After years of experimenting, I’ve finally perfected the best green smoothie recipe. What makes it truly special is the perfect balance of sweet, lightly tart, and creamy flavors, all blending together just right. You’d never guess it’s packed with greens—you can’t even taste them! It's an easy way to get extra veggies in your diet. This simple green smoothie recipe is fresh, healthy, and energizing, making it an easy and delicious way to get more greens into your day. It’s bound to become a staple in your morning routine. You’ll love how quick it is to throw together and how amazing you’ll feel after drinking it.
Green Smoothie Ingredients:
- Fresh Spinach or Baby Kale: For the leafy greens, I recommend using spinach if you are new to making green smoothies as it is milder and sweeter than kale. Spinach blends smoothly and has a neutral taste that’s easily masked by fruits, making it perfect for beginners. Kale has a stronger, more earthy flavor, so if you're more experienced with green smoothies or looking for an extra nutrient boost, you can try using baby kale or a mix of both greens.
- Plant-Based Milk: Use whichever kind of dairy-free milk you prefer such as oat, soy, or almond milk. My go-to is usually soy milk because it's creamy, neutral in flavor, and high in protein.
- Banana: A ripe frozen banana acts as a natural sweetener in this recipe. Make sure the banana is very ripe (with lots of brown spots) before peeling and freezing so that it adds extra sweetness to the smoothie.
- Mango Chunks: Mango provides the green smoothie with a rich sweetness and blends perfectly with the banana's sweetness and the pineapple's tartness.
- Pineapple Chunks: Pineapple adds another layer of natural sweetness while also giving the smoothie a pleasant tartness. Plus, it's packed with vitamin C.
Tips & Tricks:
- Start Small with Greens: If you're new to green smoothies, start with a smaller amount of greens (like ½ cup) and gradually increase as you get used to the taste.
- Use Frozen Fruits: Frozen fruits help to thicken the smoothie and keep it cold without needing to add ice, which can dilute the flavor.
- Sweeten Naturally: If your green smoothie isn’t sweet enough, try adding a touch of natural sweetness with more ripe banana, pitted dates, a splash of orange juice, or a drizzle of maple syrup or agave.
- Blend in Steps: To avoid leafy chunks, blend the greens with the liquid first until smooth before adding the other ingredients.
- Add Protein: If you want a protein-packed green smoothie, you can add a scoop of vanilla or unflavored vegan protein powder. Other great options include a tablespoon of hemp seeds, chia seeds, nut butter (like almond butter or cashew butter), or even a few ounces of silken tofu. Each adds protein without overpowering the fresh, fruity flavors.
How to Make My Go-To Green Smoothie Recipe:
Blend the Greens First: Add the spinach or baby kale and plant-based milk to your blender. Blend until you reach a completely smooth liquid base. This ensures that the greens are fully incorporated, avoiding any leafy chunks in your smoothie.
Add the Rest: Add the banana, frozen mango, and frozen pineapple to the blender. Blend until your green smoothie is smooth and creamy.
Adjust Consistency: If the green smoothie is too thick, add a little more plant-based milk. If you prefer a thicker smoothie, you can add a few ice cubes or more frozen fruit.
Serve: Pour your green smoothie into a glass and enjoy immediately!
Green Smoothie Recipe Is...
- Creamy, lightly sweet, and delicious
- Easy to make, and packed with nutrients
- Just 5 simple ingredients
Enjoy My Go-To Green Smoothie Recipe With:
- Healthy Vegan Breakfast Cookies
- Vegan Banana Bread Oatmeal
- Peanut Butter & Chocolate Protein Bars
- Vegan Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Tofu lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
If you try this recipe, let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
My Go-To Green Smoothie Recipe (vegan)
Servings: smoothie
PRINT
PIN
COMMENT
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh spinach or baby kale, packed
- 1 cup plant-based milk, (such as oat, soy, or almond milk)
- 1 ripe banana, frozen
- ½ cup mango chunks, frozen
- ½ cup pineapple chunks, frozen
Instructions
- Blend the Greens First: Add the spinach or baby kale and plant-based milk to your blender. Blend until completely smooth. This ensures that the greens are fully incorporated, avoiding any leafy chunks in the smoothie.
- Add the Rest: Add the banana, frozen mango, and frozen pineapple to the blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust Consistency: If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more plant-based milk. If you prefer a thicker smoothie, you can add a few ice cubes or more frozen fruit.
- Serve: Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!
Notes
Spinach & Kale:
I recommend using spinach if you are new to making green smoothies, as it is milder and sweeter than kale. Spinach blends smoothly and has a neutral taste that’s easily masked by fruits, making it perfect for beginners. Kale has a stronger, more earthy flavor, so if you're more experienced with green smoothies or looking for an extra nutrient boost, you can try using baby kale or a mix of both greens.Substitutions:
You can try substituting the mango or pineapple for:- Peach slices (fresh or frozen): Peaches offer a sweet, juicy flavor that complements the other ingredients well.
- Papaya chunks (fresh or frozen): Papaya has a mild sweetness and creamy texture, similar to mango, making it a great alternative.
- Orange segments: Fresh orange slices add a bright, citrusy flavor that pairs well with spinach or kale.
- Apple slices: Apples, especially sweeter varieties like Fuji or Gala, can add a crisp, refreshing taste to your smoothie.
- Frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries): Berries will give the smoothie a different flavor profile, but they still work wonderfully in green smoothies. *Note that adding berries will make your smoothie a brown color that can be unappealing, but will still taste delicious.
Additional Tips:
- Start Small with Greens: If you're new to green smoothies, start with a smaller amount of greens (like ½ cup) and gradually increase as you get used to the taste.
- Use Frozen Fruits: Frozen fruits help to thicken the smoothie and keep it cold without needing to add ice, which can dilute the flavor.
- Sweeten Naturally: If your smoothie isn’t sweet enough, try adding a touch of natural sweetness with more ripe banana, pitted dates, a splash of orange juice, or a drizzle of maple syrup or agave.
- Blend in Steps: To avoid leafy chunks, blend the greens with the liquid first until smooth before adding the other ingredients.
- Add Protein: If you want a protein-packed green smoothie, you can add a scoop of vanilla or unflavored vegan protein powder. Other great options include a tablespoon of hemp seeds, chia seeds, nut butter (like almond or cashew), or even a few ounces of silken tofu. Each adds protein without overpowering the fresh, fruity flavors.
Izzy says
How could I make this without fruit?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That would be a different recipe as this is a fruit based smoothie. Unfortunately, I don't have a non-fruit smoothie recipe at the moment.
Tracy says
Such an easy and tasty way to get fruit and greens into my day.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you enjoyed it Tracy! Thank you for your review 🙂
Lesley says
Excellent blend of sweetness and tartness
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
THank you so much Lesley, so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Sandy DeGeer says
Your recipe sounded so good. I had to substitute Swiss chard from the garden for the kale/spinach and a ripe peach for the mango, because that’s what I had in the fridge. It was delicious, no bitterness in the greens at all! I’ll definitely be making this more often. Thank you.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay!! So happy you loved it Sandy 🙂