This healthy green smoothie recipe provides a boost of nutrition to your day! Each flavorful sip contains leafy greens, hearty vegetables, fruit, and Greek yogurt for protein.
Table of Contents
When you see a bright green smoothie, the brain knows it will be healthy, but will it taste good? Working in nutrition product development, my job as a research scientist was to make vitamins and minerals taste better. I was beyond excited to take on this flavor challenge!
Breakfast smoothies are essential for busy days. They can efficiently deliver most of the nutrients your body craves and needs. But it’s all about balancing each ingredient’s quantity and unique flavors. Leveraging the natural sweetness of coconut water and a variety of fruits mellow out the bitterness of the hearty vegetables. This is my favorite green smoothie recipe that’s easy to customize!
The key green vegetables
This healthy smoothie recipe uses a wide variety of fresh green vegetables and fruits. Dark leafy greens like baby kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce are tender and loaded with nutrients.
More fibrous broccoli, cucumber, and celery are used in smaller quantities and blend in seamlessly. The celery has the most dominant flavor, giving the green smoothie slightly savory notes. You can easily adjust the smoothie’s taste by omitting and swapping in more of your favorite green fruits and vegetables.
Flavorful add-ins
The natural sweetness and pleasant acidity of green grapes, apples, and pears balance the bitterness of the vegetables. Frozen pineapple pieces and ice cubes create a thick texture. Coconut water sweetens the taste and is the liquid base to help process the smoothie. However, your favorite milk product or juice would also work. Unsweetened almond milk is one of my top choices.
Greek yogurt adds creaminess while masking some of the astringency of the greens. If you want a plant-based version, try dairy-free yogurts. Frozen banana also gives a creamy consistency without dairy.
How to make a green smoothie
The fibrous ingredients must be added to the blender in a particular order to puree the greens thoroughly. Add the liquids first, followed by the leafy greens, hearty vegetables/fruit, then the frozen ingredients.
Use the tamper tool to help push those robust ingredients into the blade on the bottom of the cup. I always start the blender on medium speed, then ramp up to give it a super-smooth texture.
If you want to make a thicker smoothie bowl, start with ¼ cup of liquid, increasing as needed to help the process.
Way to customize this recipe
- Liquids: Coconut milk or water, plant-based milk, or juices like pineapple, apple, or orange juice.
- Yogurt: Greek yogurt, regular yogurt, dairy-free, plain or sweetened.
- Leafy Greens: Types of lettuce like Bibb or romaine, spinach or kale, parsley, beet greens, or watercress.
- Hearty Greens: Cucumber, broccoli, celery, zucchini, fennel, green bell pepper.
- Fresh Fruit: Grapes, apples, pears, mango, avocado, or bananas.
- Frozen Fruit: Pineapple, mango, or banana makes the smoothie thicker.
- Nutritional Boost: Matcha powder, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, collagen, protein powders, or nut butter like almond, peanut, or cashew.
- Sweeteners: Honey, agave, dates, date syrup, maple syrup, or stevia.
These ingredients will keep the green color of the smoothie. Feel free to add other colored produce or juice, which may change the appearance. Check serving sizes and minimize the amount of added sugar, and use healthy fats, as smoothies can become high in calories if drinking too much at one time.
More smoothie recipes
Recipe Science
Are green smoothies healthy?
Yes! Compared to juicing, where all insoluble fibers are removed, blending whole fruits and vegetables better retains the nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Breaking down the ingredients into small suspended particles in the liquid makes it easier to digest and absorb the nutrients efficiently.
Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut water
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 cup baby kale
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 cup sliced romaine lettuce
- ½ cup broccoli florets
- ½ cup sliced cucumbers
- ½ cup chopped celery, ¾" dice
- ½ cup green grapes
- ½ cup diced pears, ¾" dice
- ½ cup diced green apple, ¾" dice
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Layer the Ingredients – Add coconut water, yogurt, kale, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, grapes, pears, apple pineapple, and ice cubes to the blender.
- Cover and Blend – Cover and process on medium speed for about 30 seconds, using the tamper as needed. Increase to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds until smooth.
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 5 cups
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Make it Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free yogurt (coconut, soy, oat) instead of Greek yogurt.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Kathleen says
Is this green smoothie really 44% sugar?
Am I reading this correctly? Thanks Jessica!
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Kathleen- There is no added refined sugar. However, fruits and vegetables do contain carbohydrates, which add to the sugar amounts in the smoothie recipe.
Aria Blarg says
Followed this recipe to the T right after buying the freshest ingredients. I have to say, it’s not as tasty as other green smoothies out there. I admire the vegetable content, but my kids usually love vegetable smoothies I make in general. We are trying out new ones this week, and neither of my kids could like it. It hit the mark for me as well, but I am drinking it so it does not go to waste (especially after the cost of all the fresh produce), but I think maybe the celery is what overpowered everything else. I may try the smoothie again, but because this recipe makes 5 and it is harder to break down the portions by 5 for making a smoothie for one, I’m not sure if I will. I really wanted me and my kids to love this smoothie though!
I’m giving 3 stars because it’s 5-stars for nutrition, but the taste and the practicality for it in ease is low for me.
Hannah says
Hi there,
This smoothie sounds great! I am struggling to find ways of getting rid of the ‘froth’ on green smoothies and also separation without adding high calorie fruits such as banana which I would like to stay away from as I am on a weight-loss journey. Do you have any tips for me?
I do have a Vitamix, so a very good blender.
Hannah x
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Hannah- I think it’s hard to remove the froth as the blender creates a lot of friction in the cup. The more frozen ingredients you can use, the thicker the consistency, and it takes longer for the ingredients to defrost separate compared to just using ice. Whenever I use yogurt I’ve found that this also helps with a more even consistency of the smoothie.
Paolo says
How long can I keep the smoothie in the refrigerator?
Jessica Gavin says
You can refrigerate it for up to one day, however, it will be melted. I’ve found that it will stay chilly for up to an hour in the fridge.
Ash says
Tried it this morning and now feel like superwoman. AND it tasted very good (added a teaspoon of grated ginger in the finished thing)! Thanks!
Jessica Gavin says
You are a super woman! I love the addition of some spicy fresh ginger to the smoothie, yum!
Jason says
Hi Jessica!
I am trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in my diet, but am having a difficult time trying to eat 8-10 servings per day. How many servings of fruits and vegetables does this recipe consist of?
Jessica Gavin says
One serving of fruit could be a medium sized piece of fruit, 1/2 cup sliced or diced, 1/4 cup dried, or 1/4 cup fruit juice. For veggies a serving is about 1 cup leafy greens, 1/2 cup canned or frozen, or 1/2 cup veggie juice. There is about 8 servings or fruit and veggies in the entire smoothie recipe, and it makes 5 servings, so about 1 1/2 servings per glass.
S says
Is this good leftover or does it need to be consumed same day?
Jessica Gavin says
I would enjoy the smoothie the same day as the texture changes as it melts.
Gerry says
– raw almonds
– unsweetened shredded coconut
– one frozen banana
– one carrot
– frozen strawberries
– frozen pineapple chunks
– frozen peeled orange quarters
– frozen mango chunks
– frozen blueberries or cranberries (optional)
– spring water
– blend!!!
Jessica Gavin says
What a tasty smoothie combination Gerry!