Easy Oatmeal Smoothies (13 Vegan, Gluten-Free Recipes!)

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If you’re in need of a grab and go breakfast or are simply looking to change up your morning routine with a new flare, look no further than this easy oatmeal smoothie.

Blend up your favorite mixture of fruits and veggies, throw in a handful of oats and viola! From avocado dreamsicle oatmeal smoothie to oatmeal raison cookie smoothie, these oatmeal smoothie recipes contain classic flavor combinations that you are going to definitely enjoy!

Best Oatmeal Smoothie Ingredients

Making this breakfast smoothie couldn’t be simpler, really. Here are the ingredients you will to need:

• Oats: Thicken the smoothie and also add a ton of soluble and insoluble fiber. Why do we love fibers so much? Because it helps to keep us feeling full for much longer periods of time! Rolled oats are recommended because they are minimally processed compared to other types of oats. 
• Fresh fruit: When in season, fresh fruit is an available option. Because fresh fruit is not very cold, adding ice is recommended if you want to drink a cold beverage right away.
• Frozen fruit: Frozen fruit is picked during the peak of each season and frozen immediately. The taste, price and year round accessibility are leading factors why frozen fruits are often used to make smoothies. Frozen fruits thick smoothies and keep them cold for longer periods of time. Furthermore, frozen fruits reduce the need to add ice to a smoothie which has a tendency to water down the flavor..
• Without banana: If you’re looking to add creaminess without using banana, then try adding avocado or tofu to the oatmeal smoothie. They blend up extra smooth and creamy while maintaining a relatively mild taste compared to the stronger flavors found in other alternative ingredients like yogurt, nut butter and protein powders.
• Liquid: Coffee, tea, dairy free milk alternatives, milk, and fruit juice are all viable liquids to add into your smoothie base. A splash of lemon juice adds a fresh hint of flavor and tartness that is super delicious!
• Ice: Ice with make a smoothie thicker and an instantly refreshing cold beverage, but ice is water. Watering down any flavors is generally not the optimal solution and thats why its best to stick with frozen fruits if you want a cold drink. When using ice, 1 cup of ice for every 8 fl oz of smoothie is a good ratio to stick with.
• Yogurt: Surefire way to add extra creaminess to any smoothie recipe. Plain or vanilla flavored yogurts are a neutral taste that goes well with any smoothie. Select dairy free yogurt like almond, coconut and soy if you are on a strict vegan diet.
• Cocoa: Unsweetened cocoa powder is a great way to add the richness of chocolate without the added sugars. In addition, cocoa is a superfood that offers a myriad of benefits.
• Protein powder: If you’re looking to add more nutritional boost to the smoothie, then adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder will do the trick. Unflavored, chocolate and vanilla are neutral flavors that work with many smoothie recipes.
• Nuts: Raw nuts provide extra fattiness and thickness to a smoothie. Toasted nuts will impart a roasted flavor that adds a baked taste to the beverage.
• Seeds: Chia seeds, flaxseeds and hemp seeds are common additions to smoothie blends. Chia seeds can be added whole because they will plump up into tiny jelly filled “boba balls.” Some people enjoy the mouthfeel and like to chew on them in the smoothie. That being said, seeds are generally ground up into a fine border that is added to the smoothie.
• Sweetener: Maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, stevia and agave are common sweeteners. If you are on a strict vegan diet, then avoid using honey.
• Spices: Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla are the most commonly used spices when blending oatmeal smoothies. Lemon zest is another flavor enhancer that should be mentioned in this area because it imparts a delicious citrusy taste into any smoothie!

Tips For Making The Best Oatmeal Smoothie

• Gluten free: Oats are naturally gluten free, but if you are on a strict wheat free diet then it’s recommended to use gluten free certified oats.
• Vegan: Use dairy free milk, yogurt and cheese alternatives when preparing the smoothies to make each vegan recipe. In addition, substitute any honey for a natural sweetener that does not contain animal byproducts.
• Blend the oats first! Pulse the oats in the bottom of the blender before adding any other ingredients. Essentially you can make a quick oat flour that is much easier to blend into the smoothie.
• Smoothies are best enjoyed fresh, they are not as good when prepared ahead and kept in the fridge or freezer. The smoothie will thicken when stored overnight, so add a splash of liquid and give it a quick stir to bring it all back together. In addition, you can meal prep the smoothie of ahead of time and freeze ziplock bags full ingredients. Dump the mixture into a blender and your smoothie is done in 1 minute.
• Blend for 30-60 seconds! A chunky smoothie is not as delicious as a velvety and creamy blended beverage, so blend until everything is super smooth.
• To make it thinner, add a splash milk or other liquid as needed after you have fully blended the mixture.
• To make it thicker, add a tablespoon of oats, banana, avocado, tofu, yogurt or ice as needed after you have fully blended the mixture.
• Stir in the chia seeds! If you are looking for a boba like texture inside your smoothie, then stir in the chia seeds after blending all the other ingredients. The chia seeds will swell up in tiny jelly-like balls that are enjoyable to chew on while drinking the smoothie.
• Need some ice: Ice will thicken a smoothie if you are drinking immediately, but it will start to separate your smoothie as the ice turns to water. 
• Make ahead: Store your smoothie meal prep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for about 1 month.
• Storage: An airtight container works great  for storing a prepared smoothie in the fridge, or a ziplock bag is perfect to store smoothie meal prep in the freezer.

FAQ About Oatmeal Smoothies

Let me take a moment to address some of the commonly asked questions about oatmeal smoothies. Here are answers to questions, comments and concerns asked about making oatmeal smoothies, the ingredients that go into oatmeal smoothies and also how to properly store oatmeal smoothies. 

Can I put oatmeal into a smoothie? Is it good for you?

Yes, you can put raw oatmeal into a smoothie. Adding oatmeal to a smoothie is a great way to bulk it up and make it more filling. The added benefits of oats include plant based protein, dietary fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.

Consistency is an issue in smoothie making and the oats must be pureed until completely smooth. Lumpy oats are not delicious in your smoothie, and therefore its best to pulse the oatmeal in the blender first before adding the other ingredients.

Rolled oats and quick oats work best for making a smoothie. In fact, they have been steamed and rolled on large milling equipment, therefore they are actually no raw.

The only type of oats that I would not recommend blending is raw steel cut oats. The kernels have not been milled or processed, they are extremely tough and you may actually cause damage to the blender..

Can I put raw oatmeal into a smoothie?

Oatmeal is incredibly nutritious and great for a balanced diet. Eating raw oats is absolutely fine when combined with relative amounts of liquid. Combining them with liquid makes the oats more digestible, therefore it is easier for your stomach to process the starches in the oatmeal and move it through your intestines.

I would not recommend eating a spoonful of raw oats because it is extremely difficult for your body to digest. However, when blended into a smoothie, raw oats can offer a number of benefits and are easy for your body to handle because you are providing finely ground oats with an abundance of liquid at the same time.

Pulse the oats in the blender to make a fine powder before adding the other ingredients. This will make your oatmeal smoothie much creamier.

Can I use quick oats in a smoothie? What about instant oats?

Quick oats and instant oats can also be used in a smoothie, but uncooked rolled oats are still the best option. Rolled oats are less processed thereby providing the most health benefits. 

When using quick oats, it’s still recommended to blend them into a flour before combining the other ingredients into the blender. 

Instant oats don’t need to be ground ahead of time because they are extremely fine and will blend up easily in the smoothie. Instant oats commonly contain added sugars and artificial flavors, so read the ingredients of the packaging before incorporating them into any smoothie recipe..

Is it bad to eat raw oats that haven’t been cooked?

Raw oats that haven’t been cooked can cause stomach and digestive troubles if consumed without any liquid. Overnight oats is the process of adding liquid to oats and allowing them to soften, which it turn makes them easier for your body to digest. 

Furthermore, when oats are blended and ground into a fine powder, they become more digestible. If you are concerned about having stomach issues, simply soak the oats overnight in liquid and then quickly blend them up the next day. 

Can I make oatmeal smoothies ahead of time? Are they a good meal prep idea?

Oatmeal smoothies are a great meal prep option that works perfectly when you make ahead of time. There are two easy ways to prepare oatmeal smoothies in advance. 

Oatmeal smoothies taste best when they are fresh, but they do hold well when stored in the fridge or freezer. Prepare the smoothie as normal, and store it in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for about 1 month.

Another option, is to assemble meal prep kits in ziplock bags and store them in the freezer. Grind the oats before hand to make oat flour, and then combine all the oatmeal smoothie ingredients into a ziplock bag and freeze until you need a quick meal. Throw everything into a blender, add a splash of liquid to adjust the consistency and serve up a cold blended beverage in just 1 minute.

How to store an oatmeal smoothie?

Unfortunately the issue with storing oatmeal smoothies is that there tends to be a little separation within the beverage. Solids separate from the liquids and inconsistencies arise. 

Another issue is ice melting creating another separation issue and a watery taste. The oatmeal smoothies are still drinkable, and a quick stir will certainly remedy the solution. 

Sometimes the smoothie becomes too thick because the oats soaked up available liquid. If that is the case, then add a splash of liquid, give it a quick stir and you should be back in action.

So what is the best way to store leftover oatmeal smoothie? Grab a silicone popsicle mold or ice cube tray and freeze the smoothie mixture. This delicious frozen treat can be enjoyed anytime, or you can thaw it slightly and blend it back into smoothie consistency. Choice is yours! 

Can I make an oatmeal smoothie the night before?

If you want to make an oatmeal smoothie the night before, then your best bet is to refrigerate it in an airtight container. Give it a good mix the next day to combine any separated layers back together. If the consistency is too thick, you may need to add a bit of liquid.

What is the benefit of using frozen fruit in smoothies?

Adding frozen fruit like bananas, blueberries or strawberries  to your oatmeal smoothies has a couple of fruitful benefits. Pureeing the frozen fruit gives a cool, refreshing, thick and less watered down taste compared to adding regular ice. 

As the smoothie melts, the flavor doesn’t get diluted by the water content of the ice. The smoothie melts more evenly and slowly when using frozen fruit instead of ice, therefore you can enjoy a cool refresher for a little longer period of time. 

If you don’t have any frozen fruit available, my general rule of thumb is to add 1 cup of ice for every 8 ounces of liquid. Blend it together for a cold and thick smoothie.

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