This easy berry granola smoothie is a great breakfast for busy mornings. It's delicious, easy, and made with ingredients like yogurt, frozen berries, banana, and spinach that you may already have in your kitchen.
[This recipe was originally posted in August 2018. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
We all need a good and easy smoothie recipe in our back pocket. This berry granola smoothie is super easy, made with ingredients you may already have, and it's adaptable-meaning you can just ingredients that you have already.
It's based on a smoothie I used to get from Jamba Juice in college. The berry smoothie was creamy, thick, and topped with sliced bananas and granola. I like to blend in the banana because it's easier, but top with granola for crunch.
This smoothie recipe makes one serving, so you won't be left with another serving if you're making breakfast for one.
Plus with the addition of fiber filled granola, the berry granola smoothie is more filling breakfast than most smoothies.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the smoothie with granola recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Yogurt: I usually use plain Greek yogurt, it's what I have in the fridge. But use any berry, vanilla, or similar flavored yogurt that you have.
- Banana: A fresh or frozen ripe banana adds sweetness and creaminess to this smoothie. I love adding bananas to smoothies.
- Frozen Berries: I usually have a big bag of frozen berries in my freezer, so that's what I use, but use one type of berry if that's what you have. Frozen fruit makes for a creamy, thick smoothie with granola.
- Spinach: It's one of my fave smoothie add-ins and a great way to use up spinach that's starting to wilt. It blends up well, melds the smoothie flavors together, and doesn't leave you with a spinach-y flavored smoothie. Yum!
- Milk: I like using protein-rich milk in smoothies. It doesn't change the flavor a lot, and makes the smoothie blend easier.
- Vanilla: I don't always add vanilla to smoothies, but with plain yogurt and berries, it's a nice sweet tasting addition.
- Granola: I like to mix in granola instead of blending it in for a nice crunch. It makes your smoothie more satisfying and, well is something a bit different!
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1.Add all ingredients, except granola to blender jar. I like to start with the yogurt and banana for easier blending.
Skip adding vanilla if you're using vanilla yogurt, unless you love vanilla.
2. Sprinkle granola over your berry granola smoothie. It's great with pumpkin flaxseed granola or this Homemade Peanut Butter Granola.
I recommend eating this smoothie with a spoon, or sip it.
Storage Tips
You can store leftover granola smoothie, but it doesn't keep well. I recommend drinking it at once.
I haven't done this, but you could possibly pour leftovers into an ice cube tray and blend into a future smoothie (for you) to reduce food waste.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use whatever kind of yogurt, fruit, granola that you have. It will taste a bit different with substitutions, but you can always taste it and adjust after if needed.
- If using fresh fruit, add a couple ice cubes to thicken the smoothie.
- Freeze bananas that are too ripe to eat (make sure to peel the peel off before freezing). You can use these in smoothies, banana bread, and you can make banana ice cream with them.
- Use wilting spinach (or kale) in this berry granola smoothie recipe. No need to throw it away. Or add a couple Tablespoons of frozen spinach.
- Other great add-ins: flaxseeds, chia seeds, ice cubes, etc
FAQ
Ice can definitely go into a smoothie, but it doesn't add any flavor, if you want to use flavorful ingredients, add frozen fruit to make it thick and cold.
Fruit smoothies, like this berry granola smoothie often have lots of nutrients in them, from the fruit. If you add yogurt and milk, there's also protein and calcium. All foods can fit into a healthful diet.
Definitely. You can either blend granola with your smoothie for it to be smooth or add it on top and stir with the smoothie for granola bits in your smoothie. It adds extra flavor and fiber, I highly recommend this addition.
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Frozen Berries: Overnight Oats with Yogurt, include them in a Waffle Bar, Yogurt Bowl.
- Spinach: Thai Beef with Spinach and Fried Garlic, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad, Microwave Egg Bowl, or Arugula Basil Pesto
- Greek Yogurt: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats, Chicken Salad Pita, or Peanut Butter Yogurt/Dip
- Banana: Bananas Foster Pancakes, Overnight Oats with Yogurt, or Berry Oatmeal Cups.
- Granola: Yogurt Bowl.
Did you make this berry granola smoothie? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Berry Granola Smoothie
Equipment
- High powered blender
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup yogurt of choice or individual container
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen berries
- handful spinach
- ½ cup milk or enough to get desired consistency
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons granola of choice
Instructions
- Add ½ cup yogurt, 1 banana, 1 cup frozen berries, a handful of spinach, ½ cup milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to blender. Blend on high until combined.
- Transfer to glass, top with granola, enjoy immediately
Notes
- Use your favorite yogurt, I prefer plain so the fruit flavors really come out.
- Use a fresh or frozen banana, same with spinach, just use about ⅓ of a handful of frozen since it's concentrated.
- Use whatever granola you have, I like this Homemade Peanut Butter Granola or Chocolate Protein Granola.
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stephanie says
This mixed berry smoothie was sooo yummy, I'll be making this again for sure. Full of so much flavor!
Rebecca says
great to hear! thanks
Ginny says
This would flll be up for hours. Thanks for the delicious and healthy recipe.
Rebecca says
absolutely!
Dawn says
Smoothies are something hubby and I regularly enjoy! Love this one with the creamy yogurt, good-for-you berries and granola for some texture - YUM!
Rebecca says
yay! thanks! the granola is my fave addition
Danielle says
Loving the colour of this smoothie and how many berries you have managed to pack in. Such a good idea to put granola on top too.
Rebecca says
haha, all the berries! thanks!