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How to thicken a smoothie

By Make a Smoothie editors · Updated · How we test

Thin, watery smoothie? Fix it with one of these: most don’t involve bananas or ice.

  1. Use frozen fruit instead of fresh.
  2. Add Greek yogurt: ½ cup adds thickness and about 11 g protein.
  3. Add avocado: ¼ avocado makes it silky.
  4. Blend in oats: ¼ cup, soaked first.
  5. Add chia seeds: 1 tbsp, then let it sit 5 minutes.
  6. Frozen cauliflower rice: ½ cup, no taste.
  7. Frozen mango: the creamiest fruit.
  8. Less liquid: start with ¾ cup.
  9. Nut butter: 1 tbsp adds body and richness.

Thickeners compared

Thickener Amount Adds
Frozen banana 1 Sweetness, about 105 calories
Greek yogurt ½ cup Tang, about 11 g protein
Avocado ¼ Healthy fats, no flavor
Rolled oats ¼ cup Fiber, mild flavor
Chia seeds 1 tbsp Fiber; thickens as it sits
Frozen cauliflower ½ cup Body with almost no calories

See our smoothie without banana recipe, or build your own with the smoothie builder.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my smoothie watery?

Usually too much liquid, fresh instead of frozen fruit, or ice that melted. Start with ¾ cup liquid and use frozen fruit.

How do I thicken a smoothie without adding calories?

Use frozen cauliflower rice, frozen zucchini, ice, or chia seeds (small amount). Cauliflower adds body with almost no flavor.

Does blending longer make a smoothie thinner?

Yes. The blender’s friction warms the smoothie, so it loses thickness. Blend just until smooth.

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