Blender Recipes Beyond Smoothies: 12 Ways to Use Yours
Kitchen Hacks1 min read·

Blender Recipes Beyond Smoothies: 12 Ways to Use Yours

Quick Answer

Beyond smoothies, blenders can make soups (blend roasted veggies + broth), sauces (pesto in 30 seconds, hummus in 2 minutes), pancake/crepe batter, frozen desserts (banana 'ice cream'), and cocktails (frozen margaritas).

👩‍🍳
Sarah Mitchell

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Your blender can make soups, sauces, pancake batter, frozen desserts, and more. Stop using it only for smoothies.

If your blender only makes smoothies, you're missing out on 90% of its potential.

Beyond Smoothies

Soups

Blend roasted vegetables with broth for silky smooth soup. No straining needed.

Sauces & Dips

  • Pesto (basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, olive oil — 30 seconds)
  • Hummus (chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic — 2 minutes)
  • Salad dressing (any combo, 15 seconds)

Batters

  • Pancake batter — dump everything in, blend 10 seconds
  • Crepe batter — smoother than hand-mixing

Frozen Treats

  • Frozen banana "ice cream" — just frozen bananas, 2 minutes
  • Frozen margarita — ice + tequila + lime
[[RECIPE: classic-margarita-cocktail]]

Breakfast

  • [[RECIPE: blender-smoothie-5-variations]]

Blender Tips

  • Always add liquid first
  • Never fill past 2/3
  • Pulse first, then blend continuously
    • Ready to Cook?

    Recipes from This Article

    Try these hand-picked recipes we recommend in this article.

    Blender Smoothie (5 Variations)
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    Blender Smoothie (5 Variations)

    Master one smoothie formula, then make 5 different flavors. From tropical to green to berry to PB&J.

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    Classic Margarita
    0 minEasy

    Classic Margarita

    Get the Recipe

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can a blender replace a food processor?

    For liquids and purees, yes. For chopping, slicing, and dough, no. A blender is better at smoothies, soups, and sauces; a food processor is better at salsa, pie dough, and coleslaw.

    What's the best blender for cooking?

    For hot soups and tough ingredients, a high-powered blender (Vitamix, Blendtec) is best. For smoothies and basic sauces, a mid-range blender (NutriBullet, Ninja) works fine.

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