14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (2024)

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Healthy smoothie recipes for a delicious start to the new year.

By

Rabi Abonour

14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (1)

Rabi Abonour

Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated May 23, 2019

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14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (2)

Maybe you were given a fancy, shiny new blender over the holidays; maybe you've made a New Year's resolution to eat more fruits and vegetables; or maybe you just have a healthy appreciation for quick, tasty breakfasts. Whatever the case, we're big fans of smoothies here at Serious Eats, and we support your decision to consume more.

One of the best things about smoothies is how ripe they are for variation. You can make them with just about anything—our recipes call for fruits like bananas, mangoes, and blueberries, along with vegetables like spinach, chard, and even cilantro. To get the right consistency, you can also use all manner of thickeners, including yogurt, avocado, nuts, and plain old ice. The opportunities are truly endless, so we've rounded up 14 of our favorite recipes to start you off.

  • Gateway Green Smoothie

    If you feel a bit intimidated (or grossed out) by the thought of a vegetable-packed drink, this smoothie, which pairs greens with sweet banana, pineapple, and mango, will ease you into the idea. Spinach will make the mildest smoothie, while sorrel is a little tangier, but don't worry—neither has the strongly bitter or earthy flavors found in some raw greens.

    Get the recipe for Gateway Green Smoothie

  • Tropical Paradise Green Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (4)

    If you aren't able to escape to a beach this winter, here's a balanced green smoothie to transport you there in spirit, at least. We make it with coconut water or pineapple juice, a banana and a peach, a few handfuls of spinach, cilantro, and a lime. Remove the peel and pith from the lime, and throw it in the blender whole.

    Get the recipe for Tropical Paradise Green Smoothie

  • Spicy Chard and Pineapple Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (5)

    Kale is a popular ingredient in green smoothies, but it can be on the bitter side, which is why we swap it out for milder chard here. This smooth, slightly tart, and lightly spicy concoction pairs chard with creamy avocado, tangy pineapple, and just a little bit of jalapeño. The result is filling, not too sweet, and perfect for a satisfying breakfast.

    Get the recipe for Spicy Chard and Pineapple Smoothie

  • Avocado, Mango, and Pineapple Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (6)

    Rich and creamy avocados are one of our favorite ingredients for making vegan smoothies thick. In this recipe, sweet mango counterbalances the light savoriness of the avocado, while pineapple contributes acidity. We use just enough coconut water to help it blend, reinforcing the tropical flavor profile.

    Get the recipe for Avocado, Mango, and Pineapple Smoothie

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • Vegan Matcha-Banana Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (7)

    Equally appropriate for either breakfast or dessert, this smoothie pairs grassy matcha powder with banana and soy milk. By using unsweetened soy milk, you can adjust the sweetness level exactly to your liking with agave syrup. Freezing the banana before blending helps the smoothie get thick and stay ice-cold.

    Get the recipe for Vegan Matcha-Banana Smoothie

  • Vegan Kumquat Creamsicle Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (8)

    For our take on a Creamsicle in smoothie form, we turn to not oranges but kumquats, which we purée whole for a tart, complex flavor. Mango supplies sweetness, though, depending on how sour your kumquats are, you might need to add a little agave nectar, too. Cashews soaked overnight in water are the key to thickening this vegan drink.

    Get the recipe for Vegan Kumquat Creamsicle Smoothie

  • Apricot-Yogurt Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (9)

    Though fresh stone fruits won't be in season for months, using dried fruit allows you to enjoy this lightly peach-colored apricot smoothie year-round. Made by blending apricots with yogurt and orange juice, this drink gets most of its inspiration from mango lassi. But the bit of orange flower water mixed in is a nod to the Middle Eastern apricot drink qamar al-din—the water is powerful stuff, so 1/2 teaspoon should be plenty.

    Get the recipe for Apricot-Yogurt Smoothie

  • Melon-Mint Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (10)

    This mellow smoothie pairs the subtly sweet flavor of cantaloupe with bright lime juice, aromatic mint leaves, and plain yogurt. Cantaloupe can be hit or miss in the winter—if the fruit you've found isn't sweet enough, go ahead and add a little more honey.

    Get the recipe for Melon-Mint Smoothie

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • Raspberry, Mint, and Kefir Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (11)

    Kefir, a tangy, slightly effervescent drinkable yogurt, works great as a more nuanced replacement for plain yogurt in smoothies. But even better than pouring it straight from the bottle is freezing the kefir into ice cubes. The kefir cubes add body to this vibrant raspberry-mint smoothie, turning it cold and creamy without watering it down. Use full-fat kefir rather than reduced fat for the most flavorful smoothie with the best texture.

    Get the recipe for Raspberry, Mint, and Kefir Smoothie

  • Peach-Basil Kefir Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (12)

    Reminiscent of peaches and cream, this smoothie is made with tangy kefir ice cubes, ripe fresh peaches, and fragrant basil. There's no need to peel the peaches before adding them, since your blender will make short work of the skin. Basil might seem like an unusual choice, but its distinct aroma lends valuable complexity to the drink.

    Get the recipe for Peach-Basil Kefir Smoothie

  • Blueberry, Ginger, and Kefir Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (13)

    This lovely kefir smoothie relies on sweet-sour blueberries and spicy fresh ginger for its flavor. Even if you have a high-powered blender, it's wise to grate the ginger before adding it, which will eliminate the risk of getting big, unpleasantly sharp-tasting chunks of the stuff in your drink.

    Get the recipe for Blueberry, Ginger, and Kefir Smoothie

  • Coffee, Banana, and Hazelnut Morning Shake

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (14)

    If you love smoothies but can't face the morning without your caffeine fix, here's a recipe that combines everything you need in one tidy breakfast package. This tasty drink blends a frozen banana with chilled brewed coffee and hazelnuts soaked overnight in water; the nuts add flavor, thicken the smoothie, and supply extra fat and protein to fill you up.

    Get the recipe for Coffee, Banana, and Hazelnut Morning Shake

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (15)

    We don't tend to think of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as first-thing-in-the-morning fare, but I'll sometimes throw one together when I need to get out the door fast, and I'd bet I'm not the only one. To make it more recognizably breakfast-y, try turning the same flavors into a smoothie, blending up creamy peanut butter, raspberry jam, and frozen raspberries with cooked oatmeal and milk.

    Get the recipe for Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

  • Coquito Smoothie

    14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (16)

    This recipe adapts the Puerto Rican holiday punch coquito—usually a combination of rum, sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, vanilla, and spices—turning it into a vegan, nonalcoholic, but still totally delicious, concoction that's perfectly appropriate for starting your day. We start with coconut milk and frozen bananas, and then add a pinch of nutmeg, a traditional ingredient in coquito. Maple syrup gives the smoothie a caramel-like flavor that stands in nicely for rum.

    Get the recipe for Coquito Smoothie

  • Smoothies
14 Fresh and Fast Smoothie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the best ingredients to put in a smoothie? ›

For starters, she recommends combining:
  • Protein, such as a commercial protein powder, Greek yogurt (which is higher in protein than regular yogurt) or nut butters.
  • Fruit, including berries, mango, bananas and avocado.
  • Greens, such as spinach or kale.
  • A liquid base such as dairy or plant-based milk, water or fruit juice.

What does Jennifer Aniston put in her smoothie? ›

Jen's favourite smoothie (and the one she's making here) is a blend of:
  1. 1 cup chocolate almond milk.
  2. 2 scoops of Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen Peptides ⁣⁣
  3. Cherries and Banana 🍒🍌⁣⁣
  4. A few drops of Stevia ⁣⁣
  5. Antioxidants.
  6. 1 cup of ice⁣⁣
  7. Spinach.
  8. Pinch of cinnamon.
Feb 28, 2023

What is the best liquid for smoothies for weight loss? ›

If you're looking to cut calories and sugar from your diet, water is the perfect choice for liquid for smoothies.

Does a smoothie break intermittent fasting? ›

If you're adhering to a strict fasting window, that means you should avoid any foods or drinks containing calories, including smoothies, fruit juice, and bone broth. No- or extremely low-calorie beverages, including water, black coffee, tea, and other zero-calorie beverages are permitted during a fast.

What is the preferred liquid in a smoothie? ›

Start your smoothie with two mugfuls of a liquid base. This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water.

What not to do when making a smoothie? ›

5 Common Mistakes That Make Your Smoothie Less Healthy
  1. Mistake 1: Adding Too Much Fruit.
  2. Mistake 2: Forgoing Portion Control.
  3. Mistake 3: Overdoing the Sugar.
  4. Mistake 4: Forgetting Your Food Groups.
  5. Mistake 5: Storing Too Long.

What does Kate Middleton put in her morning smoothie? ›

There's one particular Middleton signature meal that's gotten some circulation in the press: Her breakfast smoothie. In 2016, an anonymous source told the Daily Mail that she drinks smoothies in the "morning and afternoon" consisting of spirulina, spinach, kale, romaine, matcha, cilantro, and blueberries.

What is the fat burner put in smoothies? ›

Healthy fats to add to your fat-burning smoothies include nuts, nut butters, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, avocado, coconut oil, and MCT oil. For more information on chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds, check out: The 3 Best Super Seeds for Smoothies.

What is the Hailey Bieber smoothie made of? ›

This is a recipe for the famous Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie from Erewhon grocery. It is viral and famous for a reason: coconut cream, avocado, strawberry and loaded with collagen and sea moss for a delicious smoothie. Make it at home for a fraction of the price!

What is the #1 fat burning fruit? ›

The Best Fruit to Achieve Your Weight-Loss Goals

If your goal is to lose weight, make sure you're eating raspberries. These sweet little fruits are packed with fiber and antioxidants and have a satisfyingly sweet taste. Here's how they can support weight loss.

What not to put in a smoothie for weight loss? ›

7 Ingredients You Should Never Add to Your Weight Loss Smoothie
  1. Fruit Juice. Arguably the most common mistake people make when preparing smoothies is adding fruit juice. ...
  2. Flavored Yogurt. ...
  3. Highly Processed Protein Powders. ...
  4. Milk. ...
  5. Super Sweet Fruits. ...
  6. Added Sweeteners. ...
  7. Too Many Healthy Fats.

What can I put in my smoothie for belly fat? ›

When you include leafy greens, berries, vegetables, fruits, and nuts in your smoothie, you will be able to easily add a lot of nutrients to your daily healthy diet. They not only contribute to weight loss but also boosts your immunity and gut health.

What is the 96 hour fast? ›

A 96-hour fast is going four full days without any food. The fast begins whenever you consume your last meal and ends at the first bite at hour 97. A fast of this length is only for people in good health with no existing medical conditions. It's also for people who have previous fasting experience.

What cancels intermittent fasting? ›

Technically speaking, eating or drinking any calories breaks a fast. That means it's generally considered OK to drink black, unsweetened coffee or tea, as well as water.

How to fast to lose weight? ›

Eat a normal, healthy diet one day and then completely fast or have one small meal the next day. Usually, the small meal is fewer than 500 calories. Eat a normal diet five days a week and fast two days per week. Eat normally but only within an eight-hour window each day.

What is the secret to making a good smoothie? ›

How to Build a Better Smoothie
  • Use frozen fruit. ...
  • Use hefty ingredients to make a thick smoothie. ...
  • But don't make it too thick. ...
  • Sweetness is key. ...
  • Use plenty of add-ins. ...
  • Remember this ratio: ...
  • Don't forget salt. ...
  • Go green (if you want).
Jan 12, 2023

What makes a smoothie taste good? ›

Adding a touch of honey or agave syrup to your smoothie can sweeten it up and enhance the flavor. These natural sweeteners provide an alternative to refined sugar, allowing you to enjoy a sweeter taste without compromising on health benefits.

What ingredient goes first in a smoothie? ›

Adding the liquid first is important for a couple of reasons. The liquid acts as a solvent, dissolving any powders (hello protein powder) you might want to add. And when you turn the blender on, the liquid will whiz through the blades quickly and easily, drawing down other ingredients to be chopped up.

Are smoothies better with milk or yogurt? ›

Milk vs.

Both have protein that helps keep you feeling full and energized. It's like having two awesome friends – each with their own strengths! So, whether you go for milk or yogurt in your smoothie, you're making a tasty and nutritious choice.

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