✨Fresh, bright, and full of protein!
Let’s Make Something Tasty
When I want something cool, filling, and a touch fancy without having to do anything, I always make this blackberry basil protein smoothie.
It has a tangy and sweet taste, and the fresh basil adds a cool, surprising touch. It tastes like summer in a glass, but it also gives you energy like a complete meal.
It’s great for after a workout, as a quick breakfast, or really any time you want something sweet but yet want to stay healthy.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of frozen blackberries
- 1 tiny ripe banana, either fresh or frozen
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
- 4 to 5 fresh basil leaves
- ¾ cup almond milk without sugar
- ¼ cup of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of honey (optional, if you want it to be sweeter)
- ½ cup of ice
🍽️ What You’ll Need
- Blender that works quickly
- Spoons and cups for measuring
- Knife and chopping board (for cutting basil and bananas)
- A glass or a smoothie cup
- Straw (optional)
How to Make It
Step 1: First, add the yogurt and liquid.
Put ¾ cup of almond milk and ¼ cup of Greek yogurt in your blender.
Step 2: Put in the basil and fruit
Add 1 cup of frozen blackberries, 1 banana, and 4 to 5 basil leaves.
Step 3: Mix in the protein powder, chia seeds, and honey.
Add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, and 1 teaspoon of honey (optional).
Step 4: Put in some ice
Add 1/2 cup of ice on top to get that thick smoothie texture.
Step 5: Mix until smooth
Blend on high for 30 to 45 seconds, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Step 6: Pour and Serve
Put it in your favorite glass and top it with a basil leaf or a few additional blackberries.
⏲️ Tips for Getting Ready
- Make smoothie packets! Put blackberries, banana, basil, and chia in bags and freeze them.
- When you’re ready, just put it all in the blender with milk and yogurt.
- You may mix it up and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just shake it before you consume it.
🧊 Storage and leftovers
- You can keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours in a sealed container. Before you drink, shake it.
- You can also freeze leftovers in popsicle molds to make a frozen treat with a lot of protein!
- Don’t let it out for too long, or it may separate and lose its thick texture.
🔄 Changes and Substitutes
- No basil? Try some fresh mint
- No banana? Add a quarter of an avocado to make it creamier.
- No dairy? Use yogurt made from coconut milk
- More protein? Put in a second scoop of protein powder.
- No chia? Use flaxseed that has been ground
😬 Mistakes that happen a lot
- When you use too much basil, it gets too strong quickly. Stay with 4–5 tiny leaves.
- Not using frozen berries—fresh ones won’t make it thick.
- Don’t skip the yogurt; it makes the smoothie creamy and adds protein.
- Adding ice first—Always add liquid first to make your blender work better!
Ideas for meal plans 🍽️
- For breakfast, add bread with almond butter on the side.
- After working out, drink it as is with a boiled egg.
- Give half of this to your kids as an afternoon snack and freeze the rest in a popsicle shape.
- For a light meal, serve with a grain bowl or veggie wrap.
What to Serve With
- A piece of banana bread
- Toast made with whole grains and nut butter
- A hard-boiled egg or little egg muffins
- Cottage cheese with fruit on the side
Why I Love This Recipe 💜
I collected entirely too many blackberries on a trip to a local farm in the summer, and that’s how this smoothie came about. I didn’t want to make jam or pie with all of them, so I mixed some with basil from my windowsill. It turned out to be a fantastic mix.
Why it’s great:
- Very quick—finished in less than five minutes
- Contains more than 20 grams of protein
- Fresh and fruity, yet not too sugary
- You can barely see the sneaky greens with basil.
- It feels fancy, but it’s really straightforward.
📊 Exact Macros (1 big smoothie per serving)
- 280 calories
- 23g of protein
- 27g of carbs
- Fat: 9g
- 8 grams of fiber
- Sugar: 16 grams (mainly from fruit)
🧪 Quick Science: Why This Recipe Works
- Protein powder and Greek yogurt together provide you constant energy and fullness.
- Chia seeds get bigger, which adds fiber and thickness.
- Basil lends a herbaceous brightness that complements the sourness of blackberries.
- If you don’t want to use a banana, frozen fruit and ice provide a rich, creamy texture.
❓ Questions and Answers
- Is it possible to prepare it without protein powder?
- Yes, just add more Greek yogurt to get more protein.
- Is it sweet enough without adding honey?
- It all depends on your banana and how you like it. Try it first, then add sugar.
- Is it okay to use fresh blackberries?
- Yes, but to keep it thick, add more ice or some frozen banana chunks.
- Can I get ready for this meal?
- Yes! Put all the ingredients in the freezer except the milk or yogurt, and then combine them when you’re ready.
Final Thoughts
This smoothie is like a small break in your day. It’s quick, really nice, and just different enough to keep things interesting. Let me know how it came out or if you changed it up when you try it. Do you have any questions? I’m here to help!
Please tell me how your smoothie comes out 💜