Kale Smoothie
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.I love starting my day with this healthy 5-ingredient Kale Smoothie for a refreshing burst of energy. Blended with pears, apples, almond butter, and almond milk, it’s naturally sweet, super satisfying, and the best part? You can’t even taste the kale!
Kale in a smoothie? I know it sounds a little intimidating but trust me, I’ve tested this recipe so many times to get the perfect balance. I wanted a green smoothie (much like my spinach smoothie) that was nutrient-packed, naturally sweet, and actually enjoyable to drink, without that overpowering “green” taste.
After lots of trial and error, I found that combining kale with apples and pears created the perfect sweetness while still giving me all the benefits of leafy greens. And you know what? You’d never guess there’s kale in it!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
What I love most about this recipe is how simple and budget-friendly it is. With just five easy-to-find ingredients, I can skip the expensive smoothie shop and make this right at home! Plus, it’s completely vegan and gluten-free. Packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, it gives me that refreshing, energizing boost to start my day feeling great.
I usually make this kale smoothie just for myself, but the other day, I decided to blend up two extra glasses for my kids. Sneaking in some extra greens for my picky eaters felt like a little mom win! I poured their smoothies, handed them over, and casually waited to see if they’d notice…
The funniest part? They drank the whole thing without a second thought. The natural sweetness from the apples and pears completely masked the kale, and not a single “Ew, what’s in this?” was said. I just sat there, silently celebrating my smoothie success, knowing they’d just gotten a full serving of greens without even realizing it. Ha!
So, I highly recommend giving this a try with your kiddos! It’s the easiest way to sneak in fruits and veggies. Just toss everything in the blender, and in minutes, you’ve got a creamy, refreshing, naturally sweet smoothie that tastes like a treat but is loaded with nutrients.
🥘 Ingredients
I kept it super simple with just five ingredients for this healthy green smoothie with kale, all easy to find at any grocery store. Here’s what I used:
Kale: I like to use curly kale for this smoothie. It blends smoothly and adds all the nutrients without an overpowering taste.
Apple: A sweet and tart apple makes all the difference! I love using Envy, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Gala.
Pear: The riper, the better! Bartlett pears are my go-to because they add just the right amount of natural sweetness to this smoothie.
Almond Butter: A spoonful of natural almond butter gives this smoothie extra flavor, richness, and keeps me full longer.
Unsweetened Almond Milk: I always go for plain or vanilla almond milk to keep it dairy-free and avoid extra sugar.
🍲 Substitutions
Leafy Greens: You can swap curly kale or baby spinach for any mix of Tuscan kale, lacinato kale, purple kale, baby spinach, or baby power greens, whatever you have on hand works.
Fruit: Feel free to switch up the apples and pears with peaches, mango, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, or banana, this is a great way to use up extra fruit.
Nut Butter: Peanut butter, cashew butter, or pumpkin seed butter all work just as well as almond butter and add their own unique flavor.
Milk: Any plant-based or dairy milk can be used instead of almond milk, oat, cashew, coconut, soy, or pea milk are all great options. I don’t recommend using juice, as it won’t make the smoothie as creamy and can add too much sugar.
🔪 How To Make
You won’t believe how easy it is to make this healthy kale smoothie. Grab your ingredients, and let’s get blending.
Prep Ingredients: First, I chop the apple and pear into small cubes for easier blending. Then, I remove the stem and spine from the kale and give it a rough chop. Once everything is ready, I toss all the ingredients into my high-powered blender and get ready to blend.
Blend: I blend everything until it’s completely smooth, which usually takes about 1-2 minutes. Then, I pour it into a glass and enjoy this fresh, creamy kale smoothie right away, best served immediately!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for keeping my smoothies thick and silky smooth is to start blending on low and gradually increase the speed. I used to crank it up to high right away, but I quickly learned that doing this can cause the motor to overheat and struggle with frozen ingredients. Now, I let the Vitamix do its thing slowly, and the result is a perfectly blended smoothie every single time.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Add the Ingredients to the Blender in the Order Listed: I always add the ingredients in order to make blending quick and effortless. This helps everything break down evenly and gives me a perfectly smooth smoothie.
- Add Water and Ice Only As Needed: Too much water or ice can water down the flavors, so I add just a little at a time if needed. If I’m using a high-speed blender, I usually don’t need any at all!
- Protein Powder: Sometimes I use any of these plant-based protein powder to keep this recipe a healthy high protein vegan breakfast. Otherwise, any unflavored or vanilla protein powder will work in this kale and fruit smoothie.
📖 Variations
I love making this kale smoothie because it’s so easy to customize, no two blends have to be the same. These are my favorite variations:
Add Healthy Fats: When I want an extra creamy texture, I blend in half an avocado for a rich, smooth kale avocado smoothie. I also love doubling up on almond butter for a boost of heart-healthy fats.
Tropical Flavors: For a tropical twist, I swap the apples or pears for pineapple to make a kale pineapple smoothie. If you like this, I recommend you to try my blueberry pineapple smoothie is full of healthy benefits and is ready in just 5 minutes.
Kale Banana Smoothie: Adding a ripe banana makes this smoothie extra creamy and naturally sweet. I use fresh or frozen banana depending on what I have on hand.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I don’t mind enjoying this kale smoothie on its own, but when I want something more filling, I pair it with a slice of avocado toast for the perfect balance of healthy fats and greens.
It also makes a great light vegetarian breakfast when paired with a bowl of my high protein overnight oats. Yum!
If I’m in a rush, I pour it into a to-go cup and grab a gluten free chocolate banana muffins for a quick, satisfying, and nutritious start to the day.
🫙 Storage Directions
Make Ahead: I always think this kale smoothie tastes best fresh, but if I’m short on time, I prep the ingredients in the blender and store it in the fridge for up to 4 hours- then, I just blend and go.
Freezing: If I have leftovers, I freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When I’m ready to enjoy, I let it thaw in the fridge for 6-12 hours, then blend until smooth and it’s as good as new.
❓Recipe FAQs
Is it okay to put raw kale in a smoothie?
Yes, it’s totally fine to put raw kale in a smoothie, I do it all the time! It’s also great in salads or as a side dish, but keep in mind that kale is naturally fibrous and tough. That’s why I love blending it, the blender breaks it down, making it super easy to drink. If I’m eating it raw, I always remove the stems and massage the leaves to soften them up and make them easier to enjoy.
Is putting kale in smoothies good for you?
As a nutritionist and health coach, I can tell you that kale in a smoothie is an amazing way to fuel your body! Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a fantastic addition to any smoothie. But here’s the thing, not all smoothies are created equal. A green smoothie from a restaurant might sound healthy, but many are loaded with added sugars and sweeteners, turning them into more of a dessert than a nutritious drink.
That’s why I love making smoothies at home, I get to control exactly what goes in.
How do you thicken a vegan smoothie?
I like to control the amount of liquid I add to my smoothies to get the perfect thick and creamy texture. This recipe starts with just ½ cup of almond milk, so it’s already on the thicker side. When I make other vegan smoothies, I always start with less liquid and add more as needed. If I want an extra thick smoothie or a vegan smoothie bowl, I simply cut back on the liquid and let the blender do the work!
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Kale Smoothie
I love starting my day with this healthy 5-ingredient Kale Smoothie for a refreshing burst of energy. Blended with pears, apples, kale, almond butter, and almond milk, it’s naturally sweet, super satisfying, and the best part? You can’t even taste the kale!
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 154.2kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1-2 cups kale or about 4 large kale leaves, de-stemmed and torn into pieces
- 1 cup baby spinach optional
- 1 scoop plant based protein powder optional
- 1 small apple cored
- 1 small pear cored
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- water to your desired consistency
- ice optional
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients in a blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth. Blend in water to the smoothie as needed to reach the desired consistency. Drink and enjoy.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for keeping my smoothies thick and silky smooth is to start blending on low and gradually increase the speed. I used to crank it up to high right away, but I quickly learned that doing this can cause the motor to overheat and struggle with frozen ingredients. Now, I let the Vitamix do its thing slowly, and the result is a perfectly blended smoothie every single time.
- Add the Ingredients to the Blender in the Order Listed: I always add the ingredients in order to make blending quick and effortless. This helps everything break down evenly and gives me a perfectly smooth smoothie.
- Add Water and Ice Only As Needed: Too much water or ice can water down the flavors, so I add just a little at a time if needed. If I’m using a high-speed blender, I usually don’t need any at all!
- Protein Powder: Sometimes I use any of these plant-based protein powder to keep this recipe a healthy high protein vegan breakfast. Otherwise, any unflavored or vanilla protein powder will work in this kale and fruit smoothie.
Nutrition
Calories: 154.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.4g | Protein: 4.3g | Fat: 5.8g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 73.3mg | Potassium: 540.8mg | Fiber: 6.7g | Sugar: 14.3g
I bet you can’t even taste the kale with all the other deliciousness mixed in!
Totally!! The kale “bitterness” totally disappears in this smoothie!
I am always looking for a good detox smoothie recipe! Especially with the holiday coming up. This sounds delicious!
Thanks so much Danielle! Enjoy!
This recipe does indeed seem like it would give a burst of energy!! I love how simple the ingredients are also. Can’t wait to give this a go, thanks!
Yes!! I can’t wait for you to try this Adrianne!
I’ve been on detox for almost 3 days and I’m glad that I was able to read this recipe, I have another addition to my list of green smoothies. Thanks for sharing, by the way what type of blender are you using?
Glad you like this recipe! I use a Cuisinart blender for my smoothies, and sometimes I use the Ninja if I just want one serving. Hope that helps!
Anjali,
I love your blog! I just tried this recipe and it was awesome! I substituted a banana for the apple because that was what I had in the house. It tasted great.
Thanks for all of the awesome recipes:)
Aw thanks so much Allison! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my blog and my recipes! 🙂 And substituting a banana for the apple is a great way to switch up this smoothie!
Love this recipe! Quick and easy to do, and refreshing! Your recipes and blog are really inspiring!
Awesome!! Yes I love green smoothies – it’s such an easy way to get a ton of healthy veggies and fruits into your diet 🙂 So glad you liked this recipe and my blog as well!
I juice all the time and always looking for new recipes! sounds good! Im going to try it soon!
Oh great! Let me know how you like it Jordan!
I think it’s time that I detox my body! Thanks for sharing your green smoothie recipe!
No problem at all Jasmine!! I’m sure you will love it, and good luck with your detox! 🙂
Would sunflower butter be an okay substitute for almond/walnut butter? I have a severe nut allergy.
Yes! I think sunflower butter can definitely work – as long as you like the flavor of it (because it is very distinct flavor wise). Definitely try it out and let me know how it tastes!
:)You are welcome! Yes try the cucumber Anjali it gives a light and refreshing taste to it mmmmm…:)
Yum! Light & refreshing is my kind of drink!
Hi Anjali!! I love your blog and the recipes wow ! 🙂
This green smoothie is almost how I make mineeee and I love kale!! I make it with kale, celery, cucumber and pear 😉
This is how I start my every day, green smoothie power!! 😀
Hi Vessie!! Aww thank you so much!! I’m so glad you like my recipes! Aren’t green smoothies great?? They are really the perfect way to start the day! I’ll have to add cucumber to mine next time – that sounds delicious!!
LOL you’re welcome! Your recipes look super yummy btw. Indian fistbump 🙂
Haha! Thanks so much – love the fistbump Kaya! 🙂
I do my own version of a green smoothie which is possibly more sweet but is an amazing vitamin boost and anti inflammatory for runners.
– 1 whole banana ( potassium good for muscle strength and healing)
– 1/4 cup orange juice
– 1/4 cup almond milk( rice or soy or coconut ‘milk’ for allergic folks)
– Plain probiotic yogurt or kefir ( to keep away yeast infections and help digestion throughout the day)
– Handful of kale
– Handful of collard greens
– Handful of spinach
– 4 or 5 Blueberries/substitute with frozen grapes
– 2 Strawberries
– Tiny bit grated ginger
Blend!
OMG I LOVE this recipe Kaya!!!! Thank you so much for sharing – I love that you put 3 types of greens in your smoothie. It seriously sounds delicious – I can’t wait to try it. Thanks again for the inspiration!
I’m allergic to almonds… any suggestions for substitutions?
I would try unsweetened soy milk (instead of almond milk), and 1 Tbsp walnuts (instead of 1 Tbsp almond butter). Let me know how that turns out!
This sounds delicious. Will the extra keep in the fridge or freezer?
Thanks Jill! I think extra will keep in the fridge for a day or two. The water might separate from the fruits/veggies, so you might have to shake it up before you drink it again. But I think definitely the next day should be fine. Let me know how you like it!
Just reading this recipe sounds refreshing! Although we had vegan nachos last night during the game, I had one too many. This sounds nice and light! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Maria! Haha it sounds like your superbowl experience was similar to mine – we had healthy veggie chili – but I had like 3 bowls 🙂 I definitely felt refreshed after drinking this smoothie yesterday & today! Enjoy!