5 Tips to Make a Smoothie Thicker
One of the most common questions I get is: “How can I make my smoothie thicker?” I get excited about this question because I love making super thick spoonable smoothies.
My smoothies are the consistency of ice cream- the thicker the better! These bowls are the perfect base for plenty of tasty toppings! Now you can make tasty smoothie bowls at home!
Here are five tips and tricks for making a smoothie thicker:
Use frozen fruit or freeze fresh fruit overnight
I always have a stash of bananas in the freezer because they’re perfect in smoothies! Mango, pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries are also great in the freezer. Plus, frozen fruit tends to be cheaper, and you can find fruit that might not be in season! Budget-friendly and delicious? That’s a win-win.
Cut fruit into small pieces for easier blender
If you don’t have a powerful blender, cut the fruit into small pieces and freeze on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the fruit in the freezer and once it’s frozen, you can transfer it to a freezer bag. This works especially well for fruit like bananas, strawberries, mangoes, and pineapple. The large pieces can be hard for a blender to blend smoothly without a lot of additional liquid. By cutting the fruit into smaller pieces, it’s easier for your blender to blend the fruit.
Freeze some of the liquid
If you typically use orange juice in your smoothies, freeze some of it in an ice cube tray and add those to your smoothies! I don’t recommend freezing milk or almond milk, as it can separate when frozen. But if you like juice in your smoothies, this can work well for anything from orange juice to pineapple juice!
Blend protein powder or greens first
If you want to add protein powder or spinach to your smoothie, blend it with a little bit of liquid first. This will help break down the greens easily before you add in other ingredients that will make your smoothie thick. This also works well if you’re using protein powder, so you can avoid any grittiness in your smoothie bowl.
Use the minimum amount of liquid
The better the blender, the less liquid you’ll have to use. If you don’t have a fancy blender, you might need a bit more liquid but try to only use a little at a time while you’re blending. If you add too much, it’ll be runny. I start with a little bit and add an extra splash if it’s too thick to blend.
Add a scoop of raw oats or chia seeds
A handful of oats can add thickness to your smoothie while also adding in some extra protein and fiber! I love tossing in some oats in this peach cobbler smoothie. You don’t need to cook them, just add them in raw! Adding in a tablespoon of chia seeds will add healthy fats that also make your smoothie thicker! They’re a natural thickener. This can be especially helpful if you’re not eating your smoothie right away. After just a few minutes, the chia will start to absorb liquid from the smoothie, and the seeds will expand, creating a thicker texture.
Need tips for better blending?
Struggling to get super thick results from your blender? If you don’t have a fancy blender, you can still make super thick smoothies! Whether you’re working with a fancy blender or an inexpensive model, here’s how to get the best results from your blender!
My Favorite Smoothie Bowl Recipes
PrintSuper Thick Blueberry Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Smoothie
Description
This super thick blueberry smoothie bowl is delicious for breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 handful of ice (about 5 large cubes)
- 1/2 medium banana, frozen
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2/3 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 handful spinach leaves (optional)
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (optional)
- Optional toppings: Almonds, blueberries, chia seeds, etc.
Instructions
- Toss everything except your toppings into the blender and process until smooth!
- Pour into a bowl and add your toppings.
- Dig in with a spoon!
My Favorite Smoothie Bowl Toppings
Of course, to take a smoothie bowl to the next level, you have to add toppings! It’s a great way to add more flavor and texture to your smoothie bowl and it can even give your bowl a little nutritional boost! I love fresh fruit, granola, or shredded coconut. Looking for more topping ideas? Here are my favorite smoothie bowl toppings!
Pin this post so you can find these smoothie tips the next time you’re making breakfast!
“My smoothies are like ice cream.” SOLD!!!
I learn so much from you! Thank you for these tips – I love a good thick smoothie but mine often turn out runny. I’ll be trying your tips for sure!
Lots of great tips here. We love adding oats to ours.
This was so helpful and easy to follow. My daughter made a smoothie the other day and I thought what a perfect way to show her this. Definitely helped make the smoothie thicker and it was so yummy!
We love making smoothie bowls in our family and these are great tips… especially freezing some of the liquid ahead of time!
These tips were so helpful. I love a super thick smoothie and I hadn’t thought about adding oats – what a great idea!
I love my smoothies really thick so these are great things to know so I can get the most out of my morning smoothie.
I never would’ve thought to add oats or chia seeds, I bet that makes the smoothie even more filling too! Now that the weather is warmer I’ll definitely be making this smoothie bowl and using some of these tips.
These are some great tips; looking forward to trying these out for breakfast tomorrow, indeed!
I loved your recipe.