When you think of smoothies, spinach may not be the first ingredient that comes to mind. But spinach smoothies can be highly nutritious and quite delicious. That’s why we’ve curated this collection of the best spinach smoothie ideas, such as:
- Lemon-ginger spinach smoothies
- Blueberry spinach smoothies
- Matcha green tea spinach smoothies
- Banana spinach smoothies
- Green keto spinach smoothies
- …and more!
We’ll get to the full collection of spinach smoothie ideas later in this article, but first, let’s talk about what makes a spinach smoothie great.
What Makes a Spinach Smoothie Great?
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, folate, and more. When you combine it with other healthy ingredients, it makes a delicious spinach smoothie that’s also good for you.
The biggest challenge for smoothie lovers is masking the spinach taste (if you don’t like the taste of spinach) and masking or minimizing the green color (for kids or anyone who will be weirded out by a “green” smoothie). We’ll share a few ideas to achieve both later in this article.
Believe it or not, spinach is quite versatile as a smoothie ingredient. You can add a handful of spinach leaves to just about any smoothie, blend it together, and reap the benefits of this leafy green veggie.
Spinach goes great with blueberries, bananas, pineapple, avocado, strawberries, cocoa, cherries, mango, kiwi, apple, lemon, lime, pears, raspberries, blackberries, cucumber, and even peaches and grapes. In other words, there are endless ways to combine spinach with a few other tasty ingredients to create a delicious spinach smoothie that helps you get your daily dose of many vitamins and minerals.
Round out your spinach smoothie with ingredients like nut butters, coconut water, almond milk, chia seeds, flaxseeds, Greek yogurt, oats, granola, almond extract, ginger root, mint, protein powder…or anything else you think will make a good addition to get your desired blend of flavors and consistency.
Need a mouth-watering, nutrient-packed smoothie on the go? Stop by your local Edible® Store for an incredible smoothie and other in-store only treats. Give our Kale Komfort Smoothie a try for another take on a green smoothie. A refreshing blend of pineapple, honeydew, kale, and freshly squeezed orange juice, this smoothie makes a great afternoon pick-me-up or an energizing kickoff to a busy day. Try the Pineapple Party Smoothie for a mouth-watering fruity blend of pineapples, strawberries, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Looking for a way to satisfy a chocolate craving? Our Cocoa Bananarama Smoothie is sure to hit the spot. A blend of bananas and fudge sauce, it’s irresistible. Or, try the Cocoa Berry Burst Smoothie for a tasty blend of fruit and chocolate flavors. You’re sure to discover your new must-have smoothie!
What are the Best Spinach Smoothie Ideas?
For more delicious spinach smoothie ideas you might want to try, we put out a call for ideas and curated responses below. (Note: Edible Arrangements® is not endorsing any of the companies or ideas discussed below, but we asked for suggestions to get some different perspectives.) Keep reading to find out what the contributors who responded to our query had to say about their favorite smoothie recipes with spinach.
Matt Claes
Matt Claes is the head coach and founder of Weight Loss Made Practical, a personal coaching company that helps busy people lose weight and keep it off.
“Spinach smoothies can be a helpful and tasty way to really increase your intake of a variety of valuable nutrients.
To make them even better in these areas, I am a fan of adding almonds or other smoothie-friendly nuts. These contain a variety of important nutrients like fiber, protein, and micronutrients (and they are tasty, too!).
Some people don’t like the taste of spinach. To resolve this somewhat and still keep your smoothie amazing in terms of health benefits, blueberries can be a great addition. These are mostly a valuable addition for their taste and micronutrients like polyphenols but also contain a nice amount of fiber.
Lastly, adding some oats to your smoothie (preferably rolled or steel-cut ones) can make your spinach smoothie more filling thanks to the fiber and protein in oats. In turn, this type of spinach smoothie can be helpful for goals like losing weight or simply avoiding those afternoon hunger pangs.”
Isla Zyair
Isla Zyair is a nutritionist, plant-based nutrition expert, and health blogger at Obesity Controllers Association.
“Spinach gives a lot of iron and other nutrients that are great for the brain.
Spinach has more beta-carotene and vitamin A than other leafy greens. It’s also a great source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. I love spinach smoothies because they are very nutritious and easy to make.
My favorite spinach smoothie idea is spinach with a hint of lemon and ginger. I like the taste of spinach with this combination. I like the tartness of the lemon and the sweet, earthy flavor of the ginger. It’s very refreshing.
Another spinach smoothie idea is a spinach-strawberry smoothie. This smoothie is very nutritious and not too sweet. The strawberries add a lot of vitamins and minerals, as well as a nice tart flavor. The spinach adds a lot of fiber and other nutrients. A spinach-strawberry smoothie is a great idea for a breakfast or snack.”
Susan Gagnon
Susan Gagnon is the editor-in-chief of Costumes Heaven.
“Smoothies are the best breakfast if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to whip up something nice. They’re tasty, healthy, and quite hearty.
My favorite spinach smoothie idea is a blueberry spinach smoothie. If you’re working with spinach, you need something sweet to cover that bitter undertaste. Blueberries are a great addition to any smoothie, but spinach is the best partner. Add Greek yogurt and bananas to complete this recipe.”
Dr. Staci Holweger
Dr. Staci Holweger is the Founder and Dr. of Regenerative medicine at Lifepatches.
“Here’s a really tasty and refreshing smoothie idea: spinach and matcha green tea! These ingredients make a simple but super healthy smoothie.
First, blend some ice cubes and spinach in the blender. Then, you need to add the matcha green tea. At last, you need to blend it all together in the blender.
The matcha green tea will add an earthy aftertaste and blend perfectly with the spinach. For an added taste, you can add a few strawberries to the smoothie as well!”
Kathryn Freda
Kathryn Freda is a Gerontologist, Geriatric Care Manager, Eldercare Consultant, and holistic health educator. As the owner of Sage Solutions, LLC, Kathy has over 20 years’ experience helping older adults and their families.
“Here are the ingredient categories for my smoothies:
- Protein
- Fat
- Vitamins, minerals, and supplements
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Spices
- Seeds
How To:
- I begin with a large glass, approximately 16 oz., of filtered water. Because I do not ingest animal protein (with the exception of eggs), I choose an organic, vegan protein powder as my source. I use one heaping scoop.
- For fat, more often than not, I choose one-half ripe Hass avocado. If I don’t have any avocado, I use a heaping tablespoon of organic almond butter.
- For additional supplementation, I add a hefty squirt of MCT oil (a healthy fat). And I always supplement with two tablespoons of marine collagen powder.
- The world is your oyster in terms of vegetables, but when making a green smoothie, I most often use kale, chard, and/or spinach.
- I lean toward berries for fruit, but I always have bags of frozen organic fruit on hand, such as mango or pineapple. I especially like to use frozen fruit during the summer as a refreshing treat.
- Ginger. Peel about a one-inch square of ginger and toss that in. Turmeric, too, about a teaspoon.
- I alternate between ground flaxseeds and chia seeds for additional nutritional support and texture.
Toss everything into a blender, and Presto! You have a wonderful meal that your body will thank you for.”
Rory Marles
Rory Marles is an athlete from Perth, Australia who writes about sports and fitness on RoryMarles.com to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
“Every morning for breakfast, I love to have a banana and spinach smoothie with soy milk.
The richness of the banana gives an excellent sweet taste, and you can’t even tell there is spinach in the smoothie! Sometimes I even like to experiment and add some cinnamon to add a bit of bitterness. I’d recommend everyone to give it a go!”
Christel Oerum
Christel Oerum is the founder, CEO, and content director of Diabetes Strong, an online resource for anyone who wants to adopt a healthy lifestyle while living with diabetes. Christel’s aim is to show that diabetes doesn’t have to limit anyone in how they approach their day-to-day lives and that with some easy lifestyle changes, there is nothing you can’t
do with diabetes.
“My favorite spinach smoothie idea is this green keto smoothie that is absolutely packed with all of the green vegetables!
While this recipe doesn’t specifically have spinach, I will often switch out the kale for spinach — as long as I get one leafy green item in there that is packed with iron, I’m happy!
To give it a more rounded and savory flavor, I love adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to this green smoothie, which helps bring a slight saltiness to cut through all of the vegetables.”
Jessica Randhawa
Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon. Jessica creates delicious, family-friendly recipes that anyone can make.
“My favorite spinach smoothie is this simple Blueberry, Beet, and Spinach Smoothie, which is packed full of nutrition!
- 1.5 cup milk of choice – cow/almond/soy/hemp/goat/etc.
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt – full or reduced fat
- 2 beets – cooked and peeled
- 1 cup fresh spinach – or a large handful
- 1 frozen banana – chopped
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 tablespoon flax seed – ground (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds – optional
Instructions:
Grab the best blender you have and dump in all the ingredients. If you have the “pulse” option on your blender, push it a couple times to get things moving. Then blend on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth. If you find that your smoothie is too thick and not blending well, simply add more liquid of choice (I usually add more milk for the protein, but you can also add juice or water).
Pour into a glass and enjoy! Best when served right away.”
Jessie Hall
Jessie is a professional chef who loves trying new recipes and cooking techniques. A few years ago, she started blogging about her favorite frozen foods at My Frozen Picks. It’s been a blast ever since!
“Here’s my favorite spinach smoothie idea.
Prepare this spinach smoothie recipe for a rapid energy boost. Each serving has a variety of fruits and vegetables, including pineapple, bananas, and apples.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup chopped Fuji, red, or green apple
- 1 cup frozen banana slices
- 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt or 1 cup dairy-free yogurt
- Unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup
Directions:
Blender ingredients should include ice cubes, pineapple, banana slices, sliced apples, baby spinach, yogurt, and almond milk.
Use the tamper as necessary while covering and processing at medium speed for around 30 seconds until thick and smooth. Increase to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds. If necessary, add more almond milk to achieve the required consistency.
Quick Tip:
Frozen spinach can be used in the recipe, it will taste slightly cooked because it has been blanched. Instead of two cups of tightly packed fresh spinach, use one-third of a cup of frozen spinach. Don’t thaw; simply add to the blender.”
Nikki Williams
Nikki Williams is a chef by trade. She works in a busy kitchen and knows the importance of having quick and easy meal options available. That’s why Nikki started Top Canned Food to help people easily find the best canned food options available.
“The Banana and Spinach Smoothie is my favorite spinach smoothie idea. This smoothie is made of bananas, spinach, and vegan milk that is quick, simple, and surprisingly tasty. Every morning for breakfast, I prepare one of these delectable treats for myself, and it keeps me going until lunch.
Ingredients:
- Simple soy milk, 1 cup
- ¾ cup of fresh spinach greens
- sliced bananas, one large
Preparation:
Spinach and soy milk should be blended until smooth.
Add banana; pulse until well-combined.”
Jane Wilkins
Jane is a professional chef with over 7 years of experience who worked in various restaurants in New York. Now (for the last couple of years) she has turned to blogging. On ButteryPan.com she simplifies cooking and answers the most basic questions people have!
“My favorite spinach-based smoothie is made with 1 banana, 1 cup of Greek yogurt, a handful of raspberries or blackberries, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 tablespoon of flax seeds, and 4-5 frozen spinach briquettes.
Simply place all of these ingredients into your blender or food processor, and blend them until you get a homogenous mixture. This recipe is healthy, nutritious, and so delicious that even those that hate spinach will enjoy it.
I use frozen spinach briquettes instead of fresh spinach because I think they make the whole smoothie taste fresher, and these briquettes blend more nicely.”
Erin Cooper
Hungry Fit Foodie is the vision of Certified Wellness Coach, Erin Cooper, who’s devoted her life to supporting moms as they embark on the journey of full restoration from a leaky gut. She believes frustration can be a clue and a catalyst to change old eating habits.
“As a certified wellness coach, my favorite spinach smoothie is a mixture I came up with:
Ingredients:
- 1-2 cups of frozen spinach
- 1 serving of collagen powder
- 1 serving of vegetable powder supplement ( for extra veggies, you can never have too many)
- 1 serving of multi-vitamin powder
- 1 serving of probiotic powder
- 1 serving of calcium powder supplement
- 1 serving of liquid mineral supplement
- Handful of ice
Steps:
Blend everything together, and you are done! The supplements I use are flavored, so I don’t need any fruit. The drink is sweetened by the supplements.
I purchase my supplements in bundles so I don’t have to buy each item independently. Saves on time and money!”
Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright is the Chief Financial Officer of The Lipo Group.
“Here’s my favorite spinach smoothie idea:
Add a handful of spinach leaves to a blender, along with a banana, some almond milk, and a scoop of protein powder. Blend until smooth, and enjoy! This smoothie is a great way to get in some extra greens, and the protein powder helps to keep me full until lunchtime.”
Natalie Kravat
Natalie Kravat, RDN, LDN, MS is the Editor at Jugofeed.
“This is my go-to spinach smoothie recipe. It is my favorite because it has a great balance of healthy carbs, fat, and protein!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup mixed berries
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
All you have to do is put all the ingredients in a blender, add a desired amount of ice to give it the consistency you’d like, and blend!”
Kelsey Riley
Kelsey Riley is a registered nurse and plant-based recipe developer at Planted in the Kitchen. She has a passion for helping others see that eating a plant-based diet can be easy and delicious!
“I love adding spinach to my smoothies, but not everyone is thrilled by the idea of drinking something green.
My favorite spinach smoothie idea is to add blueberries to the smoothie to get more of a purple color rather than green. My favorite recipe for a blueberry spinach smoothie is:
- 1 cup blueberries frozen
- 1 banana frozen
- ½ cup baby spinach
- ½ cup oat milk
- ¼ cup vanilla yogurt
- ½ cup ice”
Marjory Pilley
Marjory is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer for Dinner-Mom.com, an online resource for recipes, meal planning, and organization tips. Her mission is to make dinner easy, healthy, and fun.
“Adding spinach to a smoothie is such a healthy idea.
But the color can easily turn someone off! The simple solution is to mask the spinach with
fruit of another color. I call this a green smoothie for beginners. One of the best fruits to use is blueberries.”
Maddie Casadonte
Maddie Casadonte is the Owner of The Boots Camp, Certified Personal Trainer, Workout Instructor, and Zumba & Dance Teacher.
“I’m addicted to this spinach smoothie recipe:
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup water
- Generous handful of spinach
- Frozen banana & frozen berries
- 2 dates
- Cacao nibs
- Nut butter / powder
- Protein powder of choice
This spinach smoothie is a MASTERPIECE. Combined, it could pass as dessert.”
Jeanette Kimszal
Jeanette is a Registered Dietitian and recipe developer at The Radiant Root.
“My favorite spinach smoothie idea is mixing frozen blueberries with raw unsweetened cacao powder and nut or seed butter of some kind.
It can be peanut butter, almond, or my new favorite, sunflower seed butter. The frozen
blueberries naturally sweeten the smoothie and provide antioxidants. Adding nut/seed butter provides a protein that can help keep you full as well.”
Chelsea Mae Plummer
Chelsea is a dog-loving foodie and the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mae’s Menu. As an aspiring intuitive eater, she believes there’s room in a healthy diet for both veggies and treats.
“When most people think about adding spinach to their smoothies, they think about adding it to a fruit smoothie.
But I love adding it to my chocolate smoothies, too! The chocolate covers up the green color and the taste of the spinach, making it so easy to hide from your kids (or yourself)!”
Lori Walker, MS, RD
Lori Walker is a registered dietitian, freelance food and nutrition writer, and recipe developer. Lori’s goal is to help people find joy in eating well, and she shares easy healthy recipes on her blog, Easy Kitchen Guide.
“There are so many great spinach smoothie recipes out there, it’s hard to choose just one!
But if we had to pick, my favorite would be this simple and delicious combination of spinach, banana, and almond milk. It’s the perfect way to start your day or enjoy a healthy snack on the go.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup almond milk
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy immediately!
If you’re looking for a little more flavor or nutrition in your smoothie, feel free to add other ingredients like protein powder, flaxseed oil, or chia seeds. Whatever you do, just make sure to enjoy it!”
Melanie Edwards
Melanie Edwards is the Sr. E-Commerce and Digital Product Manager for OLIPOP, a soda that tastes like the tonic you grew up sipping but with the added benefit of microbiome and digestive health support.
“When making a spinach smoothie, I like to go all in on the green theme.
I’ll add avocado, green apples, and even kiwi for a delicious treat. It goes great with coconut milk and a drizzle of honey to add a bit of sweetness. This green smoothie is a refreshing way to start your day.”
Kristi Ruth RD, CNSC, LDN
Kristi Ruth is a Registered Dietitian and a busy working mom of three. Kristi found a way of developing easy recipes that tweens and teens love. She started a blog named Carrots & Cookies, as a way to share her recipes and tips to help busy families understand what it means to feed their families well without going crazy.
“As a dietitian mom with three kids ages 7-15, I’ve learned to get very creative with smoothies.
My favorite spinach smoothie idea is to make it tropical in flavor by adding fruits like pineapple and mango and then pair it with another green veggie that people aren’t expecting, like avocado! Avocado adds a nice creaminess to smoothies, but it doesn’t give smoothies the same pretty color that spinach does.”
Brian Nagele
Brian Nagele is the CEO of Restaurant Clicks, a blog for restaurant owners, a resource for foodies in the USA, and a former restaurant owner in Philadelphia and chef.
“Here’s a great quick spinach smoothie breakfast or as a post-workout recovery drink.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup of water or milk (I used almond milk)
- 1/2 a banana
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup (optional)
- A handful of ice cubes”
Harshit Damani
Harshit Damani is a fitness, health, and travel enthusiast who has been blogging about health and fitness for over 3 years. Recently, Harshit got the bug of researching, studying, and writing about daily food tips and healthy food substitutes, which is why he took the initiative of sharing his knowledge on SimpleFoodTips.com.
“I have tried a few spinach smoothie combinations, and the punchy coconut spinach smoothie has been my favorite so far.
It has the slightly sweet creaminess of coconut milk with a punch of lime combined with all the goodness and health benefits of spinach. Blend 2 cups of spinach with 1 cup coconut milk and 1/2 banana. Add ice or use chilled coconut milk. After pouring it into a glass, top with the juice of 1 lime (optional). Enjoy!”
Dan Gallagher
Dan Gallagher is an ISSA Certified Nutritionist at Aegle Nutrition.
“Spinach is a great source of fiber and can make you feel full without actually containing too many calories, which is why it is an excellent addition to your diet.
It’s also great because it can be added to many different foods, like smoothies, with no problem because it doesn’t have much of a distinct taste. With smoothies, you can pretty much add it to any flavor or combination of ingredients, and the only difference that it will make (other than improving the nutritional content) is the color of the smoothie. Whether it be a peanut butter and banana smoothie, a strawberry peach smoothie, or a tropical smoothie, spinach makes an excellent addition.”
Jenny Zhang
Jenny is a health coach and nutrition nut with a bachelor’s degree in Science. She believes living an organic and natural lifestyle is healthier for you and your family and better for the environment.
“A spinach smoothie is a healthy way to start your day and can be beneficial if consumed for breakfast.
It aids in increasing fiber intake and boosts your vitamin C level. My favorite is to pair it with tropical fruits to give a natural sweetness while giving you additional vitamin C, beta-carotene, and fiber. The combination of spinach, pineapple, and mango with coconut water contains an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties and electrolytes that can boost your energy levels. You can enjoy this smoothie with your kids giving you good nutrition to fuel your day.
Tropical Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup coconut water
- ½ cup frozen pineapple
- ½ cup frozen mango
- 1 banana
Blend spinach and coconut water in a blender until the water becomes green. Toss in the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately or store in a lidded glass jar until ready to drink. Enjoy.”
Eva De Angelis
Eva De Angelis is a Dietitian Nutritionist and Health and Nutrition writer at Healthcanal.com.
“Tons of people like to start their day with a smoothie.
But for a smoothie to be not only tasty but nutritious and satisfying, it should be made with whole food ingredients and have a good combination of quality protein, fiber, and fat. This way, you’ll be full for longer while getting plenty of essential nutrients.
My favorite spinach smoothie idea has 1 cup of coarsely chopped spinach, of course, plus 1/2 cup of low-fat Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup of low-fat milk, 1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks, 1 teaspoon of ground chia seeds, and 1 teaspoon of honey.
Greek yogurt and milk provide good quality protein, while spinach, pineapple, and chia seeds are high in fiber.
Also, the seeds are an excellent source of healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega-3, which is good for our hearts and brains. Spinach is rich in vitamin A (good for your eyes), vitamin K (good for clotting), and vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant), and it’s also a good source of non-heme iron. And finally, the pineapple is an excellent source of manganese, copper, and vitamin C.”
Jennie Miller
Jennie Miller is Co-Founder of MIDSS, an online health & lifestyle publication that focuses on providing its readers with materials that can better their day-to-day lives.
“My favorite spinach smoothie is simple.
I separate two cups of spinach leaves and blend them with three very ripe frozen bananas, a slice of ginger, and a few mint leaves. This recipe is great because it doesn’t need to strain. It’s sweet because of the banana, but also seasoned.”
Looking for a spinach smoothie that tastes amazing? Give one of these spinach smoothie ideas a try. From blueberry spinach smoothies to pineapple spinach smoothies, tropical green smoothies, coconut spinach smoothies, peanut butter and banana spinach smoothies, and more, these spinach smoothie ideas will convince anyone that spinach is one of the best and most versatile smoothie ingredients — even those who typically turn their nose up at the idea of spinach.
Of course, spinach smoothies aren’t the only smoothie options that pack a nutritious punch while pleasing your taste buds. If you’re craving a refreshing smoothie, in a rush and need a quick-but-nutritious breakfast, or you’re in need of a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, visit your local Edible Arrangements® store for a tasty ready-for-you smoothie!
