Spinach Berry Smoothie

Jump To Recipe by Liz Thomson December 28, 2023 This post may contain affiliate links.

This creamy smoothie is packed with berries and spinach for a quick and easy breakfast or snack! It’s delicious and filled with good-for-you ingredients!

I love making smoothies because it’s an easy way to add a bunch of healthy ingredients into a meal or snack. I often throw a little bit of whatever vegetables I have on hand, whether that’s spinach, kale, zucchini, or cauliflower. (Check out all the veggies I packed into this hidden veggie smoothie!) The berries are sweet enough to mask the taste of the vegetables and I end up with a tasty, healthy drink! If you’re looking for more tasty recipes, try my banana berry smoothie, green smoothie recipe, or peach mango smoothie. All of these recipes are great for a healthy breakfast. They also help support your immune system and gut health thanks to the healthy fats, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Almond milk– I used almond milk, but you can use dairy milk or soy milk if you want to add more protein. This smoothie also works with oat milk.
Spinach– You can use kale instead of raw spinach but be sure to remove the stems, which are too tough and bitter to blend. I recommend reducing the amount of kale to a small handful since too much can add a bitter flavor. I’ve also used frozen spinach, which works great!
Banana– A frozen banana helps make this smoothie thick and creamy, while also adding sweetness. If you don’t like bananas, you can use 1/2 ripe avocado plus maple syrup or honey to taste for sweetness.
Berries– Frozen berries give this a lovely sweet and tart flavor. I used a mixed berry blend containing blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. These berries are low in sugar, but still have enough natural sweetness to mask the spinach — making them a great option for smoothies. But any combination of berries works great. You can also use fresh fruit, but the texture won’t be quite as thick.
Yogurt or cottage cheese- Plain Greek yogurt or low-sodium cottage cheese is a great way to make this smoothie super thick and creamy while adding protein.
Protein powder (optional)– If I want to add a little protein, I’ll use 1/2 scoop of Clean Simple Eats Vanilla protein powder or a scoop of plant-based protein powder. Vega’s vegan vanilla protein is a great one.

Variations & Additions

You could add a tablespoon of chia seeds or hemp seeds. These little seeds add healthy fat and protein to your smoothie.
If you want to turn it into a smoothie bowl and add toppings, fresh berries and granola are a great option!
If you want to add sweetness, use half almond milk and half orange juice or add a little maple syrup or extra sweetener.
To make this smoothie thick, be sure to use frozen berries and a frozen banana. The frozen fruit makes it super thick. You can also add a handful of ice cubes.

How to Make a Super Thick Smoothie

There are a few tricks to making super thick, spoonable smoothies. First, you want to use the minimum amount of liquid possible to blend your smoothie. Secondly, you want to make sure you’re using frozen fruit. If you don’t have a powerful blender like a Vitamix, cut the fruit into small pieces and freeze. This makes them easier to blend once frozen. For more tips, check out my guide to super thick smoothies.

Tips for the Perfect Smoothie

To make your smoothie extra thick, freeze the banana before blending. If you don’t have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, slice the banana before freezing so it’ll be easier to blend.
If you have trouble blending your smoothie, add an extra splash of almond milk to get things moving. Add a little bit at a time until it begins to blend. Adding too much liquid will water down the smoothie.
Still struggling with a regular blender? Read my tips for getting the best results from your blender!