Best Green Smoothie Recipe (5 Ingredients)

Name: Best Green Smoothie Recipe (5 Ingredients)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cup milk (dairy or dairy-free); 2 cups baby spinach; 1 frozen banana; 1 apple; ¼ avocado

This green smoothie is fresh, healthy, and nutrient-dense—perfect for fueling your day! It’s also a simple way to enjoy an extra serving of fruits and vegetables, and blends up quickly.

Glasses of green smoothie. — Photo: Gayle McLeod

Why You’ll Love This Green Smoothie

I’ve been making this green smoothie recipe for decades, it’s my go-to! And while you can make variations to it (see my tips below), it really is an everyday green smoothie that you can turn to repeatedly. In fact, it might actually get you excited to get out of bed in the mornings to blend it up! So, what makes this recipe the best?

It’s super simple. There’s just five basic ingredients. And you may have them in your fridge already!
It’s well-rounded. With a combination of fruits and vegetables it’s packed with nutrients and quite filling. The key to a great green smoothie is choosing the right ingredients with the correct quantities. Proportions are everything, for both texture and flavor.
This one actually tastes good. Unlike other recipes, it’s not overly bitter and has a hint of natural sweetness. But it’s not too sweet. I’m quite confident you’ll love this green smoothie just as much as my green juice!

Green Smoothie Ingredients

While the ingredient list is extremely flexible, this is my favorite combination of fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. It’s simple yet so delicious.

Milk: My favorite options for a creamy smoothie are cashew milk, oat milk, or almond milk. But feel free to use whichever dairy or dairy-free milk you prefer.
Vegetables: Spinach is an easy leafy green superfood to add to green smoothies. Plus, those big containers of baby spinach are very budget-friendly.
Fruits: You’ll need an apple, avocado, and a banana — a good balance of fruits and healthy fats. If you want to swap any of these, I’ve got ingredient substitutions listed below.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Green smoothie ingredients in a blender.

How To Make A Green Smoothie

It couldn’t be any easier! Just add all of the ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until it’s perfectly smooth and creamy. It should only take about 30 seconds!

Tips & Substitutions

If you haven’t read my post on how to make the healthiest green smoothie, make sure to do that. But here are a few quick tips:

Switch up the greens. Some other leafy greens that blend well are kale, spinach, or chard. But if you have celery, mustard greens, or romaine on hand, those are great options too.
Stick with a healthy liquid base. Since you’ll be adding fruit into your smoothie, it’s best to not add any additional sugars with fruit juice. Instead, opt for water or milk (dairy or dairy-free, your choice).
Make it thicker or thinner. If you want your smoothie a bit thicker, add another ¼ slice of avocado. If you want your smoothie a bit thinner, just add more liquid.
Mix up your fruits. A 2:1 ratio between fruits and vegetables is a good rule of thumb. Over time, you can increase to a 1:1 ratio for a lower sugar smoothie. Some of my favorite fruits are frozen bananas, strawberries, mangos, and pineapple.
Don’t forget about healthy fats. Healthy fats help you absorb all of the vitamins and nutrients from vegetables and fruits. If you don’t have an avocado, add healthy fats from almond butter, or other nuts and seeds.

Common Questions

What if you can’t eat bananas or avocados?

Substitute the banana with mango or pear. For the avocado, try a tablespoon or two of almond butter. Alternatively, you can add frozen cauliflower or frozen zucchini to help bulk the smoothie.

Can you add protein?

Definitely! I do this in my post workout green smoothie. Feel free to add a scoop of your favorite collagen, powder powder, or some Greek yogurt. If adding Greek yogurt, keep in mind that it’ll add a tangy flavor.

Can you meal prep green smoothies?

You can, but just be aware that anything with avocado will brown over time. So it may look a little murky the next day (though it’s still fine to drink!). But because this recipe is so easy, I usually make it fresh on the spot.

More Healthy Smoothie Recipes

Next time you’re at the market, grab a handful of seasonal ingredients and whip up these other smoothie ideas!

If you make this green smoothie recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.