Have you been trying to cut back on your daily coffee intake? Are you hoping to add more whole fruits to your diet? Add some color to your morning with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen! Nourish your body and your tastebuds too by learning how to make a smoothie. 

It may be cold outside, but it’s never too cold to learn how to make a smoothie. Whether you’re a carnivore or a herbivore, a smoothie is a great way to pack in all the fiber, protein, and antioxidants you need to keep that energy up throughout the day into just one meal.  

 Jump to Section

• How to Make a Smoothie with a Blender
• How to Make a Fruit Smoothie
• How to Make a Smoothie Thicker
• How to Make a Smoothie without a Blender
• How to Make a Smoothie Bowl
• Easy Smoothie Combinations
• Smoothie Recipe and Tips

How to Make a Smoothie with a Blender

The easiest way to learn how to make a smoothie is with a blender. A good smoothie relies on a great blender, but blenders can be daunting. 

The more control you have the better you’ll feel about using one. That’s why it’s important to look for blenders with multiple speed settings. Speed settings allow you to control how fast your ingredients blend to achieve just the right amount of thickness. It’s also important that your blender is powerful enough to make a smoothie to begin with. 

Nobody wants to sip on a smoothie filled with chunks of frozen fruit. They would’ve called it a chunkie. No, smoothies are known for their silky, thick texture and to achieve this your blender needs to have enough watts. A good blender to make a smoothie runs anywhere between 550 to 1500 watts. 

If you’re planning on consuming an ice-cold smoothie every day, consider a high-power blender. While on the pricier side, these blending beasts typically run at around 1200 to 1500 watts and are expert ice crushers.

If you’re not planning on adding a smoothie to your everyday diet, a cheaper mid-level blender will do just fine. Mid-level blenders run anywhere between 550 and 1000 watts. Not only are they a cheaper alternative to high-level blenders, but they’ll have no problem crushing some ice either.

Once you’ve acquired the perfect gadget to learn how to make smoothies at home with a blender, it’s time for the blender to do most of the work. Simply add your ingredients to the blender. The two main components of a simple, classic smoothie include a liquid and a fruit. Read more about this in the section below. 

Now it’s time to put your blender’s watts to the test. Start the blender on its lowest setting. As the liquid begins to incorporate with the rest of the ingredients, slowly ramp up the speed. The blades will not get stuck this way and your smoothie will come out nice and silky. You may need to stop and stir occasionally if an air pocket appears at the bottom of the blender. 

Finally, blend until smooth. That’s all it takes to learn how to make a smoothie with a blender. 

How to Make a Fruit Smoothie

Smoothies are easy meals you can enjoy on the go, out with your friends or in the comfort of your own home. What makes them so great is how just how customizable they are. You can make a smoothie with as many or as few ingredients as you want. But if you’re new to learning how to make a fruit smoothie in a blender, it’s best to start with a simple two-minute, two-ingredient fruit smoothie. 

The two components essential to a nutritious and delicious smoothie are a liquid and a fruit. Yes, it’s that simple.  

1. Liquid. 

The most important ingredient to a good blend is liquid, but it also happens to be the easiest to find. 

The liquid component helps to puree the fruits and vegetables. It’s what ultimately gives the smoothie that silky finish and you can use any liquid you’d like. 

Nothing in the fridge? Don’t worry. Plain water is a perfect, calorie-free option. Want something with more flavor? Use juice to give your smoothie a bit more zest. Looking to add some protein to your diet? Both dairy and dairy-free milk will give you an extra boost of protein. 

2. Fruit

Fruit is the fiber-filled star of the show and the possibilities here are endless. Pick your favorite fruit or combination of fruits for a delightful meal each and every time. The biggest decision you must make is whether to use fresh or frozen fruit. 

Use up what you already have in your kitchen and learn how to make a fruit smoothie with fresh fruit. Most of the time we end up tossing fruit before it's gone bad. The ugliest of strawberries and bananas can still make the tastiest of smoothies. But be careful, if the fresh fruit is not quite ripe enough or a couple of days too ripe, your smoothie will not taste right. 

If you live close to a farmers’ market, incorporating fresh fruit is a wonderful way to eat farm-to-table and support your local agricultural community. Learning how to make a smoothie with fresh fruits will integrate seasonal ingredients into your diet. 

However, if you buy too much fruit at the farmers' market or the grocery store, you’re in luck! Pop your leftover fruits into the freezer and make a smoothie with them later. In fact, there are a few perks of using frozen fruit to learn how to make a smoothie.  

Frozen fruit replaces the need for ice. When learning how to make a smoothie with fresh fruit, you’ll need to use a good amount of ice. Frozen fruit gives your smoothie a thicker texture while staying colder for longer without the ice altogether. Therefore your smoothie won’t get watered down. 

But when it comes to frozen fruit, you’ll need a stronger blender. 

Once you’ve decided on your liquid and your fruit, all that’s left to do is assemble and blend. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Fill the blender with one cup of fresh or frozen fruit.
2. Pour in one cup of your chosen liquid.
3. Blend until desired thickness. 

And presto! You have successfully learned how to make a smoothie with a blender. Happy blending!

How to Make a Smoothie Thicker

Although you can easily make a smoothie with just two ingredients, if you want to learn how to make a smoothie thicker, consider adding in a few more. 

Not only will using milk as your liquid add some more protein to your smoothie, but it will also make your smoothie thicker. If milk isn’t your thing, try adding four ounces of yogurt or two tablespoons of nut butter. 

You can even pack in a good dose of vegetables to make your smoothie thicker. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach and chard will blend perfectly. But creamier vegetables like sweet potatoes, avocados and beets are also great options to boost thickness. 

How to Make a Smoothie without a Blender

If you don’t have access to a blender or suddenly wake up one morning and your beloved blender is on the fritz, there is a way to make a smoothie without a blender. 

The key ingredient here is chia seeds. Chia seeds are a great source of fiber that can reduce cholesterol and promote intestinal health, but they can also make for a great blender-less smoothie. 

Chia seeds absorb twelve times their weight in liquid. So by placing just two tablespoons in a liquid, you’ll end up with a thick, smoothie like texture.

The tricky part about a blender-less smoothie is figuring out how to give it some added sweetness since you won’t have the luxury of adding fruit. Replicate the taste of natural sugars with maple syrup, honey, vanilla extract or cinnamon.  

For this blender-less smoothie recipe you’ll need:

• 1 cup liquid (milk, oat milk, water, orange juice, etc.)
• ½ cup yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 drops vanilla extract
• 2 ice cubes

In a jar with a lid, add half of the liquid and all of the yogurt. Shake for 15-30 seconds. Next, add the rest of the liquid along with the chia seeds, honey, vanilla extract and ice cubes. Shake for another 15-20 seconds. 

Finally, let the mixture rest in the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until your blender-less smoothie is cold, thick and ready to go. 

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

Spice up your smoothie game by learning how to make a smoothie bowl. Smoothie bowls are a fun and aesthetically pleasing way to show off your blending skills. With just three ingredients, a smoothie bowl is just as easy to make as a regular smoothie.

First, add one cup of frozen fruit and a single ripe banana to a blender. Unlike a regular smoothie, begin by blending the fruit before adding the liquid. Blend on low until small bits of fruit remain. 

Next, add 2-3 tablespoons of liquid and continue to blend on low. You may need to occasionally scrape down the sides of the blender. Blend until you reach a soft-serve consistency. 

Finally, scoop into a bowl and add your favorite toppings! The possibilities here are endless. You could add hemp seeds, chia seeds, coconut flakes, a dollop of peanut butter, fresh fruit, granola, etc. 

10 Easy Smoothie Combinations 

1. Mango Banana Smoothie

Tires of strawberries? Change things up with this tropical mango banana smoothie recipe that takes just 10 minutes to make.  

2. Forget the Nuts Smoothie

For the people with nut allergies out there, it’s not always easy to find a safe smoothie you can drink at your favorite cafe. Luckily, you can easily make one at home! There are plenty of nut-free alternatives you can use to get that nutty flavor without having a bad reaction. 

In a blender, combine ¾ cup nut-free milk, ½ cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds or sunflower seed butter, 1 large banana and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.

3. Banana Pancake Smoothie

It’s out with the old and in with the new with this banana pancake smoothie recipe. Made with sweet bananas and creamy oat milk, you’ll get all the fiber you could possibly need in just one sitting. 

In a blender combine, ¾ cup oat milk, ¾ cup yogurt, 1 large banana, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of sugar.

4. Jackfruit Smoothie

Make the creamiest smoothie you’ve ever had with jackfruit. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and soft which makes it the perfect ingredient for a tropical smoothie. 

In a blender combine, 5-8 pieces of fresh jackfruit, ½ cup frozen bananas, ½ cup frozen mangos, ¼ cup frozen pineapples, ⅓ cup pineapple juice and ½ cup of coconut milk.

5. Apple Smoothie

Start your morning off with a healthy batch of fruits and vegetables with this apple smoothie recipe. And you can whip up this refreshing and sweet drink with just four simple steps. 

6. Vegan Birthday Cake Smoothie

Make the perfect sweet treat for your favorite vegan friend with this vegan birthday cake smoothie recipe. Top it off with some coconut whipped cream and sprinkles to make it extra special. 

In a blender combine, 1 frozen banana, ¼ cup oats, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 cup dairy-free milk and 1 tablespoon of sprinkles.

7. Chia Seed Smoothie

You’ve already learned how to make a chia seed smoothie without a blender so now it’s time to learn how to make one with a blender. This chia seed smoothie recipe packs in a nourishing punch of healthy fats and good carbs. 

8. Chocolate Smoothie

People rarely think of chocolate when they think of a smoothie but they’re missing out. Enjoy a rich and chocolatey smoothie by simply adding some cocoa powder and chocolate spread!

In a blender combine, 1 cup milk, 1 large frozen banana, ¼ cup oats, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons Nutella and 1 tablespoon of honey.

9. Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Not only is dragon fruit pretty to look at on its own, but it makes for a beautiful smoothie as well! This dragon fruit smoothie recipe is rich in antioxidants and can easily be made vegan. 

10. Muscle Building Smoothie

If you’re looking for the perfect post-workout smoothie, this one’s for you. This green smoothie is packed with all the nutrients your muscles need to grow and recover. 

In a blender combine, 2 cups water, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup kale, 1 large frozen banana, ½ avocado, 2 tablespoons protein powder and 2 tablespoons of chia seeds.

Smoothie Recipe and Tips

Smoothies are a great source of nutrients for any meal so the benefits of learning how to make a smoothie are infinite. You can make a smoothie as intricate or simple as you’d like and with a thousand different recipes out there, you’ll never get tired of drinking one.

For more recipes and delicious ideas, visit Cozymeal’s recipes.