Blueberry Smoothie

At a glance

What stands out: A creamy sip of mood-boosting energy with just the right balance of sweet and tart, this blueberry smoothie is made with frozen blueberries, almonds, milk, Greek yogurt, oats, and honey. From-scratch smoothies are nutritious, rich, economical, and straightforward to mix.

How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender
Servings: 2

Smoothie Love

Starting your day off right with a burst of blueberry awesomeness is a speedy fix for when you’re in a hurry and you need something filling to last until lunch. It also works when you’re needing an afternoon pick-us-up, after school snack, or when you’re craving something sweet. It hits the guilt-free spot every time.

If you are just jumping on the lighter smoothie bandwagon, this is a great place to start! This recipe is straightforward, highly nutritious, and evenly rich for both adults and kids.

Blueberry Smoothies

So straightforward to mix. A dreamy lip-smacking smoothie that packs a punch doesn’t need to be complicated! All you need is a handful of ingredients and a good blender.

Lighter ingredients. Even though a smoothie tastes like dessert, it’s packed with protein, antioxidants, and fiber. Greek yogurt has lots of protein so you won’t be hungry by 10 AM; it also has lighter probiotics. Fruits provide complex carbs along with antioxidants and fiber. Oats and almonds also have health benefits. The smoothie has little added sugar; in fact, you can omit it if you like.

Kids love it! Kids will love the taste of the blueberries and the sweetness of the honey and they’ll never know they’re chugging down a whole lot of nutrients.

Very versatile. Take a look at your refrigerator and decide what you want to add to your smoothie. We love the combination in this recipe but you can change it up easily. This smoothie recipe is totally customizable and can be made with different berries, dairy-free, or without any sweetener. Take a look at some of the suggestions below.

What goes in

We'll get you started on the recipe with a few notes about the ingredients and how to make the smoothie. Refer to the recipe card below for measurements, instructions, and nutrition information in a printable format.

• Frozen blueberries: We love using frozen berries for smoothies because they make the smoothie thick and cold. Fresh berries work too, but you may want to add ice to thicken your smoothie.
• Whole milk: The blender needs a liquid to help blend the ingredients. Whole milk adds a creamy texture. If you prefer, other types of milk can be used, or even water.
• Greek yogurt: Since Greek yogurt is thicker, it guarantees your smoothie will have a rich creamy texture. Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt, too. Be sure to choose unsweetened, unflavored plain yogurt.
• Speedy oats & almonds: Adding oats and almonds gives the smoothie a bit of texture and lots of nutrition. You can use sliced almonds or ground almonds.
• Honey: If you want to maximize the health benefits of honey, opt for raw honey that hasn’t been pasteurized. Alternative sweeteners can be substituted if you prefer, or you can simply omit the sweetener.
• Salt: Maybe salt is a surprise ingredient for you. Just a small pinch of salt enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness. The smoothie will not taste salty in the least!

How it comes together

Use a blender. You’ll need a blender, preferably a high-powered blender like a Vitamix. A regular blender will work but the smoothie may not be quite as smooth. The oatmeal and almonds tend to add a little texture and if your blender isn’t high-powered, you may want to omit those if you want a smooth texture.

Process. Put all the ingredients into your blender in the order that they’re written, and blend, starting slow for a couple of seconds, then increasing the speed to full power for around 60 seconds.

If the smoothie seems too thin for your liking, add a couple of ice cubes and blend again.

Smoothie Tip

It can be tempting to throw all the lighter things you can find into a blender in an effort to pack as much nutrition in as possible, then add some berries and hope for a standby. But as straightforward as it is to make a rich smoothie, it’s just as straightforward to mix a not-so-rich one. Stick to the guidelines of the recipe for a standby results!

Recipe Adaptations

• Yogurt/Milk: Choose whatever type of yogurt you like: Greek or regular, nonfat, 2% or whole milk. We like to use unflavored plain yogurt because it doesn’t have added sugar. Substitute a plant-based milk alternative if you prefer. You can also make this without yogurt or use non-dairy coconut yogurt.
• Fruit: Honestly, there isn’t a fruit out there that can’t be put in a smoothie. It’s the combination of the other ingredients that matter! This particular recipe is the reliable base for a customizable smoothie. Use frozen strawberries, bananas, raspberries, mango, blackberries, you decide!
• Sweeteners: If you prefer the flavor of maple syrup or agave over honey, it’s a straightforward swap. You can also simply use granulated sugar, or even leave out the sweetener completely.
• Possible add-ins: add ground flax seed, chia, hemp, almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla, or lemon zest for a little taste upgrade or nutrition boost.
• Make a smoothie bowl. This recipe was originally posted as a smoothie bowl. If you want, make your blueberry smoothie slightly thicker (use less milk or omit it) and pour the mixture into 2 shallow bowls. Top with all the fixings: granola, toasted nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, hemp seeds, chia or flax seeds, pepitas, fruit, you name it. Try our straightforward 3 ingredient oat topping which is basically a simple granola. Grab a spoon and enjoy.

Keeping leftovers

Refrigerate/Freeze: This smoothie is at its best when it’s freshly made; the taste and texture will suffer the longer it sits. It will keep in the fridge for up to 1 day, if necessary. Freeze the smoothie in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Remove the frozen smoothie from the freezer and let it thaw until you can stir it.

• Yield: 2
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups frozen blueberries
• ¾ cup whole milk (see note)
• ¾ cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup quick oats
• 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste (see note)
• 1 tablespoon ground or sliced almonds
• 1 pinch salt

Method

1. Put all ingredients into your blender in the order that they're written. Blend, starting slow for a couple of seconds, increasing to full power for around 60 seconds.
2. If the smoothie seems too thin for your liking, add a few ice cubes and blend until smooth.
3. Serve immediately. The smoothie is best when it's cold and as fresh as possible.

Notes

Blender: we recommend using a high-powered blender, like Vitamix. If you don’t have one, keep in mind that the oats and almonds will give your smoothie a somewhat grainy texture, not unpleasant, but just be forewarned. They can be omitted if you prefer.

Milk/Yogurt: You can use any type of milk or yogurt, including plant-based. Be sure to choose unflavored, unsweetened yogurt. If your yogurt is sweetened, omit the honey.

Use different fruit: Feel free to substitute other kinds of fruit (preferably frozen) such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, mango, peaches, and so on.

Variations: Adjust the amount or kind of sweetener (maple syrup, agave, granulated sugar) to your personal taste, or omit it. You can add cinnamon, vanilla or lemon zest for a little taste upgrade.

Storage: The smoothie can be refrigerated for up to one day or frozen for 3 months; however, taste and texture is best when consumed immediately.