This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Learn how to make my family’s favorite Green Smoothie Recipe – ready in just 5 minutes! Packed with fresh fruit and baby spinach, this simple, nutritious, and delicious green smoothie is perfect for breakfast or as an energizing post-workout snack.
Green smoothies are my breakfast bestie. With endless flavor combinations, they never get old. Plus, they’re one of the easiest ways to toss back a crazy amount of nutrients and actually enjoy it!
Today I’m sharing my favorite green smoothie recipe. It’s a simple 5-minute recipe made with just 6 ingredients – milk, yogurt, spinach, frozen peaches, frozen mango, and banana. There’s no added sugars, just the natural sweetness of your favorite fruits. It’s a great recipe for blender beginners and dedicated smoothie fans alike!
Pro tip: Freeze leftovers (if you have any) into popsicles for a refreshing summer treat or into small ice cubes and add them to your next smoothie concoction.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Feel free to check out the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
- Fresh spinach: Baby spinach is my go-to for its mild taste and soft texture. Sometimes I’ll add kale or Swiss chard, making sure to trim any tough, woody stems before blending.
- Milk: You can use dairy milk or opt for plant-based alternatives like almond, oat, soy, coconut, or cashew milk.
- Yogurt: I chose to make this smoothie with vanilla yogurt. Vanilla yogurt is sweetened; feel free to swap it out for plain and unsweetened yogurt if that’s what you prefer. Greek yogurt is thick and high in protein, while plant-based yogurts (almond, coconut, soy) are great dairy-free options. For a non-yogurt alternative, try avocado or silken tofu.
- Frozen fruit: Frozen fruit is a smoothie must-have! The best fruit for green smoothies include mango, peaches, pineapple, berries, and cherries, but my all-time favorite combo is mango and peaches. Light, sweet, and a little tropical.
- Banana: Adds natural sweetness, creaminess, and helps mask the flavor of stronger greens. Use a ripe banana for maximum flavor, or freeze it in chunks ahead of time for a thicker, colder texture.
- Chia seeds: Basically flavorless, chia seeds are loaded with omega-3s, protein, and fiber. Since chia absorbs liquid, your smoothie may thicken as it sits.
Step by Step Instructions
For best results, I recommend making smoothies in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. This is the blender I own and love.
- Add everything to a large blender, starting with the yogurt and milk. Then add the spinach, frozen fruit, banana, and chia seeds (if using).
- Blend until smooth, adding more milk or yogurt if needed.
Jessica Says
Tips for Making The Best Green Smoothies
- Add the ingredients in the right order: It might seem silly, but layering helps your blender work more efficiently. Start with liquids, then add soft ingredients (like yogurt or fresh greens), followed by frozen fruit, and finally ice (if using).
- Blend in stages if you’re using a lower-powered blender (blenders with motors under 600 watts): Start by blending liquids and soft ingredients first, then gradually add frozen items. This prevents jams and protects your motor.
- Taste before adding sweeteners: Most smoothies don’t need added sweeteners, especially if they’re made with sweeter fruit (like banana, mango, or strawberries), include flavored yogurt, and/or contain juice.
Blend first, then taste; add honey, agave, or maple syrup only if needed. - Use frozen fruit instead of ice: Frozen fruit makes smoothies thick, cold, and creamy—without watering them down like ice does.
- Prep the ingredients ahead: Purchase a bunch of bananas and flash freeze them once they ripen. Simply peel and cut them into thirds, freeze them on a baking sheet for an hour or two, then transfer them to a large ziplock bag. This also works well with berries, mango, peaches, and pineapple. You could even freeze pre-portioned smoothie packs fruit, greens, and seeds. Just add liquid when you’re ready to blend.
Flavor Variations
This green smoothie is delicious as written, but it’s easy to customize based on your preferences or what you have on hand. Here are a few ideas to mix things up:
- Add whole grains: For a thicker, more filling green smoothie, blend in a few tablespoons of rolled oats or cooked quinoa.
- Use different greens or veggies: Swap spinach for kale, Swiss chard, celery, beet greens, carrot tops, or a small piece of fresh ginger for added flavor and nutrients.
- Try a new fruit combo: When my freezer isn’t stocked with frozen mangoes and peaches, I’ll use whatever I have on hand. Frozen mixed berries, dragon fruit, pineapple, cherries, and oranges all taste delicious.
- Switch the liquid base: Instead of regular dairy milk, blend this smoothie with your favorite plant-based alternative like almond, coconut, oat, or cashew milk, or even orange or pineapple juice.
- Add a protein boost: Try adding a scoop of your favorite unflavored or vanilla protein powder.
- Boost with superfoods: Blend in a teaspoon of ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds, or acai powder for extra nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on the ingredients, but, yes, green smoothies can be very healthy – especially when they’re made with fresh greens, whole fruits, and minimal added sugars.
Yes, absolutely. Or, try swapping the banana with additional mango, 1/2 an avocado, or a few dates for added sweetness.
I much prefer making my green smoothies with fresh spinach or even kale. I find that bagged frozen spinach has a stronger earthy flavor and can sometimes taste freezer-burned. If frozen spinach is your only option, start with a small amount, and adjust to taste.
More Easy Smoothie Recipes
If you love this green smoothie recipe, try one of these delicious smoothie recipes next:
If you make this Green Smoothie Recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment section below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more delicious food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups plain or vanilla yogurt, or yogurt of choice
- 1½ cups milk, (cow’s milk, almond, soy, oat, hemp, or goat)
- 2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach
- 2 teaspoon chia seeds, optional
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1½ cup frozen peaches
- 1 small banana
- Ice, optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the bowl of a large blender, starting with the liquids (yogurt and milk) and ending with the frozen ingredients (frozen fruit).
- Process until frozen mango and peaches are fully blended and the spinach is completely processed.
- Best served immediately.
Notes
- Adding yogurt to smoothies helps make them extra creamy. In this particular recipe, I added full-fat vanilla yogurt instead of any added sugar or sweetener. Feel free to add plain yogurt or another preferred flavored yogurt if you prefer, or leave the yogurt out altogether.
- You may add milk (cow milk, soy, almond, coconut, oat, etc) or fruit juice as the liquid choice for this smoothie.
- If you’re new to green smoothies, I recommend starting with spinach before moving on to something like kale which typically has a grassier taste (though still delicious).
- Peach and Mango are my (personal) favorite fruit combination for this smoothie. With just the right amount of sweetness, you can really pack in the greens.
- Although bananas aren’t a must-have, they add great creaminess, especially when they’re blended from frozen.
- I make all of my smoothie recipes in my Vitamix 780. I have owned it for years and years and love it!
- Smoothies are best served immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
SO good! I didn’t have yogurt so I just used milk but it was equally delicious
Thanks for the kind feedback Kate 🙂
Green smoothies are not really my thing, but this recipe is AMAZING!!!! It tastes *SO* good. Thank you so much!
First green smoothie I have made that I actually really liked! Thank you for the recipe I will be sharing with friends!