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    Home » Recipes » 10 Minute Recipes

    How To Make a Green Smoothie

    By Dannii · Published 1st October 2014 · Updated 13th September 2021 · 112 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · This site uses cookies · Post contains 1318 words. · About 7 minutes to read this article.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Two mason jars of Green Smoothie with a text title overlay.

    A Green Smoothie is a great pick me up when you need a green veggie boost. An easy sweet smoothie that is packed with spinach and easy to adapt with other ingredients. Just 5 ingredients and ready in minutes, this post will show you how to make a green smoothie with lots of variations.

    Two jars of green smoothie next to a bottle of milk, some bananas and a pile of spinach.

    Despite the vibrant green colour, this smoothie is actually really sweet. The green colour comes from the spinach, which although doesn't add any flavour, adds a whole lot of nutrients. Kids will love it (ours call it a superhero smoothie) and have no idea that they are drinking a glass of spinach.

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • What you will need
    • Step by step
    • What fruit to use
    • What greens to use
    • What milk to use
    • What else can you add
    • What can you use instead of banana?
    • How to store it
    • FAQ
    • Extra tips
    • More Smoothie recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • Nutrient dense
    • A great way to get kids to eat more greens
    • Easy to adapt
    • Can be vegan

    What you will need

    • Banana - This adds some natural sweetness, as well as thickening up the smoothie. If you don't like banana, then you can use avocado for thickness, and extra honey to sweeten.
    • Spinach - This is what gives the smoothie the green boost. You could swap it for kale.
    • Blueberries - We think all smoothies should have berries in them. You can swap blueberries for raspberries or strawberries. Use frozen berries to make the smoothie really cold.
    • Milk - You have got a few options when it comes to what milk to use, and we have written about them below.
    • Honey - This is what helps to sweeten the smoothie. You could leave it out, or even swap it for maple syrup if you want this smoothie to be vegan.
    • Almond butter - This helps to thicken the smoothie, and give it a protein boost.

    Step by step

    One: Put all the ingredients into a blender.

    A blender jug containing banana, spinach leaves and blueberries.

    Two: Blend until smooth.

    A blender jug containing a green smoothie.

    What fruit to use

    There are so many options here when it comes to what fruit to use. We kept it simple with banana and blueberries. Use a frozen banana if you want a super cold smoothie, or you could just add some ice cubes if your banana isn't frozen.

    Any kind of berries work in this, and we also like to add strawberries, cherries, raspberries and blackberries. Bear in mind that the fruit you use can effect the colour of the smoothie. Darker fruits like berries will make the smoothie more of a brown colour, but tropical fruits will keep it green.

    If you want more of a tropical flavour to this smoothie, then use pineapple and mango. Try to make sure these are frozen too, and you will have yourself a super refreshing smoothie.

    Using frozen fruit means that you can make this green smoothie all year round and use fruits that might not be in season.

    What greens to use

    You need to use a lot of greens in this recipe to get that super green colour. We have just used spinach in this recipe, but you could swap some of the spinach for kale, or use all kale. You could also use Swiss chard, pak choi, romaine lettuce or even the green carrot tops, which is a great way to reduce waste.

    A large pile of spinach leaves on a wooden surface.

    What milk to use

    You have lots of options when it comes to the milk used in this recipe. We used standard whole milk, however you could make this a vegan smoothie by using a plant based milk like almond, cashew or oat.

    To make this smoothie creamier and add some extra flavour, swap 50ml of the milk for coconut milk. This will really help to thicken the smoothie too.

    You could use water instead of milk, however I wouldn't recommend doing that because it would make it really thin.

    A small glass bottle full of milk.

    What else can you add

    The great thing about a smoothie, is that they are so easy to adapt. We added a spoonful of almond butter (although you could use peanut or cashew butter) which gives it a protein boost, but you could add some chia seeds which will do the same too. You could also add some protein powder if that's your thing.

    You could add a little flavour with some cinnamon, or give it a chocolate twist with some cocoa powder - this would definitely turn the smoothie brown, but delicious all the same.

    What can you use instead of banana?

    I think bananas are kind of essential in this smoothie. Not only to they add lots of sweetness, but they thicken it too. If bananas aren't your thing, then you could use avocado instead. This will help with the green colour too. Fruits like mango would help to thicken it also.

    Two whole avocados on a wooden surface.

    How to store it

    You can store any leftover smoothie in the fridge for 1-2 days. The ingredients may separate, but this is normal. Just give it a quick stir before drinking. It's always best to make this smoothie fresh - luckily it is really quick to make.

    The view looking down into two mason jars filled with a green smoothie.

    FAQ

    Can you taste the spinach in a smoothie?

    No, you can't taste the spinach in this smoothie. It just adds lots of colours and vitamins. You need to make sure you use really ripe fruit, then all you should be able to taste is the fruit. If you used kale instead of spinach, then you would probably be able to taste that as it has a stronger flavour.

    Can you make smoothies in advance?

    Green smoothies taste best when they are made fresh, however if you would like to do some of the prep in advance, you can put the fruit and spinach in the zip lock bags and then keep them in the freezer. Then, when you are ready to make the smoothie, just empty the bag in to the blender and add the milk and anything extra.

    How to sweeten a green smoothie?

    We used honey to sweeten the smoothie, however if you want it to be a vegan smoothie then swap it for maple syrup. The riper the fruit used, the sweeter it will be naturally. You don't have to use any added sweetener at all.

    Extra tips

    • To get a super smooth smoothie, blend the liquid and greens first and then add the fruit and continue blending.
    • If you don't have frozen fruit, then you can add ice cubes to the blender instead.
    • Try to make the smoothie from fresh. However if you want to prep it in advance, then you can put everything except the liquid in a freezer bag and freeze until you need it.
    • The general rule of making a green smoothie is 1 cup greens, 1 cup liquid and 2 cups of fruit.

    More Smoothie recipes

    • How To Make a Smoothie Bowl
    • Blueberry Smoothie
    • Triple Berry Oat Smoothie
    • Apple Pie Smoothie
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    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    Recipe

    Green Smoothie

    This super simple Green Smoothie is made with spinach, banana, blueberries strawberries, and just water. It is really nutritious and totally delicious!
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.2 from 5 votes
    Pin Print
    Course: Breakfast, Drinks
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes
    Allergen:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    Servings: 1 portion
    Calories: 132kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 1 medium frozen banana
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 20 g blueberries
    • 30 g spinach
    • 250 ml milk

    Instructions

    • Put all the ingredients in to your blender.
      A blender jug containing banana, spinach leaves and blueberries
    • Blend until smooth.
      A blender jug containing a green smoothie

    Notes

    • To get a super smooth smoothie, blend the liquid and greens first and then add the fruit and continue blending.
    • If you don't have frozen fruit, then you can add ice cubes to the blender instead.
    • Try to make the smoothie from fresh. However if you want to prep it in advance, then you can put everything except the liquid in a freezer bag and freeze until you need it.
    • The general rule of making a green smoothie is 1 cup greens, 1 cup liquid and 2 cups of fruit.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 681mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 2890IU | Vitamin C: 55.9mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fiver Feeds

      October 11, 2014 at 9:26 pm

      5 stars
      Green smoothies are great! I agree with you, it's hard to try them when you only see the final product, but when you actually make them, you will want to have one every day.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 13, 2014 at 4:31 pm

        I think the final product looks great too!

        Reply
    2. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter

      October 08, 2014 at 7:40 am

      Love green smoothies but I hear ya about not making them as often once the weather gets cooler. This one sound wonderful with the strawberries, blueberries and banana with spinach :)

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 08, 2014 at 11:05 am

        I am trying to still have them, but I am craving more comforting foods now.

        Reply
    3. Maria @ runningcupcake

      October 04, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      I like green smoothies- only with a little bit of spinach though!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 06, 2014 at 10:31 am

        All the more spinach for me!

        Reply
    4. Stephanie

      October 04, 2014 at 4:03 pm

      Sounds delicious! I usually use Spinach with a banana, water, and almond butter.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 06, 2014 at 10:31 am

        It's good with coconut water too.

        Reply
    5. Nicole

      October 03, 2014 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! I subbed almond milk for the water. Very yummy!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 06, 2014 at 10:37 am

        Yay! I'm glad you liked it.

        Reply
    6. [email protected]

      October 03, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      This sounds delcious and very healthy!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:57 pm

        It is definitely both of those things.

        Reply
    7. Helen @ Scrummy Lane

      October 03, 2014 at 9:47 am

      This is a bit of a super-foods smoothie isn't it, Dannii? I agree that it would be great with a side of eggs, though!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:57 pm

        Got to get the protein in.

        Reply
    8. Madeline Craig

      October 03, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Great blog! Our favourite green smoothie uses Aloe Vera Gel, spinach, kale, manuka honey, dates, blueberries, banana, various seeds and coconut water! A powerful smoothie packed full of natural goodness to set you up for the day!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:58 pm

        Sounds really good!

        Reply
    9. charlene @ That girl cooks healthy

      October 03, 2014 at 4:41 am

      I love green smoothies. My favourite being; coconut milk, spinach, ginger, cinnamon and cucumber and banana.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:58 pm

        Anything with coconut milk in is good.

        Reply
    10. Emily

      October 03, 2014 at 4:07 am

      Spinach, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, plain non-fat greek yogurt, sea salt, vanilla

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:58 pm

        Vanilla is a good addition.

        Reply
    11. Ashley

      October 03, 2014 at 1:30 am

      I love making green smoothies! I was a little hesitant to try them at first since I thought it would taste weird but you really can't taste the spinach, etc.! Sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:58 pm

        You can't taste it at all, can you.

        Reply
    12. Danielle

      October 03, 2014 at 12:58 am

      Green smoothies were kind of odd to me at first too, but I love them. It's a great way to get in some veggies without even trying. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 03, 2014 at 1:59 pm

        It's the only way to get my husband to eat greens haha

        Reply
    13. Manali @ CookWithManali

      October 02, 2014 at 6:39 pm

      I think I need to start drinking green smoothies! Thanks for the motivation Dannii!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 02, 2014 at 7:08 pm

        It the best way to start the day.

        Reply
    14. Louisa

      October 02, 2014 at 5:22 pm

      I have been having a green smoothie every morning for the past month and I feel great! Would love some more green smoothie ideas.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 02, 2014 at 5:23 pm

        I have lots more planned :)

        Reply
    15. Amie

      October 02, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      I love kale, almond milk and mango smoothies.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 02, 2014 at 5:23 pm

        That sounds like a delicious combo.

        Reply
    16. Julie

      October 02, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      I never thought to add spinach to my smoothies. Great idea! The colour wouldn't put me off at all.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        October 02, 2014 at 5:23 pm

        I actually really love the colour.

        Reply
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