How to Make a Smoothie: my formula for the thickest, creamiest, most delicious fruit smoothie every time! Tons of options for your liquid, your fruit and your add-ins!
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Whether it’s a Strawberry Smoothie, a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, or an Apple Crisp Smoothie, smoothies make a great breakfast, snack, or even dessert.
But, as simple as they are to make, they’re also surprisingly easy to mess up. They can be too thick, too thin, too sweet, not sweet enough, too chunky, too icy…yeah, you get it.
Well, I’m going to show you just How to Make a Smoothie! This is my formula for making the perfect one every time with just the right amount of liquid, fruit, yogurt, and add-ins.
I’ve also included plenty of variation ideas so you can customize it just how you like!
What Should I Put in My Smoothie?
The great thing about a fruit smoothie recipe is that the customization opportunities are virtually endless. Here’s a quick run through of what I usually put in my smoothies:
- Milk or Juice: you can use dairy milk, non-dairy milk, juice, or even coconut water — really any liquid goes! You can even use cold tea.
- Greek Yogurt: yogurt is a great way to kick the protein up a notch and to make a deliciously thick and creamy texture. Dairy-free, plant-based yogurt works well, too, and you can skip it if you need (it just won’t be as thick).
- Banana: I love to keep frozen, sliced banana on-hand. The frozen banana makes it extra creamy and acts as a natural sweetener.
- Berries/Other Fruit: any frozen fruit work great in smoothies! Pineapple, mango, and berries are our favorites. You can even use watermelon like in this refreshing Watermelon Smoothie!
- Add-Ins: you can customize it with so many different add-ins. Protein powders, nuts or seeds, oats, extracts, sweeteners, even avocado!
Smoothie liquids:
We’ve gone over the basics above, but here are a few more fun options:
- Chocolate milk or chocolate almond milk
- Cold coffee or tea
- Pineapple or mango juice
- Oat, almond, soy or coconut milk.
- Kombucha or kefir — for some fermented goodness!
Smoothie fruits:
Frozen is best because they create a thick and refreshing smoothie! If you have fresh fruit, try to balance it out with a frozen banana or a cup of ice.
- I use frozen banana for almost all of my smoothies! It makes them rich and creamy.
- Apples (not peeled) or oranges (peeled)
- Berries — they are full of antioxidants and fibre! (this Blueberry Smoothie is one of our favorite berry smoothies!)
- Pineapple, mango, kiwi — these are fun tropical flavors (they pair well with coconut milk — like in this fun Tropical Smoothie!)
- Peaches, cherries or other stone fruits (grab a bag of frozen and skip paying the high price when they are out of season)
Smoothie Add-In Ideas
- Nut Butters: give it a boost of nutrition and nutty flavor with a scoop of peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter.
- Seeds: add in a sprinkle of flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp hearts.
- Grains: add a scoop of quick oats or even cooked brown rice or quinoa.
- Protein: make it more filling with a scoop of your favorite protein or collagen powder.
- Make it creamy: Cream cheese and cottage cheese make an incredibly thick and creamy smoothie.
- Veggies: a handful of fresh spinach or kale, half an avocado, or even a handful of frozen cauliflower is a great way to add some extra nutrition. Cauliflower and avocado also create an extra smooth and creamy texture!
- Sweeteners: prefer it sweeter? Try adding a drizzle of honey, agave, pitted Medjool dates, or simple syrup.
- Extracts: add a dash of vanilla, almond or maple extract to add some extra flavor.
- Spices and Powders: try Acai powder, maca powder, spirulina, cinnamon, nutmeg, you name it.
How to Make a Smoothie
This healthy snack comes together in a quick 5 minutes! Here’s how:
- Add ingredients to the blender: Add all of your ingredients to a high powered blender in order from softest to firmest.
- Blend: Blend until smooth, stopping to stir if needed.
- Adjust as needed: Check the flavor and texture, adjust as needed, then serve right away!
Healthy Fruit Smoothie FAQs
You can pretty much use any fruit you like in a smoothie. Try strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, banana, mango, peaches, cherries, pineapple, watermelon, you name it. For the best results, use frozen fruit. It makes for a creamier smoothie!
I definitely recommend using milk for your smoothie. It creates a creamier texture and better flavor. Dairy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk are all great options.
If you’re using frozen fruit, no. It isn’t necessary to use ice in a smoothie. Frozen fruit is the best way to get a cold and creamy smoothie without watering it down. If all you have is fresh fruit, or you like your smoothies super cold, it is fine to add ice.
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk or juice (dairy or non-dairy, high fat or low fat)
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (or flavored) about 125 grams
- 1 frozen banana (cut into or frozen in chunks) about 115 grams
- 1 cup frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, or watermelon, cherries, pineapple, mango — options are endless!)
- add ins and extras as desired (protein, nut butter, oats and other grains, extracts, etc)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to the blender in the order listed (from softest to firmest).
- Blend until smooth, stopping and stirring as necessary.
- If your blender is struggling, add a small splash of liquid and stir, then blend again. If you like your smoothie thicker (or colder!), add a handful of ice and blend again.
Notes
- Nut Butters: give it a boost of nutrition and nutty flavor with a scoop of peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter.
- Seeds: add in a sprinkle of flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp hearts.
- Grains: add a scoop of quick oats or even cooked brown rice or quinoa.
- Protein: make it more filling with a scoop of your favorite protein or collagen powder.
- Make it creamy: Cream cheese and cottage cheese make an incredibly thick and creamy smoothie.
- Veggies: a handful of fresh spinach or kale, half an avocado, or even a handful of frozen cauliflower is a great way to add some extra nutrition. Cauliflower and avocado also create an extra smooth and creamy texture!
- Sweeteners: prefer it sweeter? Try adding a drizzle of honey, agave, pitted Medjool dates, or simple syrup.
- Extracts: add a dash of vanilla, almond or maple extract to add some extra flavor.
- Spices and Powders: try Acai powder, maca powder, spirulina, cinnamon, nutmeg, you name it.
Nutrition Information
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Teresa Super says
I have yet to start my smoothie journey. I will give 5 starts because your information is very useful. I do have a request. Do you have a page that gives recipes for specific ailments? For instance, If I want a smoothie to help with inflammation, what is recommended? Or one to help with brain fog, or muscle aches, or one for energy. I know I can look up individual ingredients but how time consuming would that be? Is there a chart that lists what different fruit and food groups would do for you? There is so much out there but I have yet to find anything that gives the basic information and a printable list or chart of sorts. I appreciate your feedback.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Teresa! Sorry, I don’t have anything like that as I’m not a health professional.
mary says
if they were so good way did you leave a 1 star revoue
Mary says
We loved it!
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear, Mary!
Buddy Spud says
Seems like a lot of mess to clean up for a short enjoyment drink..
MB says
Great taste, very customizable, barely any cleanup. I put together my dry ingredients the night before and store them in a sealed container. Pour them in before the fruit/veggies. Hardly any cleanup. A couple measuring spoons and cup(s). I use a smoothie blender, so my blending cup is my drink cup.
Ashley Fehr says
I love that idea!
max says
very good can you do a milkshake.
The Recipe Rebel says
Here you go, Max: https://www.thereciperebel.com/how-to-make-a-milkshake/
Shannon says
The great grandson loved this first time trying to make smoothies your recipe for the win
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear, thank you Shannon!
Olivia Rucker says
I don’t like berry smoothies very much, and this was INCREDIBLE. 10/10. It tastes like it could be a delicious ice cream.
These were my exact ingredients:
– 1 frozen banana
– 1 cup frozen blueberries
– 1 container silk dairy free strawberry yogurt
– 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
The Recipe Rebel says
Glad you enjoyed it Olivia!
Susanne Colella says
I am having such a hard time trying to read the information while I am bomb barded with advertisements. I am sure this is a good recipe but I am too frustrated trying to keep it in the screen and figure out the alternatives you mention. Sorry but I canโt give it a good review if I canโt see the ingredients. This is an ongoing issue so I let everyone know itโs better to get a cook book on the subject repather than be the subject on advertisers. Take care
donna says
nobody else seems to be having this problem. I suggest you check your computer out.
Cheerz
Valerie Rhodes says
My son has been wanting smoothies so I bought a blender and googled and found this amazing recipe. I love it. Perfect for a Warm Evening.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Valerie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Kim says
Really great recipe. Granddaughter had been asking to make smoothies for over a weekโฆfound your recipe super easy to follow and it tastes great. Didnโt use the frozen banana as we didnโt have one on hand, just added some frozen blueberries to the mixed frozen fruit (from a bag) to compensate. Came out great!
Love that the recipe is automatically adjusted by changing the serving amounts. Will be visiting your website again soonโฆ
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kim! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
cole says
Very smooth