These kale recipes highlight all the best ways to use this leafy green! How to eat kale? Try it in soups, pizzas, salads, chips and more.
Want to eat more kale but not sure where to start? Like, us, you might be on a mission to get more leafy greens into your diet. So try this list of delicious kale recipes: absolutely delicious and chock full of nutrients and fiber. These are all the best ways to eat this leafy green, from kale chips to kale salad to kale lasagna. Ready to start tasting?
And now, our best kale recipes!
The best easy kale recipe? Sauteed kale! The flavor of this kale is so good, it will have you wanting to make it daily. Which is a big feat! Leafy greens can be a difficult flavor to acquire when they're served solo (versus stuffed into spinach artichoke dip). But it takes only 10 minutes to make kale into a side dish you won't want to stop eating. It's lightly flavored with garlic and cooked until bright green and tender.
Scroll down for the recipe!
Need a healthy soup recipe that pleases everyone? Try this Kale Soup with White Beans! Hearty Tuscan kale, white beans and tomatoes float in a tangy broth flavored with oregano and fennel. It’s like a combination of all our favorite soup recipes in one bowl: comforting and full of bold Mediterranean-style flavors. It comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a huge pot that’s great for leftovers.
This kale quinoa salad recipe is perfect for lunches, or a side dish! It's so easy to make and stays good in the refrigerator for days. It's full of nutrient-dense ingredients like Tuscan kale, chickpeas, bell peppers, carrots, and quinoa, and covered in a tangy dressing. The perfect healthy lunch!
This is one of the BEST kale recipes we know of: we promise! This Tuscan kale salad has the power to transform the minds of kale haters everywhere. If your complaint is that kale tastes bitter: it’s true! But after you taste this kale salad you’ll agree that kale smothered in a lemony, garlicky Parmesan dressing can only be one thing: over the top delicious.
Next up in our kale recipes: this spicy kale lasagna! This is one of the easiest ways to convince people to eat kale, we’ve found. It might not be the healthiest, but this one’s a gateway to other kale recipes! Our spicy kale lasagna uses no-boil noodles to cut down on prep time, and cottage cheese for a twist on the classic ricotta filling. The earthy flavor of the kale is complemented by tangy tomato sauce and spicy red pepper flakes, making this dish hard to resist.
Here’s a tasty healthy side dish: roasted kale! Oven roasting Tuscan kale makes it wilted and tender but crispy at the edges, which gives it a unique texture. Even better: you can refrigerate it and use it in meals throughout the week. It works as a side, thrown into a grain bowl, or in sandwiches or stir fries.
Ribollita is an Italian vegetable stew traditionally thickened by bread as a way to use up old crusts going stale. It’s gently simmered so that the flavors meld together beautifully. The crusty bread cubes are almost like dumplings when soaked in the savory broth. The kale soaks up the broth too, making it melt in your mouth.
Meet the very best kale smoothie! Yes, we know. “Kale smoothie” sounds like it would be intensely bitter. This one is anything but! It’s full of fruity flavor from green apple, pineapple and banana. It tastes heavenly, yet at the same time you’re getting a big dose of nutrients from leafy greens.
Did you know you can use kale to make…pesto? Try this irresistible Kale Pesto recipe! Whiz that leafy green with Parmesan cheese, garlic, nuts and olive oil, and it makes a savory bright green puree with a spicy kick.
Why not eat your kale in the form of chips? This kale chips recipe satisfies any salty snack craving! They're easy to make with Tuscan kale, which has the perfect shape and flavor. They come out perfectly crisp and satisfying. The only problem is, they're gone in a flash!
If you’re not convinced by kale lasagna, how about kale pizza? One of our favorite kale recipes, the combination of flavors and textures hit the spot. Sauteed kale, crunchy pistachios, and the zing of red onion fit perfectly with gooey mozzarella and bright pizza sauce.
Let us introduce you to grilled kale! Just like grilled romaine, throwing leafy greens on the grill is a thing. This grilled kale comes out crispy and charred, with a smoky undertone. It’s perfect for throwing onto a grill rack while you’re cooking a main dish or other veggies. Eat it as an appetizer or side dish to a grilled meal: it’s almost like roasted kale meets kale chips.
Kale is an ideal addition to a classic Caesar salad! Topped with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, this kale salad has a unique feature: crispy cornbread croutons! The crunchy, lightly sweet bites make this kale recipe is one salad you won’t want to stop eating!
This cozy Tuscan lentil stew with kale, tomatoes and artichokes is a healthy and easy soup recipe that’s full of Italian flavors. It comes together in under an hour and requires very little skill to make. The Italian seasonings and tangy fire-roasted tomatoes make it a seriously irresistible kale recipe.
Want a unique kale recipe? Try this kale artichoke veggie frittata! The Italian version of an omelette, a frittata is ultra versatile. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and served hot, warm, or even cold. (Try it cold on a sandwich, you won’t regret it!). This one is filled with chopped kale, tangy artichokes, and savory Pecorino Romano cheese.
Last up in these kale recipes: massaged kale salad! Massaging the kale before eating it in this salad makes it taste tender and sweet, instead of bitter! All you do is use a little olive oil and massage the leaves so they become softer. The massaged kale is paired with pomegranate seeds and an apple cider vinaigrette: it’s sweet, tangy, and so, so good.
Kale nutrition
Let’s talk nutrition. Leafy greens like kale are some of the healthiest foods you can eat! Kale is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. One cup of raw kale is only 33 calories, 6 grams of carbs (2 of which are fiber), and 3 grams of protein. Because of its low calorie content, kale is among the most nutrient-dense foods on earth. Eating more of this cruciferous vegetable is a great way to increase the total nutrient content of your diet. So the big takeaway: eat more kale! Try one of the kale recipes above.
Types of kale
There are a few main types of kale you can find at the grocery store. Here’s a breakdown:
- Tuscan kale has dark green, flat leaves and a mellow flavor. It’s also sometimes called Lacinato or dinosaur kale. It’s common in Italian dishes like our Best Kale Salad or Tuscan Vegetable Stew (Ribollita).
- Curly kale is brighter green and very curly! Curly kale can have a bitter and spicy flavor. If you’re eating it raw, make sure to massage it like in our Massaged Kale Pomegranate Salad, which removes the bitterness and gives it a sweeter flavor.
- Baby kale is often included in leafy green mixes that are sold in boxes in grocery stores. You can also often find it at farmer’s markets. Baby kale has a super mild flavor and is much more tender. You won’t have to cut baby kale since it’s already in small leaves.
Video: How to cut kale
Wondering how to stem kale or chop kale but not sure the best way? Here’s one that is slick and simple. Use this when you’re testing out some of the kale recipes above!
15 Best Kale Recipes: Easy Sauteed Kale & More!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Sauteed kale is the best way to eat this healthy leafy green! Scented with garlic and cooked in olive oil until tender, you’ll want to eat it every day.
Ingredients
- 1 pound or 2 bunches Tuscan kale*
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Optional: Lemon wedges, shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Wash and dry the kale leaves, then destem and roughly chop the kale.
- Smash and peel the garlic cloves.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the smashed garlic and kale and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently until wilted and bright green.
- Remove from the heat and add the kosher salt and several grinds of fresh ground pepper. Discard the garlic cloves and serve immediately. (If desired, you can add lemon juice or Parmesan: but neither are necessary with the sweet flavor of Tuscan kale! You may want to consider them if using curly kale.)
Notes
*Tuscan kale has a milder flavor than curly kale and flatter, dark green leaves. We recommend it for this recipe: though curly kale works too! Tuscan kale is available in most standard grocery stores.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Kale Recipes, Sauteed Kale
I used the older (fresh) Tuscan kale from my garden for this. It was good, but better with the lemon – it really brightens it up.
I suffer with horrible leg cramps and I read up on them and heardn about Kale so now I am looking for recipes
This is an easy way to add kale into one’s diet. I used curly kale without the optional ingredients, It is still tasty even for those who don’t typically care for this healthy vegetable! I often add a little water and cover the pan with a lid which softens the leaves a bit. (I didn’t see a way to indicate stars….but it’s a 5 star recipe!)
So glad you enjoyed!
Zana I did too. My solution worked, but I also want to cook with fiber enriched foods.
My solution: water over a gallon a day is a must, and I put potassium in my diet daily organic Pomegranate and Mulberry/black berry are the best sources. This has been a relief, but not 100% it was notable difference for my trigger fingers. A miracle I found was (prayer) and Cramp Defense Mg (make your purchase directly with a discount from the company in GA). You can take up to 6 capsules a day. The increase of water and Red Tea Rooibos has been amazing.
Also stretch by standing on your toes and I have been doing 25-45 squats at a time so try and get up to 100 a day; great cardio too.
I struggled with leg cramps severely when I ran track in school and this just started again in the last 8 years due to being on my feet a lot and sitting too much. I learned about Cramp Defense when I was hooked up to an IV getting Mg intravenously and Dr. Oz had this show on as they had the TV to his show, and I thought why not, verses the nurses missing my very large vein…I was out of there.
Hope that helps as it has for me.
★★★★★
Wow, these all look delicious! I love how versatile kale is. My husband loves kale chips and that kale and pistachio pizza looks divine! I never would have thought to put kale with pistachios. Thanks for putting this list together!! So nice to have some fun new kale recipes to try!!!