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Let’s be honest: some mornings you’re lucky if you remember to put on deodorant, let alone whip up a fresh and nourishing green smoothie from scratch. That’s why frozen meal prep smoothie packs are my secret weapon. I’m 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 doesn’t?), follow along. Your future self is gonna love you for this!
Benefits of Meal Prep Smoothies
Smoothie prep doesn’t have to be complicated or chaotic. All you need are a few tools—measuring 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 you’re 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 later—because let’s be real, you won’t remember.
- Smoothie prep packs save you a ton of time. No more chopping, measuring, or searching your fridge for ingredients every morning—just 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 Sam’s 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 don’t have to think about what to make each day or worry about having all the ingredients on hand. Just grab, blend, and you’re good to go.
- And finally, they make it easier to stick with healthy habits. When something is convenient, you’re 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 below— 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 ½ cups pineapple
- 2 cups strawberries
Instructions
- Slice or cut fruit into chunks. 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.
- Remove as much air as possible from bags and jars when sealing closed. Pack 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.
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 don’t prep my smoothies, I either skip them completely or end up with a waffle in the toaster… or driving through Starbucks for an overpriced breakfast. That’s why I swear by smoothie prep. It’s one big mess, one time—and then the rest of the week, I’ve 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 it’s “Mango Spinach Smoothie” or “Best Green Smoothie.”
- Set a time that works for you. Don’t stress if it’s not Sunday. Monday night, Friday morning, whatever—just 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 me—you’ll never regret having a freezer full of grab-and-blend options when life gets chaotic.
Costco Frozen Smoothie Packs Demo
If you’ve 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 4–6 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 5–10 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-friendly—pick 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, it’s minimal—and way better than tossing wilted greens.
Can I buy frozen fruit or does it have to be fresh? Does frozen fruit have more sugars and bad stuff in them?
Hi Tiana,
Of course you can add frozen fruit! Personally, we like to use at least one frozen fruit to keep our smoothies cold. If you like a chilled green smoothie too, but are using purely fresh ingredients, you could always add 6-8 ice cubes in your blender.
Hiya, Thank you for the tip! Cant wait to get started!
We’re so happy to have you blendin’ with us!
I did not know the glass mason jars could be frozen. So glad to find that out. And that the greens could be too and last that long. I’ve thrown out sooo much spoiled produce. Thanks.
Hi Lana,
We hope that prepping and freezing will help you prevent any spoiled produce + be easier on the wallet. Just make sure your mason jars are freezer safe!
Is freezing spinach okay to do? Doing that seems weird.
Hi Lauren,
Freezing leafy greens is a great way to keep them from going bad! If you’re just freezing leafy greens and not prepping a smoothie, we suggest you rinse them, pat them dry, and place them in an air tight bag in the freezer. This will keep your leafy greens fresh for months, and your wallet happy!
I’ve heard that preparing them too much in advance of consuming them lowers the nutrient content. Is this not the case if you’re freezing everything? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth,
Freezing the smoothie ingredients will help preserve the fruit, veggies, + leafy greens until you’re ready to blend, as well as, keep them at their peak nutrition level! 🙂
This is an amazing idea. I can’t wait to get this done for next week. I started making baggies of my greens and freezing them. I just grab a bag of my mixed greens from the freezer (spinach, beet tops and kale) and this has stopped any wasted greens ever again. I only have to buy greens twice a month now.
Hi Michael,
We’re so happy to hear how freezing your greens has helped your green smoothies and prevent waste!
Hi. What are your thoughts on using a food saver (the vacuum sealer kind) to freeze smoothie ingredients?
Hi Deb,
While I haven’t used a food saver before, I think it would be a great way to help freeze your smoothie ingredients! Please let us know how it works for you! Cheers 🙂
Hi.;-) which is the best way to prep spinach to freeze? Thanks
Hey Eleonora,
Thanks for reaching out. We love to make sure our greens are washed, then we toss them in with all of our other fruits, right into our storage container for freezing. 🙂
Does freezing affect the nutritional qualities? I read once that the earlier you freeze fruit/veg the better because it starts losing goodness the second it’s picked? In which case freezing could actually be better 🙂
Hi Tinkerbexx,
Just how growers freeze fruit and vegetables to keep them at their peak of ripeness, freezing helps keep the nutritional benefits of the smoothies.
Hello there,
I’m allergic to berries, oranges and nuts. I’m finding it hard to make a variety of the recipes. The ones that call for these items just doesn’t taste the same. Any additional recipes you can add without these is appreciated.
Hey Briget,
Thanks for the comment. Our recipes are here to inspire you — you don’t have to follow them to a T. Yet we do think they are mighty tasty! Feel free to use other green smoothie recipes and even make some up yourself. The key to making green smoothies your lifestyle is making it easy and part of your daily routine. So we recommend using fruits and veggies that are easy for you to find and are affordable. https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes
i am exclusively breastfeeding my baby but wants to shed off excess weight. whats the best smoothie recipe for a newbie like me?
Hey! Thanks for joining us. 🙂 Every mom and baby’s nursing experience is different. We would suggest starting slow, 8oz as a snack to get you and your baby use to the fiber. Any recipe would be great to start with. 🙂
I would like to know what size mason jars do I use.
We enjoy mason jars 12-32 oz, freezer safe versions. 🙂
I am new to smoothies too and I love them. I am in my 70’s trying to drop a few pounds along with eating healthy. I purchase the large bag of spinach and wash the entire bag, dry it and place all of it in the freezer. I put 1 1/2 cups of Almond milk in the blender add two good handfuls of spinach, 1 Tbsp of peanut butter, and whatever fruit I have. Really good. I cut up all kinds of fruit and freeze in a zip lock bag. This makes 2 smoothies that are really good. I don’t always use a whole banana because of the calories, but I do add plenty of other fruit. This is really a journey.
Awesome! So glad to have you blending with us, Cathy! 🙂
I’m glad I read this. I’ve been making smoothies for my husband and myself everyday and the prep and clean up is such a mess. I’m glad I can now prep in one day instead of making the mess each time. Especially since my son and daughter now want smoothies (ages 6 and 3)
I do have a question a little off topic. Do you recommend drinking a smoothie before a workout or after? I usually wake up get the kids ready for school and drink a smoothie while I’m driving. However I want to start working out before they wake up. Sorry for the essay. Any suggestions?
Hey Niki,
Thanks for the comment. 🙂 Have you tried out pre & post work out smoothies? https://simplegreensmoothies.com/pre-workout-smoothie
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/post-workout-smoothie
Stripping kale off of the stem, washing, spinning, placing in freezer bags; same with spinach, washing, spinning and freezing. Makes it easy to take out and break off for smoothies. I add 2 cups almond milk, 2 cups water, banana, green apple (unpeeled), 2 c kale, spinach, cinnamon, avocado, 6 chunks of pineapple, 2 to 4 tbsp flax seed (opt)…. Yum….
Cheers!
Hi! This may sound like a stupid question… Do I need to strip the kale off of the stem? Haven’t done that.
I’ve done this with salads, but it never occurred to me to do this for smoothies – brilliant! Mornings will be so much faster now. Thank you!!!!!
YAY! 🙂 Cheers! Happy blending!