Kale Pina Colada Smoothie

This Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe is a creamy and tropical twist on everyone's favorite beach cocktail.  This healthy snack or healthy breakfast is made with just 5 ingredients including kale, coconut milk, pineapple, banana, and actual coconut flakes!  This refreshing non-alcoholic drink is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Love healthy smoothies? Try my 20+ Healthy Smoothie Ideas.

Kale Pina Colada Smoothie

This Kale Pina Colada Smoothie is the perfect taste of the tropics, regardless of the season.  This good for you healthy twist on the classic beach cocktail is actually a vitamin-packed drink that will leave you nourished and filled!  I love that his healthy drink tastes like a Pina Colada on the beach but is actually made with healthy ingredients including fresh pineapple, banana, coconut milk, AND fresh coconut flakes.  I even added a handful of kale (that you actually don't really taste) to really amp up the vitamin factor.

It's a tropical pick me up that you can recreate in winter or summer!  In fact, I'd venture to say this drink is the perfect tropical taste you need to get you through the season.

This Piña Colada Smoothie is actually inspired by one of my favorite smoothies at a local smoothie shop called a Pina-kale-ada.  My version is packed with fruity pineapple, coconut milk, AND some actual coconut flakes to bring even more tropical flavor.

What's a pina colada made of?

So my smoothie is a twist on the classic beach pina colada.  But what exactly is that frozen concoction made of?  A classic pina colada is made with pineapple juice, rum, and light coconut.  It's blended with ice.  It was invented in Puerto Rico and means strained pineapple in Spanish.

To make sure I get the same flavors in this healthy smoothie, I use frozen pineapple AND coconut milk AND fresh coconut.

You can really taste the pina colada in this. My Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe is like a perfectly tanned day at the beach in summer... but in a completely healthy package!

Why you'll love my Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe...

• This Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe is a nutrition powerhouse!  The kale in my Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe packs in more nutrition and is the perfect way to sneak in your greens.  Kale is actually one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and is also filled to the brim with Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6 just to name a few.
• Like a lot of smoothies, the base is banana because that gives the Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe substance and makes it really creamy and smooth.  It also adds a lot of vitamins like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C to the drink!  If bananas aren't your thing, you hardly taste them... so don't knock it before you try it. 🙂
• The pineapple is also packed with vitamin C!
• Somehow even with the kale, the pineapple and coconut totally mask the kale flavor so other than the green color this really doesn't taste like a traditional green smoothie... it tastes like a pina colada!
• It's fun and fruity!
• It's naturally sweet from the frozen fruit, you don't need to add any additional sweeteners.
• You can tweak and customize it for your nutritional needs including adding a protein powder to make it more of a meal.
• It's easy to make in only 5 minutes with only 5 ingredients.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make my Kale Pina Colada Smoothie.  Keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Pineapple: You'll need frozen pineapple to create the creamy consistency needed for the smoothie.  You can find frozen pineapple chunks in the freezer section of the grocery store or cut a fresh pineapple into cubes and freeze it yourself.  It is best to use frozen pineapple though to get the cold smoothie consistency.  Pineapple is low in calories and rich in vitamins like vitamin C, and manganese.  It also contains bromelain which can help with digestion.
• Banana: You'll need a frozen banana to fill out the smoothie and make it creamy.  You can also find frozen banana chunks in the freezer section of your grocery store or take very ripe bananas and freeze them.  This is a great use for those almost too far gone bananas.  Bananas are rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.
• Kale: Use chopped kale with the ultimate punch or pretty green color and the vitamins to go with it.  This ingredient is optional BUT I promise you don't really taste it.
• Coconut Milk: To get that pina colada flavor, I add some coconut milk.  It's rich in coconut flavor and easy to find!
• Coconut Flakes: I also like to really give my smoothie that coconut flavor by adding fresh coconut flakes.  Find the unsweetened natural ones, not the type you use for baking.
• Optional Garnish: Fresh pineapple slice, coconut flakes, or fresh mint.

Instructions:

Here's an overview of how to make the Kale Pina Colada Smoothie, but keep scrolling for a full printable recipe.

1. Get out your high-speed blender and frozen ingredients.
2. Add the pineapple, banana, kale, and coconut flakes to the blender.  Add some coconut milk and start blending.  Add just enough coconut milk to get the consistency you want for your smoothie.
3. Pour in a glass and serve immediately.

Blender Recommendations:

Smoothies are best made in a high-speed blender! Here are a few suggestions if you are looking to get one.  If you want to get your smoothies nice and smooth, you'll need a nice blender.

• Vitamix Blender (High End)
• Ninja Profesional Blender (Mid Grade)
• Hamilton Beach Power Blender (Budget Buy)

Variations

I love this Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe as written, but here are some tasty variations.

• Make it a Protein Pina Colada Smoothie: You can add any neutral flavor or protein powder to this smoothie to make it more of a meal smoothie or to match your nutritional needs.
• Make it Banna-Free: Don't like bananas?  You can swap it out for more pineapple or even frozen mango.
• Make it a Pina Colada Smoothie Bowl: To make a slightly thicker smoothie for a smoothie bowl, add a touch less coconut milk.  Instead of pouring the smoothie into a glass, put it in a bowl and top it with fresh pineapple, coconut flakes, and granola.  Serve it with a spoon.
• Mix up the Greens: You can use spinach instead of kale.
• Add More Ingredients:  You can also consider adding frozen mango, greek yogurt, coconut extract, or even strawberries!
• Make it Sweeter: If it's not sweet enough for your taste you can add honey or a sweetener of your choice.
• Make it a Cocktail: You can make this a healthier cocktail by adding some light rum.

FAQ

Can I prep the smoothie in advance?

Yes! You can make smoothie freezer bags with frozen pineapple, frozen banana, kale, and coconut.  Store in the freezer until ready to blend.  When you want to make the smoothie add the ingredients to your blender and add the coconut milk fresh.

Can I use fresh pineapple?

You technically can but frozen pineapple will give you a creamier texture without having to add ice.  If you use fresh pineapple, you'll need to add some ice to get the frozen smoothie texture.

What do I do with leftovers?

Smoothies are best enjoyed fresh out of the blender.  I don't recommend trying to drink the leftovers later.  However, if you do have leftovers, you can pour them into a popsicle mold and serve them as an iced treat later.

This Kale Pina Colada Smoothie is a Taste of the Tropics!

My Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe has all sorts of hidden goodness BUT still tastes like a day at the beach.  So find a warm spot in the house, get cozy, drink up, and dream of a new season.

I hope you enjoy this tasty healthy smoothie as much as I do.

More Tropical Healthy Smoothies to Try:

• Kale Pineapple Detox Smoothie
• Healthy Mango Smoothie
• Pineapple Mint Smoothie
• Island Green Smoothie
• Strawberry Mango Smoothie
• Pineapple Ginger Smoothie
• Hummingbird Smoothie

Plus check out my 20+ Fun & Fabulous Smoothies to Get Back on Track.

If you make this Kale Pina Colada Smoothie, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe

Julie Wunder

The perfect green smoothie!  My Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe tastes amazing and is good for you.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Drinks, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 1 smoothie

Calories 355 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup kale
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup pineapple
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup coconut milk

Instructions

 

• Get out your high-speed blender and frozen ingredients.
• Add some coconut milk and start blending.  Add just enough coconut milk to get the consistency you want for your smoothie. Blend until smooth.
• Pour in a glass and serve immediately.

Notes

Meal prep this smoothie by making smoothie freezer packets.  Put the pineapple, banana, kale, and coconut in a freezer bag.  Store the bag in the freezer until ready to make your smoothie.  When you are ready to make the smoothie, pour the ingredients into your smoothie and add the coconut milk fresh.

I do not recommend trying to save smoothie leftovers as a drink, however, if you do have leftovers you could pour them into a popsicle mold and serve them as a frozen treat.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 6gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 986mgFiber: 8gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 6865IUVitamin C: 170mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Kale Pina Colada Smoothie recipe, Pina Colada Smoothie

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