This green smoothie comes together in just 5 minutes and is the perfect blend of delicious and nutritious ingredients that will keep you full and satisfied.
The ultimate win is finding something that tastes good but also fuels your body with nutrient rich ingredients. This green smoothie recipe is perfect for breakfast on the go, a post workout refuel, or a night time treat. Green smoothies are my go to option when working my 9-5 job because I don't have time to sit down at home and eat in the morning but need something that can travel easily on my commute. Grab your blender and a glass because you are going to want to make this recipe asap!
Looking for another quick and easy breakfast option that you can make in advance? Try this protein chia pudding. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and easy to make multiple batches at once.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Sneak in Greens - Love any opportunity to sneak vegetables into a meal. The spinach is so subtle in the recipe that you won’t even taste it!
- Short Prep Time - This comes together in just 5 minutes, perfect for your busy mornings or day.
- Dairy & Gluten-Free- A great option for those following a gluten-free or dairy-free diet.
Ingredients
Here are some notes on a few ingredients from the recipe. See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients!
- Coconut Milk - I enjoy unsweetened coconut milk in my smoothies but any form of dairy-free milk will work! For this recipe I used Silk’s Unsweetened Coconut Milk. You can find this in the refrigerated section.
- Vanilla Protein Powder- There are many vanilla protein powders out there that would be great options. In this recipe I used Ancient Nutrition vanilla bone broth protein.
- Collagen - Collagen has been known to help with skin and joint health. I use Vital Proteins unflavored collagen.
- Chlorella Powder- This is a type of algae that may aid in detoxification and is high in vitamin A and biotin. I used Bare Organics chlorella powder.
- Organic Spinach - If possible, I would recommend purchasing organic baby spinach leaves. Non-organic spinach tends to be on the dirty dozen list meaning it is sprayed with potentially harmful chemicals.
Step By Step Instructions
This recipe comes together in 4 quick and easy steps!
Step 1: Add the liquid and dry ingredients. Take out your blender and add in the coconut milk, followed by the protein powder, cinnamon, collagen, chlorella powder, and then top with peanut butter.
Step 2: Add the fresh and frozen ingredients. Next, take two large handfuls of organic baby spinach and add it to the blender. Follow that with the frozen banana and ice cubes.
Step 3: Blend. Place the lid on top of the container and begin to blend. My blender has a smoothie setting but if yours does not, blend on medium for about 20 seconds and high for another 30 seconds. The desired consistency should be smooth and creamy.
Step 4: Pour and enjoy. Remove the lid from the blender and pour the smoothie into one large glass that can hold about 12 ounces or pour into two separate glasses and enjoy!
Hint: When adding ingredients to a blender, I always follow the acronym LDFF. That stands for liquid, dry, fresh, and frozen. This is the order in which to add ingredients to the blender starting with the blade at the bottom. By stacking the ingredients in this order and having the liquid and dry ingredients closest to the blade allows for a smoother consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
My favorite green to go into smoothies is organic baby spinach. The fresh spinach has a tender leaf allowing for an easy blend and the flavor is masked by the other items added. Kale is another good option that blends well and doesn’t have an overpowering flavor.
Most any fruit is great to add to a smoothie. My favorite fruits are bananas, berries, mangoes and peaches. Try experimenting with different fruit combinations to see what you like best.
I wouldn’t recommend more than one smoothie a day. While they are healthy they do contain sugar from the fruit and sometimes in the protein powders or plant based milks.
Substitutions
Below are easy substitutions you can make that shouldn't alter the flavor too drastically from the recipe.
- Milk - instead of coconut milk, you can use any type of plant-based milk (almond, flax, soy, etc).
- Spinach - if you don't have spinach, give kale a try instead
- Protein Powder - use vegan protein powder and exclude the collagen and this shake will be fully plant-based
Equipment
As shown in the images, I used my Vitamix A3500. I LOVE this blender. It was a splurge but as often as I use a blender I decided it was worth it and would recommend it to anyone. Before the Vitamix I used the Ninja Nutri Blender with Auto IQ and I also loved that blender. I had it for about 4 years before the motor died but would still recommend it for a more cost effective option.
Storage
The best way to enjoy this smoothie is to drink it immediately after making it. However, the smoothie can be stored in the fridge in a glass container for up to 4 hours. Be sure to stir the smoothie if you are letting it sit in the fridge before drinking it.
I would not recommend freezing the smoothie as a finished product.
Top tip
Who else hates cleaning a blender? Make cleanup a breeze! Add in a dash of dish soap and fill up the blender halfway with hot water. Place the blender lid on top of the blender and blend at a high speed for 30 seconds. Pour out the water and rise with hot water to get any remaining sections clean. Voila! No dishwasher needed.
Go Green Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 6 ounces coconut milk
- 1 serving vanilla protein powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons chlorella powder
- 1 tablespoon collagen
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 2 handfuls organic baby spinach
- 1 medium frozen banana
- 6 ice cubes
Instructions
- Add the Liquid and Dry Ingredients. Take out your blender and add in the coconut milk, followed by the protein powder, cinnamon, collagen, chlorella powder, and then top with peanut butter.
- Add the Fresh and Frozen Ingredients. Next, take two large handfuls of organic baby spinach and add to the blender. Follow that with the frozen banana and ice cubes.
- Blend. Place the lid on top of the container and begin to blend. My blender has a smoothie setting but if yours does not blend on medium for about 20 seconds and high for another 30 seconds. The final consistency should be smooth and creamy.
- Pour and enjoy. Remove the lid from the blender and pour the smoothie into one large glass that can hold about 12 ounces or pour into two separate cups and enjoy!
Notes
- When adding ingredients to a blender, I always follow the acronym LDFF. That stands for liquid, dry, fresh, and frozen. This is the order in which to add ingredients to the blender starting with the blade at the bottom. By stacking the ingredients in this order and having the liquid and dry ingredients closest to the blade allows for a smoother consistency.
- Make cleanup a breeze! Add in a dash of dish soap and fill up the blender halfway with hot water. Place the blender lid on top of the blender and blend at a high speed for 30 seconds. Pour out the water and rise with hot water to get any remaining sections clean. Voila! No dishwasher needed.
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