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).

RecipesQueen Editorial

Tested & verified in our kitchen

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.

Featured Recipe

Blender Smoothie (5 Variations)

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

0 minEasy

Get the Recipe

0 minEasy

Classic Margarita

Get the Recipe

Save This for Later!

Pin this article to Pinterest so you can find it whenever you need it.

Save to Pinterest Follow @recipesqueenofficial

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.

Keep Reading