As a chef and busy food writer, I’m no stranger to the challenge of juggling multiple tasks in a small kitchen. When you’re cooking on a tight schedule, you find yourself craving a multitasking appliance: one that can handle everything from chopping to blending, without dominating your kitchen counter or costing an absolute fortune.
Luckily, such a thing exists. The best blender/food processor combos unite dicing, slicing, blending, blitzing, and more into one clever appliance. So, naturally, I enlisted the help of our expert testers to find the best option out there. We all agreed that these needed to be worthy of a position in our best blenders buying guide as well as our best food processors list. There shouldn't be any compromises.
It's a pretty small market and there aren't tons of options, but we managed to test eight different blender-food processor combos. It took over 40 hours and a whole lot of smoothies, sofrito, and sauces to find the ones worth reporting on.
After all that testing, our top pick is the Ninja Professional Plus which is ideal for large families of smoothie drinkers, as well as being versatile and excellent value for money. However, if you need something more compact, professional, or budget-friendly, there’s something here for every kind of home cook.
The quick list
If you want to take a quick look at our top picks for the best blender food processor combo, these are the headlines. If you want to find out more, keep scrolling. We'll dive deep into the details further below.
This boasts some serious power and capacity. It was faultless across all our tests. If you want an appliance that can do it all and not cost the earth, look no further. Just note, this is huge.
If you don't have a tall cupboard for a big appliance, this option could suit you. The food processor is powered by a stick blender, so there's no chunky base. It comes with lots of accessories, like whisks, dough hooks, mini choppers, and mashers.
It's sleeker, slightly smaller, and better-looking than the Ninja, with a touchscreen interface and generous capacity. But it struggles with smaller quantities, and it's more expensive.
If you've got a smaller budget, this is the one to buy. It's petite and surprisingly effective, so you can use it for everything. It feels flimsy, so be careful with it.
The Vitamix makes professional-level smoothies, soup, crushed ice, and nut butters. You can add a food processor attachment for chopping to harness that built-in power. But all together, it's wildly expensive.
Best overall
This is a spacious, powerful, excellent value machine – and it flew through our tests. It's best suited for bigger families, thanks to the enormous 72 oz pitcher and 64 oz food processor, but if you want to make single servings, there are also two 24-ounce travel-sized bullets.
First, let's talk about the blender tests. Our tester, Millie, made some creamy smoothies that rivaled the best blenders on the market. At 1400 watts, it's seriously powerful. The only flaw was some seeds behind in our berry smoothie test – but frankly, we have very high standards. It was also impressive across soups and ice cones.
As a food processor, Millie labeled this 'faultless'. She tested everything in it, asking the Ninja to chop zucchini, celery, and carrots and grate cheese. Millie says: 'Every ingredient was evenly blitzed using the double-layered blades. I thought that the Auto-IQ settings were excellently timed with differing strengths and intermediate pulsing. My only complaint was that it's on the noisy side.'
In terms of cleaning, all removable attachments (the lids and blending cups to the blades and slicing disc), can go through the dishwasher. If you plan on using it on a regular basis, Mille reports that is also easy enough to clean by hand.
But before you invest, it's worth evaluating your kitchen space. The large attachments need some spacious cupboards to be stored neatly away in, especially because the lids only lock into place when the attachments are on your base. Just remember, this is two appliances in one, so you're probably saving space overall.
Our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ review has more details
Most versatile
When thinking about the best blender food processor combos, stick blenders, might not have sprung to mind. However, if you're short on space and looking for a hard-working appliance, this is an incredible investment. The Braun comes with a 2-cup chopping beaker and attachments for blending, whisking, mashing, chopping, pureeing, dough kneading, and ice-crushing. It's truly unbelievable.
We particularly loved the blending wand, which is flexible, easy to control and gets into the tightest corners. We used it to make the smoothest pea soup, with chunky onions, mint and pea skins disappearing into nothing. This earned the Braun a spot in our best blender buying guide as the best blender for baby food.
The food processor isn't baby-sized, however – it is 8 cups which matches the Ninja model at the top of this guide. However, it feels much smaller on the counter, since it's powered by the slender stick blender rather than a chunky motor base. Our tester Mille used the processor to chop onions. She said: ' They were completely blitzed virtually instantly, but when we went in with a spoon I found that it was almost reduced to mush. I didn't realize it would be so powerful. I should have used a lower setting!'
This kit also comes with a mini chopper. We used it to make a very smooth pesto, with a true sauce-like consistency and no trace of large chunks of garlic or pine nuts.
The downsides? The blender is handheld, so you do have to do a little manual work to get those ultra-smooth results. Plus, our tester Millie felt that the food processor chopping bowl and blades were flimsy in comparison to some of our top options, like the Ninja and Nutribullet above. However, if you lack tall cupboards and pantries for those kind of large appliances, the Braun is your best bet.
You can read more in our Braun MultiQuick Immersion Hand Blender review
Best design
If you’re after a kitchen appliance that blends power with sophistication, the Nutribullet is a standout. The sleek and shiny design combines blending and food processing into one modern device – complete with a light-up digital timer and touchscreen for total control.
Our small appliances tester, Laura, tested it on smoothies, soups, dips, and even ice cones. She says, 'The razor-sharp blades and powerful motor delivered fantastic results every time. I also loved the single-serve cups in small and medium sizes – which were perfect for prepping on-the-go drinks.' It's worth mentioning, all the attachments are dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up.
The food processor is also impressive, chopping, shredding, and pureeing large quantities with ease. However, Laura says, 'It faltered on smaller quantities. The food processor is so big that when I added one small onion, it rolled around and didn't get thoroughly chopped.' We agreed that if you primarily need a processor for small tasks, this isn't the ideal fit. The Ninja Professional Plus above is slightly more consistent, since the blades sit at different levels, meaning that it achieves more thorough results, even as the bowl fills up.
Also, it's more expensive than the Ninja. It's the priciest option on this list. However, if you prioritize sleek design, you have the space and the family demand for a large appliance, it’s still a worthy investment. It's definitely one to shop in the sales.
Read my full Nutribullet Triple Prep review for more details
Best budget
Our tester, Laura, thinks that this is one of the most overlooked appliances on the market. She says, 'Ask any appliance expert or reviewer and they'll tell you that it's the industry's best kept secret. That's why I'm shouting about it.'
Magic Bullet are part of the Nutribullet family, so you'll get to enjoy those iconic, travel cups with this kitchen system. Even though the base is small, this can pack some serious power. It blended great smoothies, hummus, and guacamole in our tests, but struggled to whizz up ice. If you like ice cones and frozen cocktails, this isn't the one for you.
Laura liked it so much, she even took it home after testing. She says, 'The food processor was one of the most used appliances in my kitchen before my family stole it when they came to stay. It's compact, with an oddly shaped feeding chute (you'll need to cut veg and cheese very specifically if you want to use the slicing and grating discs). The bowl's capacity is small, so you could chop a large onion, two carrots, and a whole cucumber, but that's about it.
For under $50, this is incredible value. However, it's not as durable as the other options on this list. Laura says, 'The plastic build feels a little cheap and my family (since stealing this from me) have dropped theirs on the floor and chipped off the edge. However, it's still an appliance that they rave about, so that says it all. As for me, I'll be buying a replacement one ASAP.'
There's more detail in our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review
Best for professionals
The A3500 Ascent Series is the brand's star appliance, which can make everything from silky smoothies and soups to perfect ice cones, frozen cocktails, nut butter, and more. It's a winner for professionals, recipe developers, or keen foodies.
I'm a trained cook myself and when I tested this blender, I was blown away by the power and ease. I couldn't find a trace of fruit skins, seeds, or stems in the smoothie tests. Plus, when I used it to cook – I repeat cook – tomato soups and sauces, I found they were piping hot and velvety within ten minutes. It's truly outstanding, earning the well-deserved title as our best blender 2025.
To turn it into a food processor, you need to add the 12-cup Food Processor Attachment which will set you back another $250. That's a lot of money, but if you already have the blender, it's a genius way to avoid buying a separate hefty food processor unit. You'll save on counter space and maximize on that Vitamix power and quality.
We haven't run the attachment through our extensive tests in the kitchen yet, but it has very high-scoring customer and professional reviews, so we wanted to include it. One Amazon reviewer said: 'The food processor attachment turned tomatoes, cilantro, onion and jalapeños into a uniform mix, perfectly chopped. I also found it to be easier to clean than previous food processors I've used.'
Are there any faults? Well, yes. I found the blender pretty noisy and it can't go in the dishwasher (you have to use the self-clean mode), so if those are bugbears you might prefer a less powerful option above. We actually took our time deliberating over whether this combo is worth the $900 price tag. That's a lot of money for a blender and food processor. Our conclusion was this: if blending quality is your main concern, you can't do better than the A3500 Series. With proper care, you won't have to buy another blender for the next 10 years or more (even after daily professional use).
Our full Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender review has more details
How to choose
When selecting a blender-food processor combo, you need to think beyond the basics. It’s not just about blending and chopping – it’s about efficiency, versatility, and durability in the kitchen. Here’s what to consider:
Versatility: A good combo appliance should be a true multitasker. Look for attachments that you need, like graters, slicers, whisks, and even juicers, if you like that sort of thing. If you like frozen cocktails, look for ice-crushing capabilities, too. Only pay for what you'll actually use – if you’re just making smoothies and occasional sauces, a simpler model will do.
Capacity & Size: Consider both the volume you’ll be working with and where you’ll store it. A large-capacity processor (7+ cups) is ideal for prepping big batches, but make sure it fits your counter or cabinet space. If you’re tight on room, a compact model with attachments that slot into a drawer might be better.
Power: The power rating matters. If you're crushing ice or turning vegetables into thick purées, aim for at least 1000 watts. For lighter tasks like chopping herbs or making vinaigrettes, 600 watts should suffice. Underpowered machines struggle with tougher ingredients, leading to uneven textures and burnout over time.
Durability & Build Quality: Plastic components may be lighter and cheaper, but they wear down faster. If you're using this appliance daily, look for BPA Tritan plastic and stainless steel blades—they're more durable and often easier to clean. Also, check warranties – good brands stand by their products.
Cleaning: If you dread washing up, look for detachable blades, smooth surfaces and dishwasher-safe signs.
Cost vs. Value: Price matters, but think about value over time. A cheap model might seem like a steal, but if it struggles with basic tasks or breaks within a year, it's probably not worth it. You might even prefer to invest in a reliable, time-tested blender and separate processor, if you plan to use them every single day for a long time.
How we test
When evaluating the best blender-food processor combos, we treat each function—blending, processing, and additional attachments—as if they were standalone appliances. That means rigorous, real-world testing to ensure that you’re getting a product that performs exceptionally in both categories.
Blender Tests
- Berry smoothie A mix of large frozen berries, chia seeds, oats, bananas and leafy green spinach tests the blender’s ability to handle fibrous textures, frozen fruit, and seeds without leaving chunks.
- Soup: A blend of root vegetables, stock, and white beans helps us evaluate how well the blender turns chunky ingredients into a smooth, creamy consistency. We also add bright spices, like cumin and turmeric, to see if there is any staining (more common on cheaper appliances).
- Crushed ice: If the appliance can handle it, we crush ice in search of fine, powdery textures – ideal for snow cones and cocktails. If a blender leaves behind uneven chunks, it’s a sign of weak power or poorly designed blades.
Food processor tests
- Hummus: A food processor should achieve a smooth, velvety hummus out of raw chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, and tahini – without the need for excessive scraping.
- Guacamole: We love testing dips in the test kitchen. Guacamole is a classic. The balance of chunky and creamy textures is key – aggressive processing turns it into a purée, while weak processing leaves large, uneven pieces.
- Chopped onions/Sofrito: We check for evenly chopped onions and carrots without turning them into mush. We test multiple onions, then we try a singular shallot to see how well the processor handles small and large quantities
- Grating cheese and carrots: We test with both carrots and cheese to see if the grating disc delivers clean, uniform shreds without clogging or jamming. If it's effective, this can be such a time-saver in the kitchen.
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