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If you’re new to green smoothies—or just want one that actually tastes good—this is the recipe to start with. This simple green smoothie blends spinach with banana, mango, and pineapple to create a naturally sweet, tropical drink that comes together in minutes. It’s proof that healthy can be easy, delicious, and something you’ll actually want to make again tomorrow.
Table of Contents
What is a Green Smoothie?
A green smoothie is a blended drink made with leafy greens, like spinach or kale, and naturally sweet fruit such as bananas, berries, or tropical fruit. The fruit balances the flavor of the greens, creating a smooth, refreshing drink that’s easy to enjoy. Green smoothies are a quick and simple way to add more fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your day in one glass.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Everything you need to make my favorite green smoothie recipe is found in a garden, farmer’s market, or the produce section of your grocery store. I’ve found that the closer we eat to nature, the better we feel. This green smoothie recipe is a great way to start that journey.
- Fresh spinach: Baby spinach is the most mild version to use in smoothies, and also the most easy to find. I suggest using organic spinach because it’s on the Dirty Dozen List.
- Pineapple: I buy frozen pineapple at Costco in bulk to make Frozen Meal Prep Smoothie Packs. If it’s on sale, I’ll cut up pineapple and freeze it myself.
- Mango: You’ll find frozen mango next to the ice cream in the freezer section. I love how it’s already peeled and cut for you and ready to add to the blender. If fresh mango is on sale, you can always cut the mango and freeze yourself. Check out my guide on how to cut mango.
- Fresh banana: Bananas add a creaminess to smoothies that is hard to replicate. It’s magic! You can also freeze bananas to use them in green smoothies, yet the best results come from blending with a fresh, ripe banana.
- Water: The liquid base in the smoothie is water. Use filtered water to avoid any unnecessary chemicals or pollutants.
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How to Make a Green Smoothie
- Blend 1 cup of spinach in a blender with 1 cup of liquid. Blend until all leafy chunks are gone.
- Toss in frozen mango, pineapple, and bananas in the blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. If you want your smoothie to be extra chilly or possibly even turn it into a smoothie bowl, use more frozen fruit. (You can freeze your favorite fruits like ripe bananas, grapes, pineapple, or berries.)
- Add in superfoods once the smoothie is nice and creamy. Chia seeds, hemp hearts, and flax seeds are all great choices.
- In order to break down the cell walls of the plants, you need to blend at high speed. You shouldn’t have any leafy chunks or weird texture in your smoothie if your blender is powerful enough.
- Drink immediately. To get the maximum amount of nutrients from a smoothie, drink it immediately after blending it.
Recipe Tips
- Following a simple smoothie method in my How to Make a Smoothie guide helps balance greens, fruit, and liquid for a smooth, great-tasting blend. Tossing in random greens can lead to bitter flavors or a thin texture.
- Frozen fruit makes smoothies thick and creamy without ice, which can dilute flavor and strain your blender. I use a fresh banana for creaminess, plus frozen mango and frozen pineapple for sweetness.
- Invest in a high-speed blender for smoothies if you plan to make green smoothies a daily habit—it makes blending faster, smoother, and easier to stick with. A juicer or food processor won’t work to get you a creamy smoothie.
Ingredient Swaps
- Banana: You can substitute it with a quarter of an avocado.
- Mango: Swap with frozen pineapple, red apple or peaches for a fiber-rich alternative.
- Pineapple: Swap with a naval orange to get that juicy citrus flavor.
- Water: Use oat milk, almond milk, coconut water or orange juice depending on your health goals.
- Spinach: Swap for kale, Swiss chard, beet greens, or any leafy greens of your choice.
How to Store a Green Smoothie
Store your green smoothie in the fridge with an air-tight lid (ex: mason jars are great) for up to 48 hours, yet I think it tastes best if consumed within 4 hours after blending. The longer your smoothie is exposed to oxygen, the more it breaks down and the nutrients deteriorate (aka: oxidation).
Green Smoothie Add-Ins
- Protein powder: You can turn any green smoothie recipe into a meal replacement by adding a serving of my Homemade Protein Powder to the blender.
- Natural sweeteners: Increase sweetness by using more natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, bananas, or dates. A smoothie can taste like dessert without any refined sugars.
- Chia seeds: A simple way to add more healthy fats and protein is to add 2 tbsp chia seeds. It won’t alter the taste, but drink fast or it will congeal. Some recipes suggest adding almond butter, yet that’s disgusting in a tropical green smoothie
- Collagen: Unflavored collagen is a simple way to add additional protein and support gut health.
- More vegetables: Try adding 1/4 cup frozen cauliflower for a fiber boost without altering the flavor.
More Green Smoothies
Here’s some of the most popular green smoothie recipes on my blog to try next:
- My son is obsessed with this Mango Orange Smoothie recipe.
- This Tropical Kale Smoothie will surprise even the pickiest smoothie drinkers.
- I love this Glowing Green Smoothie with spinach and romaine lettuce for digestive support.
- Escape with this tropical Detox Island Green Smoothie to heal from within.
Dietary Adjustments & Substitutions
Need to accommodate a food allergy? Click the button below for tailored suggestions just for you:
Best Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup mango frozen
- 1 banana
Instructions
- Measure: Tightly pack spinach in a measuring cup.
- Add: Put spinach to blender with water. Blend together until all chunks are gone. (Should resemble green water when blended well).
- Toss: Pineapple, mango and banana to blender. I like to use frozen pineapple and mangos to chill the smoothie down and save time cutting and prepping. It’s a win-win!
- Blend: It all together until smooth and creamy. Depending on your blender, this could take as little as 30 seconds or as long as 2 minutes.
- Pour: Into a glass and serve immediately.
Video
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Try adding a serving of Homemade Protein Powder, it’s super clean and easy to make.
- Not a fan of bananas? Swap it for 1/4 avocado, additional 1/2 cup mango or 1/2 cup peaches.
- You can use 1 cup pineapple if you’re out of mango.
- Frozen fruit is recommended to chill the smoothie (and save time cutting and washing).
- Store in the fridge with a lid until ready to drink.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
You won’t be able to taste the spinach if you use the proper ratio of fruit to spinach (1½ : 1). This green smoothie recipe tastes like a mango pineapple smoothie with a hint of banana flavor.
For busy weeks, you can create Frozen Smoothie Packs that you prep on the weekend and enjoy all week, or month. It’ll only take you 5 minutes every morning to have a green smoothie ready to go. You can also blend your smoothie the night before and store it in your fridge until ready to drink.
Green smoothies are the healthiest fast food out there. Blending spinach and fruit into a smoothie is a great way to boost your immune system, increase fiber intake, and boost your energy levels. Adding kale or spinach in a smoothie has incredible health benefits with additional phytonutrients. What we eat can truly transform our body in powerful ways!
Most smoothies you buy or find online are made with just fruit and fruit juice. This makes them crazy high in sugar, which can cause inflammation and consuming excess calories. A green smoothie, on the other hand, is made with fruit and leafy greens, typically spinach or kale. They’re loaded with iron, potassium, fiber and vitamins galore.
Any blender will work, yet to get the creamiest green smoothie you’ll need a high speed blender. Check out my Best Blenders for Smoothies guide, where I reviewed countless blenders to find the best ones for green smoothies. The key is to get rid of leafy chunks, blend quickly and provide tons of value for the price. Hint: not all of them cost $400.
Best smoothie ever! Shared with my best friend and she loved it too!
Smoothies are best shared for sure, Tara!
The Ultimate Green Smoothie: A Delicious, Easy, and Exceptional Blend of Goodness!
I stumbled upon this 7 day challenge, and day 1’s green smoothie recipe that has completely revolutionized my morning routine – the best smoothie I’ve ever had! This concoction is not only incredibly delicious but also unbelievably easy to make, making it the perfect choice for busy mornings or a quick, healthy snack any time of the day. I am a medical student and I can attest this smoothie has given me so much energy to tackle the day.
The ingredients of this green smoothie are simple yet power-packed with nutrients. A blend of fresh spinach, ripe bananas, creamy avocado, and tropical mangos and pineapple creates a symphony of flavors that dance on your taste buds. What sets this recipe apart is its perfect balance – and the ability to transport you to a tropical island.
One of the best things about this smoothie is its vibrant green color, which is a visual feast for the eyes and an indication of its freshness. The smoothie’s texture is velvety smooth, and every sip feels like a indulgent treat. The combination of spinach and avocados gives it a rich, creamy consistency, making it incredibly satisfying and filling.
What truly makes this green smoothie exceptional is its health benefits. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, this drink is a nutritional powerhouse. It boosts your energy levels, provides a generous dose of essential nutrients, and helps kickstart your day on a healthy note. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to sneak in those leafy greens that are often hard to incorporate into our diets.
As for the ease of preparation, this recipe is a game-changer. With just a handful of ingredients and a Vitamix, you can whip up this green goodness in a matter of minutes. The simplicity of the recipe makes it accessible to everyone, from novice cooks to seasoned chefs.
In conclusion, this green smoothie recipe is a winner in every aspect. Its delightful taste, combined with its nutritional benefits and effortless preparation, makes it a top contender for the title of the best smoothie ever. If you’re looking for a delicious, easy, and exceptionally healthy green smoothie to add to your daily routine, look no further – this recipe is a true gem that will leave you craving more. Cheers to a healthier, happier you! To day 1 of this challenge and can’t wait to make tomorrow’s smoothie!
Ahh Tara! Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and lengthy review. So glad you’re here and loving the smoothie challenge!
Very tasty, and with the addition of cashew powder (I don’t have all the ingredients to make the protein powder recipe) very filling for breakfast!
Love that you added cashew powder, I haven’t thought to try that!
This smoothie was delicious. There was nothing in it not to love. I’m looking forward to trying the rest of them.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of the other smoothies, Gail!
Great tropical fruit flavor and creamy texture. I added a scoop of homemade plant protein powder to make it a meal.
Great idea to add the homemade protein powder in this one, Evee!
I make this smoothie on the regular… it’s so good!
This one is a staple in my house too, Kate!
I really liked this one, but my husband, who drinks smaller portion also gave it a thumbs up which says a lot.
So glad I got the thumbs up from both you and your husband, Mary Jo!
This smoothie is one of my favorites. Add my mushroom blend
Great way to start
The day ❤️
Ooohh I bet the mushroom blend was interesting in this one, Jayme!
The rating keeps disappearing when I choose another field – I’m giving this 5 stars! Delicious combination! The sweetness is great for beginners. I used a mix a coconut and plain water, kale instead of spinach, plus added hemp hearts and chia seeds. I usually also add hemp protein powder, but was out this time. I often make enough to fill 4 x2 cup jars 3/4 full, then rinse the sides of my blender container with water to fill the jars the rest of the way so I don’t lose any of the yummy goodness. I have mine for breakfast, after 2 cups of water. Hubby has his for or with breakfast. 4 jars lasts us two days, unless we have 2 jars each in one day. I try to make them the night before so it’s ready in the fridge in the morning. And is use the soapy blender water to wash my dishes. Thanks SGS for doing another free smoothie challenge – always great motivation and amazing recipes!!
Yay! Thanks for the 5 stars, Grace! So glad you’re doing the smoothie challenge with me.
Delicious smoothie! Not too sweet, and the banana doesn’t overpower the other fruit. A great start to the 7-day smoothie challenge!
So glad you’re loving the smoothie challenge so far, Sandy!
I added the avocado, and Yum, Yum! It made the smoothie, rich and creamy. Couldn’t even taste the.Spinach. Great way to start the morning!
Love that you added the avocado, Susan. It really makes it even better!
Delicious and creamy tropical green smoothie! The combination of mango, pineapple, banana and spinach is fantastic!
So tropical, right?! Like a mini vacation to me!
This is a great starter smoothie! I usually use frozen bananas but I used a fresh one and it was super creamy! Yum!
I love frozen bananas in my smoothies, yet fresh definitely makes it even creamier!
Tasty! I had frozen spinach I needed to use, and I added a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips. Voila! Green smoothie nice cream!
Yumm! Love the changes you made to this one, Tammy. I may have to try that myself!
Day one’s smoothie really was the BEST green smoothie I’ve tasted! It was so sweet & delicious. I added my lemon lime collagen for added health bet. Looking forward to another one for lunch!!!
The lemon lime collagen was perfect to add to this one, Nikole!
Just a tad sweeter than I am used to but delicious.. should have made a double batch. Added the protein, homemade version.
Love that you added the homemade protein powder to this one! If you’re looking to cut down on the sweetness, you can add less fruit and more spinach!