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Blending fresh herbs into smoothies is a great way to get additional nutrients and amplify the flavor in your green smoothies. This cilantro smoothie is bright, refreshing, and surprisingly familiar—like sipping a glass of homemade limeade with a clean, herbal twist. The fresh cilantro blends smoothly and never overpowers, adding a light, cooling note that pairs perfectly with tangy lime.
Table of Contents

Ingredients You’ll Need
If the idea of a cilantro smoothie makes you pause, stay with me. This one tastes bright, citrusy, and refreshing—more like a homemade limeade than a “green drink.” The cilantro blends smoothly with lime, banana, and ginger to create a light, clean flavor that’s surprisingly craveable.
- Spinach: Adds nutrients and fiber without changing the flavor. It keeps the smoothie green while letting the limeade vibe shine.
- Fresh cilantro: Brings a light, herbal freshness that tastes clean and cooling—not soapy or overpowering. It’s what gives this smoothie its signature flavor.
- Water: Keeps the texture light and drinkable, similar to a juice or limeade rather than a thick smoothie.
- Banana: Adds natural sweetness and creaminess to balance the tart lime and fresh herbs.
- Lime (peeled): The star of the show. Lime gives this smoothie its zippy, limeade-like flavor and keeps it bright and refreshing.
- Fresh ginger: Adds a subtle warmth and gentle spice that wakes everything up without stealing the spotlight.
- Chia seeds: Provide fiber and omega-3s while slightly thickening the smoothie to help it feel more satisfying.
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How to Make a Cilantro Smoothie
Making a cilantro smoothie is simple and takes just a couple of minutes. Start by adding the spinach, cilantro, and water to your blender and blend until completely smooth. This step helps break down the greens so the texture stays silky. Next, add the banana, peeled lime, ginger, and chia seeds, then blend again until creamy and bright, tasting like a refreshing limeade. If your new to smoothies, check out my full guide to learn how to make a smoothie.
Blending Tips
- Start by blending the spinach, cilantro, and water first until completely smooth. This helps break down the greens so the final smoothie stays silky, not leafy. Then add the banana, lime, ginger, and chia seeds and blend again until creamy. If you want it colder, toss in a few ice cubes or freeze bananas ahead of time.
- To save time, pre-prep the ingredients and follow my frozen meal prep smoothie packs guide.
- If you don’t have a high-powered blender, I highly recommend picking up one of these smoothie blenders for perfect, smooth blends every time.

Why I Love Cilantro In Smoothies
- It tastes fresh and citrusy, not savory. When blended with lime or lemon, cilantro adds a clean, bright flavor that feels more like limeade than a green smoothie.
- It pairs beautifully with fruit. Cilantro balances sweetness from banana or pineapple and adds a light, refreshing finish without overpowering the smoothie.
- It brings variety to your greens. Using cilantro is an easy way to rotate leafy green vegetables, keeping smoothies interesting while still delivering nutrients and fiber.
More Cilantro Recipes to Try
If you grabbed a big bunch of cilantro for this smoothie, here are a few easy ways to use up the rest—no wilting herbs left behind.
- Spicy Cilantro Pesto is bold and flavorful, perfect for tossing with pasta, drizzling over roasted veggies, or spreading on sandwiches.
- Green Goddess Hummus turns cilantro into a creamy, herby dip that works for snacks, wraps, or bowls.
- Vegan Avocado Crema blends cilantro with avocado into a smooth, tangy sauce that’s amazing on tacos, grain bowls, or roasted potatoes.
If you make this cilantro smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.

Cilantro Smoothie
Jen HansardIngredients
- 1 cup spinach fresh
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro fresh
- 1 cup water
- 1 banana
- 1 lime peeled
- ½ inch ginger root fresh
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Blend spinach, cilantro and water until smooth.
- Next add the remaining fruits and blend again.
Recipe Notes
- Freeze the bananas ahead of time for a cold, slushy smoothie treat.
Nutrition
Equipment
Common Questions
No. When blended with lime and banana, cilantro tastes bright and citrusy, not soapy. The fruit balances the herb, creating a clean, limeade-like flavor.
Cilantro adds a fresh, cooling flavor that feels lighter than kale or spinach alone. It keeps this smoothie crisp and refreshing instead of earthy.
Yes. Ginger adds gentle warmth, but the smoothie still tastes bright and refreshing without it. Start small or leave it out completely.
Yes. Cilantro, ginger, and chia seeds support digestion, while lime helps stimulate digestive enzymes. It’s light, hydrating, and easy on the stomach.




















I loathe bananas, that being said…I LOVE this smoothie.
I wanted to try it once as written before changing anything.
It’s fabulous. I am looking to get potassium and magnesium and I can’t take supplements due to the medicines that strip me of those needed elements…do you have any suggestions to boost them?
Thank you for the recipe, thank you for your time. Have a Smoothie-tastic day!
Hi Katherine!
Thanks so much for reaching out! So happy to hear you tried this smoothie and ended up loving it :). Sometimes our taste buds can surprise us!
Leafy greens are a great source of magnesium, and bananas are high in potassium. However, since we are not health care professionals, we recommend speaking with your doctor to help determine what would be the best way for you to boost those nutrients :).
Take care!
This is great! I only used 2 bananas and half the lime peel. It is so flavorful & refreshing. I have to admit I absolutely love ginger and cilantro, but never thought to combine them in a smoothie. I really enjoy the subtle spice combined with the sweet creaminess of the banana in this recipe. I also added a teaspoon of chia seeds! yum!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! And love the idea of adding chia seeds to this. I’ll have to try that next time!
Thanks so much for blendin’ with us!
Wow. This is so delicious. Made an entire blender full and I’m still not sure that it will be enough. (smile) My body is so happy with this that I may have to make another blender full. Dontcha just love guilt free?
Hi Andrea,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out + share your love for our Cilantro Limeade Green Smoothie!
Cheers to health, happiness, + leafy greens!
Im diabetic can i have banana in the smoothie, as banana, chi cook and mango are to be avoided
To make this smoothie (and most others) a meal replacement can you add protein powder to the mix? I have a vegan pea protein that is wonderful.
Hi Beth,
Great question! When using your green smoothie as a meal replacement we suggest adding both protein + healthy fats to ensure you’re fueling your body with a complete meal! Plant-based protein powder is a great option! Learn more about our favorite healthy fats + meal replacement booster combos below…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-fats
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie