Tropical Smoothie Recipe

This Tropical Smoothie will have you skipping the expensive smoothie joints forever! It’s a nutritious, cool, creamy, and refreshing taste of paradise that is easy to prep ahead then blend in seconds. Customize this smoothie recipe with different fruits or juices, control the consistency, the add-ins and sweet tanginess. You and your family are going to LOVE these any time of day!

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Tropical Smoothie in a glass with a straw, garnished by mint

Watch How to Make Tropical Smoothie

One of the easiest and most refreshing Tropical Smoothie Recipes

BEST FLAVOR. Layering multiple tropical fruits, then balancing with pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut water creates paradisiacal depth.
CREAMIEST SMOOTHIE. Starting with frozen fruits and using vanilla Greek yogurt creates the richest, creamiest consistency without watering down the flavor with ice.
LESS CALORIES. Using coconut water instead of coconut milk saves hundreds of calories, while still reaping creamy richness thanks to a frozen banana.
CUSTOMIZABLE. This smoothie recipe is extremely forgiving. Use whatever fruit and juices you like or have on hand, add protein powder, chia seeds, spinach, etc.
PREP AHEAD. Chop and freeze the fruit ahead of time, then just dump and blend with the press of a button!

Tropical Smoothie Ingredients

This Tropical Smoothie is easy to make with leftover frozen fruit! Here’s what you’ll need (recipe measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Pineapple: Use one cup ripe pineapple, peeled, chopped and frozen, one can pineapple in juice (drained/frozen), or bagged frozen pineapple.
Mango: Use one ripe, chopped and frozen mango, or frozen mango chunks. Check out my How to Cut A Mango Post for everything you need to know!
Banana: Chop and pop a ripe banana in the fridge for easy use.
Vanilla Greek yogurt: This adds sweet vanilla flavor and enriching creaminess. Any fat content will work great.
Orange juice: Its tanginess balances the sweet fruit. Use freshly squeezed or 100% pure juice in the carton.
Pineapple juice: Use freshly squeezed or canned.
Coconut water: This infuses the Tropical Smoothie with coconut flavor without all of the fat of coconut milk!

Top view showing ingredients for Tropical Smoothie recipe: pineapple, mangos, banana, vanilla yogurt, pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut water

How To KNow A Pineapple is Ripe for SMoothies

1. Touch: When squeezed gently, the pineapple skin should give a little, but it should still be firm.
2. Smell: The bottom of the fruit should smell sweet.
3. Sound: Tap the pineapple. Unripe fruits will sound hollow whereas ripe pineapple will sound dull and solid.
4. Color: It is possible for a green pineapple to be ripe, but more often than not, look for yellow coloring around the eyes and base.
5. Shape: Look for uniform eyes as opposed to small on the bottom and large in the middle.

Smoothie (Tropical) Variations and Substitutions

You can use any combination of fruit and juices in a smoothie recipe. Here are some ideas:

Fresh vs. frozen fruit: Frozen is ideal for optimal flavor without diluting the ingredients, but you may substitute one of the frozen fruits for fresh plus ½ cup ice.
Swap juice: Use more pineapple juice, orange juice or coconut water. Alternatively, try other liquids like milk or vanilla almond milk instead of coconut milk, mango juice instead of pineapple juice, etc.
Swap fruit: Use additional pineapple or mango, or try swapping in blueberries, strawberries, passionfruit, papaya, guava, kiwi, peaches, etc.
Use different yogurt: Try pineapple yogurt, coconut yogurt, key lime yogurt, strawberry yogurt, etc.
Add protein: Add up to 2 scoops of your favorite vanilla protein powder.
Add spinach: You can barely taste it! Just know spinach will change the color of your smoothie.
Add ginger: Use powder or freshly grated for a pungent punch.
Add basil or mint: Customize the flavor profile with your favorite herbs!
Add turmeric: It adds an earthy, peppery, flavor and pairs beautiful with pineapple, orange, and coconut. A little goes a long way, so start with a pinch and add more to taste.
Add chia seeds: One tablespoon adds manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
Add flax seeds: One tablespoon adds vitamin B1, copper, magnesium and phosphorus.

Showing how to make smoothie by adding the fruit into the blender, followed by the liquid

How to make a Smoothie (Tropical)

You can be indulging in this smoothie recipe in minutes! Here’s how to whip it together (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Step 1: Add fruit. Add the yogurt and fruit first so they are closest to the blades and easy to chop.

Step 2: Add liquids. Add pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut water.

Step 3: Blend. Use the smoothie setting to blend until smooth.

Step 4: Adjust to taste. Add sweeteners for sweeter, orange juice for tangier, coconut milk or water for thinner or ice for thicker.

A collage showing how to make a smoothie recipe by blending fruit and liquid until smooth

Tips for the Best Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Freeze leftover fruit: Chop and freeze any leftover fresh fruit throughout the week so you always have fruit for smoothies at your fingertips!
Use ripe fruit: Take care the pineapple, mango and banana are ripe before freezing, otherwise the fruit can be overly tangy and even bitter.
How to thicken a smoothie: Add ½ cup ice cubes, blend, then add additional ice if needed.
How to thin a smoothie: Take into consideration the current flavor of the smoothie. Thin with with pineapple or orange juice if you would like it tangier or thin with coconut water or milk if it’s already just right.
How to make a smoothie sweeter: After blending, you may need sweetener depending on personal preference or if any of the fruit wasn’t super ripe. Sweeten it up with honey, agave, sugar, stevia, etc. about ½ tablespoon at a time.
How to make a smoothie tangier: Add 1 tablespoons or so lime zest or orange zest for tangier without altering the consistency. Add additional orange juice for tangier while also thinning.

Tropical Smoothie Recipes: Storing and Make Ahead Options

Smoothies are best enjoyed right away because they will thin in the refrigerator as the frozen fruit melts. However, leftovers can be stored well, especially if they are on the thicker side to start with.

1. Transfer the leftover Tropical Smoothie recipe to jar or a container and top with a lid or plastic wrap.
2. Store in the fridge for 12 hours or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Showing how to serve Tropical Smoothie poured into two large glasses

How to make Tropical Smoothies ahead of time

To make ahead: Blend the smoothie and freeze in freezer-safe containers, thaw before enjoying.

To prep ahead:
1. Pre-portion small freezer bags of the pre-chopped fruits in the freezer. 2. Pre-portion small freezer bags of juices/coconut water and refrigerate or freeze if not using within a week, then thaw before using.

What to serve with a Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Eggs: quiche Lorraine, mini quiche, frittata
Potatoes: hashbrown casserole, tater tot breakfast casserole
Pancakes, waffles & more: Hawaiian waffles, German pancakes, lemon ricotta pancakes, crepes, carrot cake crepes, sweet potato pancakes, stuffed French toast
Breakfast casseroles: croissant breakfast casserole, crème brûlée French toast, tater tot breakfast casserole, French toast bake, blueberry French toast casserole
Coffee cake: cream cheese banana coffee cake , blueberry coffee cake, strawberry coffee cake, cream cheese strawberry coffee cake
Biscuits and sandwiches: breakfast sandwiches, Monte Cristo sandwich, biscuits and gravy

Tropical Smoothies FAQs

Is Tropical Smoothie healthy?

A tropical smoothie provides a range of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, contributing to overall health and well-being. Here are some of the health benefits:

1. Pineapple: is rich in vitamin C, which supports immune function, promotes collagen synthesis, and acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Mangos: are a great source of vitamins A and C, promoting healthy skin, immune system function, and vision. They also contain dietary fiber, which aids digestion and helps maintain a healthy weight.
3. Bananas: provide potassium, which is crucial for maintaining proper heart and muscle function, as well as regulating blood pressure. They also contribute to digestive health due to their high fiber content.
4. Orange juice: is packed with vitamin C, supporting the immune system and helping the body absorb iron. Additionally, it contains folate and potassium.
5. Coconut water: is rich in electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium, which help replenish fluids and maintain hydration. It is also low in calories and fat, making it a refreshing and healthy choice for a tropical smoothie.

How to cut pineapple for smoothies

1. Set pineapple on its side and cut off and discard about 1 inch from the top and bottom.
2. Stand the pineapple upright and cut lengthwise to remove and discard the tough, outer peel in strips.
3. Go back around the pineapple and cut off any remaining hard bits of peel called “eyes.”
4. Cut the pineapple in quarters lengthwise through the core.
5. Cut in half again to create smaller, then again to create smaller wedges.
Chop wedges into chunks. They don’t need to be too small because they will just get chopped in the blender.

How to cut mango for smoothies

1. Wash your hands and wash the mango.
2. Locate the stem and make sure the stem is on top. The long, flat seed runs from stem to nose. We want to cut around this pit.
3. Make a vertical cut 1/4″ away from this midline to remove the right side of the mango. Make the same cut on the other side to remove the left side, discard the pit.
4. Stabilized the mango piece on a flat surface, flesh side up. Make vertical slices without cutting through the skin. Make slices the other directions to create cubes.
5. Use a large spoon to detach the flesh from the skin and scoop out the mango cubes.

up close of Tropical Smoothie recipe showing how thick and creamy it is

Looking for more Tropical Recipes?

Hawaiian Chicken
Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
Jerk Shrimp
Pineapple Chicken
Loco Moco
Kalua Pork
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Mojo Marinade
Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken Tacos

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Tools Used in This Recipe

BlendTec Blender

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Servings: servings

Total Time: 10

Prep Time: 10

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Ingredients

1 cup frozen chopped pineapple
1 cup frozen chopped mango
1 frozen peeled, sliced banana
1 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
sweetener to taste

Instructions

Blend: Add all ingredients to a high powered blender starting with the fruit then blend until very smooth.
Adjust: If you like a thicker smoothie, add ice. For a thinner smoothie, add additional juice or milk. For sweeter, add honey or sugar ½ tablespoon at a time.
Enjoy: Divide between 2 glasses and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Tips for Making Smoothies

Variations: See post for ideas!
Freeze leftover fruit: Chop and freeze any leftover fresh fruit throughout the week so you always have fruit for smoothies at your fingertips!
Use ripe fruit: Take care the pineapple, mango and banana are ripe before freezing, otherwise the fruit can be overly tangy and even bitter.
How to thicken a smoothie: Add ½ cup ice cubes, blend, then add additional ice if needed.
How to thin a smoothie: Take into consideration the current flavor of the smoothie. Thin with with pineapple or orange juice if you would like it tangier or thin with coconut water or milk if it’s already just right.
How to make a smoothie sweeter: After blending, you may need sweetener depending on personal preference or if any of the fruit wasn’t super ripe. Sweeten it up with honey, agave, sugar, stevia, etc. about ½ tablespoon at a time.
How to make a smoothie tangier: Add 1 tablespoons or so lime zest or orange zest for tangier without altering the consistency. Add additional orange juice for tangier while also thinning.

Storage and Meal Prep

Storage: Smoothies are best enjoyed right away because they will thin in the refrigerator as the frozen fruit melts. However, leftovers can be stored well, especially if they are on the thicker side to start with. Transfer leftovers to jar or a container and top with a lid or plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 12 hours or freeze for up to 3 months.

To make ahead: Blend the smoothie and freeze in freezer-safe containers, thaw before enjoying.

To prep ahead:

Pre-portion small freezer bags of the pre-chopped fruits in the freezer.
Pre-portion small freezer bags of juices/coconut water and refrigerate or freeze if not using within a week, then thaw before using.