Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.For a quick and refreshing breakfast, I make this strawberry smoothie bowl. All I need is frozen strawberries, almond milk, and a banana, and in just 5 minutes, I have the base for my breakfast. It is thick, naturally sweet, and has a creamy consistency that lends itself to a wide range of toppings.
This strawberry smoothie bowl is a simple way to enjoy blended fruit in a more satisfying way than just the traditional drink. Some mornings, you need something just a bit more filling and interesting than a smoothie. My vegan smoothie bowl was my favorite breakfast option until my husband begged me to make one that focuses on strawberries.
My kids and husband took to this strawberry smoothie bowl so well that I had to rotate it with my banana smoothie bowl to balance things out. Ha! When my one friend overheard my kids talking about their breakfast, she asked how I had enough time to make it on a school morning. I will let you in on the same secret I told her, just because it plates up prettily does not mean it takes a lot of work. Next time you make a morning smoothie, throw it in a bowl and add some toppings. It really is that easy.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
This strawberry smoothie bowl is a great way to get my kids to eat fruit first thing in the morning, and it is also how I get through all the frozen fruit in my freezer. As a nutritionist, I love that the strawberries bring a natural sweetness and a good dose of vitamin C, while the bananas create a creamy base, and the addition of chia seeds provides protein, fiber, and a thicker consistency.
The key to a good smoothie bowl is getting the consistency exactly right. I use frozen fruit and just enough liquid to help everything blend while remaining thick and scoopable. Blending slowly and scraping down the sides as I go, ensure my base is smooth and free from icy chunks.
This smoothie bowl was my default breakfast while I was traveling for work. I shared an accommodation with my colleague, who is a self-proclaimed no-breakfast person. About 3 days into our trip, we had one particularly early start, and I could hear her tummy grumbling as she stood making coffee. I convinced her to have a smoothie bowl, and for someone who does not eat breakfast, she finished before I did. Ha! If you are in a grey area when it comes to breakfast, try a strawberry smoothie bowl; it just might be exactly what you need.
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🥘 Ingredients
This strawberry smoothie bowl is made of just a few simple ingredients that come together quickly. This is what I use:
Frozen strawberries: I use frozen strawberries to create a thick and refreshing base.
Banana: A fresh ripe banana adds natural sweetness and a creamy texture.
Chia seeds: I include chia seeds for their nutritional value and thickening properties.
Almond milk: A small amount of almond milk helps loosen up the mixture slightly and blend everything without thinning it out too much.
🔪 How To Make
This is how I create this strawberry smoothie bowl using a blender and a few quick steps:
Prep ingredients and add to blender: I slice up my banana and add it to my high-speed blender along with the rest of the ingredients.
Blend until smooth: Then I blend the mixture slowly, stopping to scrape down the sides, until everything is blended into a smooth, thick mixture.
Transfer to bowl: I transfer the smoothie into a bowl, add my favorite toppings, and enjoy immediately.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this strawberry smoothie bowl recipe is to use as little liquid as possible when blending. This helps it stay thick enough to hold toppings. If it seems too thick, I add 1 or 2 fresh strawberries instead of more milk.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Use frozen strawberries: I always rely on frozen strawberries to create a sturdy smoothie base.
- Have your toppings ready: This is best eaten immediately, so I make sure my toppings are ready to add on, giving the smoothie no time to melt.
- Avoid ice: I do not use ice in this recipe as it waters down the taste and could speed up melting.
- Use a ripe banana: I use a firm but ripe banana for a sweet taste and good texture. Avoid overly soft bananas.
- Add liquid first: Always add the liquid to the blender before all the other ingredients. This gives your smoothie enough liquid to blend the other ingredients. I recommend starting with the milk, bananas, chia seeds, and then the strawberries.
📖 Variations
There are a few variations I have made when my leftover ingredients sparked inspiration:
Mango blend: I add 1/2 cup of frozen mango for a more tropical flavor. If I want this bowl to be extra creamy and decadent, I replace the milk with coconut cream and serve it with a few pieces of toasted coconut. My sister says this tastes like a breakfast cocktail. Ha!
Protein boost: I blend in 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder or 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt instead of the milk. This is a great breakfast before an intense workout.
Go green: If I want some extra iron and nutrients, I blend in 1 cup of fresh baby spinach. It only changes the color, but the strawberry flavor still shines through.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
If you are building your own strawberry smoothie bowl and want to try something other than the standard seed and nut mix as a topping, you should add a few pieces of my air fryer banana chips for a crispy contrast that complements the strawberry flavor. And if you want to up your protein intake, consider swapping out the almond milk for my healthy strawberry yogurt instead.
A few weeks ago, I had just gotten my kids and husband fed and out the door when I realized I had not yet had breakfast. I was working from home, but had a busy day and needed something quick and delicious to get me going. I made myself a strawberry smoothie bowl, and in addition to some pumpkin and sunflower seeds, I drizzled over a swirl of thinned-out strawberry chia seed jam and sprinkled it with strawberry crunch topping. It was so delicious, I made myself the same thing for lunch.
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
Refrigeration: I store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 day, but this smoothie is best served fresh, and the mixture will melt, and the topping will lose its crunch.
Freezing: I freeze the blended mixture in ice cube trays and blend before serving. Never freeze the smoothie mixture with toppings.
Reheating: This smoothie bowl is best served cold and eaten immediately. There is no need for reheating.
❓Recipe FAQs
How can I thicken up my smoothie if it seems too thin?
When this happens, it is usually the result of too much liquid or the moisture in the fresh fruit. To fix this, I add more frozen fruit, like a few more frozen strawberries or bananas if I have them, and blend slowly until the smoothie thickens. Any other frozen fruit will work if you do not mind the subtle flavor change. Never add ice; this may seem to work at first, but it will melt quickly.
What do the chia seeds do in the smoothie bowl, and do I need them?
The chia seeds are optional in this recipe, but I love adding them for their nutritional benefits. They add a small but meaningful amount of plant-based protein and fiber, which makes the bowl more filling and helps me maintain steady energy levels. Chia seeds also have natural gelling properties, which activate as soon as they come in contact with moisture. This gives my mixture a slightly thicker and denser finish.
Why has my smoothie turned brown?
This mixture can become dull or even slightly brown if oxidation has occurred, or if the ratio of banana to strawberry was too high. To avoid this, I do not leave my fruits exposed to the air for too long before blending, especially the bananas. And I keep the measurements and ratios in check, as too much banana can drown out the vibrant color of the strawberries. And the color is a huge part of the appeal.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
For a quick and refreshing breakfast, I make this strawberry smoothie bowl. All I need is frozen strawberries, almond milk, and a banana, and in just 5 minutes, I have the base for my breakfast. It is thick, naturally sweet, and has a creamy consistency that lends itself to a wide range of toppings.
Servings: 2 serving
Calories: 101kcal
Ingredients
- 1½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen banana
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
Equipment
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a high-speed food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
- The strawberry smoothie will be thick and easy to scoop out into a bowl. Top with your favorite smoothie bowl ingredients such as: puffed quinoa, berries, toasted coconut, nut butter, chia seeds or sliced banana.
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this strawberry smoothie bowl recipe is to use as little liquid as possible when blending. This helps it stay thick enough to hold toppings. If it seems too thick, I add 1 or 2 fresh strawberries instead of more milk.
- Use frozen strawberries: I always rely on frozen strawberries to create a sturdy smoothie base.
- Have your toppings ready: This is best eaten immediately, so I make sure my toppings are ready to add on, giving the smoothie no time to melt.
- Avoid ice: I do not use ice in this recipe as it waters down the taste and could speed up melting.
- Use a ripe banana: I use a firm but ripe banana for a sweet taste and good texture. Avoid overly soft bananas.
- Add liquid first: Always add the liquid to the blender before all the other ingredients. This gives your smoothie enough liquid to blend the other ingredients. I recommend starting with the milk, bananas, chia seeds, and then the strawberries.
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g
I’m a sucker for strawberries, and I can work a blender, so it’s a win-win! Thanks so much!
Awesome! Thanks Katelyn!
This is the prettiest smoothie around. I loved how refreshing it was too!
Thank you so much Amy! 🙂
YUM! This looks like a great way to get your smoothie on. I think my kids will love it!!
Yes!! It really is – this is one of my kids’ favorite breakfasts!
This strawberry smoothie bowl is so bright and fresh tasting! It’s super easy to make, too! Thanks for the recipe!
Sure thing! So glad you liked it!
My daughter will only eat smoothie bowls. She swears they taste different than they do in a glass! Either way, I’m happy to add another healthy option to the very limited things she will eat! I think she will love this one.
I’m sure she will love this recipe Stephanie! Keep me posted on how it goes!
Hey, I loved your recipe. It tastes so yumm and everyone loves the taste. Also, the substitutes are a great relief particularly during lockdown.
Yay! So happy to hear that Shruti!
I made this smoothie using chia seeds and almond milk. Made it the night before and my morning was easy and delicious! Thank for the recipe!
It’s a perfect make ahead meal! Glad you liked it Ana!
I like that this has pear and pineapple in it too! Looks so refreshing and delicious!
It really is! Enjoy!!
I hadn’t made a smoothie in a long time. Reading your recipe prompted me to get my blender out. This was delicious! Thanks!
Yay!! So happy to hear that Jill!
Healthy and a perfect yummy smoothie for a delightful Breakfast treat. Made with healthy combination and seasonal strawberries too.
Thanks so much Veena! Glad you liked it!