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We all know the drill. You tossed a bunch of kale into your cart last weekend with the best of intentions to work some more greens into your meal plan this week. But alas, they’re still sitting in the crisper untouched, now starting to wilt, and you’re stumped about what to do with it. Fret not! The possibilities are endless when it comes to kale.
Take your pick between blitzing it into your morning smoothie, adding it to an egg sandwich, stirring it into a pot of soup, stew, or chili, mixing it into a kale salad, adding it to a stir-fry, or transforming it into a quick side dish to round out whatever you cooked for dinner. You can even bake kale leaves into ultra-crisp chips.
You’re feeling inspired already, aren’t you?! From a broccoli and kale Caesar to turkey chili with kale to a kale-topped pizza to tacos, and so much more here are over 45 of our favorite kale recipes to help you get cooking.
Kale Salads
Kale is such a durable green that it makes for perfect salads, and unlike other salad greens it holds up as leftovers the next day.
5 / 10
Vegetarian Kale Taco SaladIn this wholesome take on a Tex-Mex taco salad, shredded kale is tossed with hearty black beans and crisp veggies, and softened by a creamy yogurt and cilantro dressing.
Go to Recipe 6 / 10
Kale Salad with Blood Orange and Meyer LemonAlthough you could experiment with different kale and citrus varieties, we chose pebbly-textured black kale, which is especially sweet and peppery, and blood orange and Meyer lemon, two sweeter and less acidic members of the citrus family.
Go to Recipe 7 / 10
Kale Salad with Apricots, Avocado & ParmesanWe love the way the chewy bits of dried apricots and the creamy avocado contrast with the heartiness of the kale. A handful of almonds, a spoonful of beans, and a few flakes of salty parmesan turn this salad into a very satisfying meal.
Go to Recipe 10 / 10
Kale Bistro SaladKale, we're not done with you yet! This bistro-style salad is glorious, with golden egg yolks spilling out and cacio e pepe croutons kicking up the flavor.
Go to Recipe Easy Kale Side Dishes
Kale makes a perfect side dish. Here are some easy ways to sneak some extra greens into your meals.
3 / 12
Braised Bacon and KaleSlow-cooking kale with chicken broth, onion, garlic, and smoky bacon means the kale gets tender and you’re left with a flavorful broth that you can spoon over rice or grains.
Go to Recipe 4 / 12
Slow Cooked KaleWe like a quick side-dish as much as the next person, but we still love long-cooked kale for the way its flavor deepens and its ruffly edges crisp. It’s just the thing to eat on a winter night atop polenta or beside a piece of meat.
Go to Recipe 6 / 12
Irish Creamed KaleIf the thought of kale scares you, then let this be the dish that changes your mind! Think creamy, buttery goodness mixed with delicious soft greens.
Go to Recipe 10 / 12
Smoky Creamed KaleYou know what’s even better than creamed spinach? Creamed kale.Meet smoky creamed kale, the modern answer to creamed spinach.
Go to Recipe 11 / 12
Kale SlawAn easy slaw using shredded cruciferous vegetables, almonds, and dried cherries in a tangy honey-mustard dressing.
Go to Recipe Kale Soups and Stews
When it comes to leafy greens for soups and stews, kale can’t be beat.
2 / 10
Kale & Apple SoupThis kale soup is mildly sweet with a bit of apple, and it has that beloved bacon-y edge that goes so well with sautéed greens.
Go to Recipe 3 / 10
Kale and Chicken StewPacked with comforting roast chicken, thickened with cannellini beans and starchy thyme-roasted potatoes, this hefty stew’s true star is the hearty, uber-nutritious winter green swirled into it: kale.
Go to Recipe 4 / 10
Kale and Potato SoupThe type of kale or potatoes used in this recipe can vary, but the constant is the deeply flavorful broth, which contains woodsy smoked paprika, rosemary, and thyme.
Go to Recipe 7 / 10
Easy Turkey Chili with KaleThis chili may not be Texas style, but it's a winner. Chewy bits of turkey in a spicy broth along with sweet corn, soft black beans, kale, and silky tomatoes.
Go to Recipe 9 / 10
Bacon, Kale, & Turkey StewA quick kale and turkey stew, made more flavorful by bacon and onion, and simple enough to be simmered together in less than an hour of mostly hands-off time.
Go to Recipe Easy Dinners with Kale
It’s so easy to work kale into a variety of dinner dishes, and it always makes everything (even pizza) feel a little bit healthier.
3 / 15
Orange Chicken and Kale Stir-FryCraving the bright flavors of traditional orange chicken, but not necessarily all the steps, we reimagined the classic recipe as a super-quick (yet more wholesome) weeknight stir-fry.
Go to Recipe 6 / 15
Orecchiette with Sausage and KaleYou know that our most basic go-to meal is a riff on pasta with meat and greens. Here’s an exploration of the theme: a hearty, spicy, and bold pasta that is wonderful after a long day of work in the garden.
Go to Recipe 11 / 15
Salmon and Kale Caesar WrapsChicken Caesar wraps have had their time to shine, but now we forge ahead with a well-deserved (and much-needed) update. This salmon-packed version has everything you’d expect, with a twist.
Go to Recipe 12 / 15
Kale and Black Bean Tacos with ChimichurriWe love chimichurri stirred into vegetables and find that its bright and garlicky, tangy flavor especially complements greens like kale. Add some black beans, wrap it up in a tortilla, and top with avocado, and you have a quick yet flavorful and nutritious weeknight dinner.
Go to Recipe 
