolate Protein Shake is a personal favorite! Who could resist chocolate, almond butter and banana blended into a creamy smoothie? This shake gets its protein from plain Greek yogurt and almond butter – no protein powders here.
Peanut butter and bananas are a classic combination that star in this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie. When you’re craving a creamy smoothie that will leave you satisfied, this one is a great option. Add cocoa powder for some chocolate flavor, or swap almond butter for the peanut butter to switch up the flavors!
Pumpkin and apple are a delicious combination in this Pumpkin Smoothie! Pumpkin puree, apples, Greek yogurt and oats give this healthy smoothie plenty of flavor and staying power. Pumpkin pie spice enhances the pumpkin flavor. This creamy smoothie is a real treat!
Can You Make Smoothies Ahead?
It’s best to serve smoothies right after blending. That’s when they taste best and have the best texture. Most smoothies will still taste ok on the second day if you make them the night before and then store them in the refrigerator until the morning.
If you’d like a make ahead or meal prep option, you can measure out the smoothie ingredients, except for the liquid, and store in an airtight container in the freezer. Then to make the smoothie all you have to do is add the prepared frozen ingredients and liquid to your blender and blend.
How to Thicken a Smoothie
Using frozen fruit, such as frozen banana, berries, mango or peaches, will thicken a smoothie. Blending in chia seeds or uncooked old fashioned oats can also help to make a smoothie thicker. If you find that your smoothie isn’t thick enough after blending, blend in a little more frozen fruit. Ice is not the best way to thicken a smoothie because as the ice melts, it will water down your drink.
Ingredient Substitutions
I’m often asked for ideas for ingredient substitutions in smoothie recipes. Here are a few common smoothie ingredients with substitution options:
- Banana: In place of a banana, you can substitute another type of frozen fruit, 1/4 cup oats or 1 tablespoon chia seeds. Avocado can also be used in place of banana, depending on the other flavors in the smoothie. Banana adds sweetness to smoothies and helps to thicken them, but in most cases you can omit the banana if you like.
- Yogurt: Try a dairy free yogurt, avocado, banana, chia seeds, coconut cream or omit the yogurt completely.
- Milk: Whether a smoothie calls for dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk , or another type of milk, you can swap it for your milk of choice. Or, try coconut water for a refreshing, less creamy option.
- Fruits: If you are allergic to or just don’t care for one type of fruit in a smoothie, you can swap another. Pineapple, peaches and mango are easily interchangeable. The same goes for strawberries and blueberries. Depending on the other flavors in the smoothie, you could also try kiwi, apple, pear, oranges or melon.
Best Blender for Smoothies
A high powered blender is best for smoothies because it can fully blend even tough ingredients like kale leaves, oats and raw carrots. While you can use any blender to make a smoothie, if you plan to make smoothies often I think it’s worth it to invest in a high powered blender.
Best Smoothie Recipes: Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1 medium banana, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup almond milk, or oat milk, dairy milk, or other milk of choice
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend, starting on low speed and then gradually increasing the blender speed, until smooth. Serve.
Notes
- To make dairy-free, omit the yogurt (or use nondairy yogurt) and use non-dairy milk.
- For a high protein smoothie, use 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt and add 2 tablespoons of nut butter. Almond butter and peanut butter are both delicious in this smoothie.
