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Letโs be honest: some mornings youโre lucky if you remember to put on deodorant, let alone whip up a fresh and nourishing green smoothie from scratch. Thatโs why frozen meal prep smoothie packs are my secret weapon. Iโm talking about prepped, stored in the freezer, ready-to-blend smoothies to save your time, sanity, and sad spinach from dying a slow death in your fridge.
If you love smoothies but hate daily messes, wasted produce, or chopping pineapple at 7am (who doesnโt?), follow along. Your future self is gonna love you for this!
Benefits of Meal Prep Smoothies
Smoothie prep doesnโt have to be complicated or chaotic. All you need are a few toolsโmeasuring cups, wide-mouth mason jars or freezer bags, a Sharpie, your favorite fruits and greens, and a handful of go-to smoothie recipes. Stick with a few tasty recipes with overlapping ingredients so youโre not buying out the entire produce aisle. Cut your mango into chunks (frozen mango or pineapple works great), and label each jar or bag with the recipe name and what liquid to add laterโbecause letโs be real, you wonโt remember.
- Smoothie prep packs save you a ton of time. No more chopping, measuring, or searching your fridge for ingredients every morningโjust grab a pack, blend, and go. It makes busy mornings feel way more manageable.
- They also help you save money. When you prep in bulk, you can buy produce in larger quantities (especially at places like Costco or Samโs Club) and use it before it goes bad. That means less food waste and more bang for your buck.
- Freezing ingredients also keeps produce from spoiling, especially those leafy greens or delicate fruits that always seem to wilt before you get to them. Smoothie packs help cut down on food waste significantly.
- They reduce decision fatigue, too. You donโt have to think about what to make each day or worry about having all the ingredients on hand. Just grab, blend, and youโre good to go.
- And finally, they make it easier to stick with healthy habits. When something is convenient, youโre more likely to follow through. Smoothie prep packs take away the excuses and make consistency a whole lot easier.
Recipes for Frozen Smoothie Packs
Decide which recipes you’ll make for the week and have them on hand. I’ve included 7 green smoothie recipes I recommend starting with belowโ and I’ve even made you a grocery list. If you don’t just want green smoothies, check out the Smoothie Challenge recipes and grocery list to smoothie prep the rainbow.
Frozen Meal Prep Smoothie Packs
Ingredients
- 5 cups spinach
- 2 cups kale
- 3 bananas
- 3 oranges
- 2 cups mango
- 2 ยฝ cups pineapple
- 2 cups strawberries
Instructions
- Slice or cut fruit into chunks.ย You can also cut fruit into smaller pieces and freeze ahead of time on lined baking sheets or use packaged frozen fruit. This will help keep the fruit and leafy greens from freezing together in a large clump and the smoothies will blend more easily.
- Label bag and jar lids with recipe name and date. Be specific. You might also want to include how much of which liquid you will need to add before blending since we do NOT add liquid to smoothie packs.
- Measure out the ingredients and pack into jars or bags.ย
- Remove as much air as possible from bags and jars when sealing closed. Packย fruit and greens tightly into the jars and screw on the lids.
- Place in freezer. Don't pack too tightly together. There should be some air circulation to help the contents to freeze quickly.
When ready to use
- Remove smoothie pack from freezer. Add liquid to container or bag (which helps defrost the fruit slightly). You can also thaw for a few minutes on the counter or in warm water. The fruit and greens will come out of the jar/bag easier too.
- Pour into blender and blend until smooth.ย
Equipment
- freezer
- measuring cups
- quart sized jars or bags
- permanent marker
Video
Notes
- Smoothie packs will keep for several months in the freezer but are the very best quality when used within 2-4 weeks.
- This sample prep guide uses naturally sweeter fruits. To lower the natural sugar in a smoothie, swap 1 banana with 1/2 an avocado.
- Store smoothie packs away from foods with strong odors. Glass jars offer the best protection against odors.
- Pick smoothie recipes with similar ingredients for bulk purchasing and to save money.
Nutrition
Make-Ahead Smoothie Tips
I don’t love spending my weekends in the kitchen. I’d rather be outside, yet I also know when I donโt prep my smoothies, I either skip them completely or end up with a waffle in the toasterโฆ or driving through Starbucks for an overpriced breakfast. Thatโs why I swear by smoothie prep. Itโs one big mess, one timeโand then the rest of the week, Iโve got delicious, nourishing smoothies ready to go with zero chaos. Total game-changer. Here’s how to make it even easier:
- Buy frozen if you hate chopping. I get frozen pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and mango at Costco and never look back.
- Label your jars. Future you will not remember if itโs “Mango Spinach Smoothie” or “Best Green Smoothie.”
- Set a time that works for you. Donโt stress if itโs not Sunday. Monday night, Friday morning, whateverโjust pick a window and roll with it.
- Batch it like a boss. Make a week or a month of smoothie packs at one time. Trust meโyouโll never regret having a freezer full of grab-and-blend options when life gets chaotic.
Costco Frozen Smoothie Packs Demo
If youโve got freezer space and want to save money, watch my video below making 36 frozen smoothie packs for $48 using Costco produce. Watch it if you want to see exactly how I made a month of smoothies with a $50 Costco haul, using mostly organic ingredients. This is a smart way to stock your freezer, save money, and never skip your daily smoothie again. Here’s the bulk grocery list to do this:
- Organic Power Greens: $5.99 (24 oz)
- Organic Spinach: $3.89 (32 oz)
- Oranges: $13.99 for 24 (needed 20)
- Organic Bananas: $1.99 for 8 bananas
- Frozen Pineapple: $7.99 (80 oz bag)
- Fresh Mangoes: $4.49 for 6
- Organic Frozen Strawberries: $9.99 (64 oz)
How to Use Frozen Smoothie Packs
When you’re ready to use your meal prep smoothie pack, remove from freezer. Add liquid base to container or bag (which helps defrost the fruit slightly). You can also thaw for a few minutes on the counter or in fridge overnight. This helps the fruit and veggies come out of the container more easily. Pour into a high-speed blender for smoothies and blend until smooth.
Common Questions
Smoothie packs can last up to 3 months in the freezer when stored properly in airtight bags or containers. For best taste and texture, aim to use them within 4โ6 weeks.
Yes! You can add things like chia seeds, cashews, flax, spirulina, or protein powder directly to the pack. Just be sure to label it so you know what’s already in there.
Not necessarily. You can blend smoothie packs straight from frozen if you have a high-speed blender. Otherwise, let the pack sit out for 5โ10 minutes or run it under warm water to loosen it up.
Wide-mouth mason jars and quart-size freezer-safe bags (silicone or Ziplock) work great. Bags save space, while jars are reusable and eco-friendlyโpick what fits your lifestyle (and freezer).
Freezing smoothie ingredients helps preserve nutrients, especially compared to letting produce sit in the fridge for too long. While there may be a tiny loss, itโs minimalโand way better than tossing wilted greens.
Hi. Just wondering, I’m going to start this tomorrow and was wondering if I could prep my smoothies and the thing is I wake up early but can’t blend in morning. Have a new baby.(have to be quiet). So Can I blend the night before and drink all 32 oz that morning. I get to work at 6 and would like to drink half and then again at 8 drink the other 16oz. Would that be okay? Or would that be drinking too much? Or should one recipe be two different meals?
Yes Joshua! Feel free to blend the night before (I do it to. I’ve got a 2 month old) and just seal it up tight and give it a good shake in the am. Hope that helps! ๐
How do you keep the fruit from turning colors when freezing?
Sometimes you can flash freeze some of the fruit on a tray before adding it to the jar, Jessica!
Hi,
what oz jar do you use?
Thanks!
All different sizes, Jade ๐ The larger the better when freezing ahead of time!
What size jar is in your photos? ๐
Can you freeze Ball Jars? Mine are 24oz mason jars.
Thanks
You can freeze MOST ball jars, John. This page may help you:
I have been making smoothies ahead for years! Love that a regular mouth mason jar fits right on a blender. No need to transfer to different containers. Just pull the jar out of the freezer, add in my almond milk (or other liquid), screw on blender blades and voila!!
Isn’t that crazy, Pat?! Great tip.
Love advance prep for healthy meals during the week! I like to add some chia seeds, protein powder or some other yummies too. I have even blended the smoothie and then frozen them already blended in freezer zip lock bags. I take them out of the freezer and let them thaw to put in a cup and drink. Delicious and nutritious!
I am allergic to coconut and avocado … What are recommended substitute
It really depends on the smoothie, Crystal. Did you have a specific smoothie in mind?
Can you use vacuum seal bags?
Sure can!
How many smoothies does a prepped quart make?
Usually two, Cyndi!
Make sure that your jars are freezer safe.
Great idea with preparing in advance. I have cut up some of my fruit in the past but they turn brown after I cut them up. How can I prevent this from happening in the future?
Hi Crystal!
Try cutting up a bit smaller, and also try flash freezing them on a cookie sheet first. That may help!
For bananas put lemon juice on before freezing.
Terrific! This was a big help for me to prep. Wow it was much easier to just get them out of the freezer and go. Thank you very much for the suggestions.
have a wonderful day!
Peace. Love and Leafy Greens
Glad it was helpful, Perla!
FANTASTIC49, Thanks for the advice. I will try your suggestion. I appreciate all advice…
Thanks for sharing the tips using glass bottles. I will try. Indeed, I use zip bags and just stack them up in freezer.
Using reusable jars is much better for the environment than disposable plastic bags (unless, of course, you’re rinsing and reusing your bags!).
Never seen you guys use carrots. Do you
I have been doing for months now never seen a recipe with carrots do you ever use them