Yogurt smoothies are fun to make and have countless variations. Here are all of the info and ideas you need to make delicious smoothies every time.

 I’m not a woman who shrinks from a gift of a great tool (for the kitchen, not the tool shed). Jewelry or perfume have their place of course, but so do pizza ovens and Vitamix blenders.

I have sung arias to my Vitamix blender, a pro-tool that makes a smoothie smoother and a hummus hum. Back in 2014, an auspicious year for dreams-really-do-come-true in the life of Maureen, my Vitamix-dream was also realized!!

My brother Tom and his wife Amara, they put that blender baby in my hands after I took care of their new baby, my godson, on their first trip away from him. I think they must have known that I’d cry like a baby myself when I had to leave after being with that boy all week … so here was something special to ease the pain (I’m sure they were just saying thank you, but I was in deep). I use this powerful blender for lots of things, but because I am such a smoothie person, I love it for yogurt smoothies of all flavors to get our days going strong. 

Yogurt Smoothie Ingredients

Remember that smoothies are flexible recipes; here is a list of many items that can be included to make a great smoothie. The main idea is to keep the recipe ratios in place for balanced thickness, but beyond that: play!

Dairy

Yogurt. Any kind of yogurt works in a smoothie. Take your pick of regular yogurt, labneh, or plain Greek yogurt. Homemade yogurt is a bonus! Any fat level of a creamy yogurt works fine. Fruity yogurts or vanilla yogurt are also delicious (but they do have added sugar in them, which is why we often go for plain yogurt). Yogurt is the main ingredient and makes the smoothie a protein-packed drink. You can make your own yogurt with my helpful guide for how to make yogurt.

Fruit

Fresh fruit. Most any kind of fruit works well in a smoothie. Citrus fruits are perhaps the ones I use least often. Fruit combinations are really nice (fresh strawberries for a strawberry banana smoothie is a classic combo) and I am a huge fan of pomegranate seeds to throw in the mix or to sprinkle on top before serving (very pretty!).

Fruit juice. A splash of fruit juice gives the smoothie great color, sweetness, and even tartness. 

Berries. So much flavor and color! Use frozen berries or fresh berries. Go for frozen strawberries, raspberries, cherries (they are great to . Frozen banana adds tons of body and flavor to a smoothie. Using frozen fruit enhances the texture and makes the drink icy-cold.

Other add-ins

Honey. A little bit of honey is a natural sweetener, and adding a little honey gives a big boost of flavor. Raw honey has great antioxidant and other health properties.

Seeds. Try chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax seed for a high protein, high fiber smoothie.

Ice cubes. A handful of ice is key for amping up the thick texture of the smoothie and also making it: ice cold!

Nut Butter. For my husband Dan, there is nothing better than a peanut butter banana smoothie! Other nut butters are great too, such as almond butter, cashew butter.

Protein powder. A great way to make a thick smoothie, and it packs a smoothie with a good amount of protein along with the yogurt dairy products.

Best Yogurt Smoothie

Step 1. First ingredient to add to your blender is the juice (or if using water, then that first). If protein powder, frozen fruit, or ice cubes go in first, the blender gets stuck and has to be stirred frequently to set the blades free.

Step 2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and pulse until smooth. Stop and stir a couple of times if needed. Sometimes rather than stir, I turn the blender off and give the blender container a shake or two to loosen things up. 

Step 3. Serve immediately! Your smoothie has all of that frozen goodness from the berries and ice cubes right after it’s blended.

Tips and variations

1. If your fruit is fresh, include a handful of ice cubes. This thickens the smoothie and chills it.
2. Make a green smoothie by including fresh greens such as spinach or mixed lettuce greens. They won’t fully puree when blitzed but they’ll add that boost of nutrition.
3. One of the best ways to freeze bananas is to use ripe bananas, peel them and tuck them into a freezer bag in the freezer. This way you have frozen bananas on hand whenever you need them. 
4. If the smoothie is too thick, add a touch of milk, water, or juice to thin it out. If the smoothie is too thin, add protein powder. If you try to add fruit or ice to a large batch of smoothies, it will be difficult for those to pulverize and disburse among the rest of the liquid.
5. You can substitute the yogurt with nut milk, oat milk, or any vegan yogurt. A good substitute for honey is maple syrup.

Are Smoothies Good for Weight Loss?

Smoothies can be used on a low-calorie diet but would need to be part of an overall plan for weight loss. Many yogurt smoothies are not themselves low-calorie depending on what is used in them.

How to Make a Healthy Yogurt Smoothie

To keep it healthy, don’t add too much sugar to the smoothie. Sugar comes from fruit, honey, some nut butters. 

What Is the Best Juice to Put in a Fruit Smoothie?

Smoothies really benefit from orange juice or pomegranate juice for added tang and tartness.

Can You Make Smoothies with Milk or Water Instead of Yogurt?

You can make smoothies with milk or water instead of yogurt. The yogurt adds body (thickness) to the smoothie, so you may want to include protein powder or other bulky ingredients so the smoothie is not too thin.

Are Smoothies Really Healthy for You?

The nutrition of the smoothie is dependent on the ingredients included and how much of it is consumed! Smoothies can certainly be healthy.