10 Quick Smoothies That’ll Keep You Full Till Noon

These smoothies are refreshing yet substantial enough to count as breakfast.

By
John Becker
John Becker
John Becker
Editor
John Becker is an editor with over a decade of experience researching and writing about food. He revised and updated the latest edition of The Joy of Cooking.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated August 07, 2025
Overhead view of two coffee smoothies with glass straws

Serious Eats / Jen Causey

Keeping up a breakfast routine can be daunting. You might be chronically short on time, or simply lack the motivation and energy to whip up a substantial meal. Luckily, smoothies are a reliable fallback: If you’re willing to do a bit of prep ahead of time, they’re quick to prepare, involve minimal cleanup, travel well, and can be incredibly satisfying—both in terms of flavor and in the morning fuel sense.

The smoothie recipes here rely on several methods for chilling and thickening, none of which require added ice. Frozen fruit, especially bananas, makes a convenient non-dairy base that adds creaminess and body without the dilution that comes with using ice. Another strategy we consistently use is freezing the smoothie's liquid component, such as coffee or kefir, in ice cube trays the night before. The frozen fruit route may be a bit more convenient, but both strategies will yield a nutritious, flavor-packed smoothie that can power you through mornings when whipping up a breakfast burrito or a stack of pancakes just isn't in the cards.

Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, our free tool to save and organize favorites from top food sites.

  • Peanut Butter–Banana Smoothie Recipe

    Banana smoothie in a glass cup with bananas in the background.

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Frozen bananas are the perfect base for smoothies: When blitzed with fruit and/or juice, they give the smoothie a thick, creamy texture. Plus, it’s super easy to peel and freeze bananas for a week’s worth of morning smoothies. Here, our senior editor, Genevieve, opts for a classic pairing by adding a healthy dollop of peanut butter.

  • Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

    Side Angle view of Strawberry milkshake

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Blend cubes of frozen coffee, coffee-flavored yogurt, condensed milk, and a spoonful of almond butter for a refreshing smoothie that will keep you going all morning long. For extra oomph, garnish the beverage with chocolate-covered espresso beans and a pinch of salt.

  • Avocado Smoothie Recipe

    Avocado smoothie

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    This rich, creamy smoothie gets its sweetness from frozen banana, tangy frozen mango chunks, and orange juice. A packed cup of spinach and a whole avocado gives the smoothie its vibrant green color.

  • Spicy Chard and Pineapple Smoothie Recipe

    autumn-giles-chard-jalapeno-pineapple-smoothie.jpg
    Autumn Giles

    Here's another delicious way to drink your greens. Plus, if your morning coffee isn’t quite doing its job, this eye-opening smoothie might be just the thing to wake you up: The sweet-sour-spicy kick of jalapeño and frozen pineapple will brush away whatever cobwebs remain.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Raspberry, Mint, and Kefir Smoothie Recipe

    A glass of raspberry, mint, and kefir smoothie on a marble surface
    Autumn Giles

    Blend fresh raspberries and tangy kefir with just a touch of honey, then add cooling fresh mint to tie everything together, and you've got yourself a pretty nice start to the day. Freezing some of the kefir in an ice cube tray before blending gives the smoothie a delightfully thick consistency.

  • Peach Basil Kefir Smoothie Recipe

    296007-peach-basil-kefir smoothie-autumn-giles.jpg
    Autumn Giles

    Here, contributor Autumn Giles uses frozen kefir cubes to make a smoothie that riffs on the classic combination of peaches and cream. Adding basil gives this drink a savory, summery vibe.

  • Date, Tahini, and Cardamom Smoothie Recipe

    20140113-279854-date-tahini-smoothie.jpg
    Autumn Giles

    Here’s a date shake that’s fit for breakfast. Rather than the toothachingly-sweet kind made with ice cream at roadside smoothie stands in the Coachella Valley, this version features tahini, frozen banana, and a splash of almond milk. A pinch of cardamom rounds out the creamy, nutty tahini and caramel notes of the dates.

  • Orange-Tangerine Smoothie Recipe

    20131216-orange-tangerine-smoothie-1.JPG
    Carrie Vasios Mullins

    Think of this as a breakfast-appropriate creamsicle…somewhat like an Orange Julius, but without the schlep to the mall. Former Serious Eats editor Carrie Vasio Mullins adds a unique twist by adding peeled, seeded tangerines to the blender with orange juice, yogurt, and honey, then serves it over ice.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • Coquito Smoothie Recipe

    autumn-giles-coquito-smoothie.jpg
    Autumn Giles

    Here, Autumn recreates the flavors of the classic Puerto Rican holiday punch in the form of a refreshing smoothie that eschews the eggs and rum. Coconut milk adds richness and body, while frozen bananas give the drink its creamy thickness.

  • Creamy, Nutty Coffee Smoothie

    Overhead view of two coffee smoothies with glass straws

    Serious Eats / Jen Causey

    Blend cubes of frozen coffee, coffee-flavored yogurt, condensed milk, and a spoonful of almond butter for a refreshing smoothie that will keep you going all morning long. For extra oomph, garnish the beverage with chocolate-covered espresso beans and a pinch of salt.

Explore more:

More Serious Eats Recipes