7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (2024)

7 breakfast smoothie recipes with zero added sugar and no bananas! Sharing a formula to help you come up with your own smoothie recipes, and showing you how to make meal prep smoothie freezer packs.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while I'm highly addicted to my standard Instant Pot steel cut oats, I also love to start the day off with a delicious, fruit-filled smoothie!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (1)

There are a million different ways to make smoothies, but I'm making it super simple for you today with my smoothie formula!

Breakfast smoothie formula (no bananas)

  • 1 ½ cups frozen fruit (such as mango, pineapple and peaches)
  • 1 ½ cups blending liquid (such as almond milk, oat milk, dairy milk or even water)
  • other add ins as you'd like (more on that below)

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You might be wondering...wait, no bananas? Yes, that is correct, these rare unicorn breakfast smoothie recipes have no bananas, just as all smoothies should in my opinion 😆

In addition to having no bananas, they

  • have zero added sugar (just natural fruit sugars)
  • are mostly dairy-free/vegan
  • can be prepped ahead as frozen smoothie packs
  • are extremely flexible

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (2)

This post covers a LOT!

To skip directly to a section, click on the link below:

  1. How to Make Smoothies (Video)
  2. Blenders- cheap vs expensive
  3. Smoothie Add Ins
  4. How to Meal Prep Them
  5. 7 Different Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prep these recipes ahead. This video is loaded with tips and tricks and I highly recommend watching it! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (3)

Blenders- cheap vs expensive

Guys, over the years I have tried several blenders from my dad's green Oster blender from the 1970's (not even kidding), to a cheap model to a Vitamix. Guess what? They all work for smoothie recipes.

Tips for blending perfectly smooth smoothies using cheaper blenders

  • add your greens and blending liquid first to get a nice, smooth texture (no one likes to drink chunks of spinach)
  • try blending for longer to get them silky smooth
  • cheap blenders may require more liquid to blend properly

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (6)

Smoothie add ins

Oh man, you can certainly go nuts on smoothie add ins and rack up a huge bill. Rather than share all the add ins on the market, I'm sharing some of my faves. These are ingredients you can add in addition to the ingredients in the base formula.

Nutrient Boosters

Nutrient boosters add healthy proteins, fats, and nutrients. Don't go nuts on these as they can add extra calories. I stick to 1-2 nutrient boosters per smoothie. Here are some of my faves:

  • 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
  • 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
  • ¼ of an avocado (I promise you can’t taste it!)
  • 1 tablespoon goji berries
  • 1 tablespoon of this coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon of this matcha powder
  • ¼ cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon nut butter

Want to turn your smoothie into a meal? Try adding one of the following:

  • ¼ cup quick or rolled oats
  • ½ scoop protein power (also gives it some staying power)- if using collagen do a full scoop
  • 3 oz silken tofu

Flavor enhancers

  • vanilla, almond or coconut extract- this really helps mask the flavor of greens
  • spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or chai spice blend
  • avoid fruit juices or flavored yogurt as they add unnecessary extra sugar to your smoothie

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How to meal prep smoothies

If there is one single thing that helps me actually make and drink smoothies more regularly, it is definitely meal prepping them. Having the ingredients assembled in the freezer means making it is as simple as shaking it out into the blender, adding my blending liquid, and blending away.

To prepare your smoothie packs or smoothie jars

  1. place frozen fruit in the bottom of the jar
  2. place add-ins on top of fruit. Extracts, flax, chia seeds, spices etc are all totally fine to add in!
  3. top the jars with any greens, then seal with the jar lids
  4. these jars will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer!

notes-

  • to avoid any issues getting fruit out of jars: always use frozen fruit, and don't allow the fruit to thaw while preparing them
  • smoothie packs may appear frosted or freezer-burnt but you won't taste any difference

To blend

  1. dump all ingredients out of the jar into the blender. It's ok if some fruit gets stuck in the jar.
  2. add the almond milk (or coconut water as indicated) to the jar, put the lid on and give it a good shake, then dump it into the blender. This helps get anything left in the jar out.
  3. blend away, then pour the smoothie back into your jar and enjoy!

7 Different Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (8)

1. Base Mango Smoothie Recipe

Get the printable recipe here!

  • 1 ½ cups mango
  • 1 ½ cups blending liquid
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

Sometimes simple is best, and this base mango smoothie is a perfect example of the formula. No need to prepare smoothie packs for this one, since there are just two simple ingredients!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (9)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (10)

2. Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Frozen Smoothie Packs

Get the printable recipe here.

  • 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple chunks
  • ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 pinch of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
  • 1 cup packed spinach or kale
  • 1 ½ cups blending liquid

This one is PACKED full of anti-inflammatory promoting ingredients including the wonder-child turmeric, pineapple and leafy green spinach (or kale). You can't taste the turmeric or the leafy greens, just pure tropical bliss.

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (11)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (12)

3. Blueberry Coconut Water Frozen Smoothie Packs:

Get the printable recipe here.

  • 1 ½cupsfrozen blueberries

  • ½cupyogurtfull-fat plain or greek

  • ¼teaspooncoconut extract

  • 1tablespoon

    hemp hearts

  • 1cupcoconut water

This one is packed full of anti-oxidant rich blueberries, hydrating coconut water, and gets a boost of protein thanks to a scoop of hemp hearts. The blueberries, coconut water, nutty hemp hearts and greek yogurt pair perfectlytogether!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (13)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (14)

4. Green Mango Superfood Frozen Smoothie Packs:

Get the printable recipe here.

  • 1cupspinachpacked

  • 1.5cupsfrozenripe mango chunks

  • 1teaspoonground flax

  • 1tablespoonchia seeds

  • ⅛teaspoonalmond extract

  • 1 ¼cupsalmond milk

This one is PACKED with superfoods: mango, spinach, chia seeds, ground flax7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (15)...so much nutrition packed into one drink! A touch ofalmond extract pairs surprisingly well with the mango and really takes this smoothie up a notch.

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (16)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (17)

5. Goji Peach Cherry Frozen Smoothie Packs:

Get the printable recipe here.

  • 1cupfrozen cherries

  • ½cupfrozen peach slices

  • 1tablespoon

    goji berries

  • 1 ¼cupalmond milk

Optional

  • 1tablespoonchia seeds

  • 1teaspoonground flax

Goji berries are linked to a huge list of health benefits including longevity, calmness and improved sleep, and weight loss. Interestingly, cherries are a good source of melatonin and are linked to improved sleep as well. Maybe this smoothie should be re-named the Good Night Smoothie?

This goji peach cherry smoothie is so surprising, in that it tastes like...chocolate! Something about the combination of cherries and goji berries really brings out chocolate flavors, though there is no trace of cocoa powder to be seen in this smoothie. Absolutely delicious. Kai's favorite!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (18)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (19)

6. Strawberry Mango Chai Frozen Smoothie Packs

Get the printable recipe here.

  • ¾cupfrozen mango chunks

  • ¾cupfrozen strawberries

  • ⅛teaspoonchai spice blend

  • ¼teaspoonvanilla extract

  • 1 ¼cupsalmond milkor more as needed to blend

Optional

  • 1tablespoonchia seeds

  • 1teaspoonground flax

  • 1cupspinach

This simple recipe is subtly sweet, and gets depth of flavor from a touch of chai spice mix and vanilla extract. Add ground flax, chia seeds, and a handful of spinach for an even healthier smoothie!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (20)

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (21)

7. Matcha Avocado Smoothie

Get the printable recipe here!

  • ¾cupfrozen mango chunks

  • ¼cupfrozen avocado chunks

  • ⅛teaspoonvanilla extract

  • 1tablespoonchia seeds

  • 1 teaspoon of this matcha powder

  • 1 ½cupsalmond milk

This is my favorite afternoon pick-me-up! The avocado makes it thick and creamy and gives a boost of healthy fats, and the matcha powder has a ton of anti-oxidants and a little boost of caffeine as well.

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (22)

Those are our 7 smoothie flavors! I hope you got some great ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.

XO

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (23)

This post was originally published in 2016. It has been rewritten and republished with new photos, 2 new recipes, and a new video!

7 Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (+ Freezer Tips) (2024)

FAQs

Can I make smoothies and freeze them? ›

In the fridge: store your smoothies or smoothie ingredients in the fridge for 1-2 days before using them. In the freeze: you can store smoothies or smoothie ingredients in the freezer for up to 3 months. They're perfect for prepping ahead of time and enjoying week after week.

Should you put a smoothie in the fridge or freezer? ›

Therefore, you'll want to limit your storage timeframes. Try to only store refrigerated smoothies for up to 48 hours, lunchbox smoothies for up to 5 hours, and frozen smoothies for up to 7 days to ensure optimal nutrient absorption once you slurp down your blended treat.

Can you freeze smoothies in ziplock bags? ›

Combine Ziploc® brand freezer bags, these colorful smoothie recipes and a little imagination to get set up for speedy morning meal prep. For a fresh breakfast or snack in a snap, freeze pre-portioned smoothie ingredients in Ziploc® brand freezer bags to help protect against freezer burn.

How many ice cubes should I put in my smoothie? ›

If you'd like a thick smoothie, start with at least 1 cup (220 g) of ice and add more as needed. If you're using frozen fruit, you could leave the ice out since the frozen fruit will act like ice.

How to make smoothies to freeze? ›

Freeze liquids (like coconut water, yogurt, citrus juice etc) in an ice cube tray. When the cubes are solid, add them to the freezer bag filled with fruits and veggies.

How long will a smoothie last in the freezer? ›

Proper freezing protocol allows smoothies to retain their flavor, mouthfeel, color, and nutrition for at least 3 months. Related articles: 7 Ways to Make Green Smoothies Taste Good Without Fruit. 15 Best Green Vegetables to Add to Your Smoothies.

How long does a frozen smoothie take to thaw? ›

Let them thaw there — depending on how big your container is, the smoothies will need at least 8 hours in the fridge to thaw enough to be drinkable (they'll have an awesome slushy texture, too).

Are smoothies better with frozen or fresh fruit? ›

And not only is frozen fruit more convenient (and often cheaper) than fresh fruit, they make for a better smoothie too. Frozen fruit blends into a rich and creamy texture while smoothies with only fresh fruit can be watery and runny (more on that later).

How to tell if a smoothie has gone bad? ›

Keep your smoothie in the fridge for up to 2 days.

After 48 hours, give your smoothie a sniff to make sure it hasn't spoiled. Also check that it hasn't gone brown or molded over.

What container do you freeze smoothies in? ›

When I want to enjoy a frozen dessert, I use pint-size plastic freezer jars to freeze fruit smoothies. I remove one from the freezer, let it sit on the kitchen counter a few minutes until it becomes crunchy, and grab a spoon to eat right out of the container.

What is the best storage for smoothies? ›

To keep your smoothies fresh and safe, you should refrigerate or freeze them as soon as possible after making them.

How to organize smoothie ingredients? ›

The Key to Keeping Smoothie Ingredients Organized? Contain items together and group like items together. I keep nut butters on the door – you could easily put them in a bin or basket too and then I keep the packets in a narrow bin and the protein powders and other cylindrical containers in a wider bin.

What is the most important ingredient in a smoothie? ›

Protein Powder. Protein smoothie recipes often contain protein powder, and Spivak says protein is an important part of a nutritious smoothie. “Protein builds and maintains muscle mass, and can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied,” she says.

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.

How long do homemade smoothies last in the fridge? ›

How many days can I store my smoothie in the fridge? Homemade smoothies last up to 1-2 days in the fridge. While smoothies are best enjoyed fresh ASAP, they'll last for 24-48 hours if they're kept inside a clean, airtight container. If you have dairy in your smoothie, it's more likely to last just 1 day.

Does freezing smoothies lose nutrients? ›

We pick our fruit and veg at peak ripeness, and as mentioned above this can improve the benefits of the smoothies. The studies around freezing show that they retain a comparable vitamin, mineral, and phytochemical content to their fresh counterparts.

Does freezing a smoothie make it thicker? ›

Frozen ingredients are the easiest way to create a thick and luscious smoothie texture. The high water content of fruit and veggies crystallizes when frozen into a rigid structure. When processed in a blender, they break down and create that delicious, creamy texture.

Is it cheaper to freeze your own fruit for smoothies? ›

The solution, start freezing fruit on your own! You will save at least 50%! Freezing fruit in your own home is super easy and you can buy fruit when it is on sale making your smoothie addiction very affordable!

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