There's nothing better on a hot summer day than this simple Watermelon Smoothie! Full of juicy watermelon, fresh fruit and a boost of protein. We use a little trick for a thick delicious smoothie without any ice!
Watermelon is a star of summer flavors. It also is incredibly hydrating which is at the top of its health benefits list. Cool watermelon on a hot day is just the ticket. This easy watermelon smoothie recipe delivers just that.
You have the flexibility to change it up by adding your favorite extra fruit. Tropical fruits, juicy berries, ripe banana all work in this creamy smoothie.
Ice in smoothies can often create a grainy texture with small particles of ice. Using frozen watermelon blends the smoothie perfectly into a creamy consistency. Perfect for a healthy breakfast or a great recipe for a filling mid afternoon snack to keep you going through the afternoon.
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What makes this skinny?
Smoothies can rack up the calories depending on the ingredients. We've used only simple ingredients that deliver natural flavor, no added sugar with the perfect amount of watermelon flavor.
- We use plant milk both to keep the calories light but to keep the smoothie refreshing. Sometimes dairy milk can make people thirsty or feel full in an unpleasant way.
- Watermelon is naturally low in calories, has high water content and also makes a delicious drink especially during watermelon season. It's easy to make a healthy watermelon smoothie recipe in the warmer months with this delicious fruit!
- Just ¼ cup of non-fat Greek yogurt (plain) brightens the summer smoothie adding a smooth texture and a pop of protein which makes the smoothie more filling.
Recipe Ingredients Notes
Watermelon. You'll use two types of watermelon: fresh and frozen. The frozen watermelon will act like ice cubes to blend and thicken the smoothie so you don't have to use ice. Choose a fully ripe seedless watermelon. Use leftover watermelon for our Watermelon Wine Slushie!
Fresh fruit. Use fresh berries, melon or other favorite fruits. Juicier fruits add more liquid to the mixture to help it blend better.
Unsweetened almond milk. We love almond milk for it's light flavor and low calorie. Other plant milks or dairy milk can be substituted.
Fat free Greek yogurt. Just ¼ cup is added for some protein and a light tanginess.
Optional sweetener. If you use sweet fruit you should not need a sweetener. However a bit of honey, maple syrup or your favorite sugar replacer can be used if needed.
How to freeze Watermelon
- Cut the watermelon into small cubes.
- Place the fresh watermelon chunks in a single layer on a parchment paper lined small baking sheet.
- Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
How to make the Watermelon Smoothie
Add the fresh fruit (watermelon and extra fruit), milk and yogurt to the blender. Add the frozen watermelon. Blend until smooth.
Variations
Add your favorite fruit. Try a strawberry watermelon smoothie by using fresh strawberries. Raspberry watermelon smoothies are delicious! Mix in some ripe banana which sweetens the smoothie too.
Add some protein powder. If you like to include protein powder in your smoothies for a more filling recipe, add it!
Try a flavored yogurt! Keep it non-fat for lower calories but a flavored yogurt adds more flavor.
Love some greens? Add some! Kales is my favorite leafy green to add to a smoothie. I find it doesn't taste like much and it's a great way to get more greens.
Want it sweeter? After blending, taste the creamy watermelon smoothie. If you want it sweeter add a bit of honey, maple syrup, sugar substitute or some sweeter fruit like ripe banana.
Try a different milk. We love almond milk but any milk you love can work. Coconut milk gives a tropical hint of flavor for instance. Use the coconut milk in the carton versus the can if trying to keep calories lower.
Want a vegan version? Swap in coconut or soy yogurt instead of dairy yogurt.
Notes
We tried several variations to land on the combination we loved best AND a combination that most regular blenders would be able to handle. Here are some of our experiments and findings:
Using all frozen fruit: even with our powerful Vitamix blender using all frozen watermelon and frozen fruit, our blender could not puree all ingredients. We even added more almond milk. A higher fat dairy milk may be able to process these ingredients but probably not with a regular blender.
Using frozen fruit and unfrozen watermelon: This blended easily but was thinner in consistency than we liked.
All frozen watermelon with fresh fruit: this blended into a (delicious) sorbet consistency. It needed to be eaten with a spoon.
Our final version: half frozen and half regular watermelon with fresh fruit. This blended into a thicker consistency (not crazy thick) and when starting with all the fresh ingredients on the bottom of the blender, it blended well. This was our winning choice!
Expert Tips
Use ripe fruit. The fruit determines the flavor and sweetness of the smoothie. Select fully ripe fruit.
Add the fresh and liquid ingredients first! If you add these to your blender first it helps the blender start pureeing better. Then when the frozen ingredients sink down it's easier on the blender. If you have a personal blender the machine's layering instructions may vary and you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Use a high performance blender if possible. Workhorse blenders like Vitamix or Ninja make quick work of blending frozen and harder ingredients like ice. If possible use this type of blender. If using a regular blender you may need to stop and stir the ingredients for them to fully blend.
The end color of your smoothie will differ. Depending on what extra fruit you use your smoothie color may range in color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! Just remove the watermelon seeds before cutting the watermelon cubes for freezing or to add fresh to the smoothie.
You can but watermelon on its own has very light flavor. Pairing it with other fresh fruits gives the smoothie more flavor and more nutrients!
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Recipe
Watermelon Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon divided
- 1 cup fresh fruit
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk other plant milk or non fat dairy milk can be substituted
- ¼ cup fat-free Greek yogurt Chobani brand recommended
Instructions
- Freeze 1 cup of the watermelon. Cut 1 cup of watermelon cubes and place in a single layer on a small parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours until frozen.
- In the blender add the fresh watermelon, fresh fruit, almond milk and yogurt. Add the frozen watermelon on top.
- Blend on high speed to puree all ingredients into a creamy smoothie. Taste, sweeten is desired.
Annabelle says
So refreshing! Thanks for sharing this recipe, it's becoming my new favorite!
Dana says
Why have I never thought to make a smoothie with watermelon!? This was amazing. And Chobani, ALWAYS. No other yogurt exists to me, honestly. Haha. Thanks for this awesome recipe! My 3 yr old and I both love it.
GUNJAN says
I absolutely loved this watermelon smoothie. So refreshing and hydrating and I am blending this on repeat.
Tara says
Such a light and refreshing smoothie! Definitely perfect for summer and I love how you got that texture without ice.
Nic says
MMMM This watermelon smoothie was so creamy and so watermelon-y. Whole family loved it, great recipe!
Casey says
So glad I found this recipe to use up some leftover watermelon! So refreshing!!
Paula K says
Super refreshing and easy to make. All three kids loved it!