31 Easy and Healthy Smoothie Recipes That Actually Taste Amazing
We all want to eat healthier—but who has the time? You do. From berry smoothies to protein shakes to acaí bowls, drinking your breakfast is a quick, simple way to up your fruit and veggie count for the day without too much fuss. Not only are smoothies awesome to get you energized first thing in the morning (who needs caffeine?), but they’re also the ultimate post-workout meal. Just choose ingredients you love, give them a whirl in your blender and ta-da. Here are 31 easy, healthy smoothie recipes worth getting out of bed for.
Tips for Making Smoothies
Before you get your hands dirty, here are a few tips for blending your most delicious breakfast yet:
A smoothie is only as delicious as the produce it’s made of. If smoothies are going to become a regular part of your diet, farmers market or organic fruits and veggies could make a big difference.
Don’t use under-ripe fruit. It’ll be tougher to blend and less flavorful. In fact, bruised, overripe fruit can bring a lot of sweetness to the glass.
Go easy on the ice. Too much = a diluted, slushy smoothie. Try frozen fruit instead.
To thicken a smoothie, add soaked flaxseeds, chia seeds, nut butter or protein powder. Without a thickener, your smoothie might have more of a juice-like consistency.
Don’t over-blend. Be sure to check your smoothie’s consistency between pulses so it’s to your liking.
Stir the smoothie in the blender before pouring to make sure there aren’t any ice cubes or fruit chunks stuck at the bottom.
If you’re worried about your blender losing steam, warm it up with a few pulses on low before turning up the speed. You can also smash ice or frozen fruit in a plastic bag before blending.
RELATED: 10 Keto Smoothies That Make Breakfast a Breeze
1. Green Smoothie with Avocado and Apple
Get your vitamins and minerals without really noticing. Banana, coconut water and honey add sweetness to this nutritional powerhouse that calls for three cups of spinach, a whole avocado and one Granny Smith. Add chia seeds for crunch and as a thickener.
2. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie
Whoa, we had no idea cauliflower could look this gorgeous. It takes over for banana, making the smoothie filling minus the carbs and sugar. Get celebrity-status skin from antioxidant-rich blueberries, protein from almond butter, brightness from fresh lime and a pinch of sweetness from almond milk and a chopped date.
3. Salted Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
Dessert for breakfast? Don’t mind if we do. Treat yourself to a peanut butter and banana mash-up spiked with cocoa powder and vanilla almond milk. Add a scoop of whey protein powder to make sure you’re not searching for a snack in an hour. We’re topping ours with shredded coconut and flaky sea salt.
4. Green Machine Smoothie Bowl
No straw? No problem. Whip up wellness blogger Kerri Axelrod's morning gem in less than 15 minutes. It also includes maca powder, an energy booster made from the Peruvian maca root. (Green tea lovers, feel free to go crazy with the matcha too.)
5. Blueberry Ginger Smoothie
We can’t get enough of this spicy, immunity-boosting root. After a spin in the blender with blueberries, coconut milk, coconut yogurt and honey, it mellows out and gets tangy. We’ll take ours with an extra dusting of cinnamon.
6. Juicy Green Pineapple Smoothie with Mint, Basil and Spirulina
You’ve seen spirulina on the menu at every fancy juice bar, but what the heck is it? It’s a blue-green algae that’s packed with protein, iron, B12, beta-carotene, iodine and lots more your trainer would be psyched about. Don’t bother squeezing the lime—just throw the whole thing in the blender, seeds and all, a la Reese Witherspoon.
7. Raspberry-Coconut Smoothie Bowl with Collagen
Breakfast for you, a spa day for your hair, skin and nails. A scoop of powdered collagen peptides can help reduce wrinkles and inflammation. Even better, you can top it with basically any fruit or crunchy bits you want. (We like sliced dragon fruit, chopped walnuts and coconut flakes.) Did we mention it’ll only take you five minutes to make?
8. Triple-Berry Smoothie Bowl
Rise and shine with this vibrant number starring blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. It’s as simple as adding Greek yogurt (yay, protein) and ice and blending. Top it off with your favorite granola, flaxseeds or extra berries.
9. Avocado Power Breakfast Smoothie
This five-ingredient gem is a no-brainer because it’s packed with two cups of baby spinach, lots of parsley and half an avocado. Its sweetness comes from chopped pineapple and agave. Good morning indeed.
10. Green Smoothie Bowl
Isn’t she pretty? Ditch cereal for a mix of banana, spinach, avocado, apple and almond milk. You can top it off with whatever you’re in the mood for, but we love the look of toasted coconut, macadamia nuts and goji berries, which are packed with amino acids and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
11. Vanilla-Oat Smoothie Bowl
If a sugary bowl of instant oatmeal is one of your go-tos, consider this a healthier remix. Rolled oats are blended with banana, Greek yogurt, almond milk, vanilla and cinnamon, plus just a tad of turbinado sugar. Top with cocoa nibs for a decadent finishing touch.
12. Hibiscus Ginger Zucchini Smoothies
Combine tart, fragrant hibiscus concentrate with frozen raspberries, zucchini and a hefty chunk of ginger. If it’s too savory for your taste, add a banana or a drizzle of honey. Top with bee pollen, chopped nuts and whatever else your heart desires.
13. Creamy Coconut Spirulina Superfood Smoothie
You might’ve never thought to use cardamom, maple syrup or grated ginger in your morning meal, but once you do you won’t go back. It’s complex yet balanced with buttery avocado and acidic orange. And while you might want to cut corners with the presentation if you’re drinking this solo, a little layering and swirling makes it worthy of some Instagram love.
14. Açai Smoothie Bowl
Meet açai, the trendiest superfood out there. These South American berries are packed with fiber, protein, antioxidants, healthy fats and all the vitamins and nutrients. Search for an unsweetened pack in the frozen fruit section of your supermarket. Extra granola, please.
15. Green Keto Smoothie
Mint, cilantro and lime juice make this beyond refreshing. The recipe calls for full-fat coconut milk, which is loaded with medium-chain fatty acids that break down rapidly to give you an instant energy boost. If you’re keto, use a low-carb sugar substitute instead of honey or sugar.
16. Mango Spinach Smoothie
Passion fruit. Coconut meat. Fresh mango. Hello, tropical getaway in a glass. The recipe includes maca powder, but if you’re in a pinch, ginseng or raw cacao powder work too.
17. Green Goddess Smoothie
Six ingredients. One blender. All the potassium and omega-3s. It’s also rich with fiber—we’re talking more than 9 grams per glass—and gluten free. Pick a sweet apple variety to use, like Honeycrisp or Gala.
18. Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie
All the perks of a PSL with way less sugar. In this morning glory, the autumn flavor comes from pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. You can also substitute cinnamon and ginger to taste if you don’t have any pie spice on hand.
19. Blueberry Coconut Water Smoothie
Ready to graduate from flaxseeds and chia? Enter hemp hearts. They’re nutty and packed with protein (10 grams a serving, y’all), magnesium, calcium, zinc and tons of vitamins and nutrients. Substitute or add any berries you have on hand.
20. 2-Minute Green Smoothie
OK, get ready for a hack that will make busy mornings a total breeze. Fill a freezer bag with all your produce, protein powder, hemp seeds and add-ins. Store it until you’re ready to use. When the time comes, all you have to do is dump and blend.
21. Feel-Good Pineapple Smoothie
If you have psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or another form of chronic inflammation, meet your new daily wakeup call. The secret ingredient? Antioxidant-rich turmeric. It’s meant to be healthy, but we won’t tell if you add a splash of coconut rum.
22. Paleo Strawberry Coconut Smoothie
This smoothie borders on milkshake territory, even without any dairy or added sugar. Vanilla extract and coconut milk make it sweet and creamy. Don’t skimp on the collagen protein powder—your hair will thank you later.
23. Creamy Golden Milk Smoothie
Golden milk is one vegan trend worth the hype. The anti-inflammatory sipper is made with non-dairy milk, turmeric and varying spices that give it a gorgeous color and warm flavor. Here, fresh carrot juice and ginger put it over the top.
24. Rainbow Coconut Smoothie Bowls
Coconut milk and meat are blended with bananas, honey and hemp seeds before getting topped with the whole color spectrum, from raspberries to plums. Add a sprig of fresh mint or a sprinkle of shredded coconut as a pretty topper.
25. Raspberry Sunrise Smoothie
Just pretend it’s your favorite tequila cocktail. You’ll still feel like you’re on an island sipping on this four-ingredient beauty. Go the extra mile and blend the raspberries and mango separately for a layered color block effect or throw it all in the blender at once. You do you.
26. Dark Cherry Smoothie Bowls
You’re having chocolate for breakfast. Slurp down tart frozen cherries, protein-packed peanut butter and crunchy chia seeds in just 10 minutes. Dress it up in granola, slivered almonds and lots of chocolate chunks.
27. Peach Pie Smoothie
The moment the clock strikes summer, we load up on peaches like it’s our job. Save a few for this sweet starter with a tasty secret ingredient you won’t be able to put your finger on. (OK, we’ll spill: It’s almond extract.)
28. Açai Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie
Hello, superfoods. Bring on all the antioxidants, courtesy of açai and pomegranate juices. The best part? There’s no need for added ice cubes. Frozen berries make the smoothie frosty and thick on their own.
29. Easy Mango Smoothie
A five-minute meal that’s as healthy as it is creamy and delicious? We’re in. Top your glass with a drizzle of honey, chia seeds or coconut shreds. Substitute dairy milk for soy, coconut or almond if you want to make it vegan.
30. Kale-Strawberry Smoothie
The best way to squeeze lots of leafy greens into your glass without it being too obvious. The recipe calls for kale, but swiss chard or spinach are just as nutritious. If you’re thirsty for a break from almond milk, try walnut instead.
31. Cinnamon Walnut Date Shake Smoothie
Make your own homemade walnut milk with walnut halves and cold water or save time by using store-bought. Want something extra decadent? Replace the plain Greek yogurt with vanilla or pistachio ice cream.
RELATED: The 3 Best Blenders on Amazon—from Personal to Heavy-Duty
