24 Easy Kale Recipes

From smoothies and salads to hearty stews and pasta dishes, these recipes with kale prove the leafy green is versatile.

Potato, Kale, and Fennel Hash
Photo: Paul Sirisalee

Sick of spinach? Turn over a new leaf and try one of these surprising, tasty sides starring the nutritional powerhouse.

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Potato, Kale, and Fennel Hash

Potato, Kale, and Fennel Hash
Paul Sirisalee

Serve this hearty hash on the side, or top with fried eggs for a satisfying meal.

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Kale, Radicchio, and Orange Salad

Kale, Radicchio, and Orange Salad
Paul Sirisalee

This salad gets better with time. You can make it up to 1 day in advance.

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Kale Caesar Salad

Kale Caesar Salad
Paul Sirisalee

Change up a classic salad by substituting heartier kale; the intensely flavorful dressing helps cut through the green's slight bitterness.

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Kale and Pepper Stir-Fry

Kale and Pepper Stir-Fry
Paul Sirisalee
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Kale, Broccoli, and Feta Sauté

Kale, Broccoli, and Feta Sauté
Paul Sirisalee

Fold in the crumbled Feta and slivered olives before serving to add a salty, briny bite.

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Kale and Lentils With Tahini Sauce

Kale and Lentils With Tahini Sauce
Paul Sirisalee

You can easily whip up the no-cook sauce in a minute—just whisk together tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, olive oil, and water.

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Lemon-Dill Pilaf With Kale and Chilies

Lemon-Dill Pilaf With Kale and Chilies
Paul Sirisalee

The ingredients for this side dish cook together all in one pot, making cleanup a breeze.

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Creamy Kale Gratin

Creamy Kale Gratin
Paul Sirisalee

Even kale haters will adore this warm, comforting casserole with a buttery bread crumb topping.

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Mustardy Kale and Butternut Squash

Mustardy Kale and Butternut Squash
Paul Sirisalee

This one-pot side features sweet, tender squash and wilted kale with a mild mustard sauce.

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Sautéed Kale With Apples and Bacon

Sautéed Kale With Apples and Bacon
Paul Sirisalee

The sweet, sautéed apples balance out the salty bacon and bitter greens.

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Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple
Christina Holmes

Make a quick salad dressing, then add the kale and massage it with your hands to tenderize and coat the leaves.

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Cheese Ravioli With Kale Pesto and Roasted Carrots

Cheese Ravioli with Kale Pesto and Roasted Carrots
Christopher Baker

Dress up frozen ravioli with lemony kale-almond pesto for a 20-minute dinner the whole family will love.

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Slow-Cooker Sausage and Kale Stew With Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Sausage and Kale Stew With Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
William Brinson

Let your slow-cooker do all of the work to prepare this hearty meal-in-a-bowl.

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Butternut Squash and Kale Lasagna

Butternut Squash and Kale Lasagna
Paul Sirisalee

Prepare this meatless lasagna up to a day in advance, then pop it in the oven for a ready-made weeknight dinner.

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Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Pesto

Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Pesto
Anna Williams

Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will enjoy this filling, protein-rich meal.

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Moroccan Chicken With Kale and Roasted Squash

Moroccan Chicken With Kale and Roasted Squash
Sang An

Bring the flavors of North Africa to your dinner table with this cinnamon, ginger, and coriander-spiced chicken dish.

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Curried Kale With Coconut

Curried Kale With Coconut
Christopher Baker

Bulk up this 25-minute recipe with chickpeas and rice to transform it from a side dish into a main meal.

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Whole-Grain Spaghetti With Garlicky Kale and Tomatoes

Whole-Grain Spaghetti With Garlicky Kale and Tomatoes
Hans Gissinger

Toss noodles with a mix of kale, grape tomatoes, roasted almonds, and pecorino cheese for a healthy sauceless pasta dinner.

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Kale-Apple Smoothie

Kale-Apple Smoothie
Grant Cornett

Even if you’re not a fan of kale, this smoothie is worth a try: The apple juice and banana mask the vegetable flavors so effectively, you can use a full cup of the vitamin-rich leafy green.

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Pasta With Kale and Walnut Pesto

Pasta With Kale and Walnut Pesto
Con Poulos

This unusual pesto sauce can be stored in the fridge for five days or the freezer for three months. When you need a quick meal, just toss the sauce with cooked pasta.

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Herb-Crusted Chicken With Kale and Pan-Dripping Croutons

Herb-Crusted Chicken With Kale and Pan-Dripping Croutons
Gentl & Hyers

Flavorful homemade croutons and roasted lemons add punch to an otherwise ordinary side salad.

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Kale and Manchego Frittata With Roasted Potatoes

Kale and Manchego Frittata With Roasted Potatoes
Christopher Baker

Serve this vegetarian egg dish to guests for a quick and easy brunch.

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Sausage, Kale and Sweet Potato Hash

Sausage, Kale and Sweet Potato Hash
Sang An

Break the yolk of a sunny-side-up egg to create a rich, luscious sauce for the sweet potato hash.

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Sausage, Cauliflower, and Kale Potpie

Sausage, Cauliflower, and Kale Potpie
Jonny Valiant

Use puff pastry to form a tender, flaky crust for your potpie.

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