Starter Juice Recipes That Actually Taste Good

Easy Homemade Juices to Help You Fall in Love with Juicing

Buying a juicer is exciting… until you stand in the produce aisle wondering what to make first.

When I first started juicing, I quickly realized that a recipe can sound good on paper and taste completely different once it comes out of the juicer. And if your first experience with green juice tastes like you’re drinking a lawn, you’re probably not going to be very excited about making another one.

So instead of putting together a list of juices that sound beginner-friendly, I made and tasted these myself.

These four use easy-to-find fruits and vegetables, don’t require a huge list of ingredients, and—most importantly—they actually taste good.

A couple surprised me, too. The beet juice ended up being one of my favorites, and the green juice was much better after it had gotten really cold.

If you’re new to juicing and aren’t sure what to make first, I’d start here.

For me, a good beginner juice isn’t necessarily one that’s mostly fruit. It’s one where the flavors feel balanced and no single vegetable completely takes over.

I also like recipes that use ingredients I can easily find at the grocery store and don’t require buying ten different things just to make one bottle of juice.

The best beginner juices have a few things in common.

• Naturally sweet ingredients like apples, oranges, pineapple, or carrots
• Simple ingredient lists
• Easy-to-find produce
• Balanced flavors
• Just enough vegetables without overwhelming the fruit

Once you get comfortable making these, it’s much easier to branch out into greener or more adventurous recipes.

Apple • Pineapple • Lemon

This was one of my favorites of the entire batch.

It’s sweet from the apple and pineapple, but the lemon gives it enough tartness that it doesn’t taste overly sugary. If you’re completely new to juicing, this is probably the one I’d tell you to make first.

Why I’d recommend it for beginners

• Only three ingredients
• Sweet without being too sweet
• Bright, fresh flavor
• Nothing remotely “vegetable-y” about it

My verdict: ⭐ One of my favorites.

Green Apple • Carrot • Lemon • Ginger

This is the juice I’d make for someone who wants to start adding vegetables without jumping straight into green juice.

The carrots add plenty of natural sweetness, the apple makes it really easy to drink, and the little bit of ginger gives it some warmth. Lemon keeps the whole thing bright.

If you’re nervous about ginger, start with a small piece. You can always add more the next time.

Why I’d recommend it for beginners

• Naturally sweet
• Easy-to-find ingredients
• Great introduction to vegetable-based juice
• Ginger adds flavor without needing much

My verdict: An easy, approachable carrot juice that I’d absolutely make again.

Beet • Green Apple • Pear • Carrot • Lemon • Ginger

And then there was the beet juice.

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one because beets can have such a strong earthy flavor, but it ended up being one of my favorites.

Apple, pear and carrot add enough sweetness to balance the beet, while lemon and ginger brighten everything up. You still know there’s beet in there—it just doesn’t completely take over.

And obviously, that COLOR.

Why I’d recommend it for beginners

• A really approachable way to try beet juice
• Naturally sweet from the fruit and carrots
• Lemon and ginger balance the earthy beet
• Absolutely gorgeous color

My verdict: ⭐ One of my favorites—and probably the biggest surprise of the four.

Pear • Cucumber • Spinach • Lemon

Okay, this one surprised me.

When I first tasted it, I wasn’t completely sold. But after I put it in the refrigerator and let it get really cold? Completely different experience. It was delicious.

The pear adds sweetness, cucumber keeps it fresh and light, and the lemon helps balance the spinach. It tastes like a green juice—but not an aggressively green juice.

Why I’d recommend it for beginners

• Pear naturally sweetens the greens
• Cucumber gives it a light, refreshing flavor
• Easy way to try spinach in a juice
• Especially good served very cold

My verdict: Don’t judge this one straight out of the juicer. Chill it first. 😂