Brian Nagele
Smoothies can be a delicious and nutritious meal replacement that keeps you going. While some people prefer store-bought versions, others like to make their own. Most contain a combination of fruits and veggies, juices, and protein sources like almond milk.
Whether you’re consuming a commercially made smoothie or a homemade concoction, you want to discover the best veggies for smoothies.
You’ll want to find vegetables that blend well with fruits, provide a nutritional boost, and taste great. Experimenting with different recipes or copying the ingredients in commercial blends can get you there.
Unfortunately, finding the right mix of veggies and the best serving sizes takes trial and error. With the rising cost of groceries, you don’t want to waste good produce by blending it up into a smoothie that tastes terrible.
To help you save time, I’ve put together a list of the best veggies for smoothies that pair well with the best fruits to use. Let’s get into it below!
Spinach
Spinach is one of those leafy greens I enjoy as a salad, on garden burgers, or (yes) in smoothies.
The vegetable’s health benefits are well known, ranging from high amounts of fiber and iron to essential vitamins like A and C.
In my opinion, spinach is one of the best veggies for smoothies because I can use it in detox or antioxidant fruit blends.
The fiber fills me up and I can’t beat the antioxidant power of a smoothie with blueberries and spinach leaves.
I’ve found spinach also blends well with strawberries, bananas, and green apples. It won’t be like drinking a salad, I promise!
Kale
Surprisingly, kale is another veggie that mixes well with fruits and fruit juices.
I think it goes best with pineapples or bananas. I recommend this kale and banana protein smoothie recipe for an after-workout refresher.
Instead of honey, you can substitute stevia or cane sugar. The recipe is also adaptable enough to include your favorite non-dairy beverage.
However, I think oat milk blends in better with smoothies. It doesn’t have a soy or almond nut aftertaste.
Kale smoothies also come in chocolate varieties for chocolate lovers. It’s a great way to get your kale without tasting the vegetable’s distinct flavor.
Carrots
I’m sure you’ve heard that carrots are good for your eyes.
That’s because of the high amount of vitamin A carrots contain. There is also a fair amount of beta carotene in carrots. But like me, you might be questioning how carrots can taste good in smoothies.
Over the years, I’ve found I can make great-tasting smoothies with carrots, bananas, orange juice, ginger, and turmeric.
If you suffer from occasional stomach or digestive problems like me, this smoothie blend can help settle things down.
There is also pineapple juice in it to help with heartburn and acid reflux. So, go ahead and add some carrots to the blender next time!
Beets
Okay, so beets don’t exactly inspire the notion of delicious smoothies.
However, beets can mix well with berries, bananas, and dairy-free yogurt alternatives. Beets can help keep your blood sugar levels within normal ranges.
This power-packed veggie can also aid with weight loss and control. I’ve found it keeps cholesterol levels in check as well.
While I’m not a fan of eating beets in raw or cooked form, I do think they give smoothies a nutritional boost.
I can mask the fact that I’m eating beets and enjoy the fruity flavors that dominate most smoothies. It’s a fantastic way to get the health benefits of beets without having to turn up my nose.
Cucumber
Cucumber is one of my favorite veggies. It’s a nice, cool snack on a hot summer day and can make a tasty salad topping.
But more than that, cucumbers are some of the best veggies for smoothies because of their high water content.
I like adding cucumbers to green smoothie recipes that include apples, pineapple juice, and non-dairy yogurt.
Cucumbers also pair well with watermelon, strawberry, and spinach. When you’re in search of a light, summer smoothie, cucumbers have got your back.
In my opinion, cucumbers make some of the best summer smoothie recipes because they blend in so well.
Squash
Squash’s health benefits are similar to carrots. Because of the high beta carotene in squash, it can help slow the onset and progression of macular degeneration.
The antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory effects that are good for the skin and brain.
As medical professionals will confirm, anti-inflammatory foods can fight conditions like acne and depression.
While squash is a traditional fall flavor, you can add the veggie to smoothies any time of the year. There are strawberry squash recipes to try, as well as butternut squash chai flavors.
I personally love the added spice of chai and find this flavor to be a comfort regardless of the weather outside.
Zucchini
Technically, zucchini is summer squash. But it makes its way into all kinds of recipes, including fall-time bread and anytime smoothies.
I’ve tried zucchini in green smoothies, with blueberries and oat milk, and with chocolate. All these blends turned out to be tasty in various ways.
I especially love the way zucchini adds to my daily veggie intake in green smoothie blends.
I also like making smoothies from frozen zucchini. Throw in some coconut milk, avocado, and pears for a creamy treat.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s always this recipe with maple syrup and almond butter to try. It’s supposed to taste just like zucchini bread.
Cauliflower
Admittedly, cauliflower is not one of my favorite vegetables.
But it makes for a tasty pizza crust or smoothie blend. Because cauliflower has a bland flavor, it pairs best with fruits like berries and bananas.
There’s also a peanut butter smoothie that uses cauliflower. It’s surprisingly rich, full of protein, and tastes just like a dessert from an ice cream shop.
Cauliflower belongs to the family of cruciferous vegetables, which has shown some promise in preventing cancer.
This veggie also has a lot of vitamins and fiber to keep me feeling full and satiated hours after consuming a smoothie treat.
Celery
Celery is another veggie with high water content.
It’s mostly famous for being a mainstay addition to bloody marys and a way to get kids to eat their vegetables when a bit of peanut butter is put in the middle.
But I’ve found I can also add celery to smoothies with spinach, avocado, and ginger. Or, blend it with orange juice, bananas, cucumbers, and ginger.
What I like most about celery are its health benefits, such as its anti-inflammatory properties. Celery helps improve digestion and keeps hearts in good shape.
If I have extra celery stalks in my fridge, I know I can add them to my smoothies as part of a simple recipe.
Pumpkin
I love baking pumpkin brownies on a crisp fall day.
When autumn rolls around each year, I also enjoy adding pumpkin spice flavors to my coffee and sitting down with a fresh piece of pumpkin pie.
However, I’ve recently discovered how to add pumpkin to my smoothies.
I can recreate the taste of pumpkin pie in a glass with a touch of maple syrup, vanilla, banana, and dairy-free yogurt.
Pumpkin gives me so many health benefits, including a rush of antioxidants and fiber.
It keeps my digestive tract and skin healthy. Plus, smoothies are a healthier way to add pumpkin to my diet. It’s a win-win!
Chard
Haven’t heard of chard? Neither did I until I stumbled upon this smoothie recipe.
Chard is a leafy green veggie that hails from Switzerland. Who knew! Nonetheless, chard has several benefits, including a high amount of vitamin A.
This is the vitamin responsible for maintaining healthy eyes, skin, and organ tissue.
In terms of smoothies, I find that chard pairs well with tropical flavors like coconut and mango. You can also add bananas to the mix if you want to add additional carbs.
Oranges, peaches, and vanilla extracts can also add vibrant tastes to chard smoothies. Give it a try!
Peas
I know you might be thinking that adding peas to a smoothie will give you something along the lines of split pea soup.
But nothing could be further from the truth because pea smoothies are much more appetizing than that. I like adding peas to smoothies with citrus flavors or bananas and mint leaves.
Peas have a good deal of protein and can add to fruit’s nutritional value.
Believe it or not, peas can also mix well with strawberries and pineapple juice in a smoothie.
Like me, you might also want to try blending peas with blueberries or putting together a smoothie with peas, spinach, and pineapple.
