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This green smoothie is the perfect quick and easy breakfast, post-workout refreshment, or nutrient-dense snack. With a creamy banana base, fiber-rich greens, and a naturally sweet fruit blend, it’s as delicious as it is energizing. Whether you prefer dairy or juice, this smoothie is fully customizable, making it a kid-friendly, plant-based option that works for any taste!
save this recipe!Your new morning ritual
Let’s all admit it…sometimes it’s a struggle to get in as many veggies as we know we should. That’s where green smoothies come in! They’re the perfect way to get a healthy dose of nutrients without much fuss.
But there is an art to making a green smoothie. Not everyone is accustomed to throwing a salad’s worth of spinach into a smoothie. Luckily, I’ve developed a foolproof formula. Let’s blend!
- Naturally Sweet & Balanced: No weird “grassy” taste, just a smooth and creamy texture with tropical fruit flavors.
- Fast & Easy: One step, 5 minutes, and no cooking required!
- Totally Customizable: Keep it dairy-free, protein-packed, or extra creamy with simple swaps.
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Grab These Ingredients
The nice thing about green smoothies is you can adjust them to whatever you’re craving (or whatever you have stocked in your kitchen). This is just an overview – jump to the recipe card for the full instructions and measurements!
- Fresh Spinach (or Kale): Adds a fiber-rich, vitamin-packed boost without an overpowering taste.
- Banana (Frozen): Creates a thick, creamy base and adds natural fruit sweetness. Swap for ½ cup yogurt if preferred!
- Milk or Juice: Dairy or juice options allow for different flavors and textures. Try almond milk, oat milk, or orange juice!
- Chopped Fruit: Choose from pineapple, mango, apple, berries, pear, or kiwi for a bright, tropical flavor.
Smoothie Enhancers
Want an extra nutrition boost? Add chia, flax, or hemp seeds for plant-based protein and healthy fats!
Customize It
One of the best parts about making a green smoothie is switching it up to make it feel like a completely new beverage. Here are some customization options to make it your own:
- Superfoods: Cinnamon, cocoa powder, goji berries, or acai powder.
- Protein Powder: Vanilla is my favorite, but chocolate or mixed berry flavors work well, too!
- Flavor Enhancers: Think vanilla extract, fresh ginger, or turmeric.
- Sweeteners: If you have a sweet tooth, try adding a drizzle of maple syrup or honey to your smoothie.
Smoothie Tip
For a thicker smoothie, use frozen fruit or add a handful of ice cubes! (I always keep my freezer stocked with frozen fruit to throw into smoothies at a moment’s notice.)
More Green Smoothies!
Foolproof Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, can also use juice
- 1 cup fresh spinach, can also use kale
- 1 banana (frozen), can also use ½ cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup chopped fruit, like pineapple, mango, apple, berries, pear, or kiwi
Optional Additions
- 1 Tbsp chia, flax, or hemp seeds
- ½ tsp cinnamon, vanilla, or honey
Instructions
- Blend 1 cup milk, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1 banana (frozen), and 1 cup chopped fruit in a blender until smooth. Add your desired additions and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Chia and flax seed to tag the Omega 3s. Great idea. People who.havent tried your green smoothie ideas just don’t understand how easily the taste of spinach is masked by other things. Have,you tried bagged frozen spinach? Not the blocks,
I didn’t know you could buy frozen spinach in any form other than cubed! I’ll have to try that, might make the smoothie extra icy 🙂
You have lived in Europe for a while as cubed spinach isn’t a thing in the USA. There are some frozen chopped varieties in the USA. I think the cubes are a German thing, but they work great and like your chop the bananas into seven pieces idea, the cubes make an easy measuring device. I think many people can’t get around the color of veggie smoothies. The taste can be great. Like yours!
I wonder, do you know how much fresh spinach is in frozen spinach blocks?
Loved your beginner’s smoothie, I’ll be making it for a mid afternoon snack today 🙂 green juice is new to me and I am testing out a few recipes to see which ones I like best. Yours seems yummi 🙂
So happy to hear, Daniela! Let me know how it goes! If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to my Eatmail where I send free weekly smoothie recipes, in case you need more inspiration 😀
Sara, the smoothie was amazing!! Even my boyfriend liked it and he is not a big fan of greens!
I’m happy to say that this will officially be my “go to” smoothie! And I have subscribed 🙂
Have a nice week 🙂
Yay I’m so glad you liked it!! Such a great way to sneak in those greens 😉
I’ve tried frozen spinach in a smoothie once…never again. Fresh is great! Frozen…you taste it. At least I did.
Ah yea, I guess you probably get quite a bit more spinach if you use frozen so the taste can be too strong. I love using fresh!
We always seem to have tea left over in the tea pot. Some times peppermint and sometimes green tea. So instead of water I use the left over tea instead of dumping it out. works
fine.
That’s such a great idea, John!
for the first time I tried to make a green smoothie before I read yours.
I used fresh baby spinach & arugula, orange juice, vanilla yogurt, frozen veg.
& honey. I.’m not keen about it I thing the arugula may be strong different taste should I put strawberries or blueberries in it I need iron is this a good way.
Hi Joan! Rather than adding frozen veggies try adding frozen fruit (like strawberries or blueberries) which will make the smoothie taste great. Then just add a LOT (2 or three big handfuls) of fresh spinach, which is packed with iron and has very little taste in a green smoothie.
I love this idea. I am going to try it and am sure it’s going to taste great. Meanwhile v subscribed to your Eatmail. Thanks for this piece
So happy to hear!! Welcome to the Eatmail fam 🙂
Fresh spinach may be packed with iron, but it also has something in it that binds the iron so that it is not absorbed. But there are other vegetables with iron.
Thanks for pointing that out, Nancy! True, oxalic acid in spinach binds to some of the iron in spinach. But there are ways to make the iron more available, such as eating the spinach together with vitamin C (like orange juice and fruit in your smoothie). You can also steam or microwave the spinach to make the iron more bioavailable! 😀
Can u recommend a blender other than nutri system?
Thk u.ready to get started.
Have 9 grandchildren and hope to help them focus at school w a healthy brain & body.
👍
Obviously this machine will b multitasking!
Unless- u don’t recommend multi purpose use.
Thx
Hi Susan! I personally LOVE my Vitamix (https://amzn.to/2tdk9rr). It’s heavy duty and can handle smoothies as well as nut butters/soups etc. I’ve also had a lot of success with a blender/food processor combo like this (https://amzn.to/2MWQ34s), which has basically infinite uses. Hope this helps!