You’ve probably seen 1,001 green smoothie recipes on the interwebs, and I have a couple here on IGE, but I’ve officially found the most delicious one yet. The BEST EVER Green Smoothie, if I do say so myself!
I can’t take all credit as the combination comes from a new-to-me smoothie shop that Ben, Lincoln, and I visited last weekend. We trekked inside, glanced at the menu, and it was all I could do to prevent a Ben-shaped hole from appearing in the doorway because the smoothies were EIGHT DOLLARS a piece. I could buy, like, eight semi-useful things from the Target $1 bin for that kind of cash!
Watch How to Make It!
Needless to say we got one smoothie to split between the three of us, but it ended being so unbelievably delicious that I accidentally drank more than my share and made Lincoln cry because he didn’t get as much as he wanted. Can you say Mother of the Year?
I got back in my baby’s good graces the following day when we recreated the smoothie at home for a fraction of the cost, and it ended up being a dead ringer for the $8 one. I mean, we nailed it!
Just four ingredients – kale, baby spinach, frozen mango, and apple juice – are blended until brilliantly green, and silky smooth. If you are a green smoothie skeptic, promise me you’ll try this combo. Lincoln sucked. it. DOWN. and has had one every single day since Saturday. I mean, a salad in a glass that tastes like a tropical drink? Heck yes!
Normally I would never put juice in a smoothie – I prefer to eat my calories vs drink them (except when they’re in fermented grape form, of course) – but for me the pros outweigh the cons in this case. Loads of healthy, dark leafy greens more than make up for using 100% apple juice as the blending liquid, plus the taste is just so gosh darn good. That said, if you want to cut down on sugar you could try using coconut water in place of some of the juice. I tried water and it tasted a little bland.
We’ve been drinking Best-Ever Green Smoothies in the morning or after nap time for a boost of healthy greens, but it’d also make a great pre-workout drink. Pair it with a couple scrambled eggs or piece of peanut butter toast for a well-rounded breakfast, or even replace your nightly fermented grape juice with this smoothie instead. Who am I to tell you when and how to drink it though – just go for it!
Oh! This green smoothie makes great smoothie packs. Stuff the kale, baby spinach, and mango into ziplock baggies then freeze. When you’re ready to drink, pour the contents into a blender, add the liquid, and then blend!
Start with 1 cup packed chopped curly kale. I am counting down the days until our farmer’s market opens so I can use mountains of local kale in here! If you are thinking about starting a vegetable garden this year, consider planting kale. It’s super easy to take care of and grows well into the fall.
Add the kale plus 1 cup packed baby spinach into a blender with 1 cup frozen mango chunks. I have a Blendtec and absolutely love it. Kale can be a bit tough, but it’s blended to smithereens in this high-powered blender.
Finally add 1 cup no sugar added 100% apple juice.
Pop the lid on top then blend until silky smooth. NO color editing here – the smoothie really is this bright green, but doesn’t taste like it!
Pour the smoothie into glasses then add a straw. The recipe makes 16oz so you could split with a partner, or keep the whole thing for yourself. Bright, fresh, healthy, and 100% delicious. I hope you love this healthy smoothie recipe as much as we do – enjoy!
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- Back on Track Green Smoothie
- Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie
- Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
- Razzy Navel Smoothie
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Best-Ever Green Smoothie (For the Green Smoothie Skeptics!)
Description
4-ingredient Best-Ever Green Smoothie is gluten, dairy, and banana-free, and is the best-tasting green smoothie EVER! If you don't want to eat your dark leafy greens - drink them instead!
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed chopped curly kale
- 1 cup packed baby spinach
- 1 cup frozen chopped mango
- 1 cup no sugar added 100% apple juice
Directions
- Combine ingredients in a blender in the order listed then blend until very smooth and serve.
Notes
- This smoothie makes great smoothie packs! Combine kale, spinach, and mango in baggies then freeze. When ready to drink, dump contents of one baggie into a blender, add juice, and then blend until smooth.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
[…] Source: Iowa Girl Eats […]
[…] Source: Iowa Girl Eats […]
SOOO good :) ! Thanks xxxx
Is it possible to blend this up at night and have it still taste good in the morning? I have to get up much, much earlier than the rest of the house and 5:30am blender use would be frowned upon.
You bet! The smoothie might lose a bit of its brightness, but the taste will still be delicious.
I have a banana allergy so thank you for posting a simple smoothie recipe!
I’ve made countless recipes from your blog, but this one made me feel like Super Mom! I think my three year old just had more greens from one smoothie than his whole life combined. Thank you so much!
Wohoo!! Just what I love to hear!
I was super skeptical about this! Even after making it I was afraid to take a sip but oh my gosh! I do not taste anything but mango and apple! Delicious!!
You’re right, this absolutely delicious. Thanks for the great recipes.
[…] me. I mean it’s only four ingredients and one of them is apple juice. How hard can it be? And Kristin’s recipes are some of the best I’ve tried. I’ve been following her since before she had a […]
Made this smoothie recipe today for my kids for St. Patrick’s Day (because what better day to convince them to drink something green). They slurped them right up, and my ultra picky son gave them a thumbs up, which is a huge compliment from him. These kids hate most veggies, especially anything that looks like a salad. If anyone is skeptical about how this smoothie might taste, trust me you will not know there is spinach and kale in it.
I had to report back! My family loved this smoothie! It gave my 15.5 month old son incentive to figure out how to use a straw (which he did). But then he decided he just wanted to drink straight from the cup. What can ya do?
That is amazing! Learning how to use a straw AND getting his greens – two birds, one stone!
Have never liked green smoothies until THIS ONE!!! I drink it everyday after my run and it’s so good! All I can taste is the apple juice. I’m not a huge fan of mango so I sub in peaches instead and it’s outstanding! Thank you for the recipe!
[…] the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, I’m grabbing the ingredients for this…and freezing the extras in ice cube trays so I can whip one up at a later date. Oh, and […]
Green’s on top! And it wins! Looks sooo good! :)
This is so good! I even got my teenage daughters to drink it. I do need to get a kick a$$ blender though, but still good!
Made this for breakfast today and it was amazing! I tend to find my ‘green’ smoothies are usually brown — this was not the case. Your pictures did it justice! And the mango added just the right amount of sweetness! Thank you for sharing :)
You can see the pure enjoyment on Lincoln’s little face. Looks delicious.
I also like to add a tablespoon of organic almond butter.
Hi, I just wanted to start off by saying you are FREAKING AWESOME. I’ve always wished you were my best friend :D
I wanted to know if you could make this with like half an apple and coconut water and if it would still taste similar?
Wohoo, thanks! ;) I tried this and it tasted good though you could taste the coconut water, which is definitely not a bad thing if you like the taste. Go for it!
I’m pregnant so what I can eat in the morning is kind of hit-or-miss, but this smoothie is amazing! Easy, tasty, doesn’t smell like bananas (turns me off lately), and by 8am I’ve already given my little baby bump a good dose of fruits and veggies. Thank you for this!