Weight Gain Smoothies and Shakes: Healthy Recipes

weight gain smoothies and shakes
Published: September 8, 2026
Last Updated: September 14, 2026

Weight Gain Smoothies and Shakes are a convenient way to rise calorie and nutrient intake if you are looking to pack on the pounds. They are mainly useful if you have a diminished appetite or have worry eating big meals.

You do not have to load up a weight gain smoothie with sugar. Balanced drinks can be made with fruits, oats, nut butter, seeds, milk or yogurt, and other healthy ingredients. These foods may offer a single drink of carbs, protein, healthy fats and calories all at once.

Are Smoothies Good for Weight Gain?

are smoothies good for weight gain

Yes, smoothies may be useful in gaining weight if you consume more calories than your body needs to uphold your level of weight.

This is because you can have manifold healthy foods together in a glass.

To gain weight healthily, consider using these ingredients:

  • Whole milk
  • Greek yogurt
  • Bananas
  • Mangoes
  • Oats
  • Peanut butter
  • Almond butter
  • Dates
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Avocado
  • Unsweetened cocoa
  • Cottage cheese

Including whole milk with the water or nut butter, oats or seeds can go a long way to addition calories if wanted.

Best Weight Gain Smoothie Recipes

Here are some simple groupings you can make at home.

SmoothieMain Ingredients
Apple Cinnamon SmoothieApple, oats, milk, peanut butter, cinnamon
Date Nut SmoothieDates, milk, almonds, banana
Berry Oat SmoothieBerries, oats, yogurt, milk, almond butter
Avocado Banana SmoothieAvocado, banana, milk, yogurt
Chocolate Peanut SmoothieMilk, banana, peanut butter, cocoa
Mango Yogurt SmoothieMango, whole milk, yogurt, dates
Banana Oat SmoothieBanana, milk, oats, peanut butter

High-Calorie Smoothies for Weight Gain

A high calorie smoothie can be helpful. If you have an improved energy demand but are not mainly hungry for a large amount of food.

Experiment by mixing together a few calorie-rich ingredients like:

  • Whole milk
  • Banana
  • Oats
  • Peanut butter
  • Dates
  • Greek yogurt
  • Avocado
  • Almond butter
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts

Example High-Calorie Smoothie

Blend:

  • 1 large banana
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup oats
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 dates
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • A little cinnamon

Blend until smooth. You can add more milk if the drink is too thick.

Calories can vary depending on the brands and quantities of ingredients. When counting calories, read calorie information on ingredients.

High-Protein Smoothies for Weight Gain

Protein is essential if you are looking to grow and build muscle while putting on weight. Protein smoothies are a simple method to get protein in your diet.

Smoothies made with the following ingredients are good sources of protein:

  • Greek yogurt
  • Milk
  • Cottage cheese
  • Soy milk
  • Tofu
  • Peanut butter
  • Almond butter
  • Chia seeds
  • Hemp seeds
  • Oats

Simple High-Protein Smoothie

Mix together 1 cup of milk, half cup of Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon of oats and half a banana.

Protein powder is optional, but can be added if required in your diet. When paired with other parts of a well-balanced diet, whole foods can offer ample protein.

For building muscle, combine the smoothie with a balanced diet and strength training.

Banana Smoothies for Weight Gain

Banana is one of the simplest and simplest fruits to use in a weight gain smoothie. They are sweet, abundant and work great with milk, yogurt, oats and nut butter.

Easy Banana Weight Gain Smoothie

Use:

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • ¼ cup oats
  • A teaspoon of cinnamon powder
  • Blend until smooth and creamy.

If desired, you can also add some dates to sweeten the dish, or cocoa powder for a chocolate taste.

Adjust sizes and ingredients for smoothies for kids according to their age and specific nutritional requirements.

Peanut Butter Smoothies for Weight Gain

Peanuts butter is a simple ingredient which is a source of calorie, fat and some protein in a small quantity.

A simple peanut butter smoothie can consist of:

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • ¼ cup oats
  • Cinnamon or unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • Blend until smooth.

You may substitute peanut butter with almond or cashew butter. Use an alternative to nuts that you cannot have an allergy to if you are allergic to nuts.

A great tip is to use peanut butter in an already made smoothie, instead of making a new smoothie from scratch. If you already like a banana milk smoothie, for instance, the addition of a spoonful or two of peanut butter will make it a higher calorie smoothie.

Oatmeal Smoothies for Weight Gain

Yet another tip on smoothies, oats are a great ingredient to use! They are a source of carbohydrates and fibre, and can thicken and bulk up a smoothie.

Mix the following ingredients together for an oatmeal smoothie:

  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • Cinnamon

Take the ingredients and puree them.

Add a bit more milk if the smoothie is too thick. If desired, soak the oats for a short period of time before blending to achieve a smoother consistency.

Apples, berries, dates, mangoes, cocoa, walnuts, and chia seeds. All are good choices of ingredients to combine with the oats.

Weight Gain Shakes Without Protein Powder

weight gain shakes without protein powder

Protein powder is not essential for a healthy weight gain beverage. Other foods that can deliver protein include milk, yogurt, nuts, seeds, oats and nut butters.

Make a quick shake:

Oats + peanut butter + Greek yogurt + milk + banana

Or try:

Please note that the recipe above uses milk, almonds, dates, yogurt and banana.

Soy milk and Tofu can also be used to make smoothies for a vegetarian choice. These can help to make a drink more protein-packed without relying on a commercial protein supplement.

It’s important to consider your overall diet. A single smoothie isn’t meant to be a complete meal in itself and shouldn’t be meant to replace every bite of protein or calories you take in a day.

Vegetarian Weight Gain Smoothies

Vegetarian smoothies are a healthy and high calorie diet.

Some good combinations are:

  • Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie
  • Mix banana, whole milk, peanut butter and oats together.

Mango Yogurt Smoothie

  • Spread of mango and whole milk and yogurt and dates

Chocolate Oat Smoothie

  • Milk + oats + banana + cocoa + almond butter
  • Make sure you try this Berry Greek Yogurt Smoothie!
  • Berries, Greek yogurt, milk, oats and chia seeds.

Date Almond Smoothie

  • Almonds + banana + milk + yogurt + dates
  • Instead of dairy, use soy milk, soy yogurt, tofu, nut butter, seeds and plant-based alternatives to make a plant-based option.
  • If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, try using a variety of protein instead of relying on smoothies throughout the day.

When to Drink a Weight Gain Smoothie

The best time to drink a weight gain smoothie is never.There’s no right or wrong time to drink a weight gain smoothie. When it works best for you to accomplish your nutrition goals, that is when it’s best.

With Breakfast

A smoothie can be served as part of breakfast if you have a small breakfast.

Between Meals

Snacking on a mid-morning or afternoon smoothie is a good way to get extra calories without over-indulging at the main meal.

After Exercise

Carbohydrates and protein are included in a smoothie which can be a good post workout smoothie if you have a long time until your next meal.

Before Bed

Some people like to make a smoothie out of milk in the evening. If you are looking for extra calories with out eating another full meal, this may be helpful.

If the smoothie suppresses your appetite, avoid having a very large drink before a main meal. It’s not about making eating the rest of your meals more difficult, so much as providing an added boost in nutrition.

The NHS recommends gaining weight gradually by adding nutritious calories to your daily diet. Foods such as dairy, nuts, seeds, beans, and other protein-rich choices can help increase calorie intake while supporting a balanced eating pattern.

Final Thoughts

Weight gain smoothies and shakes are an excellent way. It make easier to get additional nutritious calories in your day. Simple drinks can be made into a more stable and calorie dense meal by adding elements like whole milk, yogurt, bananas, oats, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, and dates.

Try one smoothie per day and observe how you feel and how your appetite and weight will change. When weight loss is unexplained or bowel issues persist, very low appetite or poor weight gain, consult with a doctor or registered dietitian for individual guidance.