I love using kale in smoothies. They have a mild taste, are nutritious, and combine well with other fruits and vegetables. As someone who has difficulty getting her daily quota of green veggies, kale smoothies are a great alternative. Below you will find a diverse list of kale smoothie recipes. There is a myriad of options that are sure to please even the most discerning palate.
Common Ingredients in Kale Smoothie Recipes
Pineapple, Mango, Spinach, Apples, Peach, Strawberry, Blackberry, Blueberries, Pear, Avocado, Coconut Water, Coconut Milk, Kiwi, nut milk, lemon or lime
Protein Add-ons
Greek Yogurt, Protein Powder, Hemp Seeds
Common Sweeteners
Honey, Ripe Bananas
Other Kale Smoothie Add-ins
Ginger, Chia Seeds, Nut Butters, Hemp Seeds, Flaxseeds, Cinnamon
How to Make a Kale Smoothie
If you are making kale smoothies it is always best to get a high-powered blender. The main advantage of a high-powered blender is you won’t have bits of kale in your smoothie. When making your smoothies, first add the fruit, then the kale, and lastly a liquid. You can then add additional items to your smoothies such as yogurt, seeds, nuts, or nut butter, and blend the items thoroughly.
1. Kale Mango Pineapple Ginger Smoothie
Personally, I think pineapples and mangoes are the best fruits to use in smoothies. They have a distinctly delicious flavor, they act as natural sweeteners, and they both contain many minerals and vitamins.
I was immediately attracted to this smoothie recipe when I noticed that these two fruits were the main fruits used in this smoothie. The other main ingredients in this smoothie are coconut water and greek yogurt. The ginger adds an extra pizazz to the recipe. I think with the addition of pineapples and mangoes you don’t need an additional sweetener, but if you do you can add some honey to the recipe.
2. Pineapple Kale Smoothie
There is a reason pineapple is frequently combined with kale in smoothies. These two ingredients work very well. This recipe utilizes coconut milk, one of my favorite liquids for smoothies. It adds a creaminess to the smoothie and I love the coconut flavor. The other ingredients are bananas, chia seeds, and ginger. You can also add flaxseeds and hemp seeds for an extra nutritional boost.
3. Kale Apple Smoothie (Banana Free)
If you are not a fan of bananas you will like this smoothie. This is one of the few banana-free smoothie recipes on our list. This smoothie utilizes a combination of kale and apples. The sweet, tangy taste of the apple disguises the green taste of the kale. The addition of lime juice also helps to counteract the green taste of the kale. The chia seeds, flaxseeds, and almond butter provide an extra boost to this recipe.
4. Strawberry Kale Smoothie
This strawberry kale smoothie is kid friendly and only takes five minutes to prepare. Frozen strawberries, pineapple, and bananas tend to disguise the green taste of kale. Your kids will never know it’s there. The other main ingredients are almond milk, flaxseed, and protein powder. If you want to make your smoothie more nutritionally dense you can add avocado, hemp seeds, or chia seeds.
5. Fresh and Fruity Kale and Peach Smoothie
This is another smoothie recipe that does not contain bananas. This smoothie is a healthy version of peach lemonade. This recipe is really simple, it only requires a few ingredients. The main ingredients are peach, kale, lime, water, and honey.
6. Kale Smoothie (With Pineapple, Banana, and Orange Juice)
This smoothie is a tropical version of a green smoothie with a combination of orange juice, pineapple, banana, and kale. The pineapple and orange juice counteracts the green taste of the smoothie. The addition of bananas gives you a nice creamy smoothie. If you are pressed for time you can freeze your kale and store it for later. You can add additional items such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, protein powder, or almond butter.
7. Blackberry Kale Superfood Smoothie
Personally, I am a big fan of berries in smoothies. You usually find recipes with blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. However, blackberries are not very popular. I was happy to find this recipe. This smoothie is vegan and dairy free and a perfect way to start the day or to consume as a post-workout snack.
8. Blueberry Kale Smoothie
The beauty of adding some sort of protein to your smoothie is it helps you to feel full longer. These protein smoothies are ideal for breakfast, a mid-afternoon snack, or a post-workout option. This blueberry, kale recipe has a fruity flavor and is bound to please even the pickiest palate. The main ingredients in this smoothie are kale, blueberries, banana, almond milk, and a vanilla-flavored protein powder.
9. Kale Protein Smoothie
This kale smoothie is a bit different from the other recipes on our list. The addition of peanut butter gives this smoothie a unique flavor. This high-protein smoothie is a great post-workout smoothie with the addition of fruits such as strawberries and bananas. The addition of peanut butter, protein powder, and cinnamon gives this smoothie an extra kick. If you want to experiment with recipes you can try adding ingredients such as almond butter, pineapple, raspberries, avocado, or mango.
10. Avocado Kale Smoothie
Avocado is an excellent addition to any smoothie. It has a mild taste and is nutritionally dense. This avocado banana kale smoothie hits the sweet spot when it comes to smoothies. The avocados add a creamy buttery texture to your smoothie. The addition of coconut water provides the perfect liquid base for your smoothie. The frozen bananas in the smoothie help to thicken and sweeten your smoothie.
11. Kale Berry Smoothie
This berry banana kale smoothie is nutritious and easy to prepare. It’s a great option for breakfast on the run or as a quick mid-afternoon snack. The main ingredients are almond milk, greek yogurt, kale, frozen banana, and frozen fruit. You can also switch out the almond milk for apple juice.
12. Kale Pear and Almond Smoothie
This smoothie recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and easy to prepare. The main ingredients are pear, kale, coconut milk, chia seeds, and almond butter. You can replace the almond butter with peanut butter if you prefer this option.
