Our 21 Most Popular Kale Recipes for Winter

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Published on January 28, 2024

Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans — Photo: Jacob Fox

You can eat kale year-round, but it tastes a bit sweeter in the winter, making these dishes just that more delicious. This collection features our most-visited kale recipes—from soups and stews to skillets and grain bowls, so we’re sure you’ll love them. Make our Really Green Smoothie and Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans, and you’ll be running to buy more kale.

01 of 21

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup

a bowl of Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup with a spoon

This weight-loss vegetable soup fills you up without a lot of calories, plus it's an easy way to eat more vegetables.

02 of 21

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.

03 of 21

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Diet Stew

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Diet Stew in White Bowl

With a focus on vegetables, fiber-rich legumes and healthy fats, this slow-cooker stew fits the bill for those following the Mediterranean diet. Swap out the chickpeas for white beans for a different twist, or try collards or spinach in place of the kale. A drizzle of olive oil to finish pulls together the flavors of this easy vegan crock pot stew.

04 of 21

Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans

Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Beans — Jacob Fox

Loaded with roasted sweet potatoes and shallots, black beans, quinoa, feta and pepitas, this salad makes for a satisfying meatless meal. Not only does massaging the kale tenderize it, it also helps the greens absorb more of the bright dressing.

05 of 21

Chicken & Kale Soup

chicken kale soup

This easy chicken and kale soup will keep you warm on a cold and rainy day or any day that calls for a simple, hearty soup. For convenience, you can make this soup with frozen kale without the need to thaw it beforehand.

06 of 21

Kale & Chickpea Grain Bowls

a recipe photo of the Kale and Chickpea Grain Bowl w Avocado Dressing — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This veggie-heavy bowl is loaded with crunch and color, thanks to crispy carrots and chickpeas, fresh kale and a vibrant avocado dressing. It also delivers more than 50% of your daily dose of fiber, key for weight loss, energy and healthy digestion. Bulgur, also called cracked wheat, is a quick-cooking whole grain. These bowls would be excellent make-ahead lunches. Pack the avocado mixture separately, adding a little water to thin it as needed.

07 of 21

Really Green Smoothie

really green smoothie

The combination of kale and avocado makes this healthy smoothie recipe extra green. Chia seeds lend a heart-healthy punch of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

08 of 21

Vegetarian Potato-Kale Soup

Vegetarian Potato-Kale Soup — Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee

This healthy soup recipe has a rich, yet light and velvety texture. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of wine for a cozy meal.

09 of 21

Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

overhead shot of vegan grain bowl filled with beets, edamame and avocado — Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

This nutrient-packed grain bowl recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few convenience-food shortcuts like prewashed baby kale, microwavable quinoa and precooked beets. Pack these ahead to keep on hand for easy meal-prep lunches or dinners on busy nights.

10 of 21

Roasted Kalettes

Kalettes, a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts, cook quickly in a hot oven in this easy vegetable side dish recipe.

11 of 21

Herby Fish with Wilted Greens & Mushrooms

Herby Mediterranean Fish with Wilted Greens & Mushrooms

This healthy fish recipe makes a tasty and easy weeknight meal. Serve with wild rice or roasted potatoes.

12 of 21

Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup

overhead shot of vegetable soup in a black cast iron pot — Carson Downing

A big bowl of this vegetable soup will leave you satisfied for hours without consuming a lot of calories, which is helpful when trying to lose weight. Plus, it's an easy way to boost your vegetable servings for the day.

13 of 21

Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale

Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale — Greg DuPree

Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.

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Copycat Chick-fil-A Kale Salad

Copycat Chick-fil-A Kale Salad — Jacob Fox

This copycat Chick-fil-A kale salad has a sweet and tangy dressing coating tender kale and cabbage leaves that have been gently massaged. This salad can sit for an hour or two; just be sure to toss it before serving to redistribute the dressing.

15 of 21

Spaghetti Squash Soup with Sausage

Spaghetti Squash Soup — Caitlin Bensel

This easy soup is a great way to showcase the versatility of spaghetti squash. Sweet Italian sausage pairs well with the subtle sweetness of the squash. The broth that coats the thin strands of spaghetti squash is flavorful and light.

16 of 21

Sweet Potato, Kale & Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing

Sweet Potato, Kale & Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing — Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RD

These hearty kale salads hold up well for 4 days, making them perfect for meal-prep lunches. To keep the ingredients from getting soggy, dress this salad and top it with peanuts just before serving. For a delicious vegan option, swap in roasted tofu for the chicken breast (see Associated Recipes).

17 of 21

Kale & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Dressing

a recipe photo of the Kale & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Dressing — Antonis Achilleos

This kale-quinoa salad pops with different flavors and textures. Massaging the kale helps break down its fibrous nature, while add-ins like toasted almonds, feta and cucumber add crunch and saltiness.

18 of 21

Sauteed Broccoli & Kale with Toasted Garlic Butter

Sauteed Broccoli and Kale with Toasted Garlic Butter

In this easy vegetable side dish, broccoli and kale are drizzled with a butter, garlic and crushed red pepper sauce. Serve this healthy recipe alongside roasted chicken, turkey or ham--or on top of your favorite whole grain, such as quinoa or farro.

19 of 21

Kale & Banana Smoothie

Kale and Banana Smoothie — Casey Barber

This simple and sweet kale and banana smoothie is also versatile: Use cow's milk for a milkshake-style smoothie, oat milk for more sweetness, or a nut milk for more protein.

20 of 21

Kale & White Bean Potpie with Chive Biscuits

Kale & White Bean Potpie with Chive Biscuits

In this vegetarian white bean potpie recipe, kale and hearty white beans are topped with easy, homemade chive biscuits. If desired, add a little shredded Gruyère or Cheddar cheese to the biscuit dough.

21 of 21

Massaged Kale Salad

Massaged Kale Salad

Here a pungent garlicky dressing is infused into kale by massaging the greens and the dressing together with your hands. Any type of kale will work in this recipe, just remember to remove the tough stems before you start.

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