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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
The only equipment you need to make this green smoothie recipe is a blender for smoothies. A juicer or food processor won’t work to get you a creamy 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.
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
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:
- My son is obsessed with this Mango Orange Smoothie recipe.
- This Simple 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.
Loved it and I’m full. Thanks!
Kale yeah!
I am a Type two diabetic I love to make smoothie I am going to try your green smoothie can you kindly send me a recipe the seven day I will buy your book
Hey Sheila,
Of course! Here is where you can sign up for our 7 day smoothie challenge: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/challenge/
Love this recipe!! It’s so delicious!!
Very delicious I thought the color would freak me out, but instead it’s kinda cool well in my baby’s words oooh Mommy it’s pretty lol. Thanks again btw 7 day challenge…. DONE!
It really is pretty cool isn’t it!! Love that your Baby thinks it’s pretty 🙂 Great job on the 7 day challenge!!!!
I can rate nor comment on taste until I try it which will be tomorrow morning. Myself and husband will try it together we’re actually going food shopping tonight just so we can prep a head start smoothie and perfect tomorrow morning. We’ll then snap a pic and leave a comment. So here’s to health, healthy eating and healthy living.
We really hope you love this recipe!! It is my families favorite smoothie to drink on a daily basis.
We cannot wait to hear how much you love this recipe!!
I loved the smoothie. Used Mandarin oranges instead of pineapple. Should have used ice cubes for water since I like it cold.
Also if you use frozen fruit that helps make it colder as well. Depending on your blender the ice cubes might dull the blades.
Thank you for sharing the simple and very healthy smoothie recipe. Can this be kept in refrigerator to drink later
Hey Rani,
Yes our recipes hold up in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just make sure to have it in an air tight container, give it a little shake and you are good to go!
I have tried “best” smoothies before and they did not deliver. After checking over the ingredients list and directions, I thought “why not… I have to use up the spinach and this last poor banana isnt getting any less ripe”. (I had some chunked peaches and mango in the freezer for baking muffins later too!) I am glad I did. THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD! Thank you for the simple recipe and more for the guidelines! I can drink this – even if it is with my eyes shut to block out the green!
You are welcome! I am so happy that you loved this smoothie. Although I am not surprised because it is that delicious!!
Wow! A smoothie that is creamy and tasty without any dairy or fruit juice. My tummy thanks you!
So glad that you love our recipes!!
what fruit would you use if you are allergic to pineapple?
Hey Caryl,
You can also use peaches or mangoes if you are allergic to pineapple!
Delish need some more recipes
SO glad you enjoyed this recipe, Mitch!
Thanks! Very helpful recipe! 🙂
Hey Kim,
So happy you loved this recipe! Have a great day and reach out if you need anything!!!
This was the easiest and best tasting smoothie I have ever made. I just started the 7 Day Smoothie Challenge so I am sure I will be saying this a lot. Jen’s simple directions helped me achieve fully blended greens, not over-watering by adding ice and gave me back precious time in the morning by prepping ahead. It is easy being green!
Hey Linda,
Yay!!! We are so excited that you are a new rawkstar with us. Welcome!!! You will love this challenge and all the delicious recipes that you will get to try. So happy we are helping you live a happy, healthy, green lifestyle 🙂
Cheers!!
this smoothie is very rich I loved and is easy to make and make me happy and strong.
So happy that you loved this recipe!
Thank you for all that you make available to your followers. I love your smoothie recipes. I have a question please. My nine year old granddaughter is going through a stage of not eating anything but cereal and pancakes and waffles. Cannot get her to touch veggies or even chicken anymore. We are worried about her. Do you recommend adding a protein powder for her? Thank you.
Hey Marilyn,
I would suggest adding in some plant based protein choices to her smoothies before you try powders. Here are some of our recommendations: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
Hope that helps!
I thought it was a 5 star recipe when I used baby kale in it. However, I made the second batch with baby spinach
but it tasted bitter and left a horrible aftertaste that I couldn’t seem to get rid of for hours. Did I do something wrong? Is there something I can do to reduce the bitterness of the spinach?
P.S. I bought your book thru Amazon and can’t wait to try some of the other recipes:)