Green Smoothie Recipe
This sweet and refreshing, healthy Green Smoothie recipe is about to be the star of your morning routine. It’s nutrient-packed with superfoods like spinach and chia seeds, but you can’t even taste the veggies because it’s blended with coconut milk, creamy banana, fresh oranges, and tropical pineapple which add natural sweetness.
Get ready for a sip that’s not just delicious but packed with all the good stuff! It’s also very versatile (see substitution ideas below) so you can use what you have on hand to blend up a fabulous green smoothie.
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With two busy kids, we are often looking for ways to have a quick, yet healthy, breakfast (sometimes even on the go!). Some of our favorites include Overnight Oats, Steel Cut Oats, and our Smoothie Bowl recipe. If you are a fan of easy-to-make breakfasts without added sugar, that are actually filling, you have got to try my husband Vadim’s Green Smoothies!
Green Smoothie Recipe
My husband, Vadim, is the smoothie master. He introduced me to this green smoothie. There are plenty of recipes for green smoothies, but this is our favorite. I tried his creation and immediately asked him to write down the recipe because it was love at first sip. This green power smoothie is so simple to make, which is perfect for an early morning drink, or lunch on the run. Even better, it’s make-ahead friendly, and you can take a portion out of the freezer and thaw it as needed.
Why This Smoothie Recipe Works
- Easy – just 6 ingredients, toss them in the blender, and voila. No sugar added!
- Super healthy – an easy way to boost your vitamins and nutrients while filling you up, even in a hurry. This sweet treat has 2 servings of vegetables and 3 servings of fruit blended in.
- Picky-eater approved – it might be green, but it doesn’t taste green. WIN!
Ingredients
These green smoothies are seriously so simple to make. If you have a high-powered blender, you don’t need to fuss too much with chopping fruit and it’s done in less than a minute.
- Coconut Milk – You can use any milk (I prefer plant-based for smoothies), or even water, but using coconut milk adds a smooth and creamy texture, and a hint of sweet coconut flavor, and keeps this recipe dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free.
- Banana – Adds sweetness without an overpowering flavor, when blended it makes the smoothie extra creamy and smooth.
- Orange – The natural sweetness balances the spinach flavor while adding vitamin C (and additional liquid to thin your smoothie).
- Spinach – Packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, iron, and magnesium, spinach is an easy way to pack your smoothie with nutrition, and coupled with the right fruit, you (SERIOUSLY) cannot even taste it.
- Pineapple – I use frozen chunks of pineapple so there is no need to add ice cubes, which melt and water down your drink. The tropical flavor is delicious and pineapple has great nutritional benefits as well (antiinflammatory, energy boost, etc.).
- Chia Seeds (Optional) – They don’t really have a taste but do add texture, thickness, dietary fiber, and Omega-3 fatty acids to this already healthy smoothie.
Substitutions
Milk: You can use any liquid – almond milk or oat milk for creaminess, coconut water or orange juice for a tropical taste.
Fruit: Add or subtract whatever you love. Fruit balances out leafy greens so you don’t need to add any extra sugar. Try peaches, peeled apple slices, a slice of avocado, raspberries, blueberries, or mango. We always like to have at least one frozen fruit in this smoothie to make it chilled and thicken it up a little.
Leafy greens: I find spinach to be the easiest green vegetable to disguise, but kale, swiss chard are great leafy greens to use in a healthy green smoothie.
Vegetables: Cauliflower, carrots, and cucumber are all veggies that have a mild flavor and are perfect to use in a simple green smoothie recipe.
Protein: Adding one tablespoon of nuts or nut butter, such as peanut butter or almond butter, helps to thicken your smoothie and add a creamy texture. You can also add protein powder, hemp hearts, or peanut butter powder.
How to Make Green Smoothies
- Load Your Blender – Peel your fruit and place everything into a blender in the order listed, starting with the liquid and ending with the frozen fruit and chia seeds (if using).
- Blend – Push the button and blend until smooth. That’s it. It really is that simple. Pour your healthy green smoothies into two glasses (or that new Stanley cup you just got) and enjoy.
Layering Guide for Blending Smoothies
The order you add your ingredients to your blender matters! If you’re new to blending smoothies, the best advice I can give you is to layer your smoothie correctly in the blender jar. This will prevent the blender from getting stuck. Start with your liquids and end with your frozen ingredients since the frozen ingredients act as a weight to push the rest of the ingredients down. As a general guide, we add ingredients in this order:
- Liquids (water, milk, juice, yogurt)
- Powders and sweeteners (protein powder, cocoa powder, honey, agave)
- Leafy greens and soft fruit (banana, berries, avocado)
- Creamy ingredients like yogurt and nut butter
- Hard fruits or veggies (apples, carrots, beets)
- Nuts, Seeds, dried fruit
- Frozen fruit or ice
Pro Tips for Blending:
To ensure ingredients blend into a smooth and consistent texture, cut your fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces. Start gradually and blend increase to higher speeds to avoid overloading the blender motor. If you don’t have a high-powered blender and your blender doesn’t blend frozen fruit well, consider lightly thawing your pineapple before adding it.
Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Ingredients?
Use at least one frozen ingredient in your smoothies to keep the texture creamy and chilled without using ice (which waters down the flavor). I keep a giant Costco-sized bag of frozen pineapple in our freezer. It’s super affordable and great to have on hand for smoothies. During the summer and fall when pineapples and bananas are in season, buy them, chop them up, and flash-freeze them on a baking sheet until firm. Then you can bag fruit and use it throughout the coming months.
Frozen spinach is pre-washed, pre-chopped, and retains its nutritional value so keep a bag on hand in the freezer and you’ll always have your ingredients ready for any time you have a hankering for the best green smoothies. Like the frozen pineapple, frozen spinach will chill the drink which I love. Just be sure to reduce the fresh spinach measurement by half.
Common Questions
If you use chia seeds, they absorb the liquid and expand, making your smoothies thicker. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can omit the seeds or add more coconut milk or ice to thin it out.
Yes! This recipe makes two smoothies and you can also double or triple the recipe to serve an entire family, or portion your smoothie and freeze it for later.
We have tested two different high-powered blenders. For years we used the Blendtec Blender and we recently switched to a Vitamix Blender when our old blender finally broke down. The Vitamix seems to run quieter but they are both incredibly powerful and blend to perfection.
Green smoothies make a great breakfast, but they also make a great mid-morning snack to hold you over until lunchtime. It’s great as an after school snack or after your workout. Whether you’re feeling low on energy, craving a nutritious snack, or simply wanting to increase your intake of fruits and veggies, a Green Smoothie is a great choice.
Ingredients are considered “superfoods” when they are particularly nutrient-dense and healthy. The ingredients here can be considered superfoods including banana, orange, spinach, pineapple, and chia seeds.
Make-Ahead
This recipe makes two portions. Make a batch to share or store half for later.
- To Refrigerate: Pour your prepared smoothie into an airtight container and promptly refrigerator for 24 hours. Give it a good shake or stir before you drink it to redistribute the ingredients.
- Freezing: Make a batch of green smoothies for the week, or month. Divide the blended smoothies into individual serving portions. You can use ice cube trays, silicone molds, or small freezer bags. If freezing in bags, remove as much air as possible and lay flat on a tray to freeze. This makes them easy to stack and store neatly in your freezer.
- To Thaw: Refrigerate frozen portions overnight, or in a hurry, blend the frozen Green Smoothie, adding more liquid if necessary to obtain the desired consistency. You could also put the frozen portion into a blender ball cup and bring it on the go, to the office, or in the car while running around town, and it will be thawed and ready for you.
If your blender has been tucked away in a corner collecting dust, it’s time to put it to good use with this breakfast smoothie. Cheers to mornings that start with a sip of sweet, vitamin-packed, green goodness.
More Easy Smoothie Recipes
If you love our recipe for Green Smoothies, then you won’t want to miss our other delicious smoothie recipes.
Green Smoothie Recipe
This classic Green Smoothie is a superfood powerhouse loaded with fresh spinach, banana, orange, and pineapple. It is customizable but make sure to have at least one frozen fruit in this smoothie to make it chilled and thicken it up a little. The ingredients are so simple and good for you. It’s refreshing and will give you a nice boost of energy.
Servings: 2 servings
206kcal Calories44g Carbs3g Protein4g Fat
Nutrition Facts
Green Smoothie Recipe
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
Saturated Fat
Trans Fat
Polyunsaturated Fat
Monounsaturated Fat
Potassium
Carbohydrates
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
