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Beets are not the easiest veggie to “sneak” into your day. They have a bright red color and a deep, earthy flavor that is difficult to hide. That’s why I’m so excited about this beet smoothie recipe.

It’s not a big deal that it’s hot pink. (In fact, my 9-year-old daughter loves that part.) When you pair it with frozen banana and strawberries, it develops a slushy texture just like a regular fruit smoothie. And one special addition, fresh ginger, helps balance the earthy flavor from the beets.

Best of all, you don’t have to start with cooked beets! You can toss them in raw. Just like any other smoothie recipe, this one is easy to customize with your favorite add-ins, like protein powder or hemp hearts, too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“Wow! What an amazingly great taste this smoothie has; love the texture too.” – Nanette

beet smoothie in a glass with sliced strawberries and a striped straw.

Why You’ll Love this Beet Smoothie

Excuse me while I nerd out on the research behind beets. You can skip to the recipe below if you don’t care about this stuff, or click on the underlined links to go straight to the studies.

Beets may improve blood flow. Research suggests that beets are high in nitrates, which may help to significantly lower blood pressure.

Eating beets may help athletic performance. Studies suggest that beets may improve running and cycling performance. Dietary nitrate levels peak around 2 to 3 hours after consuming them, so if you’re hoping that eating beets will improve your athletic performance, it’s best to eat them 2 to 3 hours before you need that extra boost.

Beets might lower inflammation. Thanks to their pigments called betalains, one study suggests these might help reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Eating beets could be good for your brain. The nitrates in beets may promote brain health by increasing blood flow to the brain.

bright pink beet smoothie served in a glass with a striped straw.

Beet Smoothie Recipe Ingredients

  • Fresh Beets. This recipe calls for beets that aren’t cooked or even peeled. You’re going to blend it, so there’s no need! However, if it’s easier for you to start with steamed beets from a vacuum-sealed pack at the store, that should work here, too.
  • Frozen Banana. This adds a creamy, ice-cream-like texture to the smoothie. I’ve written a tutorial on how to freeze bananas if you need guidance.
  • Frozen Strawberries. These are sweet and tart, so they pair perfectly with the beet flavor. But I imagine another frozen berry will work, too.
  • Orange Juice. Using some orange juice as the liquid base adds natural sweetness and a little more tartness. The smoothie will taste bland if you omit this.
  • Fresh Ginger. Adding a little bit of fresh ginger helps balance the earthy flavor of the beets, so I highly recommend it. (Also note that ginger is quite potent, so if you’re new to using it, start with a very small piece.)
  • Milk of Choice. Sometimes I just make this recipe with water instead of milk. But, if you’re trying to add more protein to your smoothie, use your favorite milk for a little boost.

Add Protein: This smoothie can be customized by adding a scoop of unflavored collagen peptides (which goes unnoticed flavor-wise) or a tablespoon or two of hemp hearts for plant-based protein.

fresh beet, frozen strawberries and banana, orange juice, and ginger labeled in bowls.

HOw to Make a sMOothie with Beets

Step 1:

Fresh beets can be hard to break down in a standard blender, so it’s best to start with that before adding frozen fruit. Add the milk, orange juice, fresh beets, and ginger to your blender.

Secure the lid and blend until you see no pieces of beets or ginger. The liquid should look bright pink!

Note: I don’t peel the beet before slicing it into chunks. You can save any remaining beet chunks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This will make your next smoothie easier to prep!

fresh beets cut into pieces and added to a blender with milk and orange juice.

Step 2:

Once the beets have totally broken down, add the frozen banana and strawberries. (This will blend much easier if you slice the banana into chunks first.)

Secure the lid again and blend until the smoothie has a slushy texture, with no visible chunks of frozen fruit. Stop and scrape down the sides of the machine, if needed, to make sure everything is fully pulverized.

As soon as you’re happy with the consistency, the smoothie is ready to serve. This recipe makes one large serving or can be split between two glasses.

beet smoothie blended until slushy with banana and strawberries.

Beet Smoothie FAQs

Can you freeze beets for smoothies?

Yes, be sure to cut them into chunks first, so they’ll be easy to measure out for this beet smoothie. Check out my how to freeze strawberries tutorial if you want step-by-step photos to follow along with. The method for freezing fresh beets will be the same!

Can I use cooked beets?

Yes, I believe steamed or roasted beets will work in this smoothie, too. You might want to start with slightly less than this recipe calls for, in case the flavor is more concentrated.

Can I store leftover smoothie?

You can, but the texture and flavor will change slightly overnight in the fridge. I prefer to freeze leftover smoothies in popsicle molds, so they retain a frozen texture and better flavor.

beet smoothie in a glass with sliced strawberries and a striped straw.

The Best Beet Smoothie I’ve Tasted

4.87 from 22 votes
If you're trying to eat more beets, this smoothie recipe is for you. My 9-year-old daughter just told me, "It's delicious!" so you know I've done a good job at hiding the beet flavor. Paired with frozen strawberries and bananas, it has a slushy texture like a regular fruit smoothie, with a hint of fresh ginger to hide the earthy flavor from the beets. Plus, you don't need to cook them to get started!
prep10 mins cook0 mins total10 mins
Servings:1

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup fresh beet , chopped (I don't peel it)
  • ½ -inch piece fresh ginger (peeled, see note)
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup milk of choice (or water)
  • 1 frozen banana , cut into pieces
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries

Instructions

  • Combine the fresh beets, ginger, orange juice, and milk in a blender. Secure the lid and blend until very smooth, with no visible pieces of beet or ginger remaining. (Note: There's no need to peel the beets first, because everything will be pulverized.)
  • Then add the sliced frozen banana and frozen strawberries. Secure the lid and blend again until the smoothie has a slushy texture with no visible chunks. Stope and scrape down the sides of the blender, if needed.
  • This smoothie has the best taste and texture when you serve it right away, but you can save leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours. (I also like to freeze leftover smoothie in popsicle molds for a cool treat later!)

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for the whole batch. This is automatically calculated from an online ingredient database, so it’s an estimate, not a guarantee. 
Add Protein: You can add a scoop of unflavored collagen peptides to this smoothie, or two tablespoons of hemp hearts for extra plant-based protein. Neither should affect the flavor too much. (Experiment at your own risk with other protein powders; they can be quite overwhelming in some cases.)
Update Note: This recipe was updated in March 2026 to use milk instead of water. However, either liquid will work just fine! 

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 1283mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 827IU | Vitamin C: 169mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: vegan
Keyword: beet smoothie

More Recipes to Try

If you try this beet smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

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