Blueberry Kale Smoothie Recipe

The kale blueberry smoothie is super quick to make and is a big hit in my family. The smoothie has a banana in it to provide thickness and creaminess. Also, I use frozen blueberries, which really help disguise the kale flavor which is amazing. I can make this smoothie in less than five minutes and even my teenage kids will drink it!

Cooking coincide with my plan to eat more veggies to keep things simple. I am not a fan of raw kale in my salads but if you add some frozen blueberries and a banana that’s starting to brown, you would never know kale was in the mix.

After I have tasted several smoothies that were too bitter and too thin this is the exact one that I have landed on. Below the recipe card is the exact way I prepare it.

Why the Blueberries Do All the Work Here

Frozen blueberries have a flavor and a functional purpose in this smoothie: they provide both the primary flavor and chilling component. Since the blueberries are added in a frozen state, there will be little to no need for ice. Unlike frozen ice cubes that tend to dilute a smoothie as they melt, the blueberries will not ever dilute the smoothie.

The dark purple color of the kale smoothie overpowers the visual appearance and the flavor profile of the smoothie. The smoothie looks dark purple-violet with not a single speck of green. This isn’t an accident — the blueberries are that much stronger in the blend.

The banana provides thickness and helps bind everything together. If you didn’t have it, the smoothie would be really runny and have an odd texture. Additionally, a ripe banana makes the smoothie really creamy, not to mention, it adds sweetness so you don’t need added sugar.

Blueberry Kale Smoothie Ingredients

Each ingredient serves a different purpose in this smoothie, and here’s why:

Frozen Blueberries (1/2 cup)

The primary flavor contributor is frozen blueberries. They are ideal for making the smoothie cold and thick without having to use a lot of ice. Fresh blueberries are fine as well; just add about 4 or 5 more ice cubes to compensate for the freezing. Just a suggestion, If you have fresh blueberries that are slightly underripe, they could be somewhat sour. In that case, you may taste the bitterness of the kale more.

Kale (2 stems, about 1 cup of leaves)

You really won’t taste it. The flavor of kale is almost completely covered by blueberries. This works with both curly kale and lacinato. If your blender is not very powerful, pull the leaves off the stems before blending (the stems are tough and can leave straw-like pieces in a weak blender). The leaves by themselves will pretty much blend down in anything.

Ripe Banana (1 whole)

The banana is what makes the smoothie creamy and not watery. When I say ripened, I mean a banana with a lot of brown spots. This is the best option for a banana because those spots mean the banana has fully developed natural sugars. This is what makes the banana blend easily. If you use a banana that is still greenish yellow you will probably make the smoothie taste starchy and bland. I have made this mistake before and trust me, it was a significantly worse drink.

Ice Cubes (5–6)

In addition to making your drink colder, frozen blueberries will make your drink thicker. If your blueberries are frozen, you should consider reducing the ice amount to 3 or 4 cubes. More ice isn’t always better. When the ice melts, the drink dilutes and tastes worse. I like to use the minimum ice amount that will create the texture I want.

Vanilla Almond Milk, Silk Brand (2/3 to 1 cup)

For a thicker smoothie, use 2/3 cup. For a thinner smoothie that’s easier to sip through a straw, increase to 1 cup. If you want to make the smooth variation taste more complete without putting in the effort to make the finished smoothie taste more complete, consider that plain almond milk works for it.

Whey Protein Powder (1 scoop, optional)

If you want more filling as a meal or are having this post-workout, add this. If you just want a quick breakfast or snack, skip it. Bananas are great for keeping smoothies thick, and with a scoop of protein it won’t turn gritty like some smoothies do.

How to Make a Blueberry Kale Smoothie

This takes me five minutes or less, here’s the way I do this:

Step 1: Start with the almond milk. Adding a liquid first allows the blades to move more easily and prevents the kale and frozen fruits from sitting on top of the blades and stopping.

Step 2: Add the kale. If you are using a regular blender, strip the leaves off the stems. If you’re using a high-powered one, you can put the whole stem in. Either way, tear the leaves and fold them so they are closer to the bottom of the jar.

Step 3: Add the banana in chunks. Break the banana into 3-4 pieces; it will blend faster this way rather than dropping in a whole banana.

Step 4: Evenly distribute the frozen blueberries over the other ingredients and add the ice. This will help the blueberries push down the softer ingredients to the blades.

Step 5: If you are going to include protein powder, add it now. That way, it will blend in without clumping to the sides of the smoothie cup.

Step 6: Begin blending at a low speed, gradually increasing to the highest speed. Blend 10 seconds on low, and then 20-30 seconds on high. Pay attention to the motor; if it strains, listen for the grinding sound to stop. This indicates that the mix is thoroughly blended. The smoothie should have a thick and consistent texture, and the color should be uniformly purple-violet.

Step 7: Adjust and pour. If the mixture is too thick, add a few ml of almond milk and pulse a couple of times. For the best texture, pour and drink immediately.

A Few Things That Actually Help

After many attempts, I have noticed that the following changes are worth making:

On Sundays, I get my smoothie ingredients ready. I measure out single servings of kale and blueberries into quart-size freezer bags. This way, on busy mornings, I just need to grab a bag and, after adding the banana and almond milk, I’m blending within 30 seconds. This is the only meal prep habit I do every week.

If your smoothie is too runny, add some frozen blueberries instead of ice. Ice will melt and make your smoothie even more watery, but frozen blueberries will thicken your smoothie and make it more delicious.

If your smoothie is too thick, you can try adding almond milk. Pour some in a little at a time to see how the thickness changes. Adding too much all at once can change the smoothie’s texture, so be careful.

We recommend drinking your smoothie right after you receive it for the best possible experience. However, if you leave your smoothie for a while, it may separate. You may still drink it; just give it a stir and return to a drinkable state!

Other Directions You Can Take This Smoothie

Here are a few changes you might want to try after you’ve made the base a few times:

To achieve a thick and creamy texture without going overboard on the blueberry taste, add a tablespoon of peanut butter. When it comes to blending, natural peanut butter is a much cleaner option than the typical creamy variety.

Use full-fat canned coconut milk instead of almond milk. Use about 1/2 cup, and if you need to, add water to thin it out. The result will be significantly thicker and creamier, almost to the consistency of a smoothie bowl.

Stir in a tablespoon of chia seeds for extra fiber and little to no change in taste. Just be sure to drink the smoothie right after you make it. The chia seeds soak up liquid, so in about 10-15 minutes, the smoothie will feel different.

You might try using spinach instead of kale. Since its flavor is less strong, it blends in better. If you’re new to green smoothies, this is a good option if you’re not quite ready to use kale just yet.

Making It Ahead and Storing It

The smoothies here are best when enjoyed right after blending because they will separate in 20-30 minutes. Although the texture may be different, stirred smoothies can be enjoyed after separation.

If you need to get it ready ahead of time, store it in an airtight container. Fill the jar close to the top to minimize the amount of air that can cause oxidation. Give it a good shake before drinking.

What I like best about freezer prep packs is that I can take my blueberries, chopped bananas, and kale and pre-measure those directly into each freezer bag. When I want to make a smoothie, I simply grab a bag and pour its contents into the blender with some almond milk, and then I have a fresh smoothie in less than 2 minutes! I believe that freezing the smoothies that I have already prepared is a bad idea since the texture is compromised after the smoothie thaws.

Blueberry Kale Smoothie FAQ

Can you actually taste the kale?

In answering your question, certainly not. To be honest, raw kale in salads, is a horrible idea. The blueberries overshadow nearly each component of the salad. If you’re actually trying, you could locate a green undernote, but it isn’t evident to most. If you’re sensitive to bitter flavors, try infant kale instead of curly mature kale. It’s more mild and blends more seamlessly.

Can I use fresh blueberries instead of frozen?

Sure, just add 4-5 ice cubes to replace the icy chill of the smoothies. What is more important to keep an eye out for, is if your fresh blueberries are under-ripe and/or if they are a bit on the tart side, the bitterness from the kale will become more pronounced. Sweet, ripe fresh blueberries are ideal. If they are a bit on the tart side, opt for frozen blueberries instead.

Do I need a high-powered blender?

While it isn’t a requirement, a less powerful blender could leave a few stringy fragments from the kale stems. To avoid that, just take the leaves off the stems before blending, and leave the stems out. Most blenders should be able to sufficiently break down the leaves.

What protein powder works best in this?

Vanilla and unflavored whey proteins mix in easily. Chocolate whey proteins change the whole thing — it still works, but it turns it into a completely different drink. For those who need a dairy-free option, a blend with pea protein or rice protein works, but some plant proteins can give a smoothie a grittier texture which a banana will help to cover up.

Can I make this without banana?

The result will be noticeably thinner, and the creamy texture will be absent. The best substitute to maintain some creaminess, without the banana sweetness, is half an avocado. For a source of creaminess, as well as protein, a couple of tablespoons of Greek yogurt will do the trick. Once more, none of these are perfect alternatives, but both will suffice fairly well.

Other Drinks Worth Making

You could also enjoy these options:

• Ocean Water Drink — a sweet, refreshing copycat of the Sonic drink
• Starbucks Frappuccino Copycat — homemade frappuccino, no special equipment needed
• Crockpot Hot Chocolate — for when you need something warm instead

Let us know if you made this blueberry kale smoothie and how it went. Did you get a kale skeptic to try it?