You do not need yogurt to make a thick, creamy smoothie. Frozen banana, avocado, oats, nut butter, chia seeds, silken tofu and coconut milk all do the same job, and they make smoothies dairy-free. Below are 9 tested-ratio recipes, the best yogurt substitutes and how to keep your smoothie filling.
Quick answer: Replace ½ cup yogurt with ½ frozen banana, ¼ avocado, ¼ cup rolled oats, 1 tablespoon nut butter, ½ cup silken tofu or ¼ cup coconut cream. Use frozen fruit instead of ice for thickness, and add protein powder, nut butter or tofu if you want it to keep you full.
Best Yogurt Substitutes for Smoothies
| Substitute (per smoothie) | Texture | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| ½ frozen banana | Thick, sweet | Potassium; natural sweetness |
| ¼ avocado | Silky | Healthy fats; neutral taste |
| ¼ cup rolled oats | Thick, filling | Fiber (beta-glucan) |
| 1 tbsp nut or seed butter | Creamy, rich | Protein and fat |
| ½ cup silken tofu | Smooth, yogurt-like | About 5 g protein |
| 1 tbsp chia seeds (soaked 5 min) | Thick | Fiber and omega-3 ALA |
| ¼ cup coconut cream | Very creamy | Tropical flavor |
| 1 scoop protein powder | Thicker | 15–25 g protein |
9 Smoothie Recipes Without Yogurt
Each makes 1 large smoothie. Add liquid first, then soft ingredients, then frozen fruit, and blend 45–60 seconds.
1. Berry bliss
1 cup frozen mixed berries, ½ banana, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 cup almond milk.
2. Green goddess
1 cup spinach, ½ cup frozen mango, ¼ avocado, ½ cucumber, juice of ½ lime, 1 cup coconut water.
3. Tropical sunrise
½ cup frozen pineapple, ½ cup frozen mango, ½ banana, ¾ cup orange juice, 1 tbsp chia seeds.
4. Peanut butter banana
1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter, ¼ cup oats, 1 cup milk of choice, pinch of cinnamon. Also try our peanut butter and jelly smoothie.
5. Carrot orange
½ cup carrot juice or 1 small grated carrot, 1 peeled orange, ½ frozen banana, ½ tsp grated ginger, ½ cup water and ice.
6. Spicy mango
1 cup frozen mango, juice of 1 lime, pinch of chili powder or Tajín, ¾ cup coconut water, ¼ cup coconut cream.
7. Pineapple coconut
1 cup frozen pineapple, ¼ cup coconut cream, ½ cup coconut water, ½ banana.
8. Strawberry kiwi
1 cup frozen strawberries, 2 peeled kiwis, ½ cup silken tofu, ¾ cup apple juice or water. See kiwi juice recipe.
9. Cranberry grapefruit
½ cup frozen cranberries, ½ peeled grapefruit, 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp honey, ½ cup water. Note: grapefruit interacts with some medicines; see grapefruit juice calories and drug warnings.
Are Smoothies Without Yogurt Healthy?
Yes. Yogurt adds protein, calcium and (in live-culture yogurt) probiotics, so if you skip it, replace the protein with nut butter, tofu, seeds or protein powder, and use a calcium-fortified plant milk. Keep added sweeteners low; ripe fruit is usually sweet enough.
Tips for Thick, Creamy Smoothies
- Use frozen fruit instead of ice so the flavor does not get watered down.
- Start with less liquid (about ¾ cup) and add more as needed.
- Blend longer in a weaker blender. A good blender for smoothies makes a big difference with frozen fruit and greens.
- Freeze ripe bananas in chunks so you always have a creamy base.
Our top smoothie blender picks
| Best Overall | Vitamix Propel Series 750 | Check Price |
| Best Value | Ninja BL660 Professional | Check Price |
| Best Personal | Ninja Fit QB3001SS | Check Price |
Full reviews: best blenders for smoothies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of yogurt in a smoothie?
Frozen banana, avocado, oats, nut butter, silken tofu, chia seeds, coconut cream or protein powder.
How do I make a smoothie thick without yogurt?
Use frozen fruit, less liquid and a thickener such as banana, avocado, oats or chia.
Are dairy-free smoothies good for weight loss?
They can be if they include protein and fiber and stay low in added sugar.
Can I make smoothies without a blender?
For soft ingredients, yes; see how to make a smoothie without a blender.
