What can I put in a smoothie to thicken it?

Smoothies are a delicious and nutritious way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. However, some smoothies can end up being too thin or watery. Luckily, there are several ingredients you can add to thicken up your smoothie consistency.

Quick Answers

Some quick answers for ingredients to thicken smoothies include:

• Frozen banana – Bananas add creaminess and naturally thicken smoothies
• Greek yogurt – Much thicker than regular yogurt, Greek yogurt adds protein too
• Avocado – Rich and creamy avocado thickens up smoothies
• Nut butter – A small amount of nut butter like almond or peanut butter adds thickness
• Chia seeds – When soaked in liquid, chia seeds swell up and release thickening fiber
• Oats – Blended oats add thickness and give smoothies a milkshake-like consistency
• Ice cubes – More frozen ingredients mean a thicker smoothie texture
• Flaxseed – Like chia seeds, flax seeds thicken smoothies when blended
• Cottage cheese – The protein and richness of cottage cheese helps thicken smoothies
• Silken tofu – Blending silken tofu into smoothies adds thickness and protein

Bananas

Bananas are one of the best and most convenient options for thickening up smoothies. Using frozen banana chunks or slices is ideal. Frozen bananas add a creamy, milkshake-like consistency while also imparting delicious banana flavor.

As bananas ripen, their starch converts to natural sugars which results in a creamy texture when blended. The more ripe the banana, the creamier it will be. Bananas are a great way to thicken smoothies without diluting the flavor.

How to Use Bananas to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1/2 to 1 whole frozen banana in your smoothie recipe
• Slice bananas before freezing to make them easier to blend
• Let frozen bananas sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before blending for smoother results
• Combine bananas with yogurt, nut butter, oats and other soft ingredients for best texture

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is an exceptional ingredient to thicken up smoothies. It has a much denser and creamier texture than regular yogurt due to being strained to remove excess whey and lactose. Just a few tablespoons of Greek yogurt can add protein and give smoothies a thicker, milkshake or soft-serve ice cream texture.

How to Use Greek Yogurt to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 2-4 tablespoons of Greek yogurt per smoothie recipe
• Low fat or full fat Greek yogurt will both work to thicken smoothies
• Combine Greek yogurt with frozen fruit and/or ice for best consistency
• TRY mixing in lemon juice and honey if the Greek yogurt adds too much tanginess

Avocado

Avocados are an ideal choice for adding thickness and creaminess to smoothies. They contain healthy fats that lend a rich, creamy mouthfeel similar to a milkshake. Avocado is a great way to thicken a smoothie without overpowering other flavors.

How to Use Avocado to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1/4 to 1/2 ripe avocado per smoothie recipe
• Combine avocado with frozen banana for an extra thick texture
• Add cocoa powder or chocolate to help disguise avocado’s flavor
• Blend avocado well with liquid ingredients for a smooth texture

Nut Butter

Nut butters like almond butter, peanut butter and cashew butter make great thick and creamy smoothie additions. Since nut butters are concentrated sources of healthy fats, only a small amount is needed to significantly thicken a smoothie.

How to Use Nut Butter to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1-2 tablespoons nut butter per smoothie
• Look for unsweetened nut butters to avoid excess sugar
• Combine nut butter with frozen banana for ultimate thickness
• Add cocoa powder, chocolate or vanilla to complement nut butter flavor

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds develop a gel-like texture when soaked in liquid. Adding just 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds to your smoothie ingredients and letting them sit for 5-10 minutes will result in a much thicker texture.

How to Use Chia Seeds to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds per smoothie
• Combine chia seeds with milk or yogurt and let sit for 5+ minutes before blending
• Add frozen fruits or bananas for extra thickness
• Mix in honey, vanilla or cinnamon to complement chia seeds’ mild flavor

Oats

Quick oats blended into smoothies add thickness and give smoothies a milkshake-like creaminess. Oats contain soluble fiber that absorbs liquid and expands when blended. Start with 1-2 tablespoons oats and adjust according to your desired consistency.

How to Use Oats to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1-2 tablespoons quick oats per smoothie
• Grind oats to a powder before blending for smoothest texture
• Combine oats with Greek yogurt and frozen fruit
• Let oat smoothies sit for 5 minutes after blending to thicken

Ice Cubes

One of the easiest ways to instantly thicken up a smoothie is to add ice cubes. Using more frozen ingredients like ice helps bind the ingredients together for a thicker, frostier texture.

How to Use Ice Cubes to Thicken Smoothies

• Add 4-6 ice cubes per 16 oz smoothie
• Use crushed ice for thicker, milkshake consistency
• Combine ice with frozen fruits like mangos and pineapples
• Let ice cubes fully blend and crush before drinking for best texture

Flaxseeds

Like chia seeds, flaxseeds develop a thick, gel-like consistency when soaked in liquid. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds to your smoothie ingredients and let sit for 5-10 minutes before blending for optimal thickness.

How to Use Flaxseeds to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed per smoothie
• Soak flaxseeds in milk for 5+ minutes before blending
• Combine with Greek yogurt and frozen bananas
• Stir occasionally while soaking to evenly distribute thickness

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese may seem like an unlikely smoothie ingredient, but its high protein content and creamy texture make it perfect for thickening up smoothies. Just a few tablespoons of cottage cheese can lend smoothies a thick, milkshake-like richness.

How to Use Cottage Cheese to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 2-4 tablespoons cottage cheese per smoothie
• Low fat or full fat cottage cheese will both work to thicken
• Blend cottage cheese with frozen bananas and juice for best consistency
• Start with 2 tbsp cottage cheese and add more as needed for thickness

Silken Tofu

Blend silken tofu into your smoothies for extra thickness and creaminess. Silken tofu is made by coagulating soy milk which gives it a smooth, custard-like texture. Just a few ounces of silken tofu can make smoothies rich and creamy.

How to Use Silken Tofu to Thicken Smoothies

• Use 4-6 ounces silken tofu per smoothie recipe
• Blend tofu with frozen fruits, juices and/or yogurt for best consistency
• Introduce tofu slowly if new to the flavor to avoid overpowering smoothie
• Choose neutral-flavored silken tofu for versatile flavor options

Tips for Making Smoothies Thicker

Here are some general tips and tricks for creating thicker, creamier smoothie recipes regardless of ingredients used:

• Use more frozen ingredients like frozen fruits and ice
• Add Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for thick, creamy texture
• Blend oats or nut butters for milkshake-like thickness
• Chill blender canister and ingredients before blending
• Use a high speed blender for smoothest texture
• Add minimal liquid ingredients to prevent thinning
• Let smoothie sit for 5 minutes after blending to thicken
• Add mix-ins like chia seeds at the end and let sit before drinking

Thick Smoothie Recipes

Here are 3 thick and creamy smoothie recipes to try using the ingredients mentioned above:

Smoothie Recipe	Ingredients
Banana Oat Smoothie	1 frozen banana 1 cup milk of choice 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons quick oats 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla
Berry Avocado Smoothie	1/2 avocado 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries 1 frozen banana 1 cup coconut water 2 tablespoons lime juice 1-2 tablespoons honey
Almond Butter Banana Smoothie	1 frozen banana 2 tablespoons almond butter 1 cup almond milk 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 4-5 ice cubes

Conclusion

Smoothies are meant to be thick and creamy beverages, not watery and runny. With the right ingredients and techniques, you can easily make smoothies as thick as a milkshake. Bananas, Greek yogurt, avocados, nut butters, chia seeds, oats and ice are all easy ways to add thickness and richness to smoothies.

Try combining a few thickening ingredients like frozen banana and Greek yogurt for an ultra creamy smoothie consistency. Just keep in mind that less liquid and more frozen ingredients will always result in a smoother, thicker texture. With the endless smoothie combinations possible, you can make your smoothies exactly how you like them.