How to Make a Tropical Kiwi Smoothie

A while back, I gave myself the challenge of making every fruit and vegetable into a smoothie, and this Easy Kiwi Smoothie couldn’t have come out better! This recipe makes the most of the sweet-tart flavor of this tropical fruit, combining it with mango and pineapple for pure fruity fun.

My son Larson is a big fan. He loves kiwi and was psyched about the idea of blending it into a smoothie. Turns out he likes it in a smoothie even more!

What you’ll need

This kiwi smoothie has just a few ingredients, and I’ve customized it to what’s easy to have on hand. I’m hoping you might already have these ingredients accessible in your pantry! Here’s what’s in my favorite kiwi smoothie: 

• Kiwi: You’ll need just 2 ripe kiwi for this recipe.
• Banana: These can be at room temperature. There’s no need to remember to freeze them! (That’s a huge pet peeve of mine when I’m looking at smoothie recipes.) 
• Frozen pineapple: This forms the icy base of the purée.
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds loads of protein to smoothies, making them more filling. It’s also got helpful probiotics for gut health! 
• Spinach: Just a few handfuls of spinach brightens the color here to look…well, just like a kiwi!

Flavor variations

Blend it up, and this kiwi smoothie has a beautiful, tangy-sweet tropical flavor with a color that looks perfectly kiwi. In my mind, that’s the perfect kiwi smoothie!

But of course, there are lots of ways to customize this recipe. Here are a few more ideas for adding even more flavor:

• Kiwi banana smoothie: Add another banana to enhance the creamy banana flavor.
• Kiwi mango smoothie: Swap out frozen mango for frozen pineapple. Note that the smoothie will have a more yellow hue.
• Strawberry kiwi smoothie: This one is inspired by my favorite Chapstick from the 1990s! Swap out frozen strawberries for the pineapple.
• Kiwi blueberry smoothie: Swap out frozen blueberries for the pineapple; it turns the smoothie pink, but it’s very tasty!

Make it vegan

Want a vegan smoothie instead? This kiwi smoothie is easily made vegan and dairy-free with a few simple tweaks. Here’s what to do:

• Use coconut milk (and skip the yogurt). Coconut milk is a great substitute for Greek yogurt in smoothies. It comes out rich and creamy. (See my Coconut Milk Smoothie.)
• Add back some protein! Swapping out the yogurt removes protein. Here are some ideas for adding plant-based protein: add 1 tablespoon or so of cashew butter or almond butter, or throw in up to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds.

Fun facts and nutrition

The full name for the kiwi is the kiwifruit. You might associate it with New Zealand, where it was introduced in the early 1900s. They named it after their national bird, the kiwi. This was a rebranding, though. The kiwi originates from China, where it’s also known as the Chinese gooseberry.

There are lots of great nutrients in a kiwi, too. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Kiwis are very high in vitamin C. A single kiwi has 100% of your daily value! That’s 64 mg. That means ½ of this recipe has all the vitamin C you need for the day.
• Kiwis are a good source of antioxidants, which help protect the body. (Specifically, they’re vitamin C, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin).
• Kiwis are a good source of fiber. One kiwi has 2 grams of fiber, which is about 10% of your daily need.

More smoothie recipes

Love healthy smoothie recipes? Try one of the following:

• Berries: Strawberry, Coconut Milk, Mixed Berry, Fruit, Blueberry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango, or Blueberry Banana Smoothie 
• Greens & veggies: Kale, Celery, Pumpkin, Avocado, Cucumber, Avocado Banana, Green, Beet, or Spinach Smoothie 
• Creamy: Yogurt, Coffee, Oat Milk, Vanilla Protein, Oatmeal, Chocolate Banana, or Peanut Butter Smoothie 
• Fruits: Banana, Peach, Apple, Grape, Acai Berry, Kiwi,  Watermelon, Orange, Mango Pineapple, or Pineapple Smoothie