My Favorite Green Smoothie Recipe

Published August 16, 2019. Updated September 3, 2019

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My favorite Green Smoothie recipe! It tastes like a dessert yet it’s healthy! It’s packed with nutritious fresh spinach, hearty oats, sweet berries and banana, and rich almonds – plus a few secret ingredients you wouldn’t find in your typical green smoothie that really make it shine. You’ll instantly be hooked!

Green smoothie in a tall glass with strawberries, spinach and bananas to the side.

The Tastiest Green Smoothie!

The great thing about this healthy smoothie is that there’s no spinach flavor. You wouldn’t believe how the fruit hides the flavor of the spinach even though there’s a hefty 2 1/2 packed cups of it.

Even my kids love this smoothie! My daughter says it tastes like pie. And I love that it’s a breakfast or midday snack I feel great about feeding them. No artificial flavors or colors, and it’s not a bunch of empty carbs (like some of those sugary cereals they like). Plus it keeps us full until lunch.

We call it the Grinch smoothie because even if a food doesn’t look so appealing to kids if you give it a fun name it can make all the difference.

Sometimes it comes out with a prettier green than others (who knows it must be the batch of spinach and berries) but every time we love it just the same. I always look forward to breakfast when I know I’ve got everything stocked to make this! I’ve been hooked on it all summer.

It’s quick and easy, perfectly filling and satisfying, and just perfectly delicious! Who knew healthy could taste so good?

Ingredients needed to make green smoothie shown here including spinach, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, almonds, oats, water, and ice.

Green Smoothie Ingredients:

  • Spinach – baby spinach or regular spinach will work fine.
  • Banana – use a well ripened banana, this is where the majority of the sweetness in the smoothie comes from and will make it taste like a treat if it’s ripened.
  • Strawberries – the berries in this smoothie give it such a good flavor. I prefer to use a blend of two kinds (skip blackberries though they add bad color and don’t taste good here, I’ve tried).
  • Blueberries or raspberries – raspberries tend to give the smoothie a better color leaving more room for the green to shine but the blueberry cinnamon version is too good to resist so try both. Just don’t use wild blueberries or smoothie comes out a weird brown color.
  • Oats – I use rolled old fashioned oats but quick oats should be fine if that’s what you have.
  • Sliced almonds – I’ve also used almond flour or almond butter here instead of sliced almonds (use 1 1/2 Tbsp almond flour or 1 Tbsp almond butter).
  • Cinnamon – not the first ingredients you’d think to add to a green smoothie but it makes it taste like a dessert or shake!
  • Almond extract or vanilla extract – after tasting it this way you’ll think every smoothie should have a dash of sweetly flavored extract.

Green smoothie ingredients in a blender jar before blending.

How to Make a Green Smoothie:

This smoothie couldn’t be easier to make! You don’t even need to cut up any ingredients (I just like to break up the banana but really you could leave it whole).

You just measure ingredients out, toss everything in a blender (start with water first so it’s not dotted over the spinach and hard to blend) and blend away! It should only take about 30 seconds of blending, and no more than 5 minutes total from start (gathering and measuring) to finish (pureed and ready to enjoy).

Green smoothie in blender after pureeing.

Can I Use Milk instead of Water?

So here’s the thing, I’ve actually made this with almond milk and I like the water version better (believe it or not). The almond milk version almost seemed like too much to me personally because with this amount of spinach it really thickens up the smoothie.

Plus here we add oats and almonds so its almost as if you are already make a homemade almond milk or oat milk once it’s blended. If you insist try it with a non-dairy milk (or juice if you wanted it really sweet) but really I don’t think it’s needed.

Can I Double the Recipe?

Yes, as long as it will fit into your blender.

What Can I Substitute for Banana?

I often get asked what to substitute for bananas in smoothies. Mango, pineapple or peaches generally work well. If you don’t have an allergy though I recommend sticking with banana.

What If There’s a Nut Allergy?

Omit the almonds and just use 1/4 cup oats. Also don’t use the almond extract, use vanilla instead.

Pouring green smoothie into a glass from a blender jar.

Tips for the Best Green Smoothie:

  • Be sure to really pack in the spinach to give it a green color – not an unappetizing brownish color. If you have a kitchen scale you can use that.
  • Use frozen berries and ice for a nice thick smoothie. It tastes better this way too. You can use a frozen banana too then add a little more water if needed.
  • Serve it right away. It’s best served nice and cold and freshly processed. I don’t recommend making it in advance.
  • Don’t skip the cinnamon and vanilla or almond extract (unless there’s an allergy). It really takes this smoothie to a new level of delicious!

Overhead image of two glasses of green smoothies.

More Green Smoothie Recipes to Try:

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Green smoothie in a tall glass with strawberries, spinach and bananas to the side.
4 from 3 votes

Green Smoothie

My go-to Green Smoothie recipe! It tastes like a dessert yet it's healthy! It's packed with nutritious fresh spinach, hearty oats, sweet berries and banana, and rich almonds - plus a few secret ingredients you wouldn't find in your typical green smoothie that really make it shine. You'll instantly be hooked!
Servings: 1
Prep5 minutes
Ready in: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp rolled oats
  • 2 Tbsp sliced almonds or 1 Tbsp almond butter
  • 1 medium ripe banana
  • 1.25 oz. frozen raspberries or blueberries (1/4 cup)
  • 2 oz. frozen strawberries (about 2 large or 6 small)
  • 1/2 cup cold water*
  • 2.5 oz. fresh spinach (2 1/2 cups packed)
  • 6 ice cubes
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon + 1/8 tsp vanilla extract - for blueberry version
  • 1/8 tsp almond extract - for raspberry version

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a high speed blender (if using blueberries add cinnamon and vanilla, if using raspberries add almond extract). Blend until well pureed. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • *If needed you can add a little extra water. If using a high powered blender you shouldn't need to.
  • I've tried this with almond milk but I feel that since it's already a creamy smoothie without it, and since almonds are added it's not needed. But if you'd like it even richer and creamier you can use it in place of water.
Nutrition Facts
Green Smoothie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 309 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 70mg3%
Potassium 1164mg33%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 20g22%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 6721IU134%
Vitamin C 73mg88%
Calcium 110mg11%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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9 Comments

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes frozen spinach would work great too just use the same weight. Then you may want to replace ice with more liquid unless you want it thicker and colder.

  • Paula

    I love a good green smoothie! This looked good. I made mine with raspberries and lots of spinach. It ended up looking like pond scum. Very tasty pond scum nonetheless!!!

  • Jennie

    I followed all the measurements exactly (using a kitchen scale), but it was sweet at all, and I really couldn’t tell the difference with this and any other green smoothie even with the addition of oats, vanilla, cinnamon. For some reason, mine didn’t turn out as vibrant green as the recipe pictures… more brown greenish.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      The sweetness really comes from using a speckled ripened banana and sweet berries, but if needed honey could be added. And sorry yours didn’t turn out as green I mentioned that in the notes of the post sometimes mine aren’t as green as other times – and the blueberry version is never as green as the raspberry version. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it! I’ve been eating it every morning for weeks now, maybe with a sweeter batch of fruit you’d like it better :).

  • Amanda

    This was very tasty (just made it so we’ll see how long it keeps me full for). I had to add another 1/4-1/2 cup of water or so as my Vitamix couldn’t get it to blend well.

    Love the pretty green color. So many times my smoothies end up this ugly color of brownish-purple!

  • EJ

    I agree, carbs are part of a healthy “balanced” diet. I think if we all went back to the food pyramid, we and our children would be a lot healthier. Everything in moderation.

  • Mary

    You like to call this healthy but it has waaay too many carbs to be healthy. Leave out the banana and do your body a favor.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Who says carbs are unhealthy? I personally believe carbs are part of a healthy balanced diet. But everyone has their own opinion on that :).