Healthy Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

This list of healthy breakfast smoothie recipes is everything you’ll need to start your day off on the right foot.

These smoothies are packed with nutrition, high in protein, creamy and delicious. Whether you’re taking your breakfast smoothie on the road or sitting down to a beautiful smoothie bowl, this list is sure to have a smoothie or two that’s just right for your morning. All the smoothies on this list are vegan and refined sugar-free.

How to Make a Breakfast Smoothie

To make a healthy breakfast smoothie it really depends on what your nutritional needs are but there are some standards we can follow then get into how to customize smoothies to your own needs.

To create a basic breakfast smoothie all you need is frozen fruit and a liquid of choice. However, I don’t feel that gives you enough staying powder to keep you full throughout the morning. Let’s look at what you need to create filling, nutritious breakfast smoothies that taste great.

What Liquid to Use

My go-to liquid for smoothies is almond or cashew milk. For most smoothies, 1 cup will do the trick. When in doubt, start with 1 cup of liquid and if you’re having trouble getting your smoothie to blend, slowly pour in extra liquid until it starts blending. I don’t often add more than 1 1/4 cup unless I’m making a very large smoothie.

If you’re making a smoothie bowl, I’d suggest starting with 1/2 cup of liquid and slowly increasing from there if needed. Other liquid options include any kind of plant-based milk, coconut water or water.

I never use juice for smoothies but it is an option, just make sure you choose juice that is made from 100% fruit and has no added sugar. A better choice however would be to use water and just add more whole fruit so you get the important dietary fibre that comes along with whole foods.

Add Frozen Fruit

Frozen fruit will make up the bulk of your smoothie. My favourites are blueberries, peaches, strawberries and raspberries. Pineapple, mango and frozen banana are all excellent too. I’d recommend keeping peeled half frozen bananas on hand for adding creaminess and sweetness to your smoothies.

Add Fresh or Frozen Vegetables

I always add vegetables to my smoothies. They bulk them up without adding extra sugar or calories and it’s a great way to sneak extra nutrition into your diet. My favourite vegetables for smoothies are cauliflower, sweet potato, beets, celery, cucumber, zucchini and carrot. For more ideas on adding vegetables to your smoothies check out my post on the best vegetables to add to smoothies.

Add Optional Protein Powder

Adding protein powder to your breakfast smoothie is optional but I almost always do. I basically use it as my sweetener and I like how it thickens the smoothie and adds 20 grams of protein. I like Iron Vegan, SunWarrior, Vega, Orgain, Nutribiotics Rice Protein and North Coast Naturals Vege Pro-7.

Boost Healthy Fats

To make your breakfast smoothie more filling and substantial, I suggest adding some healthy fats to it.

Health Fat Options:

• one quarter to half an avocado
• one to two tbsp of nut or seed butter
• one quarter cup of nuts
• two tbsp of chia seeds, ground flax seed or hemp seeds
• one to two tbsp flaked coconut or cacao nibs
• one quarter to half a cup of fresh or frozen coconut meat

Coconut and cacao nibs are both great but add saturated fats versus the unsaturated and monounsaturated fats you find in avocado and nuts. We need both in our diet and I use both all of these options for fats in my smoothies. You can read more about the difference between these types of fats in this post.

Have Fun with Nutrition Boosters

Smoothie extras include superfoods like spirulina, matcha, chlorella, moringa, camu camu and adaptogenic powders. Depending on your nutritional needs and budget you can play around with these fun smoothie extras. I like adding spirulina or chlorella to my smoothies or I’ll use maca or ashwagandha at certain times of the year but know that they’re completely optional and not required to build a healthy smoothie. Read more about these add-ins in my list of the Best Superfoods to Add to Smoothies and post all about adaptogens.

Best Blender for Smoothies

I’m going to go ahead and say Vitamix wins by a landslide here. If you have the means to invest in one, I can’t recommend it enough. I use mine at least twice a day, if not more.

It makes the creamiest, smoothest, most delicious smoothies I’ve ever had and can handle tougher ingredients like beets, kale and cauliflower like a dream. I actually purchased a refurbished Vitamix and saved quite a bit going that route. It might be the best thing I’ve ever bought!

Before Vitamix I had a Ninja Blender which, to be honest, was just okay. They definitely do the trick and have a great price point but they won’t get your smoothies nearly as creamy as a Vitamix does and they’re kind of a pain to clean.

I believe Kitchen Aid makes a mid-level price point blender now, something better than a Ninja but not quite a Vitamix, so that would be worth looking at and of course, Blendtec is a good option as well.

Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

The breakfast smoothies below are a great way to start your day with a healthy, balanced meal. Smoothies are a simple way to sneak a lot of nutrition into one meal. These smoothies contain protein, healthy fats, fruits and veggies and are all vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and easy to make.

About These Breakfast Smoothies

I’ve made a few notes about each smoothie such as if it’s low in sugar, high in protein or high in fat. If you’re looking for breakfast smoothies for weight loss, look for the lower calorie options or omit some of the higher calorie ingredients such as almond butter or coconut.

I like large smoothies so they keep me full but a bigger smoothies doesn’t necessarily mean high calorie. A great way to make a large smoothie that’s low in calories is to fill it up with veggies such as spinach, kale, cucumber, celery and cauliflower.

Sweet Potato Smoothie

Ever add sweet potato to your smoothies? It’s so good and gives smoothies the most amazingly rich and creamy texture. Sweet potato is also nutrient-rich, low in sugar and a good source of complex carbohydrates to fuel up in the morning. You can use fresh or frozen cooked sweet potato in this recipe. This smoothie can be low in fat or you can include the optional almond butter for a dose of healthy fats and extra creaminess.

Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie

This strawberry raspberry smoothie is a take on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It features almond butter, strawberries, raspberries and almond milk. Add extra nutrition and volume by adding a handful of fresh spinach or kale and a few pieces of zucchini or beet. Dates are optional for a little extra sweetness.

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

This smoothie contains mood-boosting ingredients such as cacao, chia seeds and cherries. It also contains spirulina, spinach and protein for a complete, filling, balanced breakfast. Love chocolate-covered cherries? You will love the flavour of this smoothie. This is a good smoothie to enjoy during the Winter months when you might be feeling a little blue from all the dreamy weather.

Carrot Cake Smoothie

This simple carrot cake smoothie is made with pineapple, banana and fresh carrot. It tastes like carrot cake but is perfectly suitable for breakfast. It’s quite low in calories so  if you need a more substantial meal, I’d suggest adding one of the nutrition booster suggestions I’ve included in the post.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

You can’t beat the classic combination of chocolate and banana! This creamy chocolate smoothie is made with greens, chia, banana, cacao, flax and almond milk for a seriously nutrition-packed breakfast but aside from the health benefits, this smoothie tastes incredible.

Lemon Blueberry Smoothie

This smoothie tastes like blueberry pie! Fresh lemon juice and frozen blueberries with chia seeds, banana, almond milk and protein round out this beautiful, bright purple smoothie. This smoothie is high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Drink up if you feel a cold coming on.

Mixed Berry Smoothie

Who doesn’t love a handful of mixed berries? Get all the berry flavour in this mixed berry smoothie with spinach, banana and almond butter. Berries and spinach are some of the most nutrient-dense foods we can eat so this is a great way to get in a good dose of your daily nutritional needs.

Kale Spinach Smoothie

Kale, spinach, dates, banana, almond butter, cinnamon and vanilla protein give this nutritious green smoothie loads of delicious flavour. With a double hit of dark, leafy greens, this is a great way to sneak a lot of nutrition in your first meal of the day. If you don’t love greens, this smoothie is perfect for getting them into your diet without even noticing them.

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Go tropical with this green mango pineapple smoothie made with spinach and cucumber. This large smoothie is bright and refreshing and will pack a ton of nutrition into your morning. The mango and pineapple make it nice and sweet and the spinach and cucumber add extra volume and nutrition to make this big, filling smoothie a nutrient superstar.

Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Love strawberry? Try it blended up with sweet mango in this creamy pink smoothie made with cucumber and zucchini for added nutrition and volume.

Green Monster Smoothie

This giant green monster smoothie is packed with nutrition thanks to greens, cucumber, celery and hemp seeds. This extra-large smoothie is perfect for breakfast thanks to it’s high fibre and protein content, ready to keep you full throughout the morning. Customize with your favourite frozen fruit or try it as is with peaches and strawberries.

Beet Orange Smoothie

A simple beet orange smoothie made with just a few ingredients. Beets are packed with antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals and combined with orange, this smoothie provides a ton of nutrition. This smoothie is low calorie so if you need a more substantial breakfast, try adding coconut, flax or almond butter to add more calories.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Smoothie

Welcome Fall with this classic pumpkin spice latte smoothie. This healthy morning drink is made with coffee, almond milk, banana, pumpkin and protein and tastes absolutely incredible. Pumpkin is actually quite nutritious so if you don’t eat it regularly otherwise, adding it to smoothies is a great way to go.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Smoothie

Peanut butter and pumpkin are a delicious combo in this Fall-inspired smoothie. This smoothie is made with powdered peanut butter for a lower fat alternative with plenty of peanut butter flavour. You’ll also need peaches, banana, pumpkin and protein.

Peanut Butter Coffee Smoothie

Peanut butter and coffee? Don’t knock it until you try it! This simple smoothie is a take on peanut butter mocha flavour with chia seeds, turmeric and banana for a fun twist.

Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

This peanut butter protein shake tastes like a Reese’s peanut butter cup thanks to a secret ingredient that adds the perfect salted peanut butter flavour. Can you guess what it is?

Blueberry Sweet Potato Smoothie

This chocolate blueberry sweet potato combo is a little different but no less delicious. It’s ultra-thick and creamy, high in protein, filling and packed with nutrition. This smoothie features cacao, spirulina, sweet potato, avocado and blueberries making it an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich way to start the day.

Chocolate Avocado Banana Smoothie

Avocado adds a beautiful creamy texture to smoothies. Try it in this chocolate banana avocado smoothie with cacao nibs, cauliflower and superfoods. This smoothie provides plenty of nutrition to start your day, including a healthy dose of essential fatty acids to help keep you full and get your brain up and running.

Breakfast Smoothie Bowls

Smoothie bowls are a satisfying way to eat your smoothie with a spoon and kinda feel like you’re eating ice cream for breakfast. They pack all of the healthy nutrition of a good smoothie but they’re thicker, scooped into a bowl, topped with smoothie bowl favourites such as fresh fruit and granola and

Matcha Smoothie Bowl

For a subtle boost in energy in the morning, try this smoothie bowl made with added matcha powder, zucchini, spinach, pineapple and banana. Top it with hemp seeds, granola and cacao nibs to make a more filling meal. For a lower sugar smoothie, you can sub cauliflower for the pineapple or banana.

Green Smoothie Bowl with Rawnola

Smoothie bowls are all about the toppings. Try this spirulina mango banana smoothie bowl topped with easy, 2-ingredient raw granola.

Blueberry Banana Smoothie Bowl

Blueberry banana is a classic smoothie combo. This simple recipe is a good intro into smoothie bowls as you only need a few ingredients to make it. Try it topped with peanut butter granola and extra blueberries and sliced banana.

Low-Sugar Blueberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

This smoothie bowl is made with cauliflower to add volume and nutrition while keeping the sugar levels down. You’ll never guess it’s in there with all the delicious blueberry coconut flavour though!

Strawberry Beet Smoothie Bowl

This deliciously creamy strawberry beet smoothie features berries, fresh beet, zucchini, banana and protein. It’s high in fibre and protein and has anti-inflammatory properties. This is a great one for athletes. Try it for a post-workout recovery meal topped with fresh fruit, cacao nibs and almond butter.

Low-Sugar Chocolate Avocado Smoothie Bowl

Keeping sugar on the lower side? This smoothie bowl is banana-free and made with avocado and veggies for a low-sugar chocolate treat that will fill you up and keep you going all morning.

More Breakfast Recipes

Bored of smoothies? Try one of these other healthy breakfast recipes:

Golden Coconut Apple Oatmeal // Easy Healthy Vegan Breakfast Recipes // Vegan Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos // Vegan Breakfast Burrito Bowl with Chipotle Sauce // Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Recipes // Coconut Chia Pudding Breakfast Bowls // Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls