23 Kale Recipes to Get Your Green On
Kale is as ubiquitous in the produce aisle as carrots, spinach, and broccoli. In fact, I would say it’s the superstar of leafy greens. Available in so many varieties these days, you can have your pick of everything from big, hearty stalks to tender baby leaves. If you’re like me and can’t resist buying more than one type, you’re gonna need a lot of kale recipes.
No worries there! We’ve got you covered with ideas to take you from breakfast to dinner and beyond. For salad lovers, there’s a hearty spin on the classic Caesar that will make you rethink romaine. We’ve also got wholesome soups like the Portuguese favorite Caldo Verde and easy pasta dishes like carbonara with kale. And, while we’re all familiar with kale in smoothies and green juices, how about kale in a cocktail? Yep, there’s one with your name on it!
Safe to say, we’ve provided a ton of options to make the most of all that kale in your fridge, so make sure to check out these kale recipes below.
Tofu and Kale Salad With Avocado, Grapefruit, and Miso-Tahini Dressing
Crispy tofu seasoned with a hit of za’atar provides both texture and vegan protein, while creamy avocado and bright grapefruit segments complete the trifecta of hero components that make this colorful kale salad an absolute winner.
Warm Kale and Caramelized Mushroom Salad
Here, browning the mushrooms first amplifies its earthiness, gently wilts the kale, and contrasts nicely with the zippy dressing. This makes for a simple yet flavorful vegetarian lunch or starter.
Kale Caesar Salad
All hail the kale in this hearty iteration of the tried-and-true Caesar! A quick treatment in olive oil transforms the tough leaves into tender greens. Throw in some ultra-crispy croutons and you’ll be wondering why you haven’t tried a kale Caesar sooner.
Kale Salad with Oven-Dried Grapes, Toasted Walnuts, and Blue Cheese
What really takes the classic combo of blue cheese, walnuts, and dried fruit over the top in this salad are the juicy oven-dried grapes—plump little jewels with way more personality than your run-of-the-mill raisins.
Crispy Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Potato Hash
Want a satisfying vegetarian hash? Start with par-cooked potatoes that are pan-fried until golden, add a healthy dose of crispy kale and Brussels sprouts, then top the hash with a couple of poached or fried eggs—maybe some hot sauce. Brunch is served!
Bacon, Cheese, and Kale Strata
Kale not only breaks up the cheesy layering of bacon, egg, and bread in this recipe, but also adds a fiber-rich green vegetable to balance out the dish. The beauty of this savory bread pudding is that you can assemble it ahead and pop it in the oven in the morning, making it ideal brunch fare.
Pasta With Beans and Greens
Pairing a pantry staple like white beans with kale is a simple and easy way to pack nutrition into a pasta dish. Garlic, anchovies, and dried chiles form the flavor base while the bean liquid helps to create a creamy sauce that beautifully coats the noodles.
Hearty Vegan Polenta and Kale Soup With Miso and Toasted Sesame Oil
Leave it to Kenji to take a classic Italian hearty polenta and kale soup and give it a Japanese twist. Here, he replaces the Parmesan with toasted sesame oil, light miso, soy sauce, and sliced scallion for a complex, rich umami flavor—making it completely vegan and totally satisfying.
Spanakopita (Greek Savory Greens Pie)
An oldie-but-goodie gets a reboot with Sohla’s new-and-improved version of spanakopita, which includes a variety of greens and herbs. While this recipe is designed to utilize tender greens like arugula and spinach—as opposed to heartier ones like kale and collards—you can always use baby kale if you’d like.
Stir-Fried Farro With Garlicky Kale and Poached Egg
Cooking the farro ahead of time in this recipes turns what could be considered a “slow food” meal into a doable and well-rounded weekday breakfast alternative to oatmeal or cereal. All you have to do is add some shredded kale sautéed with shallots and garlic, perk things up with a little red wine vinegar, and finish with poached eggs.
Easy Kale Quiche
What better way to use up a big bunch of kale than to pack it into a cheesy quiche. A coating of butter and bread crumbs keeps the quiche from sticking to the pan and adds a nice bit of crispy browning around the edges.
Spanish-Style Migas With Chorizo, Peppers, and Kale
Wilted kale balances out all the porky richness of the chorizo and crispy pork belly in this Spanish-style migas. Ideal for weeknight dinner or weekend brunch, it’s also a great way to use up stale bread and whatever veg you’ve got knocking about in the produce bin.
Stir-Fried Beef With Kale and Frisée in Black Bean Sauce
The key to stir-frying greens with tougher stems like kale is to separate the stems from the leaves and give the former a head start in hot oil. Then, it’s just a matter of adding the stir-fried stems and leaves back into the wok once the beef and sauce are almost done for a final toss.
Bok Choy and Kale Fried Rice With Fried Garlic
Fried garlic, kale, and bok choy are a match made in heaven—especially in a vegetarian fried rice. Using the garlic frying oil to stir-fry the rice and greens intensifies the overall garlic aroma.
Caldo Verde (Portuguese Potato and Kale Soup With Sausage)
Hailing from from northern Portugal, this potato, sausage, and kale soup is tailor-made for lazy chilly days when you want something comforting and easy to prep. It’s another one-pot wonder that’s ready in about 40 minutes. We recommend using both starchy and waxy potatoes for textural contrast.
Skillet Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Kale
Okay, carbonara purists may scoff at the idea of adding kale to this Italian classic—but hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Crisping the kale up in rendered bacon fat means it absorbs all that rich flavor, a bonus in my book. Plus, it rounds out the dish so you’ve got a complete meal.
Skillet Kale and Pumpkin Pasta
You can whip up this one-skillet marvel in about 20 minutes—just grab a bag of pre-cut orange-flesh squash. Bat wing-like farfalle pasta, pumpkin, and Tuscan kale (a.k.a. cavolo nero) totally give off Halloween vibes and are ideal for a quick fall dinner.
Easy Sausage, Kale, and Black-Eyed Pea Soup With Lemon and Rosemary
A flavorful sausage and aromatics like garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest are the secret to transforming dried beans and kale into a ridiculously easy to make soup. A good soak in salted water improves the texture of the beans.
Cheesy Mashed White Beans With Kale, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg
Mashed canned white beans are a clever hack for those times when you’re just too lazy to make proper grits. Top it with sautéed kale and a fried egg and you’ve got yourself a savory breakfast of champions.
Charred Kale Pizza With Garlic
There’s no denying that kale on pizza is more than just a fad—when done well, it’s freaking amazing! Take this version with a crispy base of garlic and nutty Alpine cheese, which is baked part way before the kale is added to avoid burning.
Vegan Braised Kale and Chickpea Sandwich With Sumac Onions
Inspired by a braised kale sandwich he had at Cutty’s in Brookline, MA, Kenji created this deliciously messy vegan version with a juicy filling of kale, chickpeas, and sumac onions. Any bread will do here, but we’re partial to pizza bianco or focaccia.
Kale Pineapple Basil Smash
Kale in smoothies is a thing—but kale in a cocktail? When it’s juiced and blended with rye whiskey, fresh pineapple juice, and muddled fresh basil into a delightfully sweet-tart and herbaceous drink…uh, yes, please!
Spicy-Tart Kale Limeade
If non-alcoholic is more your style, this kale drink is a cross between a refreshing mocktail and a green juice—with a spicy kick—blended with ginger, apple, and coconut water.
