Here’s how to make the best spinach smoothie! The sweet tart flavor is so irresistible, you’ll forget you’re eating your greens.

Spinach smoothie

The words “spinach smoothie” might sound less than appetizing: like a bitter green sludge. But guess what? Here’s one that tastes sweet tart and fruity. Yes, this is the best spinach smoothie that’s so tasty, you’ll forget that you’re eating your greens. This tasty smoothie can be made two ways: with cashews for some protein, or with more fruit to keep it nut-free. Either way, it’s plant-based and packed with nutrients…as you’d expect a green drink would be!

Why make this spinach smoothie recipe?

We know what you’re thinking: why do you need a recipe for a smoothie? Here’s the thing: we’ve made lots of spinach smoothies without recipes. And they all turned out bitter and weirdly brown green. Here’s what makes this spinach smoothie recipe great:

  • It’s got pure, sweet tart flavor. Really, you won’t be able to stop drinking it! No bitter spinach here.
  • It’s full of healthy ingredients. No sugary juices to make it taste good.
  • It’s plant-based. You can use either the cashews variation or fruit variation (see below): no need for yogurt to make it creamy.

Love plant based smoothies? Try these Top Vegan Smoothie Recipes!

How to make a spinach smoothie

Ingredients for this spinach smoothie

This spinach smoothie has a short list of ingredients. Here’s all you need:

  • Spinach: You can use either baby spinach or standard. If you use standard, chop it into pieces first.
  • Green apple: The key to a great spinach smoothie! It brings a great sweet tart flavor.
  • Cashews: Using nuts in a smoothie helps it to have plant-based protein and staying power. OR you can use…
  • Maple syrup & lemon juice: This enhances the sweet tart vibes. You can use the maple to taste, but we like 1 tablespoon (for two smoothies).
  • Ice: A hefty quantity of ice helps add texture and body.
  • Water: Just a little water and you can blend it right up!
Spinach smoothie

Make it nut free!

You can make this spinach smoothie nut free if you do these swaps:

  • Swap the cashews for 1 banana + 1 ½ cups frozen mango or pineapple. Use a room temperature banana and frozen fruit. You may need to add the fruit 2 batches to get it to blend, depending on your blender.
  • Omit the maple syrup. With the sweetness of the fruit, you won’t need the extra sweetener.

Smoothie storage

Smoothies are best eaten immediately. But this spinach smoothie actually lasts 1 to 2 days refrigerated, stored in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. It may separate, which is perfectly natural. Just shake it up and you’re good to go!

Spinach smoothie

Spinach nutrition

What’s so great about spinach? Spinach is one of the 20 best vegetables you can eat! Here are some of the benefits that spinach offers:

  • High in calcium, more than other vegetables
  • Very high in Vitamin K and Vitamin A
  • Low in calories (1 cup of raw spinach has 45 calories)

Want more recipes with spinach? Head to our spinach recipes, or try this Amazing Sauteed Spinach or Classic Spinach Salad.

This spinach smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Spinach smoothie

Best Spinach Smoothie


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x

Description

Here’s how to make the best spinach smoothie! The sweet tart flavor is so irresistible, you’ll forget you’re eating your greens.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large green apple
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup raw cashews (or 1 banana and 1 ½ cups frozen mango or pineapple, skip the maple)
  • 4 cups baby spinach leaves or chopped spinach, loosely packed
  • 10 ice cubes
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (1/2 lemon)

Instructions

  1. Chop the apple into chunks, leaving the peel on. Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth, stopping and scrapping as necessary. (If you’re using the fruit option, try adding the frozen fruit in 2 batches and blending between.)
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Spinach smoothie, Best spinach smoothie

More smoothie recipes

Here are more of our favorite smoothie recipes that help you get the right ratio of fruit, ice and liquid every time!

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 Comments

  1. Would I be able to substitute almonds or almond butter in this recipe? Also, any other options to replace the apple as I don’t tolerate them? Would pineapple be an adequate replacement? Thanks

    1. Yes, 1 or 2 tablespoons almond butter would work as a substitute for cashews! 1 cup frozen pineapple would work well as a substitute for apple.

  2. Just got a Vitamix (Yay!) and this was the first smoothie I tried. So good! Mostly it tastes like apple and it’s such a refreshing drink! Thanks so much for starting my smoothie experience off on such a good foot!

  3. Thank you for your recipes. I have been looking for veggie-tasting meal replacement shakes but they are ALL chocolate or vanilla! Or some flavor that is supposed to make you think you are not eating vegetables. I love vegetables but my husband works out of town for months at a time so i needed to find a way to get my veggie nutrients, but I did not want to have to cook or eat raw veggies all the time – knowing they are going to go bad before I could eat them all. LOL. I found your site and your recipes are celebrating veggies and not masking them – so THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! I am now subscribed & am looking forward for more of your shared content!