5-Minute Walnut Green Smoothie

Switch up your breakfast smoothie routine with this nourishing option! This quick and easy walnut green smoothie is packed with spinach and oats, and relies on almond milk to create the perfect creamy texture without any yogurt. The best part? It’s done in 5 minutes.

about this green smoothie

I love starting my day with one of my quick and easy blender recipes!

This simple spinach smoothie has all the taste of a banana walnut muffin (plus the added goodness of good-for-you greens).

I love the unexpected addition of walnuts, oats, and coconut oil here, plus the giant handfuls of baby spinach.

Starting the day with a green smoothie – like this pear spinach smoothie (another favorite!) – just sets the tone for the rest of the day.

And there’s no easier way to go than just throwing them into a blender and sipping on a delicious, green smoothie.

process & tips

All you need to do for this quick & delicious breakfast recipe is add all your ingredients to a blender and let it work it’s magic.

Before you know it you’ll be sipping on a delicious, nutrient dense, banana walnut smoothie!

This smoothie recipe serves two, which is perfect if you plan on splitting it with someone.

If it’s just for you, though, save the second serving in a tightly sealed container such as a mason jar for a snack later in the day or for breakfast the next day.

The oats will thicken the leftovers a bit, so feel free to thin it out with extra milk if need be.

Can you make a smoothie without yogurt? The short answer, YES – you absolutely can! This banana smoothie without yogurt relies on almond milk to create the perfect creamy texture without any yogurt. And it gets a boost of protein from the protein powder & walnuts too!

how to make a green smoothie bowl

You can also turn this recipe into a smoothie bowl by making the smoothie thicker using only 1 1/2 cups milk.

Also, make sure to use frozen bananas and frozen spinach to help you get that thick consistency.

Once blended, pour into a bowl and add your choice of smoothie bowl toppings.

Some fun topping ideas would be nuts, seeds, sliced fresh fruit, granola, honey, cacao nibs and an drizzle of nut or seed butter.

ingredients & modifications

Frozen banana: You can also use fresh banana in place of frozen banana in this recipe. The banana adds some natural sweetness to the smoothie. If you don’t care for bananas feel free to omit them and add 2 additional mandarin oranges and extra ice. If using fresh banana in place of frozen, be sure to add ice to the blender for better texture.

Walnuts: I like adding whole raw walnuts to this recipe but you can also swap in almond butter for the walnuts. For a nut-free version, try sunflower seed butter instead.

Baby spinach: I like to use tender, non-bitter greens for smoothies. But you can use any greens you like that blend easily and work well with these other ingredients. Some baby kale would work well in addition to (or in place of) spinach here too.

Vanilla protein powder: You can use any protein powder you like the taste of. To keep this recipe vegan friendly, be sure to use a plant-based. To keep this recipe paleo friendly, be sure to use a grain-free and dairy-free protein powder.

Almond milk: Any non-dairy milk will work great in this recipe. I used almond milk, but you can also use cashew milk instead. For a nut-free option try hemp milk or oat milk. If you like a thinner consistency in your smoothies, add more milk.

Rolled oats: Adding some whole rolled oats helps to bump up the fiber in this recipe. It also helps give this smoothie it’s banana walnut muffin flavor. Be sure to used gluten-free oats to keep this recipe gluten-free. And omit the oats entirely for a paleo-friendly version.

Cinnamon: Since it’s a classic baking spice, cinnamon also helps give this smoothie it’s banana bread muffin flavor. If you don’t like or don’t have cinnamon, you can omit it.

Coconut oil: Coconut oil adds creaminess and a serving of healthy fats to help keep you fuller for longer. I love the extra benefits it adds to this recipe. But if you don’t like or don’t have coconut oil, you can also try adding up to 1/4 avocado in its place.

Note: this vegan smoothie is only slightly sweet from the natural sweetness of the banana and the vanilla protein powder. For a sweeter smoothie option you can add 2 teaspoons of pure maple syrup or 1-2 pitted dates before blending.

what makes this recipe healthy

The truth is, there isn’t a universally agreed upon definition of what makes a recipe healthy.

As an expert on healthy habits, I should know — I’ve interviewed over 200 health and wellness experts on the question of what it really means to be healthy, and have yet to uncover a definition of healthy eating that all experts agree on.

However, I did write the book on what it really means to be healthy, and when it comes to recipes I take a whole, real foods, research-based approach.

So this recipe is made with whole food ingredients, without any added refined sugar, and do not include processed ingredients or oils.

It’s also plant-forward, includes whole grains, as well as plenty of colorful, health-filled veggies.

Finally, as a healthy habits expert, I know that a big part of eating healthy is making the process easy.

That’s why all my recipes are not only filled with good-for-you ingredients, but are also designed to be incredibly simple to prepare!

As always, if you’re following a specific diet for health reasons, consult with your doctor or registered dietitian for specific health advice and check out our nutrition disclaimer for more information.

more smoothie recipes

Strawberry Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Sour Apple Smoothie

Lettuce Smoothie

Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie

Berry Protein Smoothie

Sweet Potato Smoothie

Pink Smoothie

Matcha Protein Shake

Pear Smoothie

Glowing Green Smoothie

Cranberry Smoothie

Cacao Smoothie

this recipe is…

Dairy FreeGluten FreePaleoVeganVegetarian

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