There are so many veggies that are perfect for adding to smoothies, and some might surprise you! Here are the best veggies for smoothies, recipes using them, and my tips and tricks for making the creamiest, most delicious veggie-loaded smoothies!
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I love fruit and veggie smoothies. They are fast to make, endless in possibilities, and where I started my own veggie-loading journey.
Truly. I knew I wanted our family to start getting move vegetables in, but as a busy working mom, felt overwhelmed at where to start in a way that would be positive and doable. So, I started with veggie-loaded smoothies. They were easy to make in the morning before work and sent me and my family into the day with a belly full of nutrient dense veggies.
Since then, my love and skills around veggies has evolved, but veggie-loaded smoothies still hold a special place in my heart. And they are my go-to fast food when we need something fueling fast!
Why add vegetables to smoothies?
I’m probably not shocking anyone by saying this, but vegetables are good for you.
They are full of vitamins and minerals. Even though we know we should eat vegetables, they are something many people struggle with enjoying and/or getting enough of on a consistent basis. This is why I love adding them to the blender! Adding vegetables to smoothies is the perfect way to start getting into the healthy habit of adding more plants to your diet in a way that is delicious. Blended with naturally sweet fruit (and other good-for-you ingredients), the veggies almost melt into this tasty drink that is downright delightful.
How to Make The Perfect Veggie Smoothie
Add the liquid to the blender first followed by the veggie. Blend this first so that the veggie easily gets pureed and is nice and smooth. Then add the fruit and other ingredients to the smoothie and blend again!
This will help you so you don’t end up with an unexpected chunk of veggie in a sip of smoothie.
What are the best vegetables for smoothies?
Answer: so many! And some that you might not be expecting. Here are my favorite along with recipes that use them! In alphabetical order……
Avocado
Yep. I know that avocado is botanically a fruit, but we use it culinarily like a vegetable most of the time. And since it is so low in natural sugars and a nutritional powerhouse, it 100% deserves to be on this list.
Avocados are a wonderful vegetable to add to smoothies because it makes a smoothie creamy and thick without the need for dairy. It also adds a nice dose of healthy fat to a smoothie, helping it be a much more satiating meal or snack.
Bonus: You can buy frozen avocados in many stores or freeze your own, making them an ideal vegetable to keep on hand for adding to smoothies. Try it in Chocolate Avocado Banana Smoothie or 5-Minute Zucchini Avocado Smoothie
Bell Peppers
Like avocados, bell peppers are fruits that like to pretend they are veggies….and we are going to let them. Especially when it comes to smoothies!
Bell peppers (especially the sweet red, yellow, and orange ones) have a mild flavor, natural sweetness, and beautiful color. They are perfect for adding to a smoothie when you want something light, refreshing and not green! They also add a nice dose of vitamin C to your morning blend. I personally love bell peppers paired with berries, mango, and pineapple in smoothies….but you can play around and see how you like bell peppers in smoothies best! Give it a go in a Refreshing Pink Smoothie and let me know what you think!
Beets
Beets are a veggie that are typically easy to find year round and go so well in so many things…including smoothies! And, oh boy, do they give smoothies a beautiful, rich color that is sure to dazzle!
Beets can technically be eaten raw, but I prefer to cook my beets to help cut that naturally earthy flavor and enhance their natural sweetness. Try beets in smoothies like 5-Minute Beet & Red Fruit Smoothie and Red Velvet Smoothie and fall in love with this veg!
Butternut Squash
Another surprise, huh!? And yes, technically another fruit…but I think we can move past that if you haven’t tried adding butternut squash to your smoothies yet because you thought of them as a vegetable….
I love to add leftover cooked butternut squash or canned butternut squash puree to my smoothies because it is a veggie that is usually easy to find year round, is affordable and is full of nutrients. Butternut squash gives a smoothie a wonderful mild sweetness without kicking up the sugar, all while serving up a healthy dose of fiber and vitamins. Sunrise Butternut Squash Smoothie is a personal and reader favorite smoothie!
Cauliflower
If you haven’t tried adding frozen riced cauliflower to your morning smoothie, you simple must try! Cauliflower not only adds lots of fiber to smoothies, but it gives them a lovely creaminess without dairy and veggie-loads a smoothie without turning it green. Since cauliflower has a mellow flavor, you really can’t taste it….especially when you use frozen! Give this veg a go in recipes like Chocolate Banana Smoothie (with veggies), Creamy Cauliflower Banana Peach Smoothie and Creamy Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie.
Carrots
Carrots are one of my staple veggies. They are affordable, easy to find in bulk year round and last forever in my crisper. And they go so well in so many things. So naturally, I had to try adding carrots to smoothies. And it totally works!
Carrots have a natural sweetness that pops in a smoothie, lots of nutrients, and carrots give the blend a beautiful color. TIP: I have found grating carrots helps them to easily break down in a smoothie. I just grate a bunch up and store them in my freezer for easy smoothie prep! I do this in my Carrot Apple Smoothie and it works like a dream!
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are such a crisp, refreshing veg and 100% can be added to a smoothie. Because they contain so much water and have a lovely mild flavor, I love to make lighter, fruity smoothies using cucumbers.
I typically opt for English cucumbers or mini cucumbers for smoothies, since they have a thin tender skin. If I use a variety of cucumber that has a thicker peel, I will peel it before tossing my cucumber into a smoothie, my Mango Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie.
Kale
Nutrient dense and often easy to find year round, kale is a great veggie to keep on hand for adding to smoothies. FYI: Kale has a tough, fibrous stem that needs to be removed before adding to smoothies. Often frozen or pre-chopped kale has had this steam removed and can be a wonderful timesaving hack for making that morning smoothie. Mango Kale Smoothie is one of my favorite ways to add kale to smoothies, so I suggest starting there!
Pumpkin
At one point or another, we all end up with leftover canned pumpkin in our fridge. Adding it to a smoothie is a wonderful (and EASY) way to add a little plant goodness to your smoothies. Seriously, just scoop it in and that’s it. Since it already is pureed, there is no worries about it not breaking down smoothly and pumpkin pairs well with bananas….a staple in many smoothie recipes, like this Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.
Spinach
Ah yes, the classic smoothie veggie. Spinach is another staple vegetable I always keep on hand for quickly adding a veg to a meal..but especially smoothies. Baby spinach is tender and easily breaks down in a smoothie. Frozen spinach also works great in a smoothie and is often affordable and easy to find! And since spinach has a milder flavor than many of its leafy green pals, it is a wonderful veg to start with if you are new to veggie-loaded smoothies. I suggest trying Peanut Butter Banana Spinach Smoothie, Blueberry Spinach Smoothie, or Spinach Pear Smoothie to bring you over to the green smoothie side of life.
Sweet Potato
I bet you were not expecting this one, but cooked sweet potatoes are a wonderful thing to add to a smoothie. They are naturally sweet, full of vitamins and fiber, and sweet potatoes give a smoothie a thick, creamy texture that makes it feel like you are enjoying a dessert! Like this Wholesome 5-Minute Sweet Potato Smoothie. It legit tastes like sweet potato pie!
Zucchini
Did you know you can eat zucchini raw? You can, which makes them a wonderful easy veggie for adding to a smoothie. Mild in flavor and with a tender skin, you can just dice up some zucchini and add it to a smoothie. Bonus: zucchinis help make a smoothie thick and creamy, like in this 5-Minute Zucchini Avocado Smoothie.
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Comments
Love this blog post! Thanks for all the helpful hints on how to make the best, nutrient dense smoothie. Trying to get all the veggies in my sick kiddos right now and smoothies are working! Thank you!
I’m so glad it is helpful! I’m so sorry your little one is under the weather, that is so hard! I totally agree that smoothies are a wonderful way to keep nutrient dense foods in sick kiddos, when most other foods don’t sound appetizing.
Enjoyed your recipes
I’m so glad, Patricia!