Name: Strawberry Protein Smoothie
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened almond milk; 1 tablespoon hemp seeds; 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; 1 ¼ cups frozen strawberries

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This strawberry protein smoothie comes together in 5 minutes. Get the quick and easy step-by-step recipe.

Recipe Highlights

A strawberry protein smoothie is a cold pureed drink that’s high in protein.
It’s a 5-minute recipe made with unsweetened almond milk, hemp seeds, vanilla protein powder, and frozen strawberries.
The frozen strawberries make it thicker than a strawberry protein shake, which has more liquid.
Strawberries give the drink a sweet and tart flavor. They’re also high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for a strawberry protein smoothie.

Unsweetened almond milk: Use unsweetened almond milk since regular almond milk contains sugar. Instead of almond milk, you can use any milk you like, like soy or dairy.
Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds add plant-based protein, along with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory fats.
Vanilla protein powder: Most of the protein in this smoothie comes from vanilla protein powder. The vanilla flavor works well with strawberries but you can also use unflavored protein powder.
Frozen strawberries: Using frozen strawberries will chill the drink without the need for ice.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Variations

Seeds: Instead of hemp seeds, you can use chia seeds and flax seeds. Both add-ins contain protein and healthy fats as well. These ingredients have a slightly nutty taste. Use 1 or 2 tablespoons per drink for the best flavor and texture.

Nut butters: Nut butters provide anti-inflammatory fats and some protein. Almond butter, hazelnut butter, and cashew butter are tasty choices. You’ll need 1 or 2 tablespoons for each smoothie.

Leafy greens: Leafy greens are high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. They also have a mild earthy taste, but the sweetness of the strawberries will help balance it out. Baby spinach or kale are great options. If you want to use regular spinach or kale, be sure to cut away the hard stems first.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Vanilla protein, hemp seeds and unsweetened almond milk in a blender.

Step 1: Pour unsweetened almond milk into the blender. Add hemp seeds and vanilla protein powder.

Loading the liquids first will prevent air pockets.

Strawberries, vanilla protein, hemp seeds and unsweetened almond milk in a blender.

Step 2: Add frozen strawberries.

Step 3: Blend until smooth. Start on a low speed, then increase to high.

Step 4: Pour into a cup. Serve immediately.

Blender Tips

Cut fruits into smaller pieces.

If you’re freezing your own strawberries, chop them into quarters or halves first. You can also cut them into thin slices. Frozen cut strawberries will be easier for your blender to puree. This is important if your blender is not very powerful.

Load ingredients properly.

To avoid air pockets or big chunks of fruit, add ingredients from lightest to heaviest.

The lightest ingredients are the liquid base. It also includes any liquid add-ins, like date syrup. Add powders, nut butters, or seeds after the liquids. Next, add any leafy greens and fresh fruit. Finish with frozen fruit and ice, which are the heaviest ingredients.

Protect the motor by blending on high.

To keep your blender in good shape, avoid blending on low for too long. This can overheat the motor and damage the blades. Instead, run it on low speed for a few seconds, then increase to high for the listed time in the recipe.

Use a tamper to rotate ingredients.

As the blades are moving, insert a blender tamper tool through the lid. Rotate the tamper by hitting all 4 sides of the blender. This will push ingredients toward the blades and encourage smooth blend. Don’t worry about the tamper hitting the blades since it has a stopper, so it won’t be able to touch them.

Remove leftover smoothie with a blade scraper.

After pouring the smoothie into the glass, use a blade scraper. This tool is designed to reach under the blades and remove extra smoothie. You can also use a mini spatula if you don’t have a blade scraper.

Expert Tips

If you want a thicker smoothie, add a few extra frozen strawberries or ice cubes.
You can thin the smoothie if it’s too thick for your liking. Simply add a splash of milk and blend for 10 seconds.
For a sweeter smoothie, add a chopped Medjool date to the blender after the hemp seeds. Another option is to add 1 tablespoon date syrup or honey along with the milk.
Store leftover smoothie in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for 1-2 days.

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