Blueberry Banana Smoothie (with Cauliflower)

This blueberry banana smoothie with hidden cauliflower is an easy and delicious way to enjoy a (sweet!) high protein and veggie-packed breakfast. Using just five ingredients (blueberries, banana, riced cauliflower, almond milk, and protein powder); this deliciously creamy protein smoothie will keep you satisfied for hours – and I promise – you can’t taste the cauliflower.

I love an easy, thick, protein-packed smoothie for breakfast, and this blueberry banana smoothie (with hidden cauliflower) is my new favorite. Like all of my Clean & Delicious smoothies, this is a super flexible recipe; so you can easily tweak the ingredients to use what you have on hand (don’t you just love an easy, doable recipe?!).

This recipe includes bananas, blueberries, cauliflower, protein powder, and almond milk. Yes, cauliflower! I figured if I could sneak it into taco meat, scrambled eggs, and my morning oats, I could certainly add some to my morning smoothie!

Adding frozen cauliflower to smoothies might sound crazy and perhaps not very tasty, but I promise you that you can’t even taste it! Plus, the cauliflower makes the texture of the smoothie super creamy – it’s a great option for those who don’t like green smoothies (although this green smoothie recipe is great for beginners).

Reasons to love this recipe

• Easy cleanup! All you need is a blender.
• This gorgeous purple-colored smoothie is packed with flavor AND nutrients.
• It’s high in protein, so it will keep you satisfied and help build your muscles
• Great for an on-the-go breakfast or snack.
• It’s very simple to make!

Ingredients needed

This delicious blueberry banana smoothie recipe is made with just five simple ingredients! It also just so happens to be dairy free, vegan, and perfect for adding your favorite mix-ins. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Banana: A frozen, extra-ripe banana makes all the difference in this smoothie. Be sure to freeze your bananas without the peel and when they’re extra ripe, and use only when completely frozen. Bananas truly thicken up healthy smoothies like nothing else.
• Blueberries: The beautiful color comes from frozen blueberries! You can also use a frozen mixed berry variety and maintain a similar flavor.
• Cauliflower rice: Use frozen cauliflower instead of ice to thicken this smoothie while sneaking in extra veggies. You won’t taste it at all and it thickens it up without making it watery like ice can.
• Vanilla protein powder: I prefer whey protein as it is extra creamy, but to keep this smoothie vegan-friendly, be sure to use a plant-based protein powder. You could also omit the protein powder if you’d like.
• Almond milk: Any milk will work. We love the flavor and creaminess of almond milk, but cashew milk or oat milk are great options.

How to make this recipe

This blueberry smoothie recipe is quick, easy, and simple to make. Here’s how:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Once the shake is blended, pour into a glass and enjoy!

Expert tips

• For ease, cost, and convenience, we typically just buy frozen riced cauliflower from the grocery store. However, if you’d like to rice your own cauliflower, here’s a guide on how to make cauliflower rice at home. Keep in mind, that you can also use whole frozen cauliflower florets as well.
• For best results, use a high-powered blender. The easiest way to make a super creamy, well-blended protein shake is by using a high-powered blender (Blendtec, Vitamix, or Ninja) to break down all of the ingredients.
• I don’t recommend adding ice to smoothies. Frozen fruit is best, as it helps keep the smoothie cold and thick. Sometimes ice doesn’t blend as well and can detract from the fruit flavor, so it’s best to avoid it. 
• If the smoothie seems too thick, you can add more liquid to get the blender going again.
• To blend, start with the blender on low speed, then gradually increase it to high speed. This will help fully blend and incorporate all ingredients really well. End with the blender on low speed.

Customize this recipe

• Add greens: If you’re looking to get more vegetables in your diet, try adding a handful or two of baby spinach or baby kale leaves. It will turn the smoothie a greenish color, but you won’t be able to taste the greens.
• Different fruit: Feel free to sub strawberries, raspberries, cherries, pineapple, peaches or any other favorite fruit for the blueberries. And you can substitute mango for banana. Just be sure to use frozen fruit for the best results.
• Add an extra boost of nutrition: Try adding in a serving or half of a serving of ground flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, almond butter, or oats for additional nutrients.

If you like the idea of sneaking cauliflower into your everyday favorites, be sure to watch the video below. It’s a great way to add more fiber, veggies, and volume to your meals – which can help support health, wellness, and weight loss goals! XO – Dani