30+ Kale Recipes | Easy Tasty Ways to Add Greens to Meals

Try one of over 30 kale recipes to add more leafy greens to your meals. Delicious salads, smoothies, and more, all with a superfood in common: kale.

I didn’t eat kale until I was an adult.

I saw kale as that decorative leafy stuff that restaurants put out around the edge of the buffet to make it look prettier. But as something to eat? No thank you.

But as we started eating more real food, I realized that adding kale is actually an easy way to add more veggies to your meals, and with this list of 30+ kale recipes, you’re sure to find some new favorites too!

WHY FIND RECIPES FOR USING KALE

Why should you find recipes for using kale? Simple! It’s:

Healthy. Kale is a nutrition powerhouse, with plenty of fiber, vitamins, and support for the immune system.
Versatile. As you’ll see below, kale is great for so much more than just salads!
Frugal. You can often find kale for relatively cheap at the store, and the bunches cost even less than bagged shredded kale.
Lasts longer in the fridge than other greens. While romaine or spinach wilt quickly, kale can last for over a week in the refrigerator, and it also freezes well.

WHAT TYPE OF KALE IS BEST?

There are several varieties of kale. The most common types you’ll see in the grocery store are curly kale, Lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale), and baby kale.

Baby kale is more like spinach in texture, with the signature kale taste. I’ve used both curly kale and Lacinato kale interchangeably in all my recipes. I’ll get whichever kind is on sale or a better price!

KALE SALAD IDEAS

Kale makes a delicious salad base, especially when you use tender massaged kale. Try one of these kale salad ideas.

Make a smoothie recipe using kale like this green maca smoothie in a glass.

SMOOTHIES RECIPE USING KALE

How about a smoothie recipe using kale? We’ve got plenty of options.

Garlic white bean soup with kale in a white bowl.

KALE VEGETABLE RECIPES: SOUPS

One of the most common categories for kale vegetable recipes is soup! Kale makes a great addition to these:

Giant Italian meatball over noodles in a bowl.

MORE KALE RECIPES

Kale is also yummy with pasta or rice, as you’ll see in many of these kale recipes!

QUICK SAUTEED KALE RECIPE

When you need more greens at the table, this quick side dish is delicious!

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1. Remove the thick part of the stems, and chop kale into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil and let it heat.

Step 3. Add the chopped kale to the skillet. It will look like too much, but don’t worry, it will cook down quite a bit!

Step 4. Gently stir for 5-6 minutes until all the kale turns bright green and cooks down.

Step 5. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper. A pinch of red pepper flakes is tasty too!

Step 6. Serve warm.

Leftover cooked kale can get limp, but you can store it in the fridge in airtight containers.

KALE RECIPES FAQS

How can you get kale to last longer in the fridge?

Whole kale leaves will stay fresh longer than chopped kale, but you can help either one stay fresh for your kale recipes by placing a paper towel in with the kale to absorb extra moisture.

Can you freeze kale?

Yes! Follow this tutorial for blanching greens to prepare your kale for freezing. Then you can thaw it and use it in any recipe using kale that is cooked or blended. Frozen kale does not work well for salads.

Which is better, kale or spinach?

DELICIOUS RECIPES FOR USING KALE

From kale salad ideas to kale smoothies and everything in between, you’ll definitely want to add some kale recipes to your next menu plan. Which of these great recipes for using kale will you try first?

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Kale Recipes

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