This vanilla green protein smoothie has it all! It’s loaded with protein and spinach to keep you full, and bananas and almond milk help make it deliciously creamy. They are only about 200 calories and give you two servings of fruits and vegetables per each creamy glass. 

Vanilla Green Protein Smoothie in a serving glass

Table of contents

Why We Love This Protein Smoothie Recipe

I have been drinking this easy protein smoothie every day when I get home from my workout. It only takes 5 minutes! I also love making this Skinny Chocolate Recovery Protein Shake when my sugar and chocolate cravings hit.

Drinking this smoothie is a fast and delicious way to quickly get in your protein after a workout. That said, this smoothie is great for all times of the day, not only after a workout. Make it as a midday snack or as a quick breakfast before you head out the door.

Recipe Highlights

  • Can be made with plant-based protein for a vegan smoothie
  • Only 5 ingredients
  • Spinach gives it a full serving of veggies
  • Bananas give it healthy carbs, a creamy texture and naturally sweeten the smoothie
  • Uses unsweetened almond milk for a lower-calorie base
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Key Ingredients For This Recipe

Banana

Bananas help make a smoothie extra thick and creamy. Choose ripe bananas which are naturally sweetest. You can also use a frozen banana, and skip the ice!

Unsweetened almond milk

Many almond milks at the store are sweetened (even the unflavored kinds!). To keep the added sugars in this green smoothie at zero, I used only unsweetened almond milk. You can also use unsweetened coconut, flax, or cashew milk if that’s your preferred non-dairy milk. Regular milk works too!

Baby spinach

Spinach is packed with good for you nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin C. I use a cup of spinach in this green smoothie recipe and puree it for almost a minute to ensure that the spinach gets fully broken down. 

Vanilla protein powder

  • I use a sugar-free vanilla whey protein powder that’s sweetened with stevia.
  • You can use hemp protein, pea protein or anther plant-based vegetarian protein powder instead.
  • Collagen peptides are also a great option.
  • Note that if your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add a drizzle of maple syrup to your smoothie if you want a slightly sweeter drink. 

Ice

I love adding ice to my smoothies especially if I’m not using frozen fruit. This just help thicken and chill the smoothie, making it extra refreshing and delicious.

Instructions to Make This Green Protein Smoothie

Combine all ingredients in blender. Purée and pulse on high to combine for 10 to 15 seconds until all ingredients are roughly chopped. Purée continuously on high until completely smooth and the spinach is completely pureed, 40 to 45 seconds. Serve immediately.

FAQs and Expert Tips

How to store this smoothie:

Smoothies are definitely best enjoyed immediately, so I’d recommend making it right before serving. However, most smoothies will last for 1 to 2 days in the fridge as long as it’s stored in an airtight container.

What to use if you don’t have a good protein powder:

No protein powder, no problem! Substitute the protein powder with non-fat Greek yogurt instead. Each serving of non-fat plain Greek yogurt has about 17 grams of protein. If you want even more protein, add a spoonful of your favorite nut butter. Make sure to use a little stevia, honey or maple syrup to sweeten it if you skip the vanilla protein powder.

Variations To Try

  • Instead of spinach, try another fruit or veggie. I like strawberries and raspberries (use 1 cup hulled strawberries or 2/3 cup raspberries.) Other leafy greens work too, like Swiss chard or kale.
  • Add in nutritious boosters like chia seeds, flax meal or hemp hearts.
  • Instead of ice use frozen mixed berries, frozen pineapple or frozen mango for more fruit and sweetness.
  • Add cocoa nibs or cocoa powder for a chocolatey flavor and use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla!
the smoothie on a dark background

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At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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Vanilla Green Protein Smoothie on Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Vanilla Green Protein Smoothie

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5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 3/4 cup 1x
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Description

This vanilla green protein smoothie with spinach and whey protein powder takes 5 minutes to make! Serve it for a quick snack after exercise or breakfast.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 small ripe banana, peeled and broken in half
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach
  • 1 serving vanilla protein powder (1/2 to 1 scoop)
  • 1/2 cup ice

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Puree and pulse on high to combine for 10 to 15 seconds until all ingredients are roughly chopped. Puree continuously on high until completely smooth and the spinach is completely pureed, 40 to 45 seconds. Serve immediately.

Notes

Protein Powder Alternative:

No protein powder, no problem! Substitute the protein powder with non-fat Greek yogurt instead. Each serving of non-fat plain Greek yogurt has about 17 grams of protein. If you want even more protein, add a spoonful of your favorite nut butter.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 3/4 cup
  • Calories: 194
  • Sugar: 16 g
  • Sodium: 264 mg
  • Fat: 3 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 9 g
  • Protein: 10 g

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