This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate policy.
If you’re new to green smoothies and think they all have to taste sweet, this V8 Tomato Smoothie recipe might surprise you. And if you’ve been blending for years and want something savory for a change, this one’s for you. It’s packed with real, whole vegetables, blended (instead of juiced) so you keep all the fiber, and made with less salt and zero added sugar.
Table of Contents
V8 Tomato Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup kale stems removed
- 1 ½ cup tomato
- ½ stalk celery
- 1 stalk green onions
- ½ garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- pinch sea salt, unrefined
Instructions
- Blend the kale and tomatoes until smooth.
- Add the celery, green onions, garlic, lime juice, cayenne, and salt and blend again.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Adjust consistency: If your smoothie is too thick, add a small splash of water and blend again until it reaches your preferred texture.
- Start mild with spices: Cayenne pepper and hot sauce can quickly overpower the smoothie. Start with a small amount, taste, and increase gradually to suit your spice preference.
- Choose fresh produce: Ripe tomatoes and crisp celery will give you the best flavor and overall result.
- Blend thoroughly: Leafy green vegetables like kale need extra blending time. Blend long enough to fully break down the fibers for a smoother, more enjoyable drink.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Why You’ll Love It
When I was growing up, I remember the little cans of V8 juice my dad kept in the fridge. He’d crack one open, take a big sip, and say it was “good for him.” As a kid, I couldn’t understand how something that tasted like vegetables in a can could possibly be enjoyable.
Now I get it.
There’s something satisfying about a bold, savory veggie drink. But here’s the thing: those canned versions are often loaded with sodium and can sneak in added sugars. This homemade V8 tomato smoothie is my fresh, plant-powered upgrade that keeps the fiber and retains more nutrients. It still has that classic, savory flavor my dad loved — just brighter, fresher, and way more nourishing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t need anything fancy, just simple produce and pantry spices you can find at your local grocery store or farmers market. If you grow your own greens or tomatoes, even better!
- Kale: This leafy green is the powerhouse base of your smoothie. Look for bright and firm leaves in the produce section. You can also check out my guide on how to freeze kale.
- Tomato: Juicy, ripe tomatoes bring natural sweetness and the classic savory flavor. Roma or vine-ripened tomatoes are great choices. Find them in the produce section or pick up fresh from your local farmers market.
- Celery stalk: Celery adds a clean, slightly salty crunch and helps balance the richness of the tomato. Grab a fresh bunch from the produce aisle, look for firm stalks with bright green leaves.
- Green onions: Also known as scallions, green onions add a mild onion flavor without overpowering the smoothie. You’ll find them in the fresh herbs section near the parsley and cilantro.
- Spices: Cayenne pepper adds a gentle heat, while sea salt enhances the natural flavors of the vegetables. You only need a pinch of each.
Save This for Later!
Enter your info below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox to save for later.
▶ Want healthy eating to stick? Start with my free 5-Day Smoothie Challenge for daily recipes, simple tips, and a tracker to build the habit — or jump into the 21-Day Cleanse for a full step-by-step reset.
How to Make V8 Tomato Smoothie
My V8 tomato smoothie recipe doesn’t have a liquid base since tomatoes + celery act as both liquid veggies. Here’s how I make my favorite smoothie:
- Wash the kale thoroughly and remove any tough stems for a smoother texture. Chop the tomato, celery stalk, and green onions into smaller pieces so they blend more easily.
- Place the kale, tomato, celery, and green onions into your blender. Sprinkle in a pinch of cayenne pepper and sea salt.
- Start blending on low speed, then gradually increase to high. Blend for about 30–60 seconds, or until the mixture becomes smooth and evenly combined.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy!
If you’re using any of my favorite smoothie blenders, you should be able to easily blend up all the seeds + fibrous celery in this smoothie. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you may need to extend the blend time or chop up your veggies before blending to help.
Recipe Tips
- Use ripe tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes are naturally sweeter, less acidic, and more flavorful. Vine-ripened, Roma, or garden tomatoes are excellent choices.
- Blend longer: Leafy greens like kale need extra blending time. Blend for at least 45–60 seconds to fully break down the fibers. For tips on blending flavors and getting the perfect texture, check out my guide on how to make a smoothie.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
You can easily adjust the ingredients based on what you have on hand. These simple swaps and add-ins help you customize your smoothie without complicating the process.
- Swap spinach for kale: If kale tastes too strong, spinach is a great alternative. You can freeze spinach so you always have it on hand.
- Use cherry tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes are a great option and give your smoothie a slightly less acidic flavor.
- Add pickles: Pickles adds a crisp, cooling flavor and makes the smoothie more refreshing.
- Use hot sauce: If you love heat, a few drops of hot sauce can take this smoothie to the next level.
- Add collagen powder: A simple way to boost protein (and pair it with healthy fats if you add nuts or seeds). Vital Proteins is my favorite collagen peptide brand.
5-Day Smoothie Challenge
Join my free challenge for recipes, smart tips, and a printable tracker to help you eat more fruits & veggies— and build a healthy habit that actually sticks.
More Savory Smoothie Recipes
Any green smoothie already includes fresh veggies, but if you’re ready to explore more savory-forward vegetable smoothies, here are a few to try next:
- When I’m craving something bold and savory, my savory smoothie is a fresh, veggie-forward option.
- If you’re new to savory blends, the beginner veggie fruit smoothie is a great place to start.
- For something creamy without going too sweet, the zucchini smoothie is thick, smooth, and seriously satisfying.
- And when I want something a little more hearty, the savory cauliflower smoothie feels filling while still light and easy to sip.
If you make this V8 tomato 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.
Common Questions
Yes, but it’s best enjoyed fresh for the brightest flavor and best texture. If needed, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours and give it a good shake before drinking.
While fresh, ripe tomatoes give the best flavor, you can use high-quality canned tomatoes in a pinch. Just make sure to drain excess liquid if you want a thicker smoothie.
It’s best enjoyed fresh, but you can freeze it in individual portions. Thaw in the fridge and give it a quick blend before drinking.
They can be! They’re low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with vegetables, making them a filling, nutrient-dense option.
Tried this with some yellow tomatoes from the garden. Not a great color like your photos, but a great savory smoothie! Also added hot sauce.
Adding hot sauce to this smoothie turned it into a super fun, weekend drink by the pool.
Awesome!
So yummy!
A good one!
My parents used to drink V-8 all the time. I’m thankful for a better alternative!
Same!
This is just like a V-8 without the “natural flavorings” – and other preservatives. Love how fresh, simple + clean this recipe is!! Just the good stuff!
So true, this version of the classic veggie drink, V-8, is way better!!
Kind of like a Bloody Mary!
It is! 🙂
Finally a vegetable smoothie! I love fruit smoothies, but I’ve been wanting something more savory and lower in sugar. After reading the recipe, this totally reminds me of V8… yet waaay better for you! Thanks Jen for another fun recipe to try in my Vitamix.
We have so many people asking about veggie smoothies and this one is always a hit!
This was nice…I used lemon instead of Lime, made a nice lunch.
Cheers
Rawk on, Chris!
How it will taste..
Hi Iqra,
This tastes like a spiced tomato cocktail. Similar to a Bloody Mary without the vodka, of course!
How many calories?
Hi Carolyn,
We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.
Is this similar to tomatoes or vegtable juice like a V8?
Hi Brittany,
Yes, this recipe is similar to a V8 or tomato based vegetable juice. The red pepper does give it a great little kick of heat!
My husband and I had this for lunch today. It was REALLY good! The grocery store forgot to put my scallions in my bag, so I subbed a pinch of onion salt for the salt, and it worked perfectly. I think this would be really good heated up as a soup, too. Thanks for the savory smoothie recipe!
Thanks for blendin’ with us, Amber!
Hi, how long can we store that recipe in the fridge? I like just a small glass at lunch. Thanks!
Hi Nadia,
Thanks for reaching out! Feel free to store your smoothie in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two days. I personally like to add a little lemon juice to preserve flavor, as well :).
I found this really really thick, had to add four ice cubes and 1/4 cup of water. Still pretty thick. Flavor was OK though. Any suggestions?
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for reaching out! The liquid in this recipe comes from the tomatoes. With tomatoes currently out of season throughout the majority of the United States, they may not be providing as much liquid as they would during their peak season. For that reason add additional liquid base, just like you did!! And water is the perfect option!
Cheers!
Its a healthy combination of veges. Greens mixed with Tomatoes like veges make it best!
Hi Sapana,
We love our veggie packed Veggie Cocktail recipe, and we hope you do too!!
This sounds good heated up. Like a soup. Has anyone tried that before?
Hi Smarsh,
That sounds like a yummy idea! Have you seen our other warm smoothies?
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/warm-hazelnut-hot-chocolate-green-smoothie
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/warm-chai-smoothie
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/wassail-drink
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/warm-smoothie-apple-pie
Cheers 🙂
Can you use cayenne pepper instead of red pepper in the veggie coctail?
Hi Esmeralda,
Of course! Cayenne pepper is a great option when blending our Veggie Cocktail!
Cheers 🙂
I was wonderimg if this was your version of V8 juice? I like the juice, NOT all the additives. Thanks so much and I eagerly look forward to trying your recipies !!
Hi Nancy,
Yes, they’re similar. Just like a V8 this recipe is packed with veggie goodness to fuel your body!
Oo! When I saw this one, my mouth watered :P. I froze it along with my other smoothies for the week. I put cayenne pepper instead of red pepper since I had it on hand. I think I’ll put more next time and add another lime. I was worried it would be overpowered the shallots but it actually tasted pretty good! This is going to stay in my rotation for sure!
Have you guys ever thought about adding a way to rate the recipes? like stars or something? I think it’d be great!
Hi Lori,
Thank you so much for sharing your leafy love for our Veggie Cocktail recipe. We love hearing this recipe is now part of your rotation! I will definitely share your rating idea with the rest of our team. Thank you so much for sharing!
Cheers 🙂
I was really excited to try this, as I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, and love my veggies. I have loved all of your other recipes! This one though, not my fave. This one tasted like a hearty Virgin Bloody Mary, but left me with crazy upset stomach and heartburn (which I don’t generally get, and I eat spicy foods) for half the day. Just a heads up for others who may get heartburn easily.
Hi Kristy,
Thank you so much for reaching out + sharing your review. We greatly appreciate your honest feedback of our recipes!
Add some avocado to cream it up and it may denature some of the acidity for those of us who get acid reflux or acidic stomach issues.
Thanks for your suggestions, Loretta!