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This creamy mango smoothie recipe tastes like tropical ice cream with just 5 simple ingredients! Here’s how to make a mango smoothie that’s naturally sweet, dairy-free friendly, and ready in 5 minutes.
This mango smoothie really does taste more like mango ice cream than a healthy drink! This bright yellow puree has the best sweet flavor and the creamiest icy texture.
After years of testing smoothie recipes, I’ve learned that a great mango smoothie isn’t about adding more ingredients or fancy superfood powders. It’s about letting the mango shine with simple ingredients that make the perfect creamy, frosty texture!
Why This Is the Best Mango Smoothie
I’ve experimented with mango smoothie variations over the years. What makes this one stand out?
- It’s got pure, sweet flavor. It’s perfectly mango-forward.
- It’s got a silky smooth, creamy texture. Just the right thickness for sipping!
- It’s full of healthy ingredients. There’s no added sweetener: just fruit.
- It’s easily plant based. It calls for just ½ cup of milk, which can be non-dairy milk of your choosing!
5 Star Reader Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “So good! I’m not a huge fan of smoothies, but this one was delicious and only took 5 minutes to make.” -Estelle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I made a half recipe and this is the best smoothie I’ve ever had, amazing” -Jacob
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this healthy smoothie is its simplicity. Here’s what goes into your blender:
- Frozen mango: Frozen mango is easy to find at your local grocery and store until you’re ready to blend. You also can use fresh mango if you have it on hand, but use a frozen banana to maintain the frosty texture.
- Banana: The banana does double duty here: it adds natural sweetness and helps create that creamy, smooth texture. I typically use a room temperature banana, which blends more easily.
- Water and milk: You can use any type of dairy or non-dairy milk.
- Ice cubes: These give you that perfect frothy, shake-like texture that makes this smoothie feel like a treat rather than just a healthy drink.
- Fresh lemon juice: Lemon juice is the key to brightening the flavors: it’s like the salt of sweet foods!
How to Make It Perfectly Every Time
I’ve learned through experience (and a few stuck blender moments) that the order you add ingredients matters. Here’s my method:
- Start by adding your liquids to the blender first. Add your banana chunks, ice, and lemon juice. Then add 1 cup of the frozen mango and blend until smooth.
- Once that’s blended, add the remaining 2 cups of frozen mango. This two-step method prevents your blender from getting stuck with too much frozen fruit at once. Blend again until completely smooth, adding a splash more water or milk if needed to get your desired consistency.
Plant-Based and Dairy-Free Options
You can make this mango smoothie plant-based or vegan by using your favorite non-dairy milk instead of dairy milk:
- Oat milk: The flavor is sweet and it has a nice creamy texture.
- Almond milk: It’s a little closer to water in its texture, but popular and easy to find.
- Coconut milk: Coconut milk is very thick and adds a coconut flavor (it would be delicious here!).
- Soy milk: This type of milk has a nice sweet flavor and thick texture.
Ways to Customize Your Mango Smoothie
This mango smoothie is perfect as is (to me, at least!). But if you want to add a little pizzazz: here are some options:
- Stir in Greek yogurt. Use ½ cup Greek yogurt in place of the milk for a protein boost (you may need a splash more water to get it to blend).
- Add cashew butter. Another way to add plant-based protein is nut butter; the cashew flavor compliments the mango well.
- Swap in frozen pineapple or peaches. Swap out 1 cup of the frozen mango for frozen fruit of another variety.
- Throw in coconut. Throw in a handful of coconut (or toasted coconut) for a more tropical vibe.
- Go big on banana. Go with two bananas or opt for a mango banana smoothie instead.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Smoothies are best eaten immediately, but this mango smoothie actually lasts 1 to 2 days refrigerated. Store it in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on.
It may separate, which is natural: just shake it up and you’re good to go! It’s nice to make this smoothie in advance so you can have breakfast or a snack on demand.
Dietary Notes
This mango smoothie recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, use non-dairy milk.
Creamy Mango Smoothie
This creamy mango smoothie recipe tastes like tropical ice cream with just 5 simple ingredients! Here’s how to make a mango smoothie that’s naturally sweet, dairy-free friendly, and ready in 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Smoothie
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 3 cups frozen mango (or fresh)
- 1/2 banana (room temperature, broken into chunks)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup milk (or oat milk or Greek yogurt)
- 5 ice cubes
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender, adding the liquids first, except for 2 cups frozen mango. Blend until smooth.
- Add the 2 cups frozen mango and blend again until smooth, adding a splash of additional water or milk to get it to blend if necessary.
Notes
Protein adder: To amp the protein, use ½ cup Greek yogurt instead of milk. If necessary, add a few more splashes of water until the smoothie blends.
Storage notes: Smoothies are best eaten immediately, but this mango smoothie actually lasts 1 to 2 days refrigerated. Store it in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. It may separate, which is natural: just shake it up before enjoying.
Related Smoothies You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this tropical smoothie, try these other fruit-forward favorites:
So bright and yummy! I used almond milk, but I think next time I’ll try coconut milk to take it right over to the tropical side! This would be an awesome base for a smoothie bowl!!