Smoothies make an awesome breakfast or snack because they pack nutrition and flavor into a single serving. And summertime is a great time to get started with smoothies, or to up your smoothie game, because of the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables in season.
The beauty of smoothies is that they’re endlessly customizable. The summer smoothie recipes below are delicious as-is, but they can also be a jumping-off point for you to get creative and come up with your own concoctions.
10 Delightful Summer Smoothie Recipes
The basic instructions for the following summer smoothie recipes are all the same: wash and prep produce, cut the produce into chunks as needed, then put ingredients in the blender and blend ‘til smooth!
A few notes first: Ice cubes and honey are optional ingredients that can be adjusted depending on how cold or sweet you want your smoothie to be. Also, how much you process produce first depends on how powerful your blender is and what you do and don’t want to eat. (Just because your blender can handle a banana peel doesn’t necessarily mean you want to eat it.)
Now, on to the recipes!
Berry Blast
- 1 cup strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries
- 1 banana, peeled and sliced into chunks
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, whole milk yogurt, or kefir
- ½ cup almond milk, soy milk, or other milk of choice
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
- Handful of spinach leaves (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Green Energy
- 1 green apple, cored and cut into chunks
- 1 ripe pear, cored and cut into chunks
- ½ ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
- ½ cup coconut water
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 scoop of energy-enhancing supplement like AG1 (optional)
- Small piece of fresh ginger (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Summer Garden Delight
- 1 medium tomato, in chunks
- 1 small cucumber, in chunks
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and in chunks
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and in chunks
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp fresh basil
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- Pinch of salt and pepper to taste
- Ice cubes (optional)
Watermelon-Mint Refresher
- 3 cups watermelon chunks
- 1 cup cucumber chunks
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 cup coconut water
- Ice cubes (optional)
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Peaches and Cream
- 2 ripe peaches, pitted and in chunks
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup plain frozen yogurt
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Ice cubes (optional)
Green Tea Goodness
- 1 cup cold green tea
- 1 green apple, cored and chopped
- ½ or whole avocado, pitted and peeled
- 2 cups packed greens, like spinach or arugula
- ½ cup kale or Swiss chard, thick stems removed
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
- Juice ½ lemon
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Cuckoo for Coconut
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and in chunks
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp shredded coconut (optional garnish)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Protein Power
- 1 cup apricot chunks
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 scoop protein powder or collagen powder like Vital Proteins
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 cup milk
- Ice cubes (optional)
Melon Medley
- 1 cup honeydew melon chunks
- 1 cup cantaloupe chunks
- 1 banana
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Herbal Heaven
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup spinach or arugula leaves
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves
- ½ cup fresh parsley leaves
- ½ cup hibiscus tea, cooled, or herbal tea of your choice
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp spirulina (optional)
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
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Related: The Best Mocktails for Summer Sipping
Smoothie FAQS
What is the best liquid to put in a smoothie?
The “best” liquid for a smoothie is anything you like that meshes well with the other flavors of your smoothie recipe. Popular smoothie liquids include cow’s milk, almond or another nut- or plant-based milk, freshly pressed or squeezed juice, and even plain water.
Or you can try some less conventional smoothie options like coconut water, coconut milk, green tea, herbal tea, or even the water leftover after boiling or steaming vegetables in a pan (you know, the green-colored, nutrient-packed stuff that you usually pour down the drain).
What is the best base for a smoothie?
All of the liquids above make a good base for a smoothie. If you want something creamier, then try plain, unflavored yogurt or kefir.
Are smoothies better with milk or yogurt?
Smoothies can be delicious whether they’re made with milk or yogurt. Yogurt makes for a thicker and creamier base, while milk makes smoothies thinner and easier to drink. Also, consider nutrition – Greek yogurt has about 20 grams of protein per cup compared to 8 grams for plain, full-fat yogurt or milk, and yogurt has probiotics, while milk doesn’t.
What is the most important ingredient in a smoothie?
Do smoothies have to have yogurt? No! Yogurt is a very common base, but it’s not what makes a smoothie a smoothie. A smoothie is a drink made from blended or pureed produce, like fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouts, herbs, seeds, and nuts. The difference between a smoothie and juice is that smoothies use more of the fruit or vegetable, including the whole flesh, seeds, skin, and even peels. This gives smoothies much more fiber and nutrition than simple juice.
In what order should ingredients go in a smoothie?
For the best and smoothest smoothies, add ingredients in layers before blending in this order, from top to bottom:
- Liquids (at the bottom of the blender)
- Powders
- Leafy greens
- Thicker ingredients like yogurt, peanut butter, or tofu
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, cut in chunks
- Nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, pre-soaked in water
- Frozen ingredients
- Ice (at the top of the blender)
What should you not mix in a smoothie?
You can put anything you want in your smoothie, but there may be things you don’t want to put in your blender. Here are some ingredients not to put in your blender as is, as they could harm your blender or cause safety issues, and what to do to make them blender-friendly:
- Whole fruits or vegetables, especially fibrous veggies like carrots and celery (chop into pieces first, even if you leave the skin or peel on)
- Dried fruits, dry seeds, and dry nuts (soak them in water first)
- Large pieces of frozen fruit or vegetables, like whole frozen strawberries (let them thaw a little first or cut into smaller pieces before freezing)
- Ice (unless your blender is designed to handle it)
- Hot liquids, as they can cause the blender to “explode” and cover you in scalding hot liquid (let them cool down first)
You might also want to avoid pungent ingredients (like garlic) or highly pigmented ingredients (like turmeric) that can leave traces of odor or color behind on the plastic and can be challenging to clean.
Read your food blender’s owner’s manual for do’s and don’ts and what kinds of foods it’s powerful enough to handle.
What if I drink a smoothie every day?
Yes, it’s generally okay to drink a smoothie every day, provided it’s balanced and healthy. Smoothies can be a great way to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and other beneficial foods into your diet. Fruits naturally contain sugar, and while it’s not the same as processed sugars, too much of it can still lead to weight gain and other health problems. Try to balance fruit with vegetables and consider lower-sugar fruits like berries or green apples.
Remember, while smoothies can be a part of a healthy diet, they shouldn’t replace balanced, whole-food meals consistently. They’re usually best as a supplement to a well-rounded diet.
As always, if you have any health concerns or specific dietary needs, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. They can provide personalized advice based on your individual health goals and needs.
