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!
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 ยฝ cups frozen fruit (such as mango, pineapple and peaches)
- 1 ยฝ 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)
Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later
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 ๐
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
This post covers a LOT!
To skip directly to a section, click on the link below:
- How to Make Smoothies (Video)
- Blenders- cheap vs expensive
- Smoothie Add Ins
- How to Meal Prep Them
- 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.
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.
- cheap model- I used a basic blender similar to this one for years and it worked well for me
- Vitamix- I recently upgraded to this Vitamix blender and really love it, but it is an investment
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
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.ย Here are some of my faves:
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- ยผ of an avocado (I promise you canโt taste it!)
- 1 tablespoon goji berries
- 1 tablespoon of this coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of this matcha powder
- ยผ cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon nut butter
Want to turn your smoothie into a meal? Try adding one of the following:
- ยผ cup quick or rolled oats
- ยฝ 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
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
- place frozen fruit in the bottom of the jar
- place add-ins on top of fruit. Extracts, flax, chia seeds, spices etc are all totally fine to add in!
- top the jars with any greens, then seal with the jar lids
- 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
- dump all ingredients out of the jar into the blender. It's ok if some fruit gets stuck in the jar.
- 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.
- blend away, then pour the smoothie back into your jar and enjoy!
7 Different Breakfast Smoothie Recipes
1. Base Mango Smoothie Recipe
Get the printable recipe here!
- 1 ยฝ cups mango
- 1 ยฝ 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!
2. Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Frozen Smoothie Packs
Would you like to save this?
Get the printable recipe here.
- 1 ยฝ cups frozen pineapple chunks
- ยผ teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
- 1 cup packed spinach or kale
- 1 ยฝ 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.
3. Blueberry Coconut Water Frozen Smoothie Packs:
Get the printable recipe here.
-
1 ยฝย cupsย frozen blueberries
-
ยฝย cupย yogurtย full-fat plain or greek
-
ยผย teaspoonย coconut extract
-
1ย tablespoonย hemp hearts
- 1ย cupย coconut 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 perfectlyย together!
4. Green Mango Superfood Frozen Smoothie Packs:
Get the printable recipe here.
-
1ย cupย spinachย packed
-
1.5ย cupsย frozenย ripe mango chunks
-
1ย teaspoonย ground flax
-
1ย tablespoonย chia seeds
-
โ ย teaspoonย almond extract
- 1 ยผย cupsย almond milk
This one is PACKED with superfoods: mango, spinach, chia seeds, ground flax...so much nutrition packed into one drink! A touch ofย almond extract pairs surprisingly well with the mango and really takes this smoothie up a notch.
5. Goji Peach Cherry Frozen Smoothie Packs:
Get the printable recipe here.
-
1ย cupย frozen cherries
-
ยฝย cupย frozen peach slices
-
1ย tablespoonย goji berries
-
1 ยผย cupย almond milk
Optional
-
1ย tablespoonย chia seeds
-
1ย teaspoonย ground 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!
6. Strawberry Mango Chai Frozen Smoothie Packs
Get the printable recipe here.
-
ยพย cupย frozen mango chunks
-
ยพย cupย frozen strawberries
-
โ ย teaspoonย chai spice blend
-
ยผย teaspoonย vanilla extract
- 1 ยผย cupsย almond milkย or more as needed to blend
Optional
-
1ย tablespoonย chia seeds
-
1ย teaspoonย ground flax
-
1ย cupย spinach
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. Matcha Avocado Smoothie
Get the printable recipe here!
-
ยพย cupย frozen mango chunks
-
ยผย cupย frozen avocado chunks
-
โ ย teaspoonย vanilla extract
-
1ย tablespoonย chia seeds
-
1 teaspoon of this matcha powder
-
1 ยฝย cupsย almond 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.
Those are our 7 smoothie flavors! I hope you got some great ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.
XO
This post was originally published in 2016. It has been rewritten and republished with new photos, 2 new recipes, and a new video!ย
KA says
Hello there. I was wondering you have a link to print all of the smoothie recipes at once?
Denise says
Hi! At this time I do not, you'll have to go to each recipe and print them out individually.
Gabbie says
How long do these smoothies stay good in the freezer for? Iโm giving the meal prep thing a go.
Denise says
Hi Gabbie! I have left these as long as 3 months! They can look freezer-burned but I have never tasted it in the smoothie. Hope you enjoy!
Bree says
Im curious how you do zero waste frozen fruit, do you freeze the fruit your self? If so do you have any tips on the best way to do this? Thanks
-Bree
Denise says
Hi Bree, maybe I should rephrase the title...I meant that the smoothie packs themselves do not require plastic bags (I hate seeing people waste a plastic bag for smoothie packs). For the fruit, I do buy packaged, but I pick the biggest possible one to cut down on my waste. I do have some tips on freezing fruit if you'd like to freeze your own: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/fruit-freezing-guide-how-to-freeze-fresh-fruit/
Leslie says
These look great. However, it is incorrect to say these are sugar free. Fruit has natural sweetness because it has natural sugar. A more accurate statement would be that these have no added sugar. I would hate for someone new to a health issue that requires them to monitor their sugar intake find this and make these thinking these are sugar free when they are definitely not sugar free. They are free of added sugar, which is wonderful. But still not โsugar free.โ
Denise says
Of course. I wrote this post a long time ago and my views on sugar are way different now. I will update it to say free from added sugar. ๐
Wes says
Hi I love the ideas of these and have started making them in the mornings. So far only tried the kale and pineapple and blueberry coconut ones. They taste great how ever I have a couple issue/questions. How do you fit these in a pint size jar ? Mine do not fit. Also the greens in both of them do not blend very well. Each smoothie has been watery and the kale chops up but still is solid and you have to kind of chew it as you drink. Not ideal. Any tips?
Denise says
Hi Wes! 1. do you mean the ingredients don't fit in a pint jar or the blended smoothie doesn't fit? I normally drink it down a bit then add the rest of the smoothie and wash the blender. The ingredients for sure fit in a 1 pint jar! 2. The smoothies should definitely not be watery, and bleck that sounds gross to have to chew the kale! I blend mine until I can't see any chunks. You may have to blend for a minute or two, depending on your blender. I've done this in a really basic blender and had no issues with chunks, so I would try blending for a lot longer. I really hope this helps!
Karey says
I have a NutriBullet and blend equal parts of kale & water to the desired smoothness before adding anything else.
Jessica says
Think it depends on the blender. I previously had a Ninja and it left chunks of spinach. I have a Vitamix now and it blends so smoothly.
Denise says
I have a Vitamix on my wish list! Someday...
Deb says
Loved finding your recipes. I do like bananas but I'm diabetic so smoothies that are banana free are a much better option for me. Thanks for sharing these.
Deb
Denise says
I'm so glad these recipes are usefull to you, Deb!
M F says
I hate using freezer bags but I put the smoothie mix in the freezer bag, empty it in the mixer, and then place it back in the freezer until I fill it again with smoothie material. That way, I only use 7 bags over an dover since they do not get wreck and I don't need to wash them in between use since I am filling them back with the same thing.
Denise says
Great tip!
Anna Candler says
I literally DESPISE bananas, and I can never find any smoothie prep recipes (or really any smoothie recipes, for that matter) that don't include bananas. All of these look amazing, thank you so much! xo
Denise says
Yay! Love meeting fellow banana-haters ๐ Hope you enjoy them, Anna!
Narinder says
Hi Denise,
I just signed up and I already love your recipes. I just have one question. I understand that you use 1 pint jars. If you fill them up with fruits/vegetables, like in the pictures, how does the smoothie fits back to the same jar after blending them; given that the liquid will be added. Please reply.
Thanks.
Denise says
Hi Narinder! That's a good point, they do end up being slightly larger in volume than the jar. I drink mine down a bit, then add the rest of the smoothie before cleaning out my blender.
Connie says
Okay, I see it says mostly dairy-free. My bad. ???
Connie says
I was excited to read these were vegan recipes...until I read the ingredients for the blueberry one, which includes yougurt. What???
Izzy says
Use non-dairy yogurt, you can find it in the dairy case and\or in the health foods section. Hope this helps
Linda says
Vegan yogurt is easy to find!
Denise says
Hi Shaffi! You can either freeze or marinate in the fridge for 2-24 hours. I hope you enjoy them ๐
Heidi says
Hi Denise, I love this idea but I'm sceptical about the ingredients coming out of the jar easily after being in the freezer. And how do the greens react to being in the freezer? Are they as good as fresh? If I wanted to add protein powder what order should it be in ? I.e. Top, bottom, middle?
I'm a morning zombie too!
Denise says
Hi Heidi! I was skeptical too, but everything really shakes right out, and if there's anything stuck in the jar, you just add a bit of almond milk and give it a good shake up. The greens are fine, you wouldn't want to eat them in a salad, but you won't notice a bit after blending. I don't use protein powder so I'm not sure but probably near the top. But if any sticks to the jar, just add some almond milk and shake.
Karey says
Use a wide-mouth jar, then only the edges have to melt for it to slide out. It saves time to move them to the fridge the night befire, as they do start to melt.
Gloriana Huhta says
What size jars do you use in these recipes?
Denise says
1 pint/ 2 cup ๐
Hannah Paddock says
Is there any alternative to the hemp hearts? The hubby and I are active duty military and this ingredient can cause false positive testing in urine drug screen for THC.
Denise says
Hi Hannah, you could sub chia seeds, or a tablespoon of ground flax? They will give a boost of protein as well ๐ I hope you like the smoothies!
Denise says
I am wanting to start to drink a smoothie every morning.
I need to freeze mine in freezer bags. How do I do that? Is it different. I will label them, and put down what liquid and ? Whatever else it will need. Thanks Denise.
Denise says
Hi Denise! You can certainly freeze the ingredients in bags as well, exactly as outlined for jars.
Marjori Miller says
Could you just leave them in the jar, add liquid & attach it to the blender instead of dirtying the blender?
Denise says
Hi Marjory! I've never tried that, it doesn't work with my blender. I guess if you have a magic bullet or some other blender that you can attach a jar to, it would be worth a try?
Blue says
I HATE bananas too. With a passion. I used to love them, but when I got pregnant with my now 13 year old, I couldn't eat them and ever since, I can't stand them. (Ironically, he adores them. lol!) So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for making banana free smoothie recipes. (And if you have any more to share, please do!)
Denise says
Ha ha!! Your comment made me laugh! Down with bananas! I absolutely can't stand them ๐
Lu says
my daughter is allergic and its difficult to find recipes that are banana free sometimes ๐
Denise says
I'm glad these smoothies are useful for you, Lu!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I drink a smoothie nearly EVERY morning for breakfast so I'm loving all these fun and SUPER easy smoothie twists, Denise! Love love LOVE that I can keep all the ingredients in mason jars and then blend 'em up whenever!
Jen V. says
I am going to have to try your turmeric pineapple smoothie. I take turmeric capsules every day to help with back pain and am always looking for ways to add it to recipes.
Denise says
Thanks Jen! I hope you like it ๐