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You may assume that you don’t need a “recipe” for a smoothie, and in some cases, that’s true. But, if you don’t follow a trusted ratio of liquid to frozen ingredients, here’s what can happen:
- You make too much. Have you ever had to keep adding ingredients to a blender because you either used too much liquid or didn’t use enough? Suddenly, you might have enough smoothie to feed an army. (This is only helpful if you have a lot of people to serve.)
- It doesn’t taste amazing. Sure, you might still drink it, but it’s a bummer when your smoothie doesn’t turn out delicious each and every time.
That’s why I’ve tested this zucchini smoothie recipe multiple times, to make sure it’s perfect. Plus, it’s an easy way to use summer zucchini— even when it’s not necessarily in season!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review
“Thank you for this recipe. I had a bunch of extra zucchini that I cut up and threw in the freezer. I’ve never thought of using zucchini in a smoothie. It was terrific and I will be making it from now on.”
– Penelope
Why you’ll love this Zucchini Smoothie Recipe
- It will stretch zucchini season. I developed this smoothie recipe as a way to utilize the frozen zucchini in my freezer. If you have extra zucchini on hand this summer, freeze it and make this smoothie anytime!
- It’s nutrient-dense. The frozen zucchini acts as an ice cube replacement in this recipe. As a result, you’re getting more nutrients in each sip!
- There’s no guesswork. If you follow the ratios suggested, this amount of liquid and frozen ingredients will give you a pourable, slushy texture that is perfectly flavored.
Zucchini Smoothie Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Frozen Zucchini. To freeze fresh zucchini, slice it into 1-inch chunks and arrange those on a parchment paper-lined pan in a single layer. Place the pan in the freezer for 2 hours, then transfer the zucchini to an airtight container and keep it frozen. They can be used as “ice cubes” in any smoothie!
- Milk of Choice. I usually choose a dairy-free milk for this recipe, but any option you love will work. (Soy milk or cow’s milk will add the most protein.)
- Peanut Butter. This adds creaminess, protein, and flavor. Zucchini doesn’t have a strong taste on its own, so the peanut butter helps you avoid a bland smoothie. Feel free to use almond butter or sunflower seed butter, if you prefer.
- Frozen Banana. Frozen bananas are famous for their ice-cream-like texture, so they not only add sweetness, but also make this smoothie have a texture of a milkshake.
- Spinach. You can add fresh baby spinach to any smoothie without affecting the flavor. It’s optional, but highly recommended. Don’t use frozen spinach (unless you froze it yourself), as it is much more concentrated and might affect the taste.
A touch of honey is added for sweetness, but you could also use a pitted Medjool date instead, or omit it completely.
How to Make a Smoothie with Zucchini
Step 1:
Add the milk, frozen banana and zucchini, peanut butter, spinach, and honey to a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and blend until smooth, about 60 seconds.
Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender, as needed.
Step 2:
Taste the smoothie and make any adjustments, as needed. You can add more honey for a sweeter flavor, or more frozen zucchini if you want a slushier consistency.
Serve right away for the best taste and texture.
Storage Tips
Leftover smoothie doesn’t taste as delicious if you simply store it in the fridge overnight. Instead, I’d recommend pouring the leftovers into a popsicle mold so you can enjoy a frozen treat later!
Make-Ahead Smoothie Bags
You can make this smoothie part of your meal prep routine by storing the ingredients in a freezer-safe smoothie bag.
The zucchini, banana, peanut butter, and spinach (if using) can all be stored in a bag in the freezer until you’re ready to prepare this smoothie. I use a silicone sandwich bag to avoid plastic, and it’s the perfect size for a single-serve smoothie bag.
When you’re ready for a smoothie, add the contents of the freezer bag into the blender, then add the milk and honey. Blend until it’s smooth and slushy. You can always add a little extra water or milk if needed to help everything blend smoothly.
I hope you’ll enjoy this veggie-packed smoothie the next time you need a pick-me-up!
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 cup frozen zucchini
- 1 frozen banana , cut into slices
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon honey (or sub 1 pitted Medjool date)
- 1 handful fresh baby spinach (optional)
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, combine the zucchini, banana, peanut butter, honey, and spinach, if using. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides if needed.
- Serve this smoothie immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes to Try
- Spinach Muffins (for picky eaters)
- Zucchini Hummus
- Chocolate Protein Balls
If you try this zucchini smoothie recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too!
Is the zuccini cooked prior to freezing?? Thanks
Thank you for this recipe. I had a bunch of extra zucchini that I cut up and threw in the freezer. I’ve never thought of using zucchini in a smoothie. It was terrific and I will be making it from now on. I used almond milk today but I don’t always have it on hand. Thanks!!!!
It was delicious! I didn’t had any spinach. I added less honey and sub the water for almond milk.
Delicious! I added some collagen for protien and it is fantastic 💜
I have not tried this recipe yet however I love the idea I have a freezer full of frozen zucchini from my garden. It’s winter here right now and I can’t do smoothies it’s just too cold but I’m going to do this as soon as it warms up thank you for the tips
Easy, tasty, kids liked it!
Substituted the peanut butter for sunflower butter and omitted the honey- absolutely amazing! Perfect way to use up all the zucchini from my garden 🙂