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To help you gain healthy weight, a breakfast smoothie needs to tick many boxes, like being high-calorie, rich in proteins, and having the ability to jumpstart your body when you're groggy after a night of sleep.
And that's not all.
The best high-calorie breakfast smoothies have the following characteristics:
Wondering what smoothies meet them all? Guilty, as well.
Therefore, we checked our list of weight-gain smoothies to find smoothies matching the criteria. Once we identified them, we rated each breakfast smoothie according to how well they met each characteristic.
Was the effort worthwhile? Definitely.
After all, an Australian study showed that having high-calorie fruit smoothies for your morning meals may help you end up with higher daily caloric intakes.[1]
Title: The influence of a fruit smoothie or cereal and milk breakfast on subsequent dietary intake: a pilot study
Type: journal article
Published in: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
Made at: Griffith University and Central Queensland University
Author's nugget:
I found that when I have a calorie-dense smoothie for breakfast, I hit my daily caloric target more easily. They're also great if you work out in the morning, are in a rush, or can't spend too much time in the kitchen.
Explore the recipes below ordered from highest to lowest rating.
Rating: 9.4 / 10
#1 Overall Rating
#1 Vitamins & Minerals
#2-3 Versatility
#3 Proteins
Chris Hemsworth's Secret High-Calorie Smoothie, which the actor drank to gain muscle for his role as Thor, is the best weight gain smoothie you can have for breakfast.
No wonder, since it has a solid 700 calories, the 3rd highest number of proteins among the top breakfast smoothie recipes on this list, the most vitamins and minerals, and many healthy fats to keep your energy levels up until lunch.
On top of the above, this vegan smoothie has zero added sugars and no dairy.
Also, since it contains a banana, this smoothie counts among the banana smoothies for weight gain.
In terms of flavor, the smoothie has a raspberry taste combined with notes of kale and earthy aromas coming from the pea protein powder, the almond butter, and the maca powder.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie about 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 5 minutes.
| Volume | 30.1 fl oz (890 ml) |
| Calories | 663 |
| Proteins | 41 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77 g |
| Fats | 26 g |
Rating: 9 / 10
#2 Overall Rating
#3 Vitamins and Minerals
#1-3 Morning Energy
#1-5 Texture
This High-Calorie Strawberry Banana Smoothie inspired by tennis great Novak Djokovic's diet is an outstanding breakfast idea.
Those of you bulking up will love to hear that it packs 32 g of proteins! On top, it contains a variety of micronutrients and energy for your entire morning.
Moreover, the smoothie contains both healthy fats (from almond butter) and complex carbs (from spinach). Thus, it's going to give you a steady flow of energy so you don't end up feeling sluggish by morning's end.
Regarding its flavor, the smoothie combines the banana's strong aroma with the strawberries' unmistakable scent and almond notes.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30-60 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 33.3 fl oz (984 ml) |
| Calories | 478 |
| Proteins | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
Rating: 8.9 / 10
#3 Overall Rating
#1-3 Morning Energy
#1-2 Vitamins & Minerals
#1-2 Drink and Train
Although it doesn't have as many calories as other smoothies on this list, the High-Calorie Green Protein Smoothie is a treasure of micronutrients and remains a great breakfast recipe for people bulking up. This smoothie is quick, rich in protein, and easy to digest.
Also, it contains healthy avocado fats. In addition, the smoothie carries complex carbs from spinach and celery stalks. Thus, this smoothie is one of the best ones if you're looking to rack up energy for the whole morning.
Besides, because this nut-free smoothie contains zero added sugars but both fruits and vegetables, it's a nutritious concoction filled with vitamins and minerals.
About its flavor and texture, the smoothie is easy to drink and has a refreshing taste with notes of celery and apple.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 15.7 fl oz (644 ml) |
| Calories | 411 |
| Proteins | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fats | 10 g |
Rating: 8.6 / 10
#1 Versatility
This high-calorie version of the smoothie Novak Djokovic drank at the 2015 US Open is the most versatile breakfast smoothie on this list. No matter if you're allergic to nuts, lactose intolerant, or just vegan, you're a match with this smoothie.
This recipe has 525 calories and 34 g of proteins, which makes it great for putting on muscle mass.
A couple of the smoothie's downsides are that it's based on only one fruit (bananas) and doesn't contain complex carbs that deliver a steadier stream of energy as the morning unfolds.
Still, the smoothie compensates with healthy fats and micronutrients coming from chia seeds and flax seeds.
Flavor-wise, the smoothie tastes bittersweet and has a cinnamon aroma. While bananas are hardly noticeable, note that using unripe bananas or too many flax seeds can make the smoothie too bitter.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30-60 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 25.4 fl oz (750 ml) |
| Calories | 525 |
| Proteins | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fats | 15 g |
Rating: 8 / 10
#1-3 Quick to Make
Besides being one of the quickest breakfast smoothies you can blend, the High-Calorie Blueberry Almond Smoothie helps you gain weight and build muscle because it has 434 calories, 30 g of proteins, and enough carbs to fuel your morning workout.
A limitation of this smoothie is that it doesn't contain complex carbs that would offer you energy for a prolonged time. Nevertheless, the blend still delivers a relatively steady flow of energy since it carries healthy fats coming from chia seeds.
On top of that, this smoothie has vitamins and minerals coming from 3 different types of fruits: bananas, goji berries, and blueberries.
Regarding its taste, the smoothie has a velvety texture and a flavor dominated by blueberries, which you can even smell while consuming the drink.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30-60 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 3 minutes.
| Volume | 19.7 fl oz (583 ml) |
| Calories | 434 |
| Proteins | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fats | 8 g |
Rating: 7.9 / 10
#1-2 Drink and Train
The High-Calorie Chocolate Banana Cucumber Smoothie is a great breakfast smoothie for gaining weight especially because of its practicality.
Besides packing 435 calories and 30 g of muscle-building proteins, the smoothie will energize your whole morning. This is because it contains healthy fats from hemp seeds and cocoa powder, and complex carbs from cucumber.
Besides, this nut-free smoothie contains a variety of sources of vitamins and minerals:
When it comes to downsides, this smoothie hasn't got as many calories as other drinks on our list and it's not that spectacular taste-wise.
The smoothie has a bittersweet flavor, owing to the combo of cacao and bananas, with refreshing notes of cucumber and a slight tint of mint.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 17.2 fl oz (511 ml) |
| Calories | 435 |
| Proteins | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
Rating: 7.8 / 10
#1-3 Quick to Make
#3 Taste
Waking up knowing your breakfast is this High-Calorie Pineapple Smoothie, the third most delicious smoothie on our list, is a great feeling, especially since you need only 3 minutes to finish blending it.
This vegan and dairy-free smoothie will help you gain weight and build muscle because it has 568 calories and 32 g of protein.
Besides, this smoothie will keep you energized until noon since it's made with healthy fats coming from cashews.
A little downside of picking this smoothie recipe is that it has more added sugars (20 g) than others since it's made with pineapple juice.
Yet, you'll not surpass the American Heart Association's daily limit of added sugars provided you don't eat more than 5 g of added sugars (for women) and 16 g (for men) on the days you drink this smoothie.[2]
Title: How much sugar is too much?
Type: article
Published by: American Health Association
The smoothie has a thin texture and a pleasant pineapple flavor accompanied by hardly noticeable earthy notes of cashews and rice protein powder.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 3 minutes
| Volume | 18.9 fl oz (560 ml) |
| Calories | 568 |
| Proteins | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 81 g |
| Fats | 15 g |
Rating: 7.6 / 10
#3 Drink and Train
Without a trace of protein powder, the High-Calorie Mixed Berry Smoothie is a good breakfast smoothie for gaining weight because it's delicious, has enough proteins to optimize muscle growth, and contains healthy fats coming from chia seeds that should energize your entire morning.
Besides, this smoothie is filled with vitamins and minerals from 3 types of berries, 2 types of seeds, and 2 types of dairy.
In terms of taste and consistency, the smoothie is easy to consume while featuring notes of raspberry complemented by a slight cinnamon flavor, a secondary earthy aroma released by the seeds in its composition, and a grainy texture.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated, allow for proper digestion, and start your workout energized.
Time to make: 4 minutes
| Volume | 21.74 fl oz (643 ml) |
| Calories | 453 |
| Proteins | 21 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Fats | 20 g |
Rating: 7.5 / 10
#1-2 Taste
Besides being one of the tastiest weight gain smoothies you can have for breakfast, the High-Calorie Peach Smoothie has 537 calories, a whopping 38 g of muscle-building proteins, and healthy fats coming from cashews that will keep your energy level high for the full morning.
Also, the smoothie has a lot of vitamins coming from peaches.
When it comes to taste, the smoothie comes with a creamy texture and a peachy but slightly vanilla flavor.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30-60 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 24 fl oz (708 ml) |
| Calories | 537 |
| Proteins | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64 g |
| Fats | 16 g |
Rating: 7.5 / 10
#2 Calories
While having 33 g of proteins, this High-Calorie Avocado Banana Smoothie has the second most calories on this list of breakfast smoothies designed for weight gain.
Also, this smoothie has zero added sugars but will keep you energized since it contains two sources of healthy fats, avocado and cashews.
The avocado, cashews, and banana in the smoothie will load your body with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to start functioning at its best.
When it comes to flavor, the smoothie has a banana taste toned down by the more neutral avocado aroma along with some notes of coconut.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 30-60 minutes before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 25.2 fl oz (744 ml) |
| Calories | 754 |
| Proteins | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67 g |
| Fats | 44 g |
Rating: 7.4 / 10
#1 Calories
#1 Proteins
This 1000-calorie version of our high-calorie avocado banana smoothie is the smoothie with the most calories and the highest proteins among our breakfast smoothies.
With its 1003 calories and 44 g of proteins, this smoothie counts among our selection of 1000-calorie smoothies and is one of the most efficient for those of you looking to gain weight and build muscle.
The higher fat content in this smoothie is a double-edged sword. These fats coming from avocado and cashews are healthy ones so they will keep you energized across the morning. However, the same fats can make it harder for you to reach your macronutrient goals if you are on a low-fat diet.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 5 minutes.
| Volume | 34 fl oz (990 ml) |
| Calories | 1003 |
| Proteins | 44 g |
| Carbohydrates | 89 g |
| Fats | 59 g |
Rating: 7.3 / 10
#2 Proteins
The High-Calorie Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie has the second most proteins among our bulking morning smoothies, so it can increase your ability to build muscle right from breakfast time.
Besides, since this smoothie contains peanut butter, a source of healthy fats, you should have no problem staying energized for a good part of your morning.
One of the downsides of this smoothie is that it has a little over 10 g of added sugar coming from honey, but that's well under the daily limit.
In terms of taste, the smoothie has a silky texture with a flavor that flawlessly blends the aroma of peanut butter and bananas while having just the right amount of sweetness.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 25.8 fl oz (762 ml) |
| Calories | 683 |
| Proteins | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 84 g |
| Fats | 23 g |
Rating: 7 / 10
#1-3 Morning Energy
#1-3 Quick to Make
#3 Calories
The High-Calorie Oat Smoothie is a great breakfast alternative to overnight oats and is the smoothie with the third most calories on our list while being one of the fastest to prepare.
And even though it counts among the weight gain smoothies made without protein powder, this smoothie has enough proteins to help you build muscle (24 g).
And there's more.
This smoothie will energize you for the entire morning because it contains both complex carbs coming from oats and healthy fats coming from almonds.
Besides, this oat-based smoothie has no added sugars and a variety of micronutrients.
Where this smoothie doesn't impress is taste. It has a milky but slightly crunchy texture and an oat flavor with a tint of sweetness, offered by the banana in the smoothie's composition.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 3 minutes.
| Volume | 15.7 fl oz (664 ml) |
| Calories | 728 |
| Proteins | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 110 g |
| Fats | 24 g |
Rating: 7 / 10
#1-2 Taste
Because of its delicious apple flavor and impressive caloric and protein content, the High-Calorie Apple Smoothie is one of the tastiest weight gain smoothies you can have for breakfast.
Besides, the smoothie provides energy for a prolonged time because it contains peanut butter, a source of healthy fats.
However, since this smoothie contains apple juice, which brings 24 g of added sugar, you shouldn't have anything else with added sugars if you're a woman. If you're a man, limit yourself to a maximum of 12 more grams.
In terms of taste, the smoothie has a fine texture and combines a pleasant apple flavor with notes of peanut butter.
Working out in the morning? Schedule this smoothie 1 hour before training to avoid feeling bloated and allow for proper digestion.
Time to make: 4 minutes.
| Volume | 26.3 fl oz (777 ml) |
| Calories | 594 |
| Proteins | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 88 g |
| Fats | 12 g |
If you want to use smoothies as pre-workout fuel, you should follow some guidelines to not feel bloated during training.
According to evidence related to the best timing of pre-workout meals, you should drink your smoothie between 30 minutes and 2 hours before your workouts to optimize your body's protein levels for building muscle.
Also, you should pay attention to the number of carbs in your chosen smoothie. Although they're energizing, too many carbs are going to slow you down.
To calculate how many hours before your workouts you should drink your smoothie, whether it's a 1000-calorie smoothie or a smaller one, one idea is to follow the model recommended by Marie Dunford, PhD, RD, and J. Andrew Doyle in their book Nutrition for Sport and Exercise.
Title: Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
Type: book
Book authors: Marie Dunford, PhD, RD, and J. Andrew Doyle
Here is the simplified formula:
Smoothie's total carbs ÷ Your body weight in kg
Just divide your smoothie's total carbohydrates by your body weight (in kilograms). If the result is closer to one, drink your smoothie 1 hour before your workout. If it's closer to two, drink it 2 hours before your workout. And so on.
As you may have remarked, we didn't include any 2000-calorie smoothie in this round-up of breakfast smoothies. That's because drinking a smoothie so big in the morning takes longer to digest, will impede your workouts, and may make you feel sluggish.
However, you can integrate 2000-calorie smoothies into your diet by splitting them into two, three, or four equal portions scheduled across your day.
As long as your smoothie packs a healthy proportion of macronutrients, there's nothing wrong with drinking a smoothie for breakfast every day. After all, a smoothie is just a convenient way to eat what otherwise would have been a meal.
A smoothie can certainly be a large enough breakfast. That being said, you can blend smoothies with very low calories and smoothies with huge amounts of calories. If you're trying to gain weight, aim for high-calorie smoothies with a good proportion of proteins, carbs, and fats.
Unfold Today has rigorous sourcing principles adhering to the top journalistic standards, so our writers always look for official, experienced, and first-hand sources. Read more about how we keep our content trustworthy and updated by reading our editorial process.
