Healthy Eating

Creamy Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie With Banana

August 15, 2024

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I love starting my day with this sweet pineapple cucumber smoothie, or enjoying it as a refreshing snack! With juicy pineapple, crisp cucumber, and creamy coconut, it all comes together in just 5 minutes for a drink that’s both satisfying and delicious. Plus, it’s dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and free from refined sugar!

This pineapple cucumber spinach smoothie is my go-to for a perfect start to the day. It’s not only easy to whip up but also packed with healthy ingredients that keep me energized for hours.

I often make it for a quick breakfast, a snack, or even a sweet treat at the end of the day. It’s great for the whole family and a fun way to get kids to enjoy some greens!

Whether it’s a hot summer day or any time of year, smoothies are ideal for cooling down and fitting into a healthy, plant-based diet. If you like this recipe, you’ll love my mango protein smoothie, healthy pumpkin smoothie, or apple carrot smoothie for more unique smoothie flavor combinations!

Making my cucumber pineapple smoothie is a breeze! It’s the ideal option for busy days when I don’t want to sacrifice health for convenience.

Not only is this recipe easy to make, but it’s also budget-friendly, too. It’s a great way to get my daily fruits and veggies without stretching my wallet. Most of the ingredients are readily available at the local grocery store. And while chia seeds might be a bit pricier, a full bag will last quite a while.

I find meal prepping this drink incredibly convenient. I like to prepare the ingredients in advance, portion them into individual serving-size bags, and freeze them. In the morning, I simply toss the frozen contents into a blender, add the liquid, and I’m good to go!

Plus, my recipe is highly customizable. I always swap out ingredients or add in extra fruits and veggies. Keep reading for some of my favorite recommendations!

Best of all, the flavor combinations create an incredibly refreshing and delicious smoothie. I particularly enjoy adding cucumbers because they’re hydrating, low in calories (source), and their mild flavor blends well with other ingredients. Coconut milk makes this drink super creamy, and pineapples and bananas add natural sweetness and a boost of fiber without the need for added sugar.

My detox cucumber smoothie is ideal for anyone looking to change up their smoothie game, following a plant-based diet, looking for new family-friendly smoothie recipes, or just wanting a refreshing drink without any fuss!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

My pineapple and cucumber smoothie recipe is full of fresh ingredients, making for an easy way to get dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. See the recipe card at the end of this post for nutritional information.

Pineapple: Frozen pineapple will be the best to keep this drink thick and cold, but a fresh pineapple can be used in a pinch.

Cucumber: I recommend using English cucumbers for a sweeter taste, but really any fresh cucumber will do. I use a whole cucumber for this recipe!

Greens: I use fresh spinach and baby kale to add an extra dose of nutrients and fiber to this cucumber smoothie. I’ve also used fresh baby spinach on its own, or kale on its own. Other greens like arugula or chard are delicious, too.

Banana: I use a ripe banana to provide a naturally sweet flavor and creamy texture. Frozen bananas make it even more creamy!

Unsweetened Coconut Milk: I use boxed coconut milk for this recipe, or for an extra-creamy base, try light coconut milk or full-fat coconut milk from the can. Any plant-based milk can be used (like almond milk or oat milk), or swap the coconut milk for coconut water for a lighter smoothie option.

Chia Seeds: These will add protein and fiber to the smoothie! I’ll occasionally swap the chia seeds for hemp seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds!

Lime: I use fresh lime or bottled lime juice to add a kick of citrus flavor to the smoothie. Lemon juice will also work for this recipe.

Fresh Mint Leaves: Mint, cucumber and pineapple are a classic pairing, and the mint adds a bright, subtly sweet, fresh flavor to this cucumber and pineapple detox smoothie. If you want to play around with the flavor profile you can try fresh basil or lemon balm.

🔪 How To Make An Easy Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie

You won’t believe how fast this recipe comes together! I’ve created a summary of instructions below, but see the recipe card at the end of this post for the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions. here is how to make my healthy pineapple cucumber smoothie recipe:

Add Ingredients: To make this smoothie, I start by placing all the ingredients into a high-speed blender.

Bananas, spinach, pineapple, cucumber in a blender.

Blend: I then blend the cucumber, pineapple, and other components until the mixture is smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the blender as needed.

Green smoothie with pineapple and cucumber being blended in a blender.

Adjust & Serve: If the smoothie is too thick, I adjust the consistency by adding a bit of cold water. Once it’s perfectly blended, I serve the pineapple cucumber detox smoothie immediately for the best taste and freshness.

Cucumber smoothie being poured into glasses on a countertop.

My #1 Secret Tip for making this recipe is to use frozen fruit instead of ice to chill and thicken this pineapple, cucumber, and coconut milk smoothie!

Frozen fruit adds a creamy texture and richer flavor without diluting the taste, and I highly recommend using a frozen banana as well for a creamy, thick consistency.

If you only have fresh fruit, I recommend using the fruit and adding a very small amount of ice, and potentially less liquid to maintain the desired consistency.

Other Tips To Keep In Mind:

Use A High Powered Blender: While you can make this in a regular blender or food processor, you won’t be able to get that super creamy consistency without a high speed blender like a Vitamix, so I really recommend using one!
Prioritize Blending Order: I always add liquids first, followed by softer ingredients like bananas, then harder ones like cucumber and pineapple. This helps prevent clogging and gives a smooth consistency.
Adjust Consistency: If the smoothie is too thick, add more liquid. If it’s too thin, add more fruit. I always do this after I’ve blended the ingredients completely so I don’t end up with a too thin smoothie by adding too much liquid at the beginning.

📖 Variations

Cucumber Mango Smoothie: Swap the pineapple for mango, or keep both! This tropical fruit will add extra sweetness and flavor. Sometimes I’ll add in other tropical fruits like dragon fruit or papaya too.

Watermelon Cucumber Smoothie: When I want a lighter drink, I’ll replace the pineapple with watermelon – it provides a cool, sweet flavor to this drink and is super refreshing!

Pineapple Cucumber Ginger Smoothie: Add about ½ inch – 1 inch of fresh ginger, depending on preference. Ginger can be pretty strong, so I start with less and add in more if needed. Ginger powder may also work.

Pineapple Avocado And Cucumber Smoothie: Swap the banana for avocado which is a great way to add in healthy fats and add some creaminess to the drink.

Add More Protein: I’ll add a scoop of my favorite protein powder or plain Greek yogurt for additional protein.

Adjust Sweetness: For extra sweetness, I’ll add honey or maple syrup. However, this creamy pineapple cucumber smoothie is quite sweet from the natural sweetness of the fruit, so I only add this after tasting the smoothie if the fruit happens to be not as sweet that day.

Make It A Bowl: For a more filling meal, I turn this recipe into a smoothie bowl! I’ll add toppings like fresh fruit, coconut flakes, high protein granola, nut butter, or hemp seeds.

More Flavor: For a stronger lime flavor, add in some lime zest! I’m a big fan of lime so I like to use about 1 tsp zest, along with the juice, for a bold citrus taste.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

While a cucumber and pineapple smoothie is a meal on its own, I like to pair this with a few breakfast and snack items for a more substantial meal.

Breakfast: I serve this drink with spinach pancakes, gluten free vegan waffles, matcha muffins, or healthy flapjacks for a complete breakfast.

Snacks: Savory vegetable muffins would be a great way to get in a few extra veggies! Peanut butter date balls or edamame guacamole are more great snacks I love with this smoothie.

🫙 Storage Directions

I prefer to serve this pineapple cucumber mint smoothie immediately, but here are a few ways I store leftovers.

Fridge: Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I just put the contents in an airtight container or mason jar. The next day, I give the smoothie a good stir before serving.

Freezer: I freeze this smoothie in an ice cube tray if I have too much to store in the fridge. Then, I just add the cubes to the blender with a little coconut milk or plain water for an easy morning smoothie. The smoothie cubes will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

❓Recipe FAQs

DO I NEED TO PEEL OR REMOVE THE SKIN FROM THE CUCUMBER BEFORE BLENDING IT?

I do not peel the cucumber before blending, especially when I’m using English or Persian cucumbers! However, some types of cucumbers (especially regular cucumbers) do have a more bitter tasting skin that might not be as favorable. I always take a bite of one of the cucumber slices prior to adding it to the blender to check. If there is a bitterness to the peel, I remove the cucumber skin before blending.

WHAT TYPE OF BLENDER IS BEST FOR GETTING A SUPER SMOOTH TEXTURE?

Any high-speed blender should be able to achieve a really nice texture for smoothies! Vitamix is at the top of my list for best blender brands, but there are more budget-friendly options too.

HOW DO I PREVENT THE SMOOTHIE FROM BECOMING TOO THICK OR TOO THIN?

Everyone prefers a different smoothie consistency so feel free to adjust the liquids as needed. Keep in mind that cucumber has a high water content, so it will naturally give a boost of liquid to this drink. For best results, I follow along with the measurement suggested, and then adjust the thickness after I’ve blended it. For a thicker smoothie, I blend a little more fruit or veggies. To make it thinner, simply add some water or coconut milk.

SHOULD I STRAIN THE SMOOTHIE TO REMOVE ANY PULP OR SEEDS FROM THE CUCUMBER?

No, the cucumbers blend up nicely into a smooth consistency, especially if you’re using a high powered blender. While I never notice any pulp or seeds, I usually use English cucumbers and Persian cucumbers, which contain less seeds versus regular cucumbers.

Cucumber pineapple smoothie served in a glass with a straw.

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📋 Recipe Card