How to Make Smoothies Thicker

Co-authored by Sophia Latorre

If you want to thicken your smoothie, there are tons of ways to do so. Use frozen fruit instead of fresh, or add banana or avocado to your smoothie. You can also cut down on the amount of liquid you use, or freeze it before adding it to your smoothie. Toss in chia or flax seeds, or use gelatin or xanthan gum to make your smoothie thicker. No matter what recipe is your favorite, you can thicken it quickly and easily.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Thickening Smoothies with Fruits and Veggies

1
Use frozen fruit to thicken the smoothie. Rather than using fresh bananas, berries, or other fruits, stick them in the freezer overnight. Purchasing frozen fruits is often cheaper than fresh ones, and you’ll be able to find things that may not be in season and therefore aren’t available fresh.^{[1]
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- There are even frozen fruit combos, so it’s never been easier to add a handful of papaya, guava, and pineapple, or blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries to your smoothie.
2
Add avocado for a creamy texture. Avocados are great additions to any smoothie. They add a creaminess as well as thicken up the smoothie and their taste is easily masked by other flavors. Simply remove the skin and seed, slice the avocado and toss it in the blender with the rest of your ingredients, like kale, celery, and juice.^{[2]
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3
Try mango for a refreshing flavor. Adding mango is a light and refreshing way to thicken your smoothie. It’s also low in fat and high in vitamin C. Combine mango chunks with coconut milk, pineapple, raspberries, and ice for a fruity, sweet smoothie.^{[3]
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4
Increase your potassium with a banana. A banana is the go-to ingredient for many smoothies. You can combine one with berries and other fruits, as well as oats, nut butter, and protein powder. Not only will a banana thicken your smoothie, it also adds potassium and fiber to the drink.^{[4]
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5
Boost the richness with pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree adds a delightful taste of fall while also thickening up your smoothie. Try a smoothie made from almond milk, pumpkin puree, bananas, and cinnamon. You could even sweeten it with a little honey, if desired.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Grains and Nuts

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Add a scoop of nut butter for added protein. Nut butter, like cashew, almond, or peanut, add thickness and protein to any smoothie. They also provide a creamy, nutty flavor that adds another layer to your drink. Add a tablespoon or more in addition to ingredients like milk and banana.^{[6]
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2
Put in a scoop of chia seeds to increase the fiber. Chia seeds absorb tons of liquid, so this is a surefire way to thicken your smoothie. They are also full of fiber and fatty acids, so they make a nutritious addition to any recipe. Try mixing blueberries, chia seeds, almond milk, and cinnamon.^{[7]
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3
Toss in some oats to keep you full. Oats not only add a thickness to your smoothie, they also help keep you full for hours. Choose from instant, rolled, or steel-cut oats, all of which have the same nutritional value. Combine them with banana, berries, and coconut milk for a delicious drink.^{[8]
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4
Use flax seeds to sweeten your smoothie. Flax seeds have a sweet and nutty flavor, and also add fiber and Omega-3s. Use a coffee grinder to break up the flax seeds before blending them into your smoothie. They taste great when mixed with yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and bananas.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Adding Other Thickeners

1
Use xanthan gum without changing the flavor. The great thing about xanthan gum is that it won’t change the flavor of your smoothie. It’s a tasteless, plant-based fiber that thickens and emulsifies liquids. You can add ¼ teaspoon to any smoothie, regardless of the ingredients, to thicken your drink naturally.
2
Add protein with a scoop of powder. Protein powder not only adds a shot of protein to your morning smoothie, it also thickens up the drink. Mix vanilla protein powder with almond milk, coffee, and banana for a filling and invigorating morning smoothie.^{[9]
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3
Try gelatin for added health benefits. Not only can you thicken a smoothie with gelatin, it’s also great for your hair, nails, and joints. Add a small scoop to a smoothie made from kale, celery, apples, and almond milk. Gelatin is tasteless, so you don’t have to worry about it changing your favorite flavors.^{[10]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Changing up Your Liquids

1
Don’t use as much liquid. If you have a recipe you love but think it’s a bit too thin, simply cut back on the amount of liquid you’re using. Try reducing it by one quarter and see if you’re happy with the smoothie’s texture. If not, add a thickener such as xanthan gum, and use less liquid the next time.^{[11]
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2
Use greek yogurt instead of milk. Using Greek yogurt in place of your liquid ingredient, like milk or coconut milk, adds texture and thickness to a smoothie. Greek yogurt tastes great combined with berries and bananas.^{[12]
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- You can use regular yogurt instead of Greek, if you prefer.
3
Freeze your liquids. Rather than adding a liquid to your smoothie, freeze some of your favorite liquid in ice cube trays. You could do this with milk, juice, cream, almond milk, or coconut milk. Then, simply toss the frozen cubes into your smoothie and blend it to thicken it up!^{[13]
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