Papaya Smoothie with Strawberry

This delicious 4-ingredient Papaya Smoothie combines fresh papaya, strawberries, bananas, and coconut milk for a refreshing tropical treat ideal for summer!

Trust me, you’ll be making this recipe on repeat all summer long! And if you want more easy smoothie recipes, check out my Pineapple Mango Smoothie or Blueberry Banana Smoothie next.

Strawberry and papaya smoothie in a glass cup garnished with a strawberry slice.

There’s nothing better than a delicious, frozen smoothie made with simple ingredients to stay cool during these hot summer days!

Papaya is a juicy and sweet tropical fruit that always brings me amazing childhood memories from Brazil. My mom used to make papaya smoothies for me and my sister all year long. We lived in a very tropical city, so papaya and coconut were easy to find everywhere you went.

So, when I moved to Canada, I was so glad to see all these fruits here as well. I’m always happy to have a little taste of home whenever I can!

Now that it’s strawberry season, I knew I had to add them to this papaya smoothie. The combination of sweet papaya and strawberries is so refreshing and delicious. Then, the frozen banana and coconut milk make this smoothie so irresistibly creamy.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Papaya — The star of the show! Papaya gives the smoothie a sweet tropical flavor. If you can’t find fresh papaya, you can use frozen papaya chunks or swap it for fresh mango.

Strawberries — I like to use fresh strawberries when they’re in season. Remember the redder they are, the riper they are! But frozen strawberries work just as well here.

Frozen banana — The key to achieving the perfect thick and creamy consistency is to freeze the banana before making the smoothie. If you don’t have a frozen banana, simply add some ice cubes to your smoothie.

Coconut milk — I love using coconut milk in this smoothie because it complements the tropical flavors so well. But, you can easily swap it for your preferred milk (dairy milk or non-dairy like almond milk).

Cinnamon — Optional, but I find that it adds just the right amount of spice. You can also add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract too or even a squeeze of lime juice.

Pre-measured ingredients in small bowls on a white countertop.

When is papaya in season?

If you live in a tropical climate, papaya is usually available year-round. Otherwise, they’re in season and perfectly ripe from about May to September. Perfect for summer smoothies!

How To Make A Papaya Smoothie

This recipe is short and sweet! Follow these 3 easy steps and you’ll be sipping on the best papaya smoothie in no time.

Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
Blend for about 30 seconds or until it’s smooth.
Taste and adjust the flavor or consistency as needed.
(Okay, technically 4 steps). Pour your creamy texture smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Left: smoothie ingredients in a blender. Right: smoothie blended together.

Olivia’s Recipe Tips

Add more coconut milk for a thinner consistency and ice or less milk for a thicker consistency.
For the best results, use a high speed blender like a NutriBullet or Vitamix
When blending your smoothie, start on low to break up the chunks. Then, you can turn up the speed until it’s nice and smooth.
Feel free to add some peanut butter or almond butter for a creamier texture and extra flavor.

A papaya smoothie in a tall glass garnished with a strawberry slice.

Give Your Smoothie A Boost

Greek yogurt — Try using plain or vanilla Greek yogurt to make your smoothie even creamier.

Greens — Smoothies are a great way to sneak in greens like spinach or kale.

How To Store and Meal Prep Smoothies

To Store: Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately, but you can store leftovers in the refrigerator for an extra day. They tend to separate over time, so be sure to mix the smoothie before serving it. Airtight mason jar with a lid is especially helpful for storing smoothies!

To Meal Prep: You can freeze pre-made smoothies in a freezer-safe container and thaw until they reach the consistency you like. Or, portion the ingredients for a papaya smoothie into freezer bags and then pop them in the blender with a splash of liquid when you’re ready to enjoy.

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Papaya Smoothie with Strawberry Recipe

3.66 from 23 votes

Author: Olivia Ribas

people

This delicious 4-ingredient Papaya Smoothie combines fresh papaya, strawberries, bananas, and coconut milk for a refreshing tropical treat ideal for summer.

Equipment

1 Vitamix Blender

Ingredients

▢ 3/4 cup papaya peeled, seeded, and chopped
▢ 1 cup fresh strawberries
▢ 1 frozen banana
▢ 2 cups coconut milk (more or less depending how think you like your smoothie)
▢ ¼ tsp cinnamon optional

Instructions

In a blender, combine all the ingredients.
Cover and blend until smooth for about 30 seconds or so.
Taste to adjust flavor and serve immediately. Enjoy.

Notes

You can freeze the banana the night before or for a few hours before making the smoothie. A frozen banana adds a lot of creaminess, so don’t skip it!
Be sure to always wash your fruit before adding it to smoothies.
Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and consistency.