Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie
67 Comments
Updated Dec 29, 2020
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You can tell this apple carrot beet smoothie is brimming with antioxidants from its vibrant red color! This delicious combination of beets, ginger, carrots, orange, and apple delivers a range of flavor in a satisfying juice drink to enjoy at breakfast or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
If ever there was a nutrient-packed smoothie the equivalent of “drinking your veggies” it’s this one. Low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals, the ingredients in this smoothie are brimming with anti-inflammatory, digestive, and immune-boosting benefits.
While I love using cooked beets to make my roasted beet hummus or roasted beet and kale salad, blending them raw in a smoothie is a whole different experience! They are earthy and sweet at the same time, and truly deserve their “dirt candy” nickname.
So pick up the freshest beets and carrots you can find to ensure you’re getting the best nutritional bang for your buck, and whip up this smoothie. Your body will thank you.
Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie Recipe Video
Want to see how easy it is to make this smoothie? Watch the video below!
Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie Ingredients
Just 5 simple ingredients and a high-powered blender is all you need. Here’s what’s in this smoothie:
Red Beet: adds a sweet and earthy flavor and ruby-red color; you can use a yellow beet instead for a golden-colored juice.
Apple: I used a Granny Smith apple here but it’s fine to use any apple you like or have on hand.
Carrots: contribute a subtle sweetness and additional fiber.
Fresh Ginger: adds a bright and spicy note.
Orange Juice: provides natural sweetness to balance the other ingredients.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
Should You Peel the Vegetables?
It’s really up to you. There’s no need to as long as you wash the beets, carrots, and apple well and give them a good scrub. The skin contains additional fiber and will turn this into a thick and luscious smoothie. Sometimes I’ll just do a rough peel to remove any darkened bits. But I do usually peel the ginger, as the skin can sometimes be tough. If you’d prefer a less thick and fibrous smoothie, then by all means, feel free to peel the fruit and veggies.
Tips for Healthy Smoothies
The best smoothies are made with top-quality ingredients chosen for their intense colors and flavors. Pick up a selection of vegetables and fruit that suit your palate and play around with add-ins to maximize your smoothie’s health benefits.
- Buy good quality ingredients. Look for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables from your grocery store or farmer’s market. You want ingredients that are firm and feel heavy for their size, and not dried up or bruised.
- Stick with a healthy liquid base. I used freshly squeezed orange juice and water to help the blender work its magic. Coconut water is always a great option as well.
- Boost with superfoods. Try adding ground turmeric, cinnamon, maca powder, or bee pollen to amp up nutrition.
More Nutrient-Packed Drinks
If you’re looking for more refreshing ways to drink your nutrients, give these smoothie recipes and other beverages a try!
- Jamu Juice (Turmeric Ginger Drink)
- Chocolate Collagen Smoothie
- Best Green Smoothie Recipe
- Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie
And if you want lots of nutrients, but a thinner texture, my green juice is for you.
Apple Carrot Beet Smoothie
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 red beet, medium, trimmed, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 apple, any variety, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 3 carrots, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 orange, juiced
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 cup cold water
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the pitcher of a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Use the tamper if needed.
- Pour the smoothie into glasses and enjoy right away, or chill in the fridge to enjoy later.
Lisa's Tips
- Before trimming and cutting the beet, place a sheet of parchment paper on your cutting board to prevent staining.
- As the juice sits, it will separate. Just give it a good shake or stir well before serving.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
I was reading about beets and all of their benefits, but genuinely, they taste like dirt to me! Searching for recipes that seemed more palatable landed me here. I tried it as is and could still taste the earthiness (very sensitive to it for sure reason), so I added an extra apple and I use coconut water in place of regular water. This is the only way I can consume them and I actually really enjoy it.
Glad you found a way to enjoy this apple carrot beet smoothie and reap all the benefits from it, Brandi!
I’m sorry. I really wanted to like this recipe. I love every ingredient in this recipe but together they turned out horrible. Even my husband, who eats everything, hated this recipe. Hopefully, the compost pile will like this recipe and, thankfully, the ingredients will not go to waste. The ginger was too strong and the overall taste was rather bland and could have been a bit sweeter and colder. I tried adding more apple and some ice but still it was a no go. Sooo, into the compost pile it goes.
Yummy I did have thin it a bit. I used golden beets with the apple, carrots and whole clementines, ginger, and water. You always have a yummy treat for me. TY
Hi Catherine – Happy to hear you’re loving this beet smoothie!
Dear Lisa,
You suggest the use of a juiced orange, however, I do not own a juicer. I am thinking that adding the whole oranges into my Vitamix E310 blender would work just as well? Would it be okay if I blend the orange peel too?
Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand!
Regards,
Markus
Hi Marcus! You can either use your blender or I have a small stainless steel juicer that I use as well.
I didn’t have any ginger but it doesn’t agree with me so no problem. I didn’t have any oranges, either, but had some fresh cut pineapple. The substitution worked great.
Hi Jimmy – I’m glad you enjoyed this smoothie recipe!
Wow this was really good! Was a bit afraid it would be too fibrous, but it was ok! I just peeled the orange and added it whole instead of juicing. Added one cup of cold water and one cup of ice cubes, and it got a good consistency and temperature for me. My kid had a bit but didn’t like it much he said xD A tip to all health enthusiasts out there (which I guess you have to be to do a thing like this ;)): Add some fat to it, since some of the vitamins (beta-carotene etc.) are fat soluble. I added a tea spoon cold pressed rapeseed oil.
Hi AJ – Happy to hear you love this beet smoothie!
how many fl oz per serving does this make?
Delicious as always
I hate beets. 😂 Truly beets are NOT my favorite but this smoothie recipe is GREAT! I typically use already steamed beets (prepackaged in the produce section) for convenience. I have made it with ginger juice or fresh ginger, love it. I have made with orange juice or a juiced orange (or sometimes a splash of apple juice if that’s what I have), love it. This smoothie helps me get the boost of fruit and veggies that I need, plus fiber! Thank you for this recipe!
I’m so glad you’re loving this apple carrot beet smoothie, Melissa!
Delicious Veggie Smoothie! As per recommendations in the comments below I used a cup of ice instead of a cup of water. Super refreshing. Thank you Lisa and all the commenters. :)
I love, love, love this smoothie! I prefer two oranges for flavor, but other than that this smoothie was perfect. I may try adding ice next time just for variety, but i usually prefer my smoothies warm. This smoothie is particularly helpful for my blood pressure also. I haven’tbeen diagnosed as hypertensive so I do not take any medications. I have about seven different potassium rich smoothies that I consume on a regular basis and this is one of my top three. Soooo delicious!
My first raw beet recipe. Earthy taste, no surprise there, but I am enjoying it.
I recently had a cold-press juice with all these ingredients plus lemon. It was fabulous! I don’t have a juicer, so I decided to try it as a smoothies (Yes, I realized I could strain it…) I added a squeezed lemon and it was fabulous! My family loves it! I did end up adding ice as it was warm, but that was not a problem. Thanks for the recipe and 5 stars from my family to yours!
Thanks so much for leaving a review! Happy to hear you and your family enjoyed this smoothie!
Is your beet cooked or raw
The beet is raw.
This is so delicious and so are all of your juices. I couldn’t imagine drinking this as a smoothie but it was out of this world delicious when we put it through a nut milk bag after blending. We didn’t have any ginger but the orange is what really made the flavor! Thanks for helping my family stay healthy with your delicious vegan juices!
This is not a smoothie imo, it’s juice, and it’s warm juice. It is definitely also strong on the beet and ginger, but I don’t mind that so much, especially considering this is my first time attempting to use beets in a smoothie. My Ninja doesn’t have an issue with pulverizing the veggies so no texture issues, the temp was the main downside. I replaced half the water with ice. Next time I will do all ice and I may try adding a whole apple for a touch more sweetness. I think it’s a good starting point, just not totally in love with it.
Just came across this delicious smoothie. Anyone who helped him/her with high blood pressure please?
loved the beet and ginger combo in this smoothie, but the carrots and beet together were just too much both flavor and texture. i prefer a 2:1 fruit to veg ration, so I replaced the carrots with fresh blueberries and about half the ginger on the second try. I also substituted pomegranate juice for the water and it was super tasty!
I JUST made and drank it. I’m looking at food as medicine these days and that’s what this was. I did find the Apple and ginger balancing out the beats very well. I also added cinnamon and that really made it pop! It was very pulpy BUT that’s where the hood stuff lives. I could strain it and have more of just the juice but I need ALL of the veggies, even the fiber. I hate veggies but need to get more and this delivery system worked🙌🏾
I love this recipe!! I grew beets in my garden this past year so I could make it all summer long. Thanks!!
I have large beets (214g.) and large carrots (211g.) How many grams do you use in the recipe? These seem to be rather large for this recipe.
Thanks
Just a question before starting : do you use raw beet or cooked?
I suppose both could work and one would give a smoother texture but maybe not all the vitamins…
I’m using raw beets for this smoothie.
Can you use ground instead of fresh turmeric for the ginger anti-inflammatory drinks
Hi Teresa – Yes you can use ground instead of fresh for a few of them.
I’m sorry, I hated this smoothie. Everyone in my household hated this smoothie. Even the toilet hated this smoothie, and yes, I did flush it. It tasted like hot (from the ginger) carrots. I’m sure someone out there will love it, but my family disliked it enough to flush it. Sorry. Would not recommend, and will be removing from my bookmarks as soon as I finish this comment.
Hi Glenda – that’s a bummer you didn’t enjoy the smoothie. Everyone has different tastes, and this is a very veggie heavy smoothie, with the ginger boost for health benefits. But thanks for giving it a try. I have many sweeter smoothie recipes on my site, so perhaps you’d like those better!
Loaded with good ingredients that I love individually but together in a drink, I didn’t like the taste. The beet came through very strong. Also, I had great difficulty “drinking” it. Much too thick.
I was skeptical that the beet flavor would be super strong but the ginger balanced out the flavor perfectly. It’s one of my new favorites (plus the color is gorgeous)! Thanks for your smoothie recipes Lisa!!
Glad you found a new winning smoothie to add to your rotation!
Will add this to my weekly smoothie rotation. It’s very earthy, but still tasty enough to drink with no problem. It can be a bit warm after blending so I place mine in the fridge to enjoy later. Loving your recipes for RA symptoms
Glad you’re loving this smoothie Ryan!
Followed recipe exactly. This is most HORRIBLE tasting smoothie I have ever tasted. I think I’m going to puke!
Hi Mary – Oh no, sorry you had such a strong aversion to this recipe. Perhaps you’d enjoy a sweeter smoothie with more fruit instead. You can find many of them on my website!
If you don’t like the texture. Just juice it. I promise you, it is delicious. I actually blend it together and then juice using a nut milk bag. Yummy😋
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
Glad everyone enjoyed this smoothie recipe Helan!
Can I omit the ginger?
Sure, it’s up to you.
Hi,
I was wondering how many servings this recipe makes?
This makes 2 servings :)
I enjoyed making the smoothie, its really nice. My only challenge is that it tends to boost my appetite so I feel like eating all the time.
I think the increased appetite issue might come from the fact that all the ingredients are naturally high in carbs/sugars (though at the same time very healthy and nutritious!) – this can spike your blood sugar (especially if you only drink the juice) and then on the way down from the spike you will feel hungry. The way to prevent this is to go for a brisk walk straight after consuming it. This will prevent the sugar spike and the subsequent crash because you use up the sugar before your levels get too high. I’ve tried this with a glucose monitor and it works 100%!
Hi! The intro to this smoothie mentioned a video. I can’t seem to find it.
Hi there! If you turn off your ad blocker, the video will appear. But you can also find the recipe made in my Anti-Inflammatory Drinks video as well :)
This is my first time on your site, I hope to enjoy all your recipes ( juices especially)
Can’t wait for you to give these drinks a try!
Delicious! Yet another recipe that did not disappoint, Lisa! I have only been aware of your site for the last few months, and have tried a number of your recipes since then, and I keep coming back to your website to look for new recipes! Thank you so much for sharing so many yummy recipes, I can’t wait to try them all!
Welcome to the Downshiftology community Belinda! (If I haven’t already said that) I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying all my recipes so far and can’t wait to share tons more this upcoming season :)
What a great way to start the day! I love that this is loaded with antioxidants and the color is stunning!
Thanks! It really is a great way to start your morning :)
Made this with the family and it was a hit!
Glad everyone enjoyed this recipe Katie :)
This made for the perfect breakfast!! Bought extra ingredients so I am making it again tomorrow :)
Wonderful! :)
How pretty is that color! I’ve used all of the ingredients in a smoothie before, but in separate smoothies, never knew they work so well together. :)
Now’s the time to try this combination :)
I actually had all the ingredients in my frig! I’ll admit I strained out a bit of the fiber after blending but the drink is delicious.
Wonderful! And that’s okay to strain a bit :)