Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie
Smoothies are the perfect breakfast or snack to pack in tons of flavor and protein! Made with frozen blueberries, plain greek yogurt, spinach, flaxseed and sweetened with a pinch of honey, this Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie is perfect for the whole family.
Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie recipe
Every summer my fruit intake increases by about 200%. That may be a slight exaggeration, but there's something about the warmer air that leaves me craving all the fruit!
The last few summers I've loved making smoothies during summer for a morning or afternoon snack.
I love smoothies for breakfast too, but since I'm at home during the day I usually opt for a warm breakfast option like fresh blueberry oatmeal muffins.
On the weekends, I might make my friend Susannah's blueberry skillet cake. My friend Jenna makes a Greek yogurt blueberry bread that is awesome.
When I have a chance to go out for breakfast, sometimes I will spring for a blueberry Greek yogurt smoothie from Smoothie King.
Okay, okay — I just really love blueberries!
September 2021 Update: You guys really love this recipe! So I added some nutrition information as well as some more tips and tricks for making the best Greek yogurt smoothie ever. I also list my favorite Greek yogurt brands for smoothies.
When I was first learning to make smoothies, I kept them very basic.
Even now, the number of ingredients I add is very few and the extra ingredients besides fruit and greek yogurt are used for added texture and protein.
Especially when I'm sharing a smoothie with my toddler, I want to make sure that the smoothies are not just all fruit.
Fruit is great, of course, and we do love to snack on fruit salad whenever I make it.
But when it comes to smoothies, I know that drinking ones without a lot of extra protein in them won't fill us up.
Adding protein to a smoothie
Greek yogurt is a great way to add protein to a smoothie.
When I was pregnant with Greyson, I kept track of how many grams of protein a day I ate.
I was shocked the first time I tracked greek yogurt. It's a great way to add in flavor and protein to a smoothie!
Greek yogurt smoothies have become one of my favorites for breakfasts and snacks alike.
Other easy ways to add protein to a smoothie are through adding a whole banana or through leafy greens like spinach.
What kind of Greek yogurt is best in a smoothie?
Full-fat, plain, unflavored, unsweetened Greek yogurt will give your smoothie the ideal creamy texture.
You can use reduced-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt if you prefer, but the texture won't be as creamy.
Unflavored and unsweetened yogurt will be the best way to keep added sugars and artificial flavors out of your smoothie.
My go-to brands are Nancy's Yogurt and Mountain High Yoghurt. I prefer these Greek yogurts for smoothies because they're not as thick as some of the other brands (like Chobani or Fage), but they still offer lots of flavor and protein.
The recipe calls for ½ cup of yogurt, which is approximately the same as a 5.3-ounce container. If you prefer to buy yogurt in bulk, just measure it out with your ½ cup measuring cup.
If you find out you love adding Greek yogurt to your smoothies, try these strawberry banana Greek yogurt smoothies.
How to add spinach and kale for smoothies
My other two favorite protein-rich ingredients that this smoothie recipe uses, are spinach and kale.
You might be thinking... these ingredients are better for a savory breakfast like frittata muffins.
However, these leafy greens are actually really great in smoothies because they add health benefits but don't add any extra flavor or texture.
When I started making lots of smoothies at the beginning of the summer, I purchased a bunch of spinach and kale and froze it in a freezer-safe bag.
This method is perfect for adding to smoothies: the leaves still blend well, but freezing it keeps it from going bad as quickly as the fridge. (Or does that only happen to me?)
One thing I love about this recipe is that the spinach doesn't turn the entire smoothie green because of how vibrant the blueberry color is.
This is great if you have picky little ones who might not touch anything green. 😉
(However, I do have a recipe for a toddler-approved kale fruit smoothie if your kiddo is adventurous.)
The best blueberries for smoothies
Frozen blueberries work best for smoothies because they're already ice-cold and then you don't have to deal with blending up any big chunks of ice.
You can find frozen blueberries in the freezer section of the grocery store.
Sometimes, I make them myself. If I ever have extra fresh blueberries that are about to reach their best-by date, I will throw them in a freezer-safe bag and put them in the freezer for future smoothies.
However, if all you have are fresh blueberries, decrease the amount of water in the recipe and add ½ cup of ice cubes to your smoothie. (But be prepared to pulse the blender a few times!)
Flaxseed for smoothies
Flaxseed is great for smoothies because of its high-fiber quality, which pairs well with the protein of the greek yogurt in this smoothie.
The flaxseed adds no flavor, but it does add a bit of a "seedy" texture to the smoothie. I didn't notice it much because the blueberries already have a similar texture!
Ready to make your own Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie? Scroll down to find out how!
Blueberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- ½ cup 5.3 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tablespoons flax seed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ cup kale or spinach
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
What is your favorite smoothie combination?
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