This Pineapple Kale Smoothie recipe is a tropical take on the classic green smoothie, complete with pineapple, orange juice, banana, and kale!

The great thing about kale is you can freeze it for smoothies, so it virtually never goes bad. And the great thing about cooking up kale for two whole weeks is our freezer is PACKED with kale. The tulip-man likes to say I’m a hamster because I hoard everything (which, do hamsters even do that??), but I like to think of it as being thrifty.
These pineapple and kale smoothies (tropikale…get it?!) are the classic green smoothie’s exotic cousin. Juicy, sweet pineapple helps to counter the bitter kale, while banana makes the smoothie nice and creamy (without any milk or yogurt). Let’s blend!
Kale Smoothie Ingredients
- Kale: You can use any variety of kale here, like curly or dinosaur. Fresh and frozen both work!
- Pineapple: Use fresh, canned, or frozen pineapple. You can substitute the pineapple for other fruits, like mango, apple, pear, or kiwi.
- Banana: Banana makes this smoothie feel creamy (without the dairy). To make a green smoothie without banana, substitute it for 1/4 cup coconut milk + a drizzle of honey.
- Orange Juice: Fresh orange juice brightens up this smoothie! You can substitute just about any juice here, like apple, pineapple, or white grape.
Reader rating
“Love your kale spinach smoothie recipes. I also add a splash of vanilla, flax & cinnamon to mine…yummy! Kale & spinach are so healthy to get in & this is a great way to get an extra serving of greens. 😋” —Connie
How to blend a kale smoothie
As far as leafy greens go, kale can be much more sturdy than most. Which means it may break down differently in your blender! Here’s how to perfectly blend kale, no matter what blender you have:
- Have a strong blender? (like Vitamix or Blendtec?) Just throw everything in and blend until smooth. Strong blenders should liquify the kale leaves.
- Have a weak blender? (that you may have picked up at a yard sale 10 years ago, no judgement 😛?) Blend the kale and orange juice together first, blitzing until the kale is completely broken down. Then add in the banana and pineapple and blend until smooth.
Variations on this kale smoothie
The nice thing about green smoothies are how adaptable they are! Switch up virtually any ingredient based on what you have on hand. Here are some of my favorite modifications to this smoothie:
- Switch up the greens, using spinach or collard greens instead of the kale.
- Different fruit can be used in place of the pineapple, like apple, pear, kiwi, mango, or berries.
- No banana, no problem. Swap out the banana for 1/4 cup canned coconut milk and a drizzle of honey/sugar.
- Swap out the orange juice for another, like apple, pineapple, white grape juice, or homemade POG juice. You can also use any variety of flavorless milk here.
- Add extras to boost the nutrition in this smoothie, like chia seeds, flax seeds, protein powder, or a spoonful of nut butter.
How to make kale smoothies in advance
Meal prepping your smoothies is a great way to ensure you get your morning dose of leafy greens, even when you’re pressed for time! There are two ways you can prep this smoothie ahead of time:
- For short term storage, blend the smoothie and store in an airtight bottle in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- For long term storage, portion the kale, pineapple, and banana into freezer-safe baggies, then throw them in the freezer. When ready to drink your smoothie, toss the contents of the bag in your blender, add orange juice (you will need a little more juice to compensate for having more frozen fruit), and blend.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chopped kale 90 g
- 2 cups chopped pineapple* 330 g, frozen if possible
- 1 banana* chopped and frozen if possible
- ½ to 1 cup orange juice 120 mL to 240 mL
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding more orange juice as needed to reach a smoothie consistency (will depend on the amount of frozen fruit used).
Maya says
oh my… this sounds delicious. I also love the image of someone trying to open a coconut with a cast iron skillet!
Sarah says
Thanks, Maya! Haha and yes…it was probably quite the sight…
Cassandra says
I am so ready for this Chicago winter to be over so I can enjoy some smoothies again! Love how bright and clear and beautiful your photos are.
Sarah says
Thanks, Cassandra! I never wait for winter to end to enjoy smoothies 🙂 I just bundle up and drink them anyways!
angie says
love what is in these shakes but not for sure if I can get my hubby to drink one with me or not.
Sarah says
Kale can be a bit much for new green smoothie drinkers. Swap the kale for spinach and he won’t taste it AT ALL!
Kari says
I love sneaking kale into my smoothies for an antioxidant boost.
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Tish says
The looks awesome. What a great and healthy chilly treat.
Mama Munchkin says
I had no idea you could freeze kale. Just never really thought about it. Typically we blend our greens fresh but I must say we do waste quite a bit that way as it tends to go bad before we finish it. Totally going to switch to freezing it now! Not to mention we will be trying it in the recipe you provided too!
Sarah says
My life changed after I discovered freezing greens! I used to waste SOOO much, and now I literally freeze every soon-to-go-bad produce for smoothies (i currently have frozen beets, cabbage, kale, and spinach haha)
Rutuja Bhagwat says
So fresh! Summer vibes! x
http://www.theprettycitygirl.com/
Kusum says
Oh my looks so delicious, I love Kale in my smoothie or just about anything! Love that you included coconut in your smoothie, where I am from coconut is used on a regular basis, its so healthy.
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Sarah | Well and Full says
Hahaha I chuckled a bit at your telling of your coconut-opening misadventures. They’re damnably hard to open, aren’t they!
Sarah says
Yes!! I swear mine had no inside and was just one mass of coconut wood.
Marla Meridith says
Love this smoothie & the name!
Erin says
Would you recommend coconut water in this smoothie too? Sounds like a delicious smoothie!!
Sarah says
That would be great! The kale flavor might shine through a bit more in that case (because the OJ does wonders for balancing it out).
Jeannette says
Delicious! You were correct blended the kale and juice first and made a world of difference thank you!
Sarah says
Yay! So happy to hear it! 😀
Conni Johnson Bergo says
Love your kale spinach smoothie recipes. I also add a splash of vanilla, flax & cinnamon to mine…yummy! Kale & spinach are so healthy to get in & this is a great way to get an extra serving of greens.😋