Looking for paleo smoothie recipes? This roundup features quick and easy blended drinks including shakes and frappés that are dairy-free, grain-free and gluten-free and contain natural sweeteners or fruit. Many of these recipes are also vegan-friendly.
Are Smoothies Good For You?
Not many people would turn down a pretty-looking smoothie, a refreshing frappé or a velvety shake. While you shouldn’t rely on these drinks to replace the meals on a regular basis, they are quick and easy to make – great for on-the-go breakfast or lunch.
While vegetable-based juices and green smoothies are high in vitamins and antioxidants, many other fruit smoothies and shakes can be high in hidden sugar, even in their natural form. Be mindful, if you’re trying to cut down on sweets!
In my family, we often have protein-based smoothies (we use whey or hemp seed protein powder) with frozen fruit, baby spinach and coconut or almond milk. I find them convenient after a workout or before I plan to exercise and need a little pick-me-up.
If you do plan to have a paleo smoothie as a meal replacement, it’s a good idea to add a side of protein such as a little chicken, cooked prawns, salmon or a hard-boiled egg OR use the protein powder and nut butter.
I’ve compiled a list of the best paleo smoothie recipes, shakes and frappes I’ve tried or would like to try in my kitchen. These are grain and gluten-free, dairy-free, with no refined sugar.
Smoothie vs Shake vs Frappe
Shakes, also known as milkshakes and thick shakes, are cold, usually sweet drinks made with milk, ice cream, ice and flavourings or sweeteners like chocolate sauce or fruit syrups. Protein shakes are well known in the fitness community and are often made with water/milk and protein powder.
A smoothie is a blended drink made with fruits or berries and various additions of crushed ice, yoghurt, frozen fruit, ice cream, milk, juices, honey and sometimes nut butter. Here is to make your own dairy-free milk at home.
A Frappé is a dessert, often a drink, made with shaved ice, fruit juices, and purees. Coffee Frappé is a popular summer drink.
Paleo Smoothie Recipes
Here is a selection of my favourite paleo smoothies. These are dairy-free, gluten and grain-free and have no added sugar. I have provided full recipes for some and links to others.
Green Kale & Mango Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 mango, peeled, diced, stone removed (keep refrigerated prior to using)
- 2 cups fresh kale – 2 large leaves, stem removed, leaves torn and washed
- 1/2 lime, juice only
- 1 kiwifruit, peeled and diced
- 1 cup cold coconut milk or almond milk
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Add a little extra water if it’s too thick. Serves 1-2.
Strawberry Coconut Almond Smoothie
Mixed Berry & Chocolate Paleo Smoothie
Find the recipe for this chocolate berry smoothie here.
Hangover Smoothie
Who wouldn’t want to try this one? You can replace hemp milk with almond or coconut milk. The recipe is from Vegan Yack Attack.
Apple Banana Cinnamon Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped, peeled apples (Granny Smith is best)
- 1 banana
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 1/4 cup unsalted almonds (or cashew nuts)
- 1 cup coconut or almond milk
- 1/2 cup water
Method: Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth and well incorporated, and serve sprinkled with extra cinnamon. Serves 2.
Glowing Goddess Green Detox Smoothie
The recipe for this green paleo smoothie is here.
My Anti-Ageing Smoothie
Blueberry Acai Smoothie
This recipe is by Kathy from Healthy Happy Life but I’ve amended the ingredients list slightly as it had soy milk.
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 1/2 frozen bananas
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup acai juice
- 3/4 cup ice
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Add a little extra water if too thick. Serve 2.
Key Lime Pie Green Smoothie
Vegan, gluten and nut-free key lime green smoothie that’s under 300 calories. Tastes just like pie! Recipe from Healthful Pursuit.
Blueberry Beetroot Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2/3 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 medium beetroot, peeled and grated (including the juice)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup ice cubes or crushed ice
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Serves
Paleo Shakes & Frappés
From crushed ice coffee to pina colada, these shakes and frappés are delicious and refreshing.
Simple Coffee Frappé
Ingredients
- 60 ml of strong brewed coffee (2 shots Espresso), chilled
- 1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 tsp coconut syrup or maple syrup
- 1 cup ice cubes or crushed ice
- Coconut & dark chocolate shavings to garnish
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Add a little extra water if too thick. Serve 1-2.
Salted Caramel Shake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cold almond or coconut milk
- 1 1/2 tsp cashew butter/spread or 1/4 cup raw unsalted cashews, soaked
- 1/2 banana (frozen for extra thickness)
- 2 dried pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup (leave this out if you don’t like it too sweet)
- A pinch of sea salt
- A couple of ice cubes
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Virgin Pina Colada
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice, fresh or with no added sugar
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 lime, juice only
- 1 banana (frozen ideally)
- A few cubes of ice
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated.
Raspberry Mojito Frappé
- 1 + 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
- 6-7 mint leaves
- 1 tsp coconut or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup orange juice + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- If using fresh raspberries (although why not just eat them whole?), add some crushed ice
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Pour over extra ice and add slices of lemon.
Black Forrest Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted, canned or fresh cherries
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup coconut or almond milk
- 1/2 banana
- Sprinkle with grated dark chocolate and coconut shavings
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process all ingredients until smooth and well incorporated. Serves 2.
Watermelon & Lime Frappé
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped watermelon
- 1 lime, juice only
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 cup crushed ice or ice cubes
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process until smooth and well incorporated. Serves 1-2.
Toblerone Thickshake
Ingredients
- 4 dried dates
- 1/2 banana
- 1/3 cup hazelnuts
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup strong coffee
- 1 cup coconut or almond milk
- A few ice cubes
Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process all ingredients until smooth and well incorporated. Serves 2.
Do you have a favourite shake, frappé or paleo smoothie recipe? Share in the comments below.
These look amazing!! Anything with a little nut butter, cinnamon and frozen bananas is right up my alley!
These all look delicious especially the piña colada one!
One of my favorites is my fruit blend smoothie that I make for school! It’s pretty big, I just put it in a bottle and sip until lunch time!
Ingredients (I never measure lol):
One mango
Some coconut milk (probably about a 1/4 of a cup)
Frozen mango and pineapple chunks (dole)
Frozen mixed berries
Honey
2 medium chunks of watermelon
A splash of v8 blueberry pomegranate (I know it’s cheating but it’s barely anything lol)
Oh wow these look great! Will have to try some of them out.
My favourite these days is a carrot cake smoothie:
1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk.
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced.
1/2 frozen banana.
1 tbsp almond butter.
1 tsp cinnamon.
Pinch of nutmeg.
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract.
1/4 tsp coconut butter or you could use coconut oil.
Toasted coconut flakes (for garnish).
Blend everything in a blender and top with the coconut flakes.
Naz, that looks awesome! I am so trying your recipe out.
Imcari thanks! I forgot to add you can also add some raw honey or stevia for extra sweetness… but I find the carrot and banana help with that. 🙂
When you list “coconut milk” do you mean canned or the coconut milk beverage?
Thanks!
Hilary, I mean canned coconut milk or cream. I try not to buy coconut milk beverages as they often add other things to that, including sugar, but I guess it depends on the brand. If you can find a very natural coconut milk beverage with little additives, you should be able to use that. I hope that helps.
I’ve been making smoothies often for the last few months. My staples are coconut water; homemade yogurt, mixes of fresh and frozen fruit; kale, chard or spinach, and honey. Yum!!!
Think I’ll try the almond milk instead of coconut water next…
I drink a lot of coconut water and not once have I thought of putting it in a smoothie. Brilliant! I’ve just been adding water to thin them out. Thanks for the tip, Donna.
I didn’t make this up myself but its great…
The water and flesh of a young coconut, teaspoon or more of cinnamon or cocao powder, teaspoon of chia seeds and a raw egg. Blend until smooth And thick. I find no sweetener is required if it’s a good coconut, but u could easily add to it, banana would work well ( if a little indulgent!) . I had my reservations about the raw egg but you wouldn’t even know its there! Truly good
Hi do you have a recipe for a chocolate hazelnut smoothie? If so, could you please do one? With bananas in it as well? That’d be great 🙂
That sounds delicious! Like a nutella smoothie 😉
Imacri is this your website! It is wonderful!! Thank you for the Apple Cinnamon ‘Pie’ Smoothie recipe, I will try that soon!!
Do you know a recipe for chocolate hazelnut shake? (to create a nutella flavour since I miss it 🙁
Thanks for sharing this!
Love the emerald kale and mango smoothie. Juice sour punch to it. Yum!!
The salted caramel thickshake was not sweet much at all and didn’t have much flavor. Added some egg white protein powder, a tiny bit of extra maple, and more banana.
The simple coffee frappe was good but again had to add some extra maple to give it some flavor.
We love the paleo diet smoothies
Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up and
let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show
the same outcome.
Where can I purchase Acai juice, have only had purchased whilst in the US, many thanks.