Easy Green Protein Smoothie

Made with baby spinach, vanilla protein powder, and a spoonful of peanut butter, this easy green protein smoothie blends up into a creamy, milkshake-thick breakfast in 5-minutes. A simple, satisfying drink that tastes far more like dessert than greens!

An Easy Spinach Protein Smoothie

This easy green protein smoothie is essentially a peanut butter banana smoothie hiding a cup of spinach in plain sight! The frozen banana adds the creamy, milkshake-thick texture, the peanut butter adds nutty depth and richness, and the vanilla protein powder pulls the whole thing into proper breakfast territory; plus the spinach blends in completely without making the smoothie taste green (if ya know what I mean). Use a frozen banana for the perfect thick consistency, or fresh banana with a small handful of ice works, too, if that is what is on hand.

The protein powder you use is the single biggest factor in how this smoothie tastes, since it is doing a lot of the flavor work. Use a vanilla protein powder you actually enjoy drinking; if it tastes chalky or overly sweet on its own, it will taste the same in the smoothie! Plant-based options keep the recipe vegan, and any milk works (almond, oat, cashew, hemp, dairy). Swap the peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version, and skip the chia seeds if you don’t have them on hand.

And for a fruitier version, throw in 1 cup of frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, or mixed all work) with the banana, or add 2 tablespoons of rolled oats for a more substantial morning. Pair this smoothie with my protein pancake muffins for a double-protein breakfast, or grab a couple of my kale and sweet potato egg cups from the fridge for a savory side that continues the green-veggie theme! The smoothie is best the day you make it; if you need to prep ahead, blend up to 30 minutes early and give it a quick re-blend before drinking.

Testing Notes for High Protein Green Smoothie

• Baby spinach: I like to use tender, non-bitter greens like baby spinach for green 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.
• Peanut butter: Use almond butter in its place, or sunflower seed butter for a nut free option.
• Ground flax seed: I find it easier to use ground flax seed but you could also add whole flax seeds if you have a high speed blender.
• 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.

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