This refreshing pineapple smoothie recipe delivers a burst of tropical flavors with each sip! Simply blend together frozen pineapple chunks with pineapple juice, greek yogurt, bananas, and coconut milk for a quick and healthy beverage.
Need an island getaway? This chilly pineapple smoothie will make you feel like you’re relaxing on the beach. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare and blend the tropical fruits with protein-packed yogurt for a healthy treat. A quick vacation without having to travel further than your kitchen.
Each sip is just like drinking a pina colada (without the alcohol) or taking a bite of dole whip ice cream. Using frozen pineapples makes the preparation fast and easy. Sliced bananas, yogurt, and coconut milk make the texture super creamy. Just add all of the ingredients into a blender and in minutes you’ll be in relaxation mode.
Use frozen pineapple
If you have fresh ripe pineapple on the counter, cut it into 1-inch chunks and freeze them in a single layer for this smoothie. Otherwise, I recommend purchasing a bag of frozen pineapple chunks.
When the fruit is frozen and blended, smaller particles are created from the solidified juice and plant fibers. It creates a smoother texture and it has more flavor than just adding ice cubes to make the drink cold.
Bumping up the tropical flavors
Pineapple juice heightens the base flavor, it adds the right balance of sweet and tart. The juice also makes it easier to process the smoothie in the blender. Fresh banana slices provide creaminess from the starches and fructose as a natural sweetener. Coconut is abundant in tropical climates, and using thick coconut milk creates a velvety consistency while adding in the characteristic sweet and nutty island flavor.
Add fiber and protein for a nutritional boost
A glass of this pineapple smoothie can provide a nutritional boost to your diet. Pineapple is packed with health benefits. In fact, 1 cup of chunks delivers 70 calories, nearly 1 gram of protein, no fat, almost 2 grams of fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals like vitamins C, vitamin A, potassium, and calcium [source].
This refreshing beverage also contains an enzyme called bromelain, which may help as an anti-inflammatory and aid in digestion, although scientific evidence varies. Greek yogurt is packed with protein and probiotics, making each serving of smoothie more satiating and delivering good bacteria to the gut.
How to make a pineapple smoothie
To ensure a chilly, but non-icy consistency, add the frozen items first. Start with layering in the ice cubes and frozen pineapple. This ensures that the hard ingredients break down quickly in the sharp spinning blades. Then add in the softer ingredients like banana and yogurt.
Add the pineapple juice and coconut milk last as they will trickle down to the bottom of the blender cup and assist in breaking down all of the items. I always gradually ramp up the blender speed. Start at medium first to get the large chunks moving and chopped then increase to high speed. The smoothie should be thick and creamy. It should easily swirl down into the blades when it’s done processing.
Ways to customize this smoothie
- Swap out the dairy-based yogurt for coconut, almond, soy, or cashew for a dairy-free drink.
- Make it sweeter with honey or maple syrup.
- Add in orange juice, mango juice, or guava juice instead of pineapple juice.
- Mix-in other frozen tropical fruits like mango, strawberry, or papaya.
- Add in flaxseeds for extra fiber.
Adjusting the smoothie consistency
If the smoothie is too thick, gradually add a small amount of pineapple juice to help with the processing, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Give the blender a few seconds to pull in the liquid. If you add too much all at once, the texture will be loose and more slushy-like instead of creamy and spoonable.
Pineapple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- ½ cup banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup coconut milk
Instructions
- Add ice cubes, pineapple, banana slices, yogurt, pineapple juice, and coconut milk to a blender.
- Cover and process on medium speed for about 30 seconds, using the tamper as needed. Increase to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds until thick and smooth.
- Adjust the smoothie with more coconut milk or pineapple juice if needed to reach the desired consistency.
Notes
- Yield: 3 cups
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Make it Dairy-Free: Substitute coconut, almond, soy, or cashew yogurt instead of Greek yogurt.
- Make it Sweeter: Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Anton says
I usually use coconut water as a thinner
Jessica Gavin says
Coconut water sounds delicious in the pineapple smoothie!
NANCY says
CAN I USE 2% milk for this recipe?
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, you can use 2% milk in the smoothie.
CJ Hunter says
I finally got all the ingredients for this smoothie and I have to admit that it was worth it. I have been trying different fruit combinations and recipes but this one will be my go to when I want the taste of pineapple. The flavor was outstanding. I will add in some strawberries next time to see what kind of flavor I get. Thanks for the recipe!!
Liz says
Hi, Jessica! I’m looking forward to making this for my toddler as a way to get his fruits in. For the banana, is it best to use one that’s still yellow vs overly ripened?
Jessica Gavin says
I typically use yellow bananas because it’s a good balance of starch to sugar level. Also, the texture of the smoothie is better when it’s not too ripe.
Christine says
Thanks for this simple and refreshing recipe. I loved using the combo of Greek yogurt and coconut milk…so smooth and yummy!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for your feedback, Christine! The greek yogurt and coconut milk nicely balance each other.
Lorna says
This looks amazing!! I know I’m late to this, but do you have any substitutions for banana? I’m allergic and can never achieve a similar texture. Thank you so much!!
Jessica Gavin says
I would add some avocado for the richness. It has a very mild flavor and you won’t even taste it in the smoothie. Let me know what you think!