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Today, we’re blending up bananas, pineapple, and blue spirulina to make this vibrant blue spirulina smoothie! It’s a super fun way to make a healthy snack or breakfast you and the kids will love using just 5 ingredients!
Okay, can we just talk about how GORGEOUS this smoothie is for a second??!
This dreamy blue color is not a filter….it’s all thanks to blue spirulina, and it makes this smoothie look like something you’d order at a fancy resort (hello, Caribbean vibes). But the best part is that it takes just about five minutes to make right in your own kitchen, and it tastes like a tropical vacation in a glass.
We’re blending up frozen pineapple, ripe banana, creamy coconut milk, and protein powder into the most refreshing, thick, and satisfying smoothie, then stirring in that beautiful blue spirulina for a little extra nutrition and a whole lot of WOW factor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s sweet, tropical, creamy, and filling enough to work as breakfast or a post-workout snack, and here are some other reasons you’ll love this blue smoothie recipe.
- Sky Blue Color: The color of this blue smoothie reminds me of a bright blue tropical sky with not a cloud in sight. But if that doesn’t get you, then know that the kids love the fun color!
- Super Health Benefits: Spirulina is known for improving fatigue, allergy symptoms, and cholesterol levels on top of having large amounts of antioxidants and vitamins [source].
- Kid Friendly: Kids can absolutely drink this spirulina drink in moderation without worry! The tropical flavor and color is something they will ask for again and again.
- Tropical Fun: Pineapple, coconut, and banana flavors really come together to make you feel like you’re sitting on an island! Similarly, if you prefer pineapple and strawberry over banana, you may also like my favorite summertime smoothie.
- Prep Ahead: Assemble smoothie prep bags so you can easily make this smoothie whenever you want!
Health Benefits of Using Spirulina
This little powder is seriously impressive. It’s made up of a blue-green algae and is packed with antioxidants, particularly phycocyanin, which is the pigment that gives it that stunning blue color. Plus, it also may help fight inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.
It’s a source of plant-based protein with all the essential amino acids, B vitamins, iron, and minerals. And unlike green spirulina, blue spirulina has a very mild, almost neutral flavor, so it blends right in without changing the taste of your smoothie at all. All the benefits, none of the “pond water” flavor. You’re welcome.
Make it for yourself, make it for your kids, make it for your guests: everyone is going to ask what’s in it, and you’re going to love telling them all about it!
Some other ways you can use green and blue spirulina are in mint chocolate chip ice cream to get that green color or in layered popsicles where you want one layer to be vibrant blue!
Ingredients
The 5 simple ingredients that make this spirulina smoothie perfect for a healthy snack or breakfast are the following:
Coconut Milk: Make sure you use unsweetened coconut milk. The sweetness you get from the other ingredients lends plenty of sweetness.
Pineapple: Frozen pineapple helps with thickening, taking this from a blue drink to a blue smoothie.
Banana: I used a fresh chopped banana, but for an even thicker, creamier texture, you can use frozen banana slices.
Blue Spirulina: Use a high quality spirulina powder that is USDA certified organic. It should be a deep blue-green color, have no fishy odor, and dissolve in water without any grit or chalkiness.
Protein Powder: Whenever I’m using protein powder, I make sure it is the best protein powder, free from added ingredients that can make it unhealthy. My preferred choice is Just Ingredients. I used the plain protein powder in this recipe, but they also have a summer tropical powder that will add even more flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations And Substitutions
- Add coconut yogurt: For a bit more protein, thickness, and coconut flavor, you can add coconut yogurt.
- Add Mango: For a slightly sweeter, more tropical taste, add a few cubes of frozen mango.
- Blue Color Swap: To get a similar blue color without the spirulina, you can try freeze-dried blueberry powder or butterfly pea flower powder.
- Try different colors: Make it a blue green smoothie by adding some spinach or kale or make it more of a purple color by adding blueberries. There are so many fun combinations!
- Make It A Bowl: Make a sky blue smoothie bowl and layer it with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, chia seeds and more.
How To Make
- Add your unsweetened coconut milk to the blender first.
- Next, add your frozen pineapple, banana, protein powder, and blue spirulina as desired.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- If you’d like it thicker, add in some ice then blend again.
- Pour into tall glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Love, Rachel
Rachel’s Tips For The Best Results
- For a thicker smoothie, add frozen bananas and ice.
- For a more vibrant blue, add more spirulina powder, and for a lighter blue color add less.
- Use a countertop ice maker to have ice readily available for this recipe.
- Use a high powered blender to get the smoothie really smooth.
Looking for a way to use blue spirulina in a hydrating drink? Try this Blue Hawaiian Homemade Electrolyte Drink!
How To Serve
This smoothie is great served in a clear glass to showcase its bright beautiful color. Adding a glass straw and a piece of pineapple to the rim helps dress it up. And if you really want to impress, add a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut to the top or around the rim and some chia seeds for a beautiful color contrast!
If you decide to make a thicker blue smoothie recipe, it’s fun to serve it in an actual pineapple. You can get inspiration from this tropical smoothie bowl recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Great news! If you make smoothie prep-packs, these ingredients will last up to 2 months in your freezer! However, after blending spirulina, it doesn’t last long because it oxidizes, so after blending ingredients, keep no longer than 2 days in the refrigerator.
Store the blended mixture in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 48 hours, then discard.
Recipe FAQs
What does blue spirulina taste like?
Blue spirulina has little to no flavor and should dissolve immediately in liquid, unlike its counterpart, green spirulina, which can have a slightly fishy taste.
Can you consume too much spirulina?
Like most foods, it is possible to consume enough to make spirulina more harmful than beneficial, but that doesn’t happen until you have exceeded large amounts. Stick to using small amounts here and there in your recipes and you should be fine. Moderation is the key for most things. For more information about using spirulina.
How much blue spirulina goes in a smoothie?
You can use anywhere from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of blue spirulina powder in a blue spirulina smoothie recipe depending on what color blue you want. I would not exceed 2 tablespoons of spirulina powder in your smoothies.
Can I make a blue smoothie without spirulina?
Yes! I have not tried it myself, but others have used freeze-dried blueberry powder or butterfly pea flower powder to get a similar blue color from natural sources. Let me know in the comments how it goes if you try one!
Did you try this Blue Spirulina Smoothie recipe? If so, it would mean so much to me if you would comment and rate this recipe!
🩷Rachel
More Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love
Blue Spirulina Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened organic coconut milk
- 1½ cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 medium ripe banana, frozen, for creamier texture
- 2 scoops protein powder
- 1-2 tsps blue spirulina powder , add to desired color
- 1 cup ice, optional, for a thicker smoothie
Instructions
- Add your unsweetened coconut milk to the blender first.
- Add in your frozen pineapple, banana, protein powder, and blue spirulina as desired.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- If you’d like it thicker, add in some ice then blend again.
- Pour into tall glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges if desired.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
- Love, Rachel
Video
Notes
- For a thicker smoothie, add frozen bananas and ice.
- For a more vibrant blue, add more spirulina powder, and for a lighter blue color add less.
- Use a countertop ice maker to have ice readily available for this recipe.
- Use a high powered blender to get the smoothie really smooth.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
