Smoothies are a perfect solution for busy days when you need to fuel up on the go! You can pack a lot of ingredients, nutrients, and deliciousness into one glass and if you’re anything like me, you prefer smoothies on the thick side like eat-with-a-spoon thick.
But if you’ve ever tried to make a smoothie ended up with something that feels more like a slightly icey juice, I’ve got you covered. Today we’re going to talk through a couple different ways you can thicken a smoothie if yours is too runny!
You’ve seen how it’s done in the video, now let’s talk about things you can do to make sure you blend up smoothies that pour smooth and thick.
How to Thicken a Smoothie
Unfortunately, we’ve all run into the problem of a thin, watery smoothie, and it’s often a result of adding too much liquid or starting with room temperature ingredients.
Thankfully, there are a few tricks and ingredients you can use to give your smoothies extra volume and it doesn’t involve bananas.
Smoothie Thickeners
Alright, time to turn those watery smoothies into something more drinkable!
Prep smoothie ingredients
A good way to make smoothies with a consistent flavor and texture is to measure and prep all the veggies, fruit, and add-ins in freezer bags and freeze them for future meals.
This way, everything is premeasured and ready to dump into the blender with your liquid and ice.
Start with frozen ingredients
Frozen fruit and veggies act like ice and help keep the smoothie chilled and thick.
Add oats
Oats add extra volume and fiber without giving the smoothie a strange flavor. I picked up this tip when I used them to make my Cinnamon Roll and Peach Cobbler Smoothies.
Chia seeds
These tiny seeds can absorb a lot of liquid in a matter of minutes! No wonder they are used in a lot of pudding, desserts, and overnight oats.
Use a quality blender
When your blender isn’t efficient, you tend to add more liquid to keep the ice and ingredients moving, the results: watery smoothies!
I’ve had the BEST results with everything from sauces to pancake batter and smoothies in my BlendTec.
If you’re looking for a new blender to use in your kitchen you can get 20% off a new BlendTec using my code: LF20OFF
How to Make Smoothies Thinner
Did you take the thickeners a little too far? Here’s how you can thin out your smoothie to get the perfect texture.
Add water
A simple way to thin out a smoothie without extra flavor or calories. Start with ¼ cup and move up as needed.
Add milk
Regular whole milk or a dairy-free alternative are both ideal for peanut butter, chocolate, or banana flavored smoothies. Again, start with ¼ cup.
Add juice
Perfect for smoothies made with tropical fruits: mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, etc. If you want to go easy on the additional sugar, cut the juice in half with water.
Smoothie Recipes
Now that you know a few extra smoothie tricks, here are some new recipes you’ll want to make ASAP:
- Peach Cobbler Smoothie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Shake
- Mango Peach Smoothie
- Pineapple Green Smoothie
- Coconut Pie Smoothie
Smoothie Bowls
Smoothie bowls are as thick as you can get! Their velvet, smooth texture reminds me of frozen yogurt and is best enjoyed when eaten with a spoon and! Here are a few of my favorite smoothie bowl that are also good for you:
- Strawberries & Creme Smoothie Bowls
- Healthy Frozen Mocha Frappuccino Smoothie Bowl
- Peaches & Cream Smoothie Bowl
- Blueberry Smoothie Bowl
How to Thicken a Smoothie + Making a Strawberries & Cream Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 avocado, peeled and diced
- 2 cups ice
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 scoops vanilla protein, optional
For Topping:
- Sliced strawberries
- Hemp seeds
- Muesli
- Chia seeds
- Shredded coconut
Instructions
- Place all ingredients, in the order listed, inside a blender and blend until smooth, pausing a few times to stir mixture if necessary.
- Divide the smoothie between 2 medium bowls and top with your favorite toppings.
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