Sure, I know a spinach smoothie doesn’t sound that appealing, but when made right it can be beyond delicious. With hundreds of 5-star reviews, it’s time for you to see why this is the best green smoothie recipe.
Are you wondering why anyone would be excited to drink something as green as this? I hear ya— I’ve been right where you are. And so have 1 million+ others who’ve blended this smoothie in our free 7-day smoothie challenge.
Drinking this daily smoothie is what helped me get the body and energy to do some incredible things, such as run 47 miles of the Grand Canyon, ride motorcycles through Morocco, publish two best-selling recipe books and create a backyard garden for my kids. This daily habit has kept my kids healthy when we didn’t have health insurance, energized us in between school and sports and nourished us so we don’t need to take vitamins.
When I created this green smoothie recipe…it changed my life in more ways than I ever imagine. It was love at first sip for me, my two kids and over 1 million others who were scared of spinach smoothies.
I’ve published an entire recipe book on Simple Green Smoothies, and then went on The Doctors to blend a few green smoothie recipes live on stage! I was nervous with all the cameras and lights, but I knew I had to share green smoothies with the world! They truly are magical for your health.
Are green smoothie recipes healthy?
What we eat can truly transform our bodies and our lives in powerful ways. Especially with this smoothie recipe as I’ve seen in the lives of so many of my friends, family and community online. Blending spinach into a fruit smoothie is a great way to boost your immune system, as well as naturally energize you.
Most smoothies are made with just fruit and liquid, which is high in sugar and can cause inflammation. A green smoothie, on the other hand, is made with fruit, plant-based liquid and leafy greens.
This recipe is full of iron, potassium and vitamins galore— and tastes like a tropical treat from all the island fruit. Yet the best part is how simple as well as quick it is to make! You only need 4 ingredients and all of them can be found at your local grocery store (they don’t cost a fortune either!). As I say all the time— I’m all for making healthy eating affordable so it’s sustainable.
A green smoothie can taste just as good as a regular smoothie, and also have incredible health benefits.
How to make a spinach smoothie
All you need to make a tasty green smoothie is a blender, fruit and leafy greens. The right ratio of spinach to fruit makes it sweet, as well as helps you reap all the health benefits of a green smoothie. The key is to use recipes that actually taste good and follow my simple tips below.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- fresh spinach
- frozen pineapple
- frozen mango
- fresh banana
- Blend 1 cup of spinach (or another leafy greens of your choice) in a blender. Adding leafy greens to your smoothie boosts the phytonutrients and fiber, which then slows down the absorption of sugars into your body.
- Next, add 1 cup of liquid and blend well (until all leafy chunks are gone).
- Toss in fruit, such as frozen mango, pineapple and bananas in the blender.
- Next, blend again until smooth and creamy.
- Serve smoothie immediately for maximum nourishment.
- Looking to turn your smoothie into a meal replacement? Adding clean protein + healthy fat does the trick. I realized that none of the protein powders on the market were what I wanted when it came to pure protein with no weird gums or fillers. So I made my own! The result is my Protein Smoothie Boost -with only organic hemp + chia + flax seeds, in a perfectly smooth, smoothie worthy powder. Give it a blend and see what you think!
Can you taste spinach in the smoothie?
You wouldn’t be the first to look at this recipe and say “No way!” Green! Spinach! Yuck! Yet don’t walk away! These bright green smoothie recipes will actually delight your taste buds. You’ll even have an extra pep in your step when you realize how great you feel!
Even kids LOVE this green smoothie recipe! I started blending this smoothie in my daughter Clare’s kindergarten class four years ago. Now every year, I visit her school to blend this recipe with each new class. That’s how delicious this recipe is!
Not sure if your blender can handle the greens? I’ve created The Ultimate Blender 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+. 🙂
Top 5 Smoothie Blending Tips
- Follow the 60/40 formula. When you’re making your first few green smoothies, don’t just throw things in the blender. Chances are, it’ll taste nasty if you wing it right out of the gate. To save you a few smoothie-fails, bust out those cute lil’ measuring cups to learn how to make your own green smoothie.
- Blend in stages to avoid leafy chunks. Chewing your green smoothie is no fun! To get a “smooth” green smoothie experience, blend up your leafy greens and liquid-base first. Then add your remaining fruits and blend again.
- Ditch the ice and freeze some fruits. Want your green smoothie to be extra chilly? Freeze your favorite fruits like ripe bananas, grapes, pineapple or berries. You can also freeze your leafy greens in a freezer-safe bag. Just make sure to add your frozen greens straight to the blender.
- Use raw natural sweeteners. Add naturally sweet fruits to any smoothie that tastes bitter or a bit too “green.” My favorite naturally sweet fruits are bananas, mango, apples, pears or pitted dates.
- Make smoothies ahead for the perfect fast food. Life is crazy busy— especially in the morning. That’s why we think green smoothies are the healthiest fast food for people who are constantly on the go. You can smoothie prep, or even blend the night before and store it in your fridge.
More healthy smoothie recipes
- My son is obsessed with this Mango Orange Smoothie recipe
- Try this tropical Pina Colada Spinach Smoothie to head to the beach asap
- Want to boost your metabolism? Then this is a great fat burning green smoothie recipe
- This kale smoothie will surprise even your taste buds
If you have any questions about the green smoothie world, feel free to join the Smoothie Challenge Support Group.
Best Green Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup pineapple, frozen
- 1/2 cup mango, frozen
- 1 banana
- 1 Protein Smoothie Boost, optional
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.
- Store: In the fridge with a lid until ready to drink.
Video
Notes
- 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 because it's easy and chills the smoothie.
Sooo delicious!
I add kale too
You’re a green smoothie superstar, Nicole!!!
Really good! I am going to try to make this everyday.
Hooray for the daily green smoothie habit! Don’t forget to change your greens occasionally to get the best nutrients :: Ultimate Guide to Leafy Greens.
This one is truly easy to drink and everyone I’ve made it for has liked it, even small grandchildren!
Omg! Love this recipe! You do not taste the spinach. My grandkids love it also.
So glad you’re introducing your grand kiddos to the awesomeness of green smoothies! Way to rawk it!!
Thanks for all the recipes & support. On 30 June I began my commitment to loose the COVID-19 extra weight. Not the first time, but am now holding myself accountable (aka food diary). Unfortunately during self-quarantining the 4- headed dragon aka Wine, Chocolate, Ice Cream and Cookies kept attacking me and my energy has been at a all time low. After 5 days of holding myself accountable & renewing the process of eliminating these toxins, I am already feeling some increased energy. YAY! Can’t wait to see the difference after 8 more days & beyond. By utilizing your support & keeping a food diary I feel confident I can slay that 4- headed dragon and all it stands for. Your recipes, snack ideas, and upbeat suggestions are SUPER. Had 1 green smoothie yesterday & 1 today although they were changed up a little from the published recipes. Love green smoothies and plant-based foods, just need avoid those dragons. Thanks again for making the journey so educational, exciting & fun.
Yummy! Next time I’ll follow the recipe and freeze the mango and pineapple to its cold.
Using frozen fruits are the best way to get that perfectly blended smoothie to come out cold. Love that you’re blending along with us Tammy!
Refreshing boost of vitamin c and potassium.
Good recipe. ❤️❤️❤️ Can I replace spinach with pumpkin leaves?
Pumpkin leaves, also known as ugu, would be great in this smoothie! Awesome suggestion Umoh! 🙂
Smoothies are such an easy way to get all those nutrients we need to stay healthy. Thanks for giving it a blend, Jacqueline!
This was a simple recipe and delicious to drink! I added protein to replace a meal. I like having something light and simple to make for breakfast. #10daychallange
Adding clean protein and a healthy fat are a great way to turn any smoothie into a meal. Way to rawk it Amanda!
Just had this for the first time, it’s delicious and simple. Great quick smoothie.
Jen always says that smoothies are the perfect fast food. So glad you agree, Roberta! 🙂
I have been uncertain of green smoothies. I made this one and it was absolutely delicious. Will make again. Thank you!
Sounds like you’re hooked like us now, Debbie! Enjoy and happy blending!
Hello I just made this smoothie and it’s amazing. I love it! It’s impossible to taste the spinach. I only think the recipe could be half for one person.
But it’s perfect for people who don’t eat fruits regularly like me. Thank you.
We rawk a smoothie serving of 16 oz., yet def cut back if it’s too filling for you. Love that you love this green smoothie too! 🙂
Hi Jen…I just got home from work starving, reviewed my e-mails when I saw your email for the 10 days smoothy challenge to which I signed and start reading til find one of the smoothies recipe (spinach, pineapple, mango &banana) what I made and drank immediately. That’s was amazing! I loved it. Thank you for sharing all this information!
We’re so glad you found us and rawked the smoothie challenge, Sara! We love this recipe too and love that you think it’s amazing. xoxo
Great recipe! Tastes amazing and has a great consistency.
Aw! Thanks Jackie! This smoothie is def the perfect recipe for taste and consistency, we agree!
Such a delicious smoothie. The flavors were perfectly balanced! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
So glad you love it and will blending more with us Jasmine!
I was just wondering about missing fruits with veggies. Because I’ve always heard not to because the veggies digest before the fruit.
Hi Diane – no issue with mixing fruit and veggies. Your body was designed to handle both for sure! Where some people run into trouble is extra gas when they first start drinking green smoothies. If that happens, make sure you’re taking in plenty of water and avoiding eating just before or after your smoothie to give the body a chance to process everything. Happy blending!
I changed it up from the last time and used an orange and pineapple juice instead of frozen pineapple.
Way to bring the tropical vibe, Janice! Love it!
I hated all green juices / smoothies but this recipe tastes amazing ! I been incorporating it into my diet and skin looks a lot better now.
Kale yeah, Amy! So glad this is helping. This smoothie totally lives up to the hype.
Yes, It tastes good…
The girl has great enthusiasm. I didn’t feel any different. I’m tired of this fad and hype expensive blenders. I’m done I’m done with this. I don’t feel any better…. I can’t be the only one who feels like this.
So glad it tasted good to you, Linda! Try backing down the greens a bit for your hubby to see if he likes it better. Sometimes it takes time to get used to the spinach. And expensive blenders are never necessary to rawk some awesome smoothies! Check out Jen’s blender guide for options in all price ranges. It’s really about the technique of blending greens and liquids first, rather than how much your blender costs. If you’re trying different smoothies daily for a bit and still aren’t noticing any benefit, it might be helpful to check in with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re not dealing with a food allergy or sensitivity. Hoping good things for you!!! 🙂
Love this fruit combinations. The pineapple stands out with its sweet taste.
This is such a simple, yet delicious and refreshing smoothie to make! Don’t forget to add some flax seed or chia if that is your thing to do!
Great tip, Nancy. The chia seed and flax will def up the protein, omega 3s and more. Pro move!
Love this smoothie! It is definitely a great choice when you are trying to drink more greens. I highly recommend trying it!
This is my go to green smoothie and even my kids and husband enjoy it!
Doing current challenge. My intro email said “beginners luck” was day one. But when I went in to rate it from today’s email it said peach banana smoothie was today’s? Had my grandkids over. Made beginners luck and they all LOVED it!
Sorry for any confusion, Kathleen! Beginners Luck was one to try before the challenge to get everyone warmed up. Check out page 14 of your 10-Day Green Smoothie Guide to see which ones we have planned for each day. Yet, move them around if it’s more convenient for you. The goal is one smoothie a day, so rawk which ever works for you each day. So glad they loved it as much as we do!!
I decided to swap broccoli for the spinach but did the rest of the smoothie as written. Both my daughter and I love it. We wanted it colder so I added some ice. I will have to try it with spinach next time. It is a go to recipe!.
Never tried it with broccoli Charity! So cool! Keep us posted on when you blend it with spinach. 🙂
This smoothie is a tropical paradise! I love it.
So glad you love it as much as we do, Rachelle. Thanks!
I loveee this smoothie! When I bought the simple green smoothie book two years ago this is the one I gravitated to the most, and then I suddenly became allergic to both pineapples and mangos. So sad. Today I had to substitute those items with peaches and oranges, good, but not as good as this original recipe! So smooth and tasty.
Way to rawk those swaps and make Beginners Luck work for you, Valeria!
Tried this today. Really fresh tasting and refreshing!
Soooo soooo delicious. Spinach and pineapple is always a winning combo.
Hi
Interested is the Protein Smoothie Boost powder. do you have the ingredient list and nutritional breakdown somewhere?
Thank you.
Vee
Hi Vee! Our Protein Smoothie Boost contains only 3 ingredients actually – organic hemp seed, organic chia seed and organic flax seed. That’s it! You can totally read more about it in our Rawkstar Shop, as well as find our nutritional breakdown starting with 10g of protein per serving.
Kind of tasted too green lol. But maybe it’s just a taste to get used to. And I’m new to this.
We’re so glad your gettin your green smoothie game on! While most people don’t even notice the greens, some can take a bit of time to grow accustomed to it being there. Def feel free to use less spinach in your smoothies, and add more as you become used to it.
Amanda. Lol. My husband said it tasted like the grass .lol. He didn’t not like it.
Tried this today – added 40g of fresh raspberries….yum!
Awesome add-in Tracey!! Delish!
YUM!
WHAT!?? There are people who are afraid of spinach taste?
I guess we are all different . Nevertheless, I don’t think you can taste the spinach in it.
It’s a very delicious smoothie that I often use to jump-start my mornings.
Today I added both spinach and baby kale in there. Delish!
Thanks so much for sticking up for spinach E.G.! Way to rawk some plant-based awesomeness!
How long is it able to stay in the fridge with a lid? I would like to prep and have these ready to go fit a couple of days at a time if possible.
Love your site!
Rawkin question AJ! So, a smoothie is best consumed fresh or within 12 hours. 24 hour might be stretching it. You can always make ahead and freeze to make it easier for you to have them prepped ahead of time. Check out DIY Frozen Smoothie Packs on a Budget for tips on how to do this. Whether your pulling it from the fridge a few hours later or getting ready to consume a smoothie that’s been frozen, always to be sure to rebound a bit or shake well in a blender bottle or mason jar before drinking.
I was looking to change up another green smoothie I’ve been loving and this is it! I add 1/2 cup of oatmeal and use unsweetened almond milk instead of water. Thank you!
Awesome swaps Christal!
I love eating my veggies- but I’m a bit intimidated by the green smoothie. We don’t always have fresh spinach, so how much frozen spinach should I use?
De-lic-ious!!! I’m always making my own smoothie recipes up but usually they don’t always taste so good, lol! So I wanted to keep it simple but tasty so I gave this recipe a try and it was very satisfying. I’ve tried it a couple of ways, I used water which was the best to me but I also use oat milk, almond milk, as well as using a vanilla protein in it. The original recipe is light and hits the spot but the other modification weren’t too bad either. I will be trying several of the smoothie recipe on here and let you know how they turn out. Amazing recipe to maker of this post, keep up the great work, and thanks for putting the leg work in first, lol!
Rawk on Mama Kash! Love that you are playing with diff ingredients to find what works best for you!
Really good! I added vanilla protein powder to mine.
That’s awesome Shaelyn!! Have you tried our Protein Smoothie Boost yet?
Hello there, I’m looking for a healthy smoothie that taste good but low in sugar do to my diabetes.
I can u help me with a weight loss smoothie please
Hi Ruby – sure thing! Check out our Fat Burning Smoothie recipe.
Great question Augie! Any of our smoothie recipes can be customized any time. Check out our article on Low Sugar Fruits for Smoothies to see what would be best to swap in for each recipe. And def check with your doc to be sure your plan is going to be best for your body and your overall health.
Simple and easy thank you! I also added kale, ginger, protein powder and extra water just imitating other ingredients from a smoothie place here.
Erinn that’s awesome! We love customizing around here + ginger is def a win!
Great starter smoothie! And for those who like a little less sweet (usually me), easy to adjust the ratio to have more greens than fruit. Always delicious!
Love it.
This smoothie is absolutely delicious! It’s so good that even my picky 16 year old likes it!
As simple as it gets, and delicious! Tropical flavors are always my fav, especially when it’s cold in Ohio and I can transport myself to the beach with each sip.
Hey, I tried the smoothie and I love it! I have my own version I got from this book.
https://tinyurl.com/PlantBasedCookbk
oops … forgot to rate