By Laura Fuentes on Updated
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Smoothies are a perfect solution for busy days when you need to fuel up on the go! You can pack a lot of ingredients, nutrients, and deliciousness into one glass and if you’re anything like me, you prefer smoothies on the thick side like eat-with-a-spoon thick.
But if you’ve ever tried to make a smoothie ended up with something that feels more like a slightly icey juice, I’ve got you covered. Today we’re going to talk through a couple different ways you can thicken a smoothie if yours is too runny!
How to Thicken a Smoothie
If you’re making a smoothie and find that it’s runny or not thick enough for your preference, there are a few healthy smoothie thickeners you can use to save your smoothie and add volume.
Oats
Oats add extra volume and fiber without giving the smoothie a strange flavor. I picked up this tip when I used them to make myCinnamon RollandPeach Cobbler Smoothies.
Chia Seeds
These tiny seeds can absorb a lot of liquid in a matter of minutes! No wonder they are used in a lot of pudding, desserts, and overnight oats.
Prep-Ahead
A good way to make smoothies with a consistent flavor and texture is to measure andprep all the veggies, fruit, and add-ins in freezer bagsand freeze them for future meals.
This way, everything is premeasured and ready to dump into the blender with your liquid and ice.
Start with frozen ingredients
Frozen fruit and veggies act like ice and help keep the smoothie chilled and thick.
Use a quality blender
When your blender isn’t efficient, you tend to add more liquid to keep the ice and ingredients moving, the results: watery smoothies!See the best blenders I’ve tested for smoothies here.
Watch this video to see more tips for thicker smoothies.
Why Do Smoothies Get Watery?
Unfortunately, we’ve all encountered the problem of a thin, watery smoothie. The most common reasons for thin smoothies are adding too much liquid or starting with room-temperature ingredients.
How to Make Smoothies Thinner
Did you take the smoothie thickeners a little too far? Here’s how you can thin out your smoothie to get the perfect texture.
Add water
A simple way to thin out a smoothie without extra flavor or calories. Start with ¼ cup and move up as needed.
Add milk
Regular whole milk or a dairy-free alternative are both ideal for peanut butter, chocolate, or banana flavored smoothies. Again, start with ¼ cup.
Add juice
Perfect for smoothies made with tropical fruits: mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, etc. If you want to go easy on the additional sugar, cut the juice in half with water.
Smoothie Recipes
Now that you know a few extra smoothie tricks, here are some new recipes you’ll want to make ASAP:
- Peach Cobbler Smoothie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Shake
- Mango Peach Smoothie
- Pineapple Green Smoothie
- Coconut Pie Smoothie
Smoothie Bowls
Smoothie bowls are as thick as you can get! Their velvet, smooth texture reminds me of frozen yogurt and is best enjoyed when eaten with a spoon and! Here are a few of my favorite smoothie bowl that are also good for you:
- Strawberries & Creme Smoothie Bowls
- Healthy Frozen Mocha Frappuccino Smoothie Bowl
- Peaches & Cream Smoothie Bowl
- Blueberry Smoothie Bowl
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