This spinach smoothie recipe is loaded with leafy green spinach, but you can’t even taste it!
I like to call this my “Candy Smoothie Recipe,” because the pineapple completely masks the flavor of the spinach.
Many people want to eat more vegetables but don’t think of including them in their breakfast. After tasting this spinach smoothie, you’ll see how easy and delicious it can be to start your day with a nutrient-rich dark green veggie like spinach!
I like it for breakfast, but this sweet and refreshing smoothie is perfect any time of day, too.
If you’re scared my pineapple spinach smoothie will taste too much like spinach, don’t worry. The pineapple and banana make this smoothie taste like candy (in a healthy way!).
Are spinach smoothies healthy? Spinach smoothies are definitely healthy.
For starters, spinach smoothies pack a powerful punch of antioxidants and critical electrolytes like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. They’re also rich in vitamins A, K, and C and contain significant folate, iron, and soluble fiber.
Not only is this healthy smoothie rich in micronutrients, but it’s also easily absorbable. Don’t be surprised if this spinach smoothie gives your energy levels and skin appearance a noticeable boost.
Benefits of Spinach Smoothies
The health benefits of drinking a spinach smoothie every day are plentiful, thanks to its many valuable nutrients. Here are some of the top ways this nutritious smoothie can boost your health and why it should be added to your list of healthy recipes to use regularly.
Increased Detoxification
Spinach is high in insoluble fiber, a key ingredient in optimizing digestive health and preventing constipation.
According to Mayo Clinic, high-fiber foods like spinach can help you reach a healthy weight because they make you more likely to eat less yet stay fuller longer.
Do spinach smoothies help you maintain a healthy weight? As part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle plan, a high-fiber spinach smoothie may help you lose weight. They also aid in your body’s natural detox process.
If you’re looking for spinach smoothie recipes for weight loss, make sure they don’t contain too many sugar-rich ingredients. This tasty smoothie is a perfect balance between fruits and veggies.
I would also avoid adding sweeteners like Splenda or Sweet-N-Low, which contain questionable ingredients. This smoothie is technically “unsweetened” but tastes like candy because of the yummy fruit inside!
More Energy
Spinach is loaded with iron, a significant player in energy production.
Iron helps to carry oxygen throughout the body. A lack of iron in the diet is linked to fatigue and poor concentration.
Healthier Skin
Looking to improve your skin health and appearance? This yummy spinach smoothie is a perfect choice because it’s rich in so many of the vitamins that your skin needs to thrive. This leafy green contains vitamins A, C, and K1.
How do these vitamins help your skin? Vitamin A helps to prevent breakouts, speed up wound healing, and improve hydration levels. Meanwhile, vitamin C protects against oxidative stress, and vitamin K1 supports the skin’s natural barrier function.
Spinach truly is a skin superfood.
Boosted Immunity
Spinach is rich in a class of antioxidants called carotenoids. The body turns provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A, which is essential to a robust immune system.
Spinach, bananas, and pineapple all contain vitamin C, another key immune booster. Research shows that vitamin C can increase immune defense at a cellular level and help fight off infections.
Fresh or Frozen: Which is better?
I prefer fresh spinach and fresh pineapple in this recipe with a frozen banana.
Frozen spinach is super concentrated and can make your smoothie taste too spinach-y. When you use fresh spinach in a smoothie it’s much easier to see how much you’re using.
Tip: Always peel and freeze bananas before they turn brown for smoothies like this. A frozen banana in your smoothie will yield a creamier, almost ice-cream-like texture.
When it comes to fresh pineapple, you’ll benefit from its enzyme content most by using it fresh rather than frozen.
You could also make this spinach smoothie without a banana if you don’t love bananas in your smoothies.
More Healthy Smoothies
- Simple Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
- Frozen Banana & Cacao Recipe
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe
You can also check out even more ideas in my Healthy Smoothie Recipe index.
Print
Pineapple Spinach Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Description
This spinach smoothie is not only good for you, but it’s also absolutely delicious! It’s packed with vitamin C, essential minerals, fiber, plant enzymes, and hydration. If you love it please leave a star rating in the comments below to help other readers in our community.
Ingredients
- 3–4 cups fresh baby spinach (about 3–4 large handfuls)
- 1 cup freshly cut pineapple (fresh is best for the enzymes, but frozen is OK too)
- 1 small frozen banana (peel bananas before freezing them)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 cup of filtered water
- 4–5 ice cubes
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, starting on low and working your way up to high until well blended. This should take about 45-60 seconds in all.
Notes
The ingredient measurements in green smoothies are flexible, so you can add more or less of any ingredients to your taste. You can also do a spinach smoothie with milk of your choice (like dairy-free almond milk or coconut milk) instead of adding water.
Greek yogurt is another alternative for water that will make the smoothie thicker and more protein-rich. Adding a tablespoon of almond butter, peanut butter, or vanilla protein powder is another excellent addition to this healthy smoothie if you’re looking for more protein.
The pineapple and banana make this smoothie deliciously sweet. The lime adds a great tart flavor, but if you don’t dig tart flavor, just leave it out.
You can also substitute 2 tablespoons of avocado for the coconut oil if you don’t have any on hand. Flaxseed could work instead of chia seeds, too.
Green smoothies are best when served immediately but can be saved for later in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. Fill the container to the top and seal tightly to minimize air exposure.
Keywords: spinach smoothie
Sources
- Mayo Clinic. 2021. Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983
- Healthline. 2018. Carotenoids: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/carotenoids
- Carr, A.C. & Silvia Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
Thanks Elizabeth for this recipe. I’m definitely gonna try it out tomorrow. Today I made a smoothie of random fruits.
★★★★★
I’ve never made a good smoothie in my life; I just made this smoothie tonight and it’s the best smoothie I’ve ever had. Thank you, thank you!
★★★★★
Glad to hear it! ~E
Oh, Elizabeth, thanks for reminding me about this wonderful smoothie. I love it, but had forgotten. I don’t put the banana in it as it makes it too much sugar for me and it tastes great. Thanks again, you are the best ever!
I’m not a big fan of using Stevia, would a little raw honey give it more of a sweet taste?
Do you think that I can substitute frozen mango for the pineapple? Also, what kind of blender do you use?
I haven’t tried it with mango but I think it would be good – smoothie making is all about trial and error 🙂 I use a vitamix; any high-speed blender will work.
I love this, I also have done a variation with a mint leaf or two instead of lime. Yum
Sounds delish!
Absolutely amazing! I’ve been drinking this everyday for the past few weeks or so… Love it! It’s totally my go to green smoothie. Awesome job, Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing this! xox
So glad you like it!
Why are you adding fat with the coconut oil ? I understand the chia seeds add omega 3 and 6, but does your body really need the fat from the coconut oil? Should I be using coconut?
Great question! The chia has a small amount of fat, but a little more is needed to absorb all of the fat-soluble nutrients in the smoothie. 1 teaspoon raw, virgin coconut oil is great for nutrition, texture and flavor in the smoothie.
Sounds yummy!! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome, it’s one of my new favorites! 🙂