Smoothie King is a popular smoothie chain that offers a variety of fruit and vegetable smoothies. In recent years, smoothie bowls have become a trendy and delicious way to enjoy blended fruits and veggies. So does Smoothie King offer smoothie bowls on their menu? Let’s take a closer look.
What are smoothie bowls?
Smoothie bowls are thick, smoothie-like blends served in a bowl and topped with various fruits, granolas, nuts, seeds and other nutritional boosters. They provide a more filling meal option compared to a standard smoothie served in a cup.
Smoothie bowls often contain a thick, creamy blended base made from ingredients like bananas, Greek yogurt, protein powders, nut butters and frozen fruits. The base provides texture, protein and healthy fats. Popular smoothie bowl recipes include:
- Acai bowls – Made with antioxidant-rich acai berry puree
- Pitaya bowls – Featuring pitaya, also known as dragon fruit
- Green bowls – Packed with leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Berries and cream bowls – Blended berries with banana and yogurt
- Tropical bowls – With mango, pineapple, coconut, etc.
- Chocolate peanut butter bowls – For a rich, sweet blend
The blended base is topped with toppings like fresh or dried fruits, granola, chia seeds, coconut flakes, nut butters and more to add flavor, crunch and extra nutrition.
Smoothie King Menu Overview
Smoothie King offers a variety of freshly made smoothies using whole fruits, vegetables, nutritious add-ins and zero fillers. Their menu focuses on smoothies that promote specific health benefits or support certain diets and lifestyles.
Some highlights of their menu offerings include:
- Low-fat and non-fat smoothies – For weight loss and light options
- Protein-boosted smoothies – To build muscle and satisfy hunger
- Nutrition smoothies – Packed with veggies, fiber, vitamins
- Lifestyle smoothies – Like keto-friendly and detox-inspired blends
- Coffee smoothies – Blended with real coffee for energy
- Plant-based smoothies – Made with non-dairy milks
- Kids smoothies – Fun flavors for little ones
Smoothie King also allows customers to fully customize their smoothies by selecting a base and mix-in ingredients. Popular bases include strawberries, bananas, Greek yogurt and almond milk. Some extras you can add are whey protein, peanut butter, kale and chia seeds.
Do They Offer Smoothie Bowls?
Based on a review of Smoothie King’s menu, they currently do not offer full smoothie bowls at their locations. Their menu focuses on smoothies served in a standard cup rather than bowls.
However, there are a few options on their menu that allow you to create a bowl-like experience:
- You can order any smoothie blend as a “Large” size, which comes in a 24 oz cup. The larger size provides more thickness and volume so you get a more filling, spoonable consistency.
- Certain smoothies like the Gladiator and Slim-N-Trim are naturally thicker blends thanks to ingredients like oats and yogurt. Opting for a large size of these can mimic a smoothie bowl texture.
- Some locations may allow you to pour your smoothie into a bowl if requested, though this may be an off-menu order.
- You can add exta bananas, chia seeds, granola or protein powder to create a heartier smoothie base.
- Toppings like fresh fruit, coconut, granola and nut butters can be added to any smoothie order to recreate that smoothie bowl feeling.
Why Smoothie King May Not Offer Smoothie Bowls
There are several potential reasons why true smoothie bowls are not a major menu item for Smoothie King locations:
- Brand recognition – Smoothie King has built a reputation around its signature smoothies served in plastic cups. Adding new menu formats like bowls could dilute their well-known brand image.
- Speed of service – Smoothie bowls typically take longer to blend up thick and spoonable. Keeping things fast and convenient with thinner, drinkable smoothies may allow for faster customer throughput.
- Higher costs – Smoothie bowls require more ingredients to make, increasing food costs. The fresh toppings also have a shorter shelf life compared to bottled smoothie ingredients.
- Prep and packaging – Blending and serving smoothie bowls requires different supplies like bowls, spoons and toppings. Smoothie King may not want to take on these added costs for items and packaging across all stores.
- Menu complexity – Adding smoothie bowls would require more ingredients, different packages sizes and new menus, complicating operations.
By keeping the menu simple with classic smoothies, Smoothie King has less complexity, waste and expenses to manage across 600+ locations.
Ways to Create a Smoothie Bowl at Smoothie King
While smoothie bowls may not be a standard menu item at Smoothie King, there are some easy ways to customize your order to achieve a thicker, more spoonable texture just like a smoothie bowl:
- Ask for a smoothie to be blended with extra ice or frozen fruit to add thickness.
- Select smoothie bases that are naturally creamy like bananas, Greek yogurt or avocado.
- Add chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds or oats to the blend for a thicker consistency.
- Order a larger 24 oz or 32 oz smoothie size to get more volume.
- Request extra protein powder or nut butter for a creamier, spoonable texture.
- Ask for a bowl and spoon at pickup so you can pour your smoothie into a bowl.
- Bring your own smoothie toppings like granola, nuts and fruits to add at home.
With a few customizations and mix-in additions, you can easily gives any Smoothie King smoothie a thicker, bowl-like consistency to enjoy with a spoon right at home.
Top Smoothie King Picks for Smoothie Bowls
While all of Smoothie King’s smoothie recipes can be adjusted into bowl form, some base options work particularly well thanks to their naturally thick ingredients and textures. Here are some of the best Smoothie King smoothies to modify into smoothie bowl creations:
| Smoothie | Smoothie Bowl Benefits |
|---|---|
| Slim-N-Trim | Contains oats and yogurt for extra thickness |
| Strawberry X-Treme | Loaded with frozen strawberries |
| Peanut Power Plus Grape | Has peanut butter for a creamy base |
| Mango Kale With Light Yogurt | Yogurt and kale provide creaminess |
| Caribbean Way | Bananas add natural thickness |
| Vegan Tropical | Coconut milk gives a rich texture |
Any of the above can be ordered in a larger size and enhanced with extra chia seeds, protein powder or nut butter to achieve the perfect smoothie bowl consistency.
Smoothie Bowl Recipes to Make at Home
While you may not be able to order a ready-to-eat smoothie bowl from Smoothie King, it’s easy to blend up your own at home using ingredients inspired by their popular smoothies. Here are a few delicious Smoothie King-inspired smoothie bowl recipes to try:
Copycat Gladiator Bowl
Smoothie Bowl Base:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1/4 cup gluten-free oats
- 1 cup ice
Toppings:
- Sliced banana
- Fresh blueberries
- Chopped walnuts
- Granola
Tropical Flair Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Bowl Base:
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 banana
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut flakes
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 cup ice
Toppings:
- Pineapple chunks
- Shredded coconut
- Sliced banana
- Chopped macadamia nuts
Lean ‘N Fit Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Bowl Base:
- 1 1/2 cups kale
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup fat-free Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 cup ice
Toppings:
- Sliced strawberries
- Sliced banana
- Chopped walnuts
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
Additional Tips for Making Smoothie Bowls
Keep these tips in mind when whipping up creamy smoothie bowls at home:
- Use frozen fruit for a thicker blend.
- Bananas and avocados add natural creaminess.
- Nut butters, yogurt, soy milk and plant-based milks help create richness.
- Chia, flax and hemp seeds provide thickness as well as nutrition.
- Blend ingredients well until completely smooth and creamy.
- Add extra liquid if needed to blend easily.
- Pour into a bowl and smooth out the top with a spoon or spatula.
- Let chill for 30 minutes or overnight to improve consistency.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Top just before enjoying to keep crunch.
Conclusion
While Smoothie King is best known for their traditional blended smoothies, it is possible to customize orders to achieve a thicker, spoonable texture just like a smoothie bowl. Opting for larger sizes, creamy bases and add-ins like chia or protein powder can give you a DIY bowl experience.
You can also easily blend Smoothie King-inspired smoothie bowls at home. Packed with nutrition and versatility, smoothie bowls make for a perfect quick breakfast, snack or light meal any time of day.
So while they may not be an official menu item,Smoothie King smoothies can absolutely be transformed into a bowl by getting creative with ingredients and customizations.
