Best Green Smoothie Recipe

I’ve been blending green smoothie recipes since 2011—and let me tell you, this one is the one. If you’re looking to feel more energized, curb those mid-morning cravings, and sneak more leafy greens into your life (without it tasting like a salad), this is the best green smoothie to start with. The combo of juicy mango, sweet pineapple, creamy banana, and fresh spinach creates a tropical, feel-good blend that’s both delicious and nourishing.

It takes just 5 minutes to make (and 1 minute to clean up!), and it’s the easiest healthy habit I’ve ever stuck with. It’s been a top-rated recipe in my free Smoothie Challenge for years— which you should totally join, btw!

Whether you’re rushing out the door, recovering from a workout, or just need a snack that won’t leave you feeling blah, this smoothie’s got your back. Give it a blend—you might just become a daily smoothie drinker, too.

Health Benefits of a Green Smoothie

Green smoothies are a delicious and convenient way to improve your health. Packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, a green smoothie offers a wide range of benefits. Here’s a few of the benefits I’ve experienced:

• More energy from the natural fruit sugars blended so it’s easily absorbed
• I rarely get sick (my immune system is stronger thanks to the vitamins in the ingredients)
• My digestive system is happy with all the fiber and hydration
• My skin is glowing. Adding spinach to a smoothie boosts the phytonutrients and fiber, which then slows down the absorption of sugars into your body and makes it officially a “green smoothie”.
• My kids are growing strong and healthy (they’ve been drinking green smoothies since they were little as you can see from the photos below).

Ingredients You’ll Need

Everything you need to make this 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. Here’s the ingredients you’ll need:

• 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 one of the Dirty Dozen. The right ratio of spinach to fruit makes it sweet, as well as helps you reap all the health benefits of drinking green smoothies.
• Pineapple: I buy frozen pineapple at Costco in bulk to make Frozen 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!
• Water: The liquid base in the smoothie is water. Use filtered water to avoid any unnecessary chemicals or pollutants. I like using a Berkey Water Filter to filter my water.

How to Make a Green Smoothie

The only equipment you need to make this green smoothie recipe is a high-speed blender for smoothies. A juicer or food processor won’t work to get you a creamy drink you’ll want to make over and over. Check out my list of the best blenders for smoothies. Once you have a high-speed blender, you can successfully make the best green smoothie recipe by following the steps below.

1. Blend 1 cup of spinach (or other leafy greens of your choice) in a blender with 1 cup of liquid. Blend until all leafy chunks are gone.
2. 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.)
3. Add in superfoods once the smoothie is nice and creamy. Chia seeds, hemp hearts, and flax seeds are all great choices.
4. 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 in your smoothie if your blender is powerful enough.
5. Drink immediately. To get the maximum amount of nutrients from a smoothie, drink it immediately after blending it. The longer your smoothie is exposed to oxygen, the more it breaks down and the nutrients deteriorate. This is called oxidation. To minimize this, you can store your smoothie in the fridge with an air-tight lid for up to 48 hours, yet I think it tastes best if consumed within 4 hours after blending.

Best Green Smoothie Recipe 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: If you are wondering how to make a smoothie sweeter without processed sugar, explore my list of natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, bananas, or dates. 
• 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.
• Collagen: Unflavored collaged is a simple way to add additional protein and support your gut health.
• Banana swaps: Don’t care for bananas? You can substitute it with a quarter of an avocado.
• Mango swaps: If you don’t have any mango, a full cup of frozen pineapple or peaches will work.

4.85 from 1941 votes

Best Green Smoothie Recipe

Power up your morning with this quick and delicious green smoothie recipe. It blends sweet mango, creamy banana, and vibrant spinach for a 5-minute boost of energy and nutrients.

Print Pin Rate

Prep: 3 minutes mins

Cook: 2 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Author: Jen Hansard

Course: Smoothie

Cuisine: Plant-Based

Serves: 1

Ingredients  

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• ▢ 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.

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Equipment

• high-speed blender

Video

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

Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 38mg, Potassium: 818mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 3829IU, Vitamin C: 88mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 1mg

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6 More Green Smoothie Recipes

Once you try the recipe below, you’re gonna want more green smoothie recipes. It happens every day in my inbox! I love it! Here’s some of the most popular ones on my blog to try next:

1. My son is obsessed with this Mango Orange Smoothie recipe.
2. Try this vitamin-C packed Blueberry Spinach Smoothie to recharge the body.
3. Boost your metabolism with these Fat-Burning Smoothies For Weight Loss.
4. This Simple Kale Smoothie will surprise even the pickiest smoothie drinkers.
5. I love this Glowing Green Smoothie with spinach and romaine lettuce for digestive support. 
6. Escape with this tropical Detox Island Green Smoothie to heal from within.