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This best green smoothie recipe is the one I hand to friends who want to start somewhere. It blends spinach with mango, pineapple, and banana, so your first glass tastes like a tropical smoothie.
I didn’t start drinking green smoothie recipes because I loved kale. I started because mornings were chaotic and I needed something fast and nutritious. This one took five minutes, and I could blend it while packing lunches. Then it became the habit that stuck.
Table of Contents
What is a Green Smoothie?
A green smoothie is a blended drink of leafy greens like spinach, sweet fruit, and a liquid such as water. The fruit balances the greens, so a beginner-friendly version tastes like the fruit, not the vegetable. Smoothie shops often charge $6 to $8 for one, but you can make this one at home for about $2.50.
Why this Recipe is the Best
- It tastes like fruit. The recipe uses more fruit than spinach, so mango, pineapple, and banana lead the flavor.
- It blends silky smooth. Blending the spinach and water first breaks down every leaf. That way, the texture never turns gritty.
- It suits beginners. You need four whole-food ingredients plus water, one blender, and five minutes.
- It’s top-rated. Readers have rated it 4.89 out of 5 with over 2,000 ratings.
- It’s plant-based. This green smoothie is dairy-free, with no added sweetener.
Ingredient Notes
Everything in this green smoothie comes from the produce section or the freezer aisle. Here’s a quick breakdown of why I use each ingredient.
- Fresh spinach: Baby spinach is the mildest green for smoothies, so it adds color without a strong flavor.
- Frozen pineapple: It brings tropical sweetness and a little tang. It also chills the smoothie without watering it down.
- Frozen mango: It arrives peeled and cut, and it makes the texture thick and creamy. If fresh mangoes are on sale, cut and freeze them yourself.
- Fresh banana: A ripe banana adds creaminess and natural sweetness. Frozen bananas work too if you want a colder sip. If you don’t like bananas, try my Spinach Smoothie, which uses peaches instead.
- Water: It keeps the flavor clean, so the fruit tastes like itself.
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How to Make a Green Smoothie
- Blend the spinach and water first, until every leafy chunk disappears. This two-step method keeps the smoothie silky instead of gritty.
- Add the mango, pineapple, and banana, then blend on high until creamy. A high-speed blender breaks down greens fastest, but any blender works with extra time.
- Drink it right away for the brightest flavor and color.
When Should I Drink a Green Smoothie?
Drink it whenever you will actually make it. That said, mornings suit most people, because this takes just five minutes. Green smoothies make quick breakfast smoothies for busy days. However, the base has only 3g of protein. Add protein powder or chia seeds if you want it to fill you up.
Green smoothies also work as an afternoon snack or after a workout. I skip them right before bed.
Ingredient Swaps
- Banana: An avocado quarter lowers the sugar, keeps the smoothie creamy, and adds a little fat. Leaving the banana out makes it thinner and less sweet.
- Mango: Pineapple, red apple, and peaches all have less sugar than mango, so the smoothie tastes lighter and less sweet. Pineapple adds tang, apple adds a crisp, lightly tart note, and peaches taste mild.
- Pineapple: A navel orange adds brighter citrus flavor and more fiber. It tastes less tropical and has slightly more sugar than pineapple.
- Water: Swap in coconut water to add a light sweetness and electrolytes. Non-dairy milk makes it creamier, and soy milk adds the most protein of the common options.
- Spinach: These swaps barely change the sugar, but they change the flavor. Kale, chard, and beet greens taste stronger and earthier, and romaine is the mildest.
How to Store a Green Smoothie
Store your green smoothie in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 48 hours. However, it tastes best within 4 hours of blending, because the flavor and color fade as it sits. For busy weeks, freeze the fruit and spinach in meal prep smoothie packs, then blend each morning.
Ingredient Add-Ins
- Protein powder: Add a serving of homemade protein powder to turn this green smoothie into a more filling meal.
- Chia seeds: Stir in 2 tablespoons for extra fiber and protein. Drink it quickly, because chia thickens fast.
- Natural sweeteners: For a sweeter sip, add a pitted date or a small drizzle of maple syrup.
- Frozen riced cauliflower: Add 1/4 cup for extra fiber. It barely changes the flavor.
Green Smoothie Nutrition
This recipe makes one 16-ounce smoothie, with 203 calories, 6g of fiber, 3g of protein, and 34g of sugar. All of that sugar comes from the fruit, with no added sweetener. To turn it into a meal replacement, add one scoop of protein powder. That adds about 20g of protein and 100 calories, so the total is about 23g of protein and 303 calories.
Best Green Smoothie for Beginners
Jen HansardVideo
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup mango frozen
- 1 banana
Instructions
- Pack the spinach tightly into a measuring cup.
- Pour the water into a blender, add the spinach and blend until no leaf pieces remain and the mixture looks like smooth green water.
- Add the pineapple, mango and banana. Blend on high until creamy, about 30 seconds in a high-speed blender or up to 2 minutes in a standard one, using a tamper if the blender stalls.
- If it’s too thick, add a splash more water; if it’s too thin, add a few more pieces of frozen fruit. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Protein Boost: Add a scoop of protein powder, 2 tablespoons chia seeds or 1/2 avocado to make it more filling. If you add chia, drink it right away, since it thickens fast.
- Fruit Swaps: For a less sweet smoothie, swap the banana for 1/4 avocado. Frozen peaches can replace the mango, and a peeled navel orange can replace the pineapple.
- Doubling: This makes one 16-ounce smoothie. Double everything to serve two, and blend in batches if your blender is small.
- Storing: Best fresh, but it keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours; shake before drinking. To prep ahead, freeze the spinach and fruit together in smoothie packs, then add water and blend.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Any blender can make this recipe, but greens need more blade speed than fruit. Weaker blenders leave leafy flecks, so blend the spinach and water for 60 to 90 seconds first. A high-speed blender finishes in about 30 seconds with a silky texture. Either way, add the frozen fruit last.
Yes, and two methods work well. First, freeze the spinach, mango, pineapple, and banana in a bag, then add water and blend each morning. Or blend it the night before, pour it into a sealed jar, and refrigerate it. Shake well before drinking, because it separates as it sits.
Most people don’t taste it in this recipe. The banana, mango, and pineapple outweigh the spinach, so it tastes like a tropical fruit smoothie. Blending the spinach and water first also removes the leafy texture that gives greens away. If you feel nervous, start with a smaller handful and add more next time.
Bitter usually means the greens outweighed the fruit, or a stronger green like kale replaced mild spinach. Add more fruit or return to baby spinach. Gritty means the greens need more blending, so let it run a full 60 seconds after it looks smooth. Also, blend the spinach and water before adding frozen fruit.
No. All 34 grams of sugar in a 16-ounce serving comes from the fruit, with no added sweetener. The banana contributes a large share of it. To lower the sugar, swap the banana for a quarter of an avocado, or use less mango. The smoothie will taste a little less sweet.
As written, it makes a light breakfast or satisfying snack, with 6 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. To turn it into a meal, add protein powder, 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, or half an avocado. Each add-in makes it thicker and more filling, so you may need extra water.
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I’ve been having a green smoothie for about a month now, but last weekend I hadn’t gone to the store and let me tell ya, my body felt the difference! i quickly went out monday and got everything I need and got back on them Tuesday. I’m just a beginner, but am noticing the difference in how my body feels! Thank you for your website!
I know exactly how you feel! When I am on vacation and can’t get a blender or find a place to get a green smoothie, I feel it and crave it so much. It really does become a part of your life, and i think you realize that once you skip it. It’s wonderful to have you here Sandi!
Today is the fifth day in a row that I’ve had this smoothie! Boy oh boy, do I feel good! I’m pretty content with this recipe, but what would y’all recommend as the next step? I’ve loaded up on spinach, mango and pineapple so I want to be able to finish those ingredients while still mixing it up and keeping it fresh.
Keep calm and smoothie on!
Woohoo! Looks like you are probably on day 9 now— sorry for the delay. You can always freeze your spinach and try out a different leafy green for a few days. You could also try substituting one of the fruits for something else— like instead of mango do peaches or strawberries. Or what about blueberries and mango— that sounds yummy to me! The options are endless— but to keep them tasting good stick with the measurements. Have fun experimenting and I am loving your slogan: keep calm and smoothie on. So cute— I might have to make a graphic with it.
Yes, I vote for a graphci with ‘keep calm and smoothie on!’
That’s genius! 😉
Hello,
I was just wondering with these smoothies, if it is ok to have the bananas in them everyday? I have heard that bananas put on weight so I am unsure. Help!!!
Thanks in advance =)
Monica
Hi Monica. It’s important to rotate your smoothies to have a variety of fruits and vegetables. Bananas are high in potassium and add a nice flavor and creamy textures to green smoothies— which I love. If you are concerned about a daily banana— talk with your doctor. Yet I can personally say that I drink green smoothies with bananas almost every day and it hasn’t caused me to gain any weight- yet I have lost some. 🙂 Just watch what you eat all around (avoid processed foods and stick with fresh ingredients).
I tried the Beginner’s Luck today, except I didn’t have mango (forgot to buy it at the store), so I used frozen wild blueberries. I think it tastes very good with blueberries, and you get a dark purple smoothie! I also added the juice of half a lemon, and I think it gave the smoothie a bit more tang and depth. Do you guys ever add citrus juice for flavor or to preserve the color?
Hi, it is difficult to find frozen mango and pineaple in the Dutch foodstores. would it be an idea to replace them with fresh mango? Do I than need to increase or decrease the water volume?
Hey Virginia. Fresh mango would be great! We recommend frozen fruits because they are usually cheaper and easier to buy, but for you I say go with fresh ingredients. Fresh is always best. To give your smoothies a chill, you can freeze the mangos or even add some ice. I would personally decrease the water to 1 1/2 cups if you are using fresh mangos. This will make the flavor more intense and sweeter, which is always a nice perk too.