43 Excellent Kale Recipes for the Grill, the Soup Pot, or Your Salad Bowl
Trendy vegetables come and go, but kale is everlasting. Not only is the leafy green both delicious and nutrient-dense, it’s also tremendously versatile. The kale recipes below demonstrate why this popular crucifer has such staying power: You can fry it, braise it, roast it to a crisp, massage it until tender, marinate it overnight, make enormous batches of it in a single go, or stew it in a pot for good luck on New Year’s Day (or any other day, for that matter). Here are our most popular recipes—from one-pot pastas to weeknight salad recipes—made with everyone’s favorite leafy green.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/43Simplest Kale Salad
Perhaps the simplest out of all the kale recipes, this effortless five-ingredient salad with a bright lemony dressing makes the perfect appetizer or side dish for any main course, whether it's pork, lamb, fish, or pasta.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart2/43Kale, Tomato, and Lemon Magic One-Pot Spaghetti
This one-pot pasta is a complete revelation: Dried spaghetti, water, and cherry tomatoes cook down to create a simple dinner that comes together all in one pan. A handful of torn kale is added right at the end of cooking, turning this fuss-free recipe into a complete meal.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura3/43Sausage and Greens Sheet-Pan Dinner
Crispy mini potatoes, hearty greens, and spiced Italian sausage roast together in a sweet-yet-tart mustard dressing to create an easy 25-minute dinner that’s a true crowd-pleaser.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege4/43Mushroom and Kale Breakfast Skillet
For mornings when you need to feed a crowd a healthy breakfast, this veggie-packed egg skillet is here for you. Loaded with mushrooms, tomatoes, a bounty of torn kale, and just enough red pepper flakes to give it a subtle warmth, it’s the perfect low-key brunch that comes together in no time. Just make sure to serve it with plenty of toasted bread for mopping up those runny yolks.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton6/43Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova7/43Big-Batch Roasted Kale
This big-batch kale recipe can be kept in the fridge and added to meals all throughout the week. Add it to salads, stir-fries, soups, grain bowls, or anything else that could use a pop of green.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/43Beans and Greens Polenta Bake
Topping a layer of polenta with a vibrant mixture of sautéed garlicky greens, beans, Parmesan cheese, and a splash of red wine vinegar—then baking it until browned and crispy—creates a quick weeknight dinner reminiscent of skillet pizza.
Photo by Kris Kirkham12/43Pak Choi and Kale Dumpling
Packed with greens, ginger, and garlic, these boiled dumplings easily go vegetarian by switching out the ground pork for crumbled tofu. You can make your own dumpling dough or use premade wrappers to save yourself some time.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell13/43Massaged Kale With Tomatoes, Creamed Mozzarella, and Wild Rice
In this ingenious salad, massaged kale and wild rice create a hearty base that gets topped with a burrata-like mixture of torn mozzarella with sour cream and lemon.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi14/43Cheesy Potato and Kale Gratin With Rye Croutons
There’s no need to reduce your cream or pre-cook the kale for this cheesy, creamy casserole. Leaving the potatoes unpeeled and slicing them using a mandoline cuts down on prep time and results in even, thin slices. Tuscan kale works especially well here but regular is fine if that's what you've got.
