This Zucchini Smoothie Recipe is a delicious way to use the abundance of zucchini growing in your garden this summer. It's made with only 7 ingredients in less than 5 minutes! Plus it's gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo and vegan with no added sweeteners!
We always grow zucchini in our garden because it's one of my favorite vegetables.
I put it in just about everything. From muffins to cookies to fritters to pasta sauce and everything in between. Zucchini is, hands down, my favorite sneaky veggie.
And since smoothies are my favorite breakfast, naturally I created the best zucchini smoothie recipe and I'm glad to get to share it with you.
This zucchini smoothie with spinach is a great way to use up the abundance of zucchini growing in your garden this summer! It's super healthy, loaded with protein and nutrients, and tastes like a yummy vanilla & cinnamon milkshake! Plus it's made with only 7 ingredients in less than 5 minutes.
Zucchini Smoothie: Ingredients & Substitutions
One of the great things about vegetable smoothies is that they are so versatile! Here are a few notes about the ingredients in this Zucchini Smoothie Recipe.
- Almond milk. You can substitute your favorite non-dairy or regular dairy milk in this recipe with great results.
- Zucchini. I used fresh, shredded zucchini in this recipe! if you're not a fan of zucchini, I recommend trying one of these green smoothie recipes instead (here, here, here, or here)!
- Spinach. Any greens work well in this recipe! I have used half spinach half kale with great results.
- Banana. If you watch the video you will see I didn't add banana to this version that I shot (oops). That was a total mistake when filming this recipe. It still tasted amazing, but I do love the extra sweetness and creaminess the banana adds (especially when it's frozen).
- Protein Powder. OrgainVanilla Bean protein powder is my favorite plant-based protein powder. I use it in so many recipes, and it has a permanent home in my pantry. I recommend using the for this recipe! Feel free to substitute your favorite protein powder!
How to make a Zucchini Smoothie:
This recipe is easy to make! Simply toss everything in your blender and let it do the work. But here are a few notes to ensure your zucchini smoothie making success!
- Use a Vitamix. You've known me long enough to understand that I do not recommend any blender other than the Vitamix. If you want ultra smooth, totally delicious vegetable smoothies that you don't have to chew (yuck), the Vitamix is the only way to go.
- Use Frozen Fruits/Vegetables. If you like cold, creamy, thick smoothies then I suggest storing your greens and bananas in the freezer! Using frozen fruits and vegetables results in an ultra-creamy consistency without adding ice, which can water down the flavor.
- Drink immediately. This smoothie is best enjoyed right away!
Recipe FAQs
I drink a green smoothie every single day. Even when we travel I try to find a local smoothie place to get my AM fix! There are so many reasons I love them, here are a few...
Green smoothies are literally LOADED with nutrients! For example, this zucchini smoothie recipe is rich in potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Calcium, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, and Riboflavin (to name a few)
And protein. Using protein powder in this recipe makes every serving have a whopping 12 g! I don't know about you, but I'm always trying to add more protein to my diet!
Smoothies increase energy. Because of their nutritional benefits, you will find that drinking green smoothies helps give you an energy boost!
Sneaky Veggies! This might be one of my favorite benefits of making and drinking green smoothies! You get a hefty dose of veggies in the form of a delicious shake!
I think the secret is adding other ingredients to make it nice and creamy. I have found that too often, some of my green smoothie experiments turn out icy and not very tasty. To make an amazing vegetable smoothie I recommend adding one or more of the following ingredients....
A creamy, sweet fruit, like banana.
Protein Powder
Nut Butters
The great thing about green smoothies is that they are very versatile! Some of my favorite vegetables to use in recipes like this zucchini smoothie are:
Spinach
Kale
Zucchini
Carrots
Cucumber
Beets
Celery
Sweet Potatoes
Technically, yes. But I don't recommend it. I personally thing that green smoothies are the best when consumed within 10 minutes of making them!
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Zucchini Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
- 2 TBS vanilla protein powder
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup zucchini
- 1 cup spinach frozen
- ½ banana frozen
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in the order listed in the container of your Vitamix Blender (or other high-powered blender).
- Blend, starting on low speed and increasing to high.
- Blend on high for 30-50 seconds or until the mixture is smooth.
- (Alternately, use the smoothie program).
- Pour the zucchini smoothie into two glasses and enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Almond milk. You can substitute your favorite non-dairy or regular dairy milk in this recipe with great results.
- Zucchini. I used fresh, shredded zucchini in this recipe! if you're not a fan of zucchini, I recommend trying one of these green smoothie recipes instead (here, here, here, or here)!
- Spinach. Any greens work well in this recipe! I have used half spinach half kale with great results.
- Banana. If you watch the video you will see I didn't add banana to this version that I shot (oops). That was a total mistake when filming this recipe. It still tasted amazing, but I do love the extra sweetness and creaminess the banana adds (especially when it's frozen).
- Protein Powder. OrgainVanilla Bean protein powder is my favorite plant-based protein powder. I use it in so many recipes, and it has a permanent home in my pantry. I recommend using the for this recipe! Feel free to substitute your favorite protein powder!
Nutrition
More of our favorite smoothie recipes:
- This is the best green smoothie ever!
- I drink this chocolate peanut butter green smoothie every day!
- This citrus green smoothie is great for winter!
- This pumpkin smoothie tastes like a liquid pumpkin pie but it's so much healthier and only takes 5 minutes to make!
- You won't be able to resist this strawberry banana smoothie!
- Want sunshine in a glass? Try this mango smoothie recipe and this pineapple smoothie!
- Try something different and make smoothie bowls!
- This healthy berry smoothie and this blueberry smoothie are loaded with antioxidants and have the most vibrant purple color!
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Pamela
I just made this and loved it! I did not have any banana. I added frozen pineapple, flaxseed and chia. Will keep this in rotation.
Sheila McGraw
Yummy! Delish! I had everything but vanilla extract. I used almond extract. So good!
Heidi
Do you remove the zucchini skin?
Heidi
Or seeds for that matter..or just use all of it?
Laura
All of it but the hard ends!
Laura
Nope!
Kristen Parks
Just made as the final smoothie on a 3-day smoothie cleanse. A friend mentioned adding zucchini in lieu of bananas so I was looking up recipes and came across this one. I added some avocado for more green and creaminess (plus to use up the other half I saved from this morning lol) and it was very tasty. I was not sure how everything would taste together but even for it being a green smoothie it is sweet and has a nice creamy taste to it. Will make again.
Laura
Thank you Kristen! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Adding avocado to anything is always a great choice! 😉
Dolly
I stumbled upon this recipe, while planning to make a cucumber smoothie. Once I had cut up the zucchini ( which I thought was a cucumber), I googled ‘can I use Zucchini in a smoothie’ , and YOUR recipe came up!!
Saved my day!! So, I had all other ingredients on hand, went ahead and made it, and I must say, verrrrrry delicious indeed!! I cut back a little on almond milk and added 8 ice cubes to make up for fact that my spinach was fresh not frozen!
Thank you for sharing !