Green Smoothie
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Published Jan 03, 2024, Updated Oct 23, 2024
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Here’s how to make the best green smoothie recipe in 5 minutes with only 4 simple ingredients. It’s healthy, creamy and absolutely delicious!
I have a few different green smoothie recipes on the blog, but today I’m sharing my go-to basic green smoothie recipe that is so easy and delicious.
It’s made with only four simple ingredients… spinach, almond milk (or any liquid of choice), banana and frozen fruit of choice. I usually go with frozen mango for a tropical vibe and because the mango adds a nice creaminess to smoothies, but feel free to use whatever frozen fruit you have on hand!
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
- Easy – With needing only 4 main ingredients and a blender this smoothie comes together in a matter of minutes!
- Naturally sweetened – There’s no added sugar in this recipe. This smoothie is sweetened only with fruit!
- Customizable – Feel free to make this smoothie your own! Want to use different fruit? Go for it! Want to add a protein boost? Add some protein powder or yogurt.
Ingredients Needed
You only need 4 main ingredients to whip up this smoothie! From there, feel free to add additional ingredients as desired. See below for some ideas!
- unsweetened almond milk – this serves as the liquid base of your smoothie. I like using unsweetened almond milk, which helps to make the smoothie creamy without adding extra sugars. Oat milk, coconut milk or cashew milk would all be great options and add more creaminess, but feel free to use your favorite type of dairy-free or regular dairy milk. You could also use water or coconut water for the liquid base.
- frozen banana – adds creaminess and natural sweetness. You can follow my guide on how to freeze bananas for smoothies.
- frozen fruit of choice – I usually use frozen mango for a tropical twist, but feel free to use your favorite type of fruit or whatever you have on hand. Frozen pineapple, passion fruit, peaches or berries would all work well.
- baby spinach – for that green goodness, packed with nutrients and a mild taste. Feel free to use kale or your favorite type of greens.
How to Make the Best Green Smoothie
This recipe is super simple and can be whipped up in less than 5 minutes.
Just place all of your ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the consistency as desired, adding more liquid for a thinner smoothie or some ice for a thicker smoothie. Pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy!
Brittany’s Tips
- Start with less liquid: It’s easier to add more liquid later to adjust the thickness rather than trying to fix an overly watery smoothie. Start with 1 cup of liquid and add more as desired.
- Use frozen fruit: Frozen fruits not only keep the smoothie cold but also add to its creamy texture so I recommend always using frozen fruit when it comes to smoothies. Frozen bananas, in particular, are great for a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Use a high-powdered blender: For the best results and smoothest texture I suggest using a high-powdered blender. I love my Vitamix for making smoothies!
Green Smoothie Variations
This recipe is perfect on its own, but it’s also totally customizable. Add your favorite mix-ins or try some of the variations below:
- Add protein: I love adding protein powder to my smoothies for a protein boost. You could make my green protein smoothie or just add your favorite protein powder to this smoothie. You could also add 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt for an alternative protein boost.
- Add avocado: For additional creaminess and healthy fats add avocado to this smoothie
- Add more veggies: For more nutrients you could add additional veggies like an extra handful of leafy greens, half a cucumber, frozen cauliflower or frozen zucchini.
- Add nuts: Blend in a tablespoon of nut butter like almond butter or peanut butter for a nutty depth and extra protein. Or make this peanut butter green smoothie.
- Add seeds: For some fiber and additional thickness try adding a tablespoon of chia seeds to this smoothie.
- Add citrus: Add a splash of lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice for some vitamin c and tang!
- Berry blast: Use a blend of frozen berries like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries for an antioxidant-rich green smoothie.
- Tropical twist: Use coconut milk as the liquid base and include frozen pineapple or kiwi for a more exotic flavor profile. Or just make this tropical green smoothie.
How to Make a Green Smoothie Without Banana
The frozen banana in this recipe gives the smoothie a thick and creamy texture and it also adds a bit of sweetness, without being too overpowering. If you’re looking for a low-sugar option, are allergic to bananas or simply don’t like them, here are some ideas for replacements:
- frozen fruit – swap the frozen banana with another frozen fruit like mango, pineapple or berries.
- ice – replace the frozen banana with ice (about 1 cup). It will give the smoothie volume and a nice, frozen slushy texture.
- frozen milk ice cubes – this is the same concept, but instead of using regular ice cubes, make frozen cubes using your favorite non-dairy milk (like almond or coconut milk) and use about 1 cup of these cubes instead of the frozen banana.
- frozen cauliflower rice – I use frozen cauliflower rice in my smoothies all the time and it works as a low-sugar replacement for frozen bananas. I do find that it adds a different texture to smoothies especially if you use a large amount. I’d start with 1/4 cup, give the smoothie a taste and then add more if needed.
- avocado – fresh (or frozen) avocado works great as a sub for the creaminess banana adds to smoothies.
- frozen zucchini – like frozen cauliflower, frozen zucchini works great as a low-sugar replacement for frozen bananas. It also doesn’t add a ton of flavor! You can blanch or steam your zucchini before freezing if you want to make it easier to digest, but I don’t find this necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to a day. Just give it a good stir or shake before drinking, as separation may occur.
Certainly! Feel free to add your favorite supplements like spirulina, maca powder, or a greens blend for an extra nutritional boost.
Absolutely, but using frozen fruits helps give the smoothie a thicker, more refreshing texture. You may want to add ice if using fresh fruits.
I find that this smoothie has plenty of sweetness from the fruit, but if you want to add more sweetness or are skipping the banana, try adding a bit of honey, maple syrup, or a pitted date.
More Smoothie Recipes
Be sure to check out the full collection of smoothie recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, plus more as desired
- 1 frozen banana, in chunks
- ½ cup frozen fruit of choice, I used frozen mango
- 2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional
- 1-2 teaspoons chia seeds, optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
