This Green Smoothie recipe is healthy, nutritious and easy to make in less than 10 minutes with just five ingredients! A simple green smoothie that is full of spinach, fiber that you can easily customize with your favorite protein powder and milk. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 with low carb and keto sweetener options.
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Updated September 2021
Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe
Nothing helps to kick start your morning like a healthy green smoothie. Green smoothies are one of my family’s favorite way to start the day especially during the summer when you want something cold and refreshing. This green smoothie is deliciously creamy and easy to make with spinach, avocado, mango and almond milk. The best part about making smoothies is that they are super simple to customize depending on what you like or have in your fridge. They are portable and perfect if your mornings are busy and you need something quick to fill you up when you’re on the go. They also work great as an after workout snack and you can prep the ingredients ahead on your Sunday meal prep!
Green smoothie benefits:
- Helps increase your daily fruit and vegetable intake
- Rich in many vitamins and minerals that support the human body’s overall health.
- If you struggle with drinking plain water, smoothies can help improve hydration
- Smoothies contain lots of fiber from the veggies and fruit and can help improve digestion
- Adding real food smoothies to your diet and avoiding process sugars and packaged foods can help you with your complexion. You may have heard lots of people that say they have noticed better and clearer skin whenever they are doing a green smoothie challenge or a green smoothie cleanse
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Check out these 5 Healthy Smoothies with lots of delicious options.
How to make a green smoothie taste good?
- Fruit to Veggie Ratio: Follow the 60% fruits to 40% veggies ratio to ease you in to the taste of green smoothies
- Greens: Always use organic greens – especially spinach as it is listed as one of the “dirty dozens”
- Order of ingredients: Always add liquid to the blender first to help make the other ingredients blend easier and quicker
- Use frozen fruit: Use a mix of frozen and fresh fruit and / or vegetables to make the smoothie cold and thick
- Taste and adjust: Taste and add more fruit / seasonings / sweeteners and liquids to your desired consistency / preference
What to put in a green smoothie
Making a simple green smoothie with no bananas is one of the easiest things since you can use whatever you have in your fridge or pantry. Swap in your favorite fruit, vegetables and other spices and add-ins you like.
This simple green drink recipe is loaded with a ton of antioxidants, vitamin-rich greens and tastes refreshing and delicious.
Main ingredients:
- Spinach – you’ll need 2 cups of spinach
- Avocado – adds creaminess and healthy fats. You’ll need half of a small avocado. If you’re not a fan of avocado, feel free to use 1/3 of a banana instead.
- Almond milk – we like unsweetened almond milk but you can use any dairy-free milk you like or have on hand.
- Frozen mango – you’ll need 1 cup. Adds fiber, vitamins and natural sweetness. For low carb, sub with ice, frozen coconut cubes or peaches for low carb / keto.
- Frozen pineapple chunks – you’ll need 1/2 cup. Sub with ice, frozen coconut cubes or peaches for low carb / keto
Optional but recommended for the best green smoothie:
- Ginger – helps digestion. You’ll need just 1 teaspoon and I promise you can barely taste it but feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
- Pure vanilla extract – makes your smoothie extra delicious
- Creamy nut butter or seed butter – adds creaminess and extra healthy fats and protein.
- Plant-based protein powder – we like Nuzest or Sprouted living for an extra serving of protein to give you extra energy anbd keep you full longer.
- Ground flax seeds, hemp seeds or chia seeds – for extra fiber and protein.
- Liquid sweetener of choice – we typically don’t add any sweetener to our smoothies but feel free to add some if you prefer your smoothies sweetener. You can use maple syrup, yacon syrup, date syrup, pure liquid monk fruit, sugar-free syrup, or pure liquid stevia.
How to make Green Smoothies
- Add ingredients to a blender: To a high-powered blender: Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender in the order as they appear starting from the almond milk. Next, add the spinach, avocado and ginger (if using). Add the frozen mango and pineapple chunks along with any optional ingredients. Feel free to add sweeteners, protein powder and any extra flavorings / spices you like.
- Blend: Blend on high until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add more liquid as needed to thin out or add more frozen fruit, ice or banana to thicken. Taste and add sweetener, if desired.
- Serve: Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh blueberries, mint and some coconut chips, if desired.
How to make a green smoothie taste good?
- Fruit to Veggie Ratio: Follow the 60% fruits to 40% veggies ratio to ease you in to the taste of green smoothies
- Greens: Always use organic greens – especially spinach as it is listed as one of the “dirty dozens”
- Order of ingredients: Always add liquid to the blender first to help make the other ingredients blend easier and quicker
- Use frozen fruit: Use a mix of frozen and fresh fruit and / or vegetables to make the smoothie cold and thick
- Taste and adjust: Taste and add more fruit / seasonings / sweeteners and liquids to your desired consistency / preference
Breakfast Smoothie Variations
Change up this easy green smoothie recipe with any add-in choices that you like:
- Water
- Coconut water
- Matcha powder or brewed green tea
- Protein powder
- Cacao powder or cocao powder
- For dairy free: almond milk, vanilla almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk or oat milk
- Ripe frozen banana (adds thickness as well)
- Water kefir
- Chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds: for added fiber and protein
- Ice cubes
Other Vegetables you can add to your smoothies:
- Leafy greens of your choice: kale
- Cauliflower – adds bulk and fiber
- Zucchini – adds fiber
- Beets
If NOT Whole30, paleo & dairy is okay:
- Plain yogurt, Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt – add to the freezer for 20 minutes and it tastes just like ice cream
- Peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower seed butter for extra added protein
- Gluten free oats for extra staying power
Make smoothie bowls and add your favorite toppings.
Optional sweetener
This green smoothie with almond milk does not contain any added sweeteners. Depending on your taste, diet and preference, you are totally free to add any sweetener of your choice:
- Maple syrup
- Raw honey
- Ripe banana
- Dried dates
- Fresh grapes
- Coconut sugar
- Low carb sweeteners: monk fruit sweetener, erythritol, SWERVE or stevia
Are green smoothies healthy?
Ever wondered does green smoothies make you gain weight?
Some fruits smoothie recipes and smoothie bowls are loaded with sugar and other unnecessary ingredients that can actually make you gain weight.
Do green smoothies help weight loss?
By using the right combination of ingredients, you can create healthy smoothies that taste good and may even help with weight loss if that is your goal.
This Whole30 green smoothie without yogurt is not only dairy free, gluten free and sugar free, it’s also low fat, Whole30 and paleo friendly.
By using the right combination of ingredients, you can create keto green smoothies that taste good and may even help you lose weight if that is your goal.
Tools and ingredients you’ll need:
High-powered blender such as a Vitamix OR Blendtec
Optional:
Mason Jar (for storing)
Silicone ice cube tray (for freezing)
More healthy smoothie recipes you will love:
25 Healthy & Delicious Smoothies
This Green Smoothie recipe is healthy, nutritious and easy to make in less than 10 minutes with just five ingredients! A simple green smoothie that is full of spinach, fiber that you can easily customize with your favorite protein powder and milk. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 with low carb and keto sweetener options.
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or any non-dairy milk, plus more as needed
- 2 cups organic baby spinach
- ½ small avocado or ¼ medium avocado, peeled and pitted (may sub with 1/3 banana)
- 1 tsp grated or peeled ginger slices , helps digestion - leave out if preferred
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks , sub with frozen peaches for low carb /keto
- ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks , sub with ice or frozen coconut cubes or more peaches for low carb / keto
- 1/2 tablespoon creamy nut butter / seed butter , optional to taste
- 1 1/2 tsps ground flax seeds , hemp seeds or chia seeds, optional to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons plant-based protein powder
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract , optional to taste
- Liquid sweetener of choice (such as maple syrup, yacon syrup, date syrup, pure liquid monk fruit, sugar-free syrup, or pure liquid stevia) , optional to taste. Leave out for Whole30
To a high-powered blender:
Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender in the order as they appear starting from the almond milk, spinach, avocado and ginger (if using).
Add the frozen mango and pineapple chunks along with any optional ingredients.
Blend on high until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add more liquid as needed to thin out or add more frozen fruit, ice or banana to thicken. Taste and add sweetener, if desired.
Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh blueberries, mint and some coconut chips, if desired.
Recipe Video
Did you try this recipe?
Melissa -
Yum, love green smoothies. We make this once a week 🙂
Elena -
Yum, love green smoothies and this was delicious! going to make it often and add some variations to spice things up. Thanks!