The 2-Ingredient, 3-Minute Smoothie I Make Almost Every Day

I’ve been drinking a smoothie every day since 2018. And yes, I do literally mean every single day. Back in the glory days of Instagram challenges, a friend hosted a smoothie challenge where I learned several delicious recipes and fell in love with the creamy, cold breakfast drink. I felt like I’d finally found something I could make quickly for myself every day of the week. 

I started learning how to create recipes that fit my flavor and texture preferences, sometimes using unconventional ingredients like cauliflower, zucchini, and even butternut squash. But after years of testing, I’ve found that I return to the basics again and again. The simpler the better! And there’s nothing simpler than my 2-ingredient smoothie. 

This recipe only requires yogurt, a package of frozen fruit, and a splash of water. But not just any yogurt or fruit will do (more on that below). After a spin in a high-powered blender, you have a quick, healthy breakfast to start your day that takes less than five minutes from start to finish.

What Type of Blender to Use for Smoothies

One of the most important aspects of a delicious, creamy smoothie is making sure you’re using a quality high-powered blender. For everyday home use, I’m a big fan of the Breville Super Q, and mine’s been going strong for 6 years. The Vitamix Explorian is also a great, more budget-friendly option.

When I travel, I always try to bring my blender with me so I’m not stuck on my phone at midnight googling “smoothies near me,” hoping that I’ll be able to find a decent blended drink for my morning. For travel, I recommend the Beast Mini Blender or the more budget-friendly Hamilton Beach Personal Blender. 

Key Ingredients

Since there are only two ingredients in this recipe (yogurt and fruit), what you reach for matters here. There are so many amazing yogurts available right now. From the classic fruit flavors to higher-protein and plant-based varieties, I’m always trying out new ones. When it comes to smoothies, I always choose Greek yogurt because of its thick, creamy consistency. And if I’m only using two ingredients, then I make sure to choose vanilla Greek yogurt for a little extra sweetness and flavor.

My current favorites are Cabot Creamery and Great Value brands. But don’t be afraid to try your favorite vanilla Greek yogurt in this recipe. 

You can use lots of fruits and vegetables in smoothies. But one key element I’ve found is that you need to have at least one creamy fruit. For me, this is either banana or mango because they both have an extra-creamy texture that keeps the smoothie from becoming runny.

I love frozen fruit blends that include banana or mango right in the bag, like Great Value Strawberry Banana Blend, Great Value Strawberries, Pineapple, Peaches, and Mango Blend, or Pitaya Foods Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit, and Mango Blend. These all work great in this smoothie, so just be sure whatever blend you grab has either some banana or mango in it for the best texture. 

How To Make My 2-Ingredient Vanilla Yogurt Smoothie

To make two (16-ounce) servings, you’ll need:

Prep Time: 3 minutes

• 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (such as Cabot Creamery)
• 2 heaping cups frozen fruit blend with banana or mango 
• 3/4 to 1 1/4 cups water

Add the yogurt, frozen fruit, and 3/4 cup of water to a high-powered blender. Blend on low speed for 10 seconds, then slowly increase the speed to high and blend until smooth, about 45 more seconds. If the blender is having a hard time blending and the smoothie looks too thick, add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup water so it blends smoothly. All blenders are a little different, so you may need a little less or a little more water to get the perfect texture for your smoothie.

Pour the smoothie into tall glasses and enjoy immediately for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. 

Unfortunately, smoothies won’t stay fresh in the fridge. They will start to melt, and the flavor of the fruit will go downhill pretty quickly. And freezing them will change their textures. I find it’s better to just assemble them when you’re ready to drink them and enjoy right away.

Easy Tweaks

If you want to put your own spin on this smoothie, you can amp it up with the addition of high-fiber chia seeds, tasty protein powders, creamy nut butters (almond is my favorite), iron-rich spinach, and lots of different fruits like berries, apples, or pears. I like to use this recipe as a base and build onto it with seasonal flavors that make for an even more filling breakfast.