This healthy papaya smoothie is super simple to make and uses only 4 ingredients. Take advantage of fresh papaya for its multiple health benefits and make this delicious smoothie for breakfast or brunch! Use homemade walnut milk and add homemade walnut butter for a protein boost!

Two papaya smoothies in tall glasses with red and white straws

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This delicious and healthy papaya smoothie has been a breakfast staple at our house for a while now, and I thought it was high time I shared it with you! It’s a super simple recipe with only 4 ingredients. It’s also really easy, and quick if you don’t count the time it takes to freeze the papaya. We love smoothies around here! If you do too, don’t forget to give our watermelon banana smoothie a try!

Like pineapple and mango, papaya is a tropical fruit. It contains high levels of antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, among other health benefits. Don’t take our word for it though. Read more about the health benefits of papaya at Nourish by WebMD.

Ingredients

This recipe takes only 4 simple ingredients, 3 if you omit the coconut extract, which is totally optional.

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk. You can substitute this easy homemade walnut milk or almond milk for an extra protein boost. Regular milk is fine as well, but it will add calories.
½ cup Greek yogurt. You can substitute frozen yogurt or a small sliced banana for a dairy free, vegan version.
½ teaspoon coconut extract. This adds delicious tropical flavor. It’s totally optional though. Feel free to omit it, if desired.
1 cup papaya. Chopped and frozen.

How to Prepare the Papaya

If you have never worked with fresh papaya before, this tutorial will show you how to select, peel, chop and freeze your papaya for this smoothie recipe.

Whole ripe, unpeeled papaya on a countertop — At the grocery store, select a papaya that is still partially green but about 50% yellow. It is ripe when it gives to a gentle squeeze. If it still feels hard, it’s not yet ripe. Allow it to ripen at room temperature for a day or two. Do not place it in the fridge.

Overhead view of halved papaya on a countertop. A spoon is scooping out the seeds into a small glass bowl. — Cut the ripe papaya in half and scoop out and discard the seeds. The seeds are safe to eat, but they’re usually tossed and not consumed.

Large pieces of peeled papaya on a cutting board. — Cut the papaya into large pieces and peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler. I found it easier to peel when it’s cut into large pieces, rather than try to peel the whole papaya. You can follow the technique that is easiest for you.

Chopped and peeled papaya on wax paper on a baking sheet. — Place a piece of wax paper inside a baking sheet, chop the papaya into 1 inch pieces, and place on top of the wax paper. Place the baking sheet in your freezer. Once frozen, you can remove the papaya from the baking sheet and store it in a freezer zip lock bag. It will keep in your freezer for up to a year.

Instructions for the Smoothie

Smoothie ingredients in a blender — **Step 1.** Add ingredients to a blender in this order: milk, yogurt, coconut extract, papaya.

Blended smoothie ingredients in a blender — **Step 2.** Blend until smooth.

Smoothie being poured into a chilled glass — **Step 3.** Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy.

Front view of two smoothies in tall chilled glasses with red and white straws

FAQs

Yes. It comes in at just under 200 calories per serving, has only 4 grams of saturated fat, and contains no added sugar. Be sure to use unsweetened coconut milk and select a Greek yogurt that contains no added sugar.

Mango, banana, and pineapple all go very well with papaya. In fact, for a vegan version of this smoothie, substitute banana for the yogurt.

Nut butter makes a great addition for extra protein. This homemade walnut butter is great, or you can go with an all natural commercial nut butter. Just be sure to look for one that has no added sugar. You can also add your favorite protein powder. Flax or chia seeds make a great addition for added nutrition.

Related Recipes

More delicious breakfast smoothies and shakes!

Overhead view of two smoothies in glasses with red and white straws

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Prep Time:10

Freezing Time:1

Total Time:12

Equipment

Blender

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
½ cup Greek yogurt You can substitute frozen yogurt or a small sliced banana for a dairy free vegan version.
½ teaspoon coconut extract
1 cup papaya Chopped and frozen.