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The very first time I added chia seeds to a smoothie, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I stood in my kitchen staring at this little bag of seeds, wondering if I was about to ruin a perfectly good drink.
Turns out chia seeds are one of the easiest superfoods to add to smoothies. They’re flavorless yet increase fiber, healthy fats, and a little protein with just a scoop. Ever since that first blend, I’ve been hooked. I toss chia seeds into smoothies, drinks and yogurt, whether the recipe calls for them or not. I created this chia fruit smoothie so you can see how perfect chia seeds can be in a smoothie.
This fruit smoothie with chia seeds is an easy breakfast, afternoon snack, or post-workout drink that comes together in minutes. If you’ve got a bag of chia seeds hanging out in the back of your pantry, this is the perfect recipe to put them to good use.
Want more ways to enjoy chia? Explore my collection of easy chia seed recipes or try my green chia seed smoothie with spinach! This recipe is also a great way to fuel up before a workout. Check out my other pre-workout snacks for more simple, nourishing ideas.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mixed Berries: a frozen berry blend adds natural sweetness, vibrant color, and a delicious mix of berry flavors.
- Banana: makes this smoothie perfectly sweet while balancing the tartness of the berries.
- Cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower is my favorite fiber-boosting smoothie ingredient. It creates a rich, creamy texture yet doesn’t alter the flavor when used in moderation.
- Chia Seeds: These tiny seeds blend right in while adding fiber, healthy fats, and a little protein. They also help thicken the smoothie as they absorb liquid. This is the brand of chia seeds I buy most often.
- Pomegranate Juice: This juice adds a bright, antioxidant-rich flavor that pairs perfectly with the berries.
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How to Make a Chia Fruit Smoothie
- Add frozen mixed berries into the blender.
- Pour in the pomegranate juice and add the chia seeds.
- Blend on high until smooth and the chia seeds are finely ground.
- Add the cauliflower and banana and blend it again.
- Pour the smoothie in serving glasses.
- Add blueberries and chia seeds on top and enjoy chilled.
Recipe Tips
- Boost it: Add a scoop of your favorite homemade protein powder, collagen peptides, or hemp hearts to turn this chia fruit smoothie into a more filling breakfast or post-workout snack.
- Let the chia seeds work their magic: For a thicker smoothie, let it sit for 5–10 minutes before drinking. The chia seeds will absorb some of the liquid and create an even creamier texture.
- Use frozen cauliflower: It helps create a thick, frosty smoothie without watering it down.
- Make smoothie packs ahead: Portion the ingredients into frozen meal prep smoothie packs. When you’re ready for a smoothie, just add pomegranate juice and blend.
Chia Fruit Smoothie
Jen HansardVideo
Ingredients
- 1 cup mixed berries frozen
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 banana
- ½ cup cauliflower frozen
Instructions
- Add the mixed berries, chia seeds, and pomegranate juice to the blender.
- Blend on high until smooth and chia seeds are finely ground.
- Add the banana and frozen cauliflower, then blend again until smooth.
- Pour into glass and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- Blend chia seeds well: Chia seeds naturally thicken as they sit, so blend the smoothie thoroughly and enjoy it soon after making it for the best texture.
- Make it ahead: To make it ahead, blend the smoothie and store it in the fridge. Chia seeds will continue absorbing liquid as it sits, so stir well before drinking and add a splash of pomegranate juice if needed to loosen the texture.
- Use a very ripe banana: A ripe banana brings more natural sweetness and gives the smoothie a creamier texture. This is especially helpful when using tart berries.
- Taste before adding sweetener: The banana and fruit provide plenty of natural sweetness, so blend everything first and taste before adding maple syrup, dates, or another sweetener.
- Watching carbs? Omit banana, swap pomegranate juice with water and add 1 serving protein powder.
Nutrition
Equipment
Common Questions
Not really! Frozen cauliflower has a mild flavor, so the berries and banana take center stage. It mainly adds body and creaminess without making the smoothie taste like vegetables.
No. You can add chia seeds directly to the blender. Blending them with the other ingredients helps distribute them throughout the smoothie, and they’ll continue to absorb liquid as the smoothie sits.
Chia seeds naturally absorb liquid, which can make your smoothie thicker as it sits. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add a splash of pomegranate juice and blend or stir until it reaches your desired texture.
You can stir them in after blending, but blending distributes them more evenly throughout the smoothie. If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the chia seeds with the rest of the ingredients.
Beautiful color with a crisp tartness, even with a very ripe banana. I added a little water to get it to my preferred consistency (thin due to swallowing problems). You don’t even know the cauliflower is hiding in there!
Delicious and bright flavor. Love it.
I used tart cherry juice since I didn’t have pomegranate juice on hand and it was sooooooo good. I also didn’t have a bag of mixed berries so, since I was making 2 servings, I used 2/3 cup each of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. The mixture was on the thick side originally, making my blender freeze up, but I think it was because I probably added more whole frozen strawberries than just 2/3 cup, not because of thickened chia seeds. I added in a splash of juice and had no problems blending after that. I definitely recommend riced cauliflower as it blends in super quick. So smooth and creamy – next time I’ll try it as a smoothie bowl with granola topping. Hubby loved it (and he’s picky about his smoothies) so this is definitely going into the rotation.
What a nice vibrant flavor! Just a touch tart and mildly sweet. I liked how smooth it turned out even with the chia seeds.
Super tasty and easy to make. Definite keeper