How Long Should You Cook Kale

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45 Different Ways to Eat Kale When You Can't Get Enough Leafy Greens

Whether you like your kale cooked or raw, fresh or frozen, try these recipes that taste good and are good for you.

45 best kale recipes to cook at home delicious kale ideas

Danielle Occhigrosso Daly

If you haven't gotten onboard with the kale craze, it's about time you did — this cruciferous leafy green is one of the most versatile staples in a kitchen, and it may be one of the healthiest. You can massage it into a bountiful seasonal salad that everyone will enjoy, or ladle out a luxe bowl of soup or stew with plenty of satin-like kale ribbons; it even turns up our favorite baked pasta dishes up a notch. Kale can be swapped for some of our starchiest carbohydrates, and it can be blended into delicious dressings and sauces. What's not to love?!

Of course, the real allure of kale for some is the fact that it's majorly packed with nutrients but totally free of all those extra calories. Since kale is imbued with naturally occurring phytonutrients when it's harvested, it acts as a bit of a superfood when regularly eaten. Antioxidants and other nutrients in kale can help reduce your risk of chronic disease like diabetes; it's loaded with carotenoids to help keep your eyes sharp; and its potassium and magnesium counts counteracts extra sodium in your diet. Plus, it's a great source of calcium, making it a must have for those who are avoiding dairy altogether.

If you're looking for more than just salads, we have you covered, as we're presenting some of our favorite ways to load up on kale in our kitchens. Pick up a few bunches at your local grocer (or fresh from the yard!) and try incorporating them into sides, soups, pizzas, pastas, and even desserts! These recipes celebrate the queens of greens in all her forms.

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Spicy Sausage, Kale, and Goat Cheese Pizza

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Pumpkin Kale Turkey Sausage Spaghetti Pie

This spaghetti pie seriously eats like a warm hug on an icy winter's night — you'll have a hard time believing a single slice will only set you back 280 calories.

Get the recipe from Dishing Out Health »

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Arugula-Kale Harvest Salad

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Tuscan Sausage and Kale Frittata

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Steak With Kale and White-Bean Mash

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Salmon With Skyr and Sauteed Kale

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Soybean Pasta With Kale Pesto and Squash

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Chickpea and Kale Rigatoni With Smoky Bread Crumbs

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Shrimp Packets With Kale Couscous

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Sweet Potato Cakes With Kale and Bean Salad

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Garlicky Kale and Pea Sauté

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Kale and Roasted Cauliflower Salad

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Potato-Kale Soup With Crispy Chorizo

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Crispy Kale Chips

Bye, 'taters! You can pop lightly salted and quickly battered kale bits and ends into the oven, and you'll have a better-for-you snack that'll have you feeling great about seconds.

Get the recipe from Women's Health »

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Kale Cobb Salad with Cashew-Poblano Dressing

We can't get enough of Jamie Vespa's, the registered dietitian behind Dishing Out Health, vegetarian-style Cobb salad. It's dressed in a creamy dairy-free dressing that's perfectly make-ahead friendly for a salad whenever you please.

Get the recipe from Dishing Out Health »

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Creamed Kale and Gruyere Gratin

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Kale & Olive Oil Vegan Mashed Potatoes

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Vegan BBQ Chickpea Tacos with Kale Cabbage Slaw

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Crunchy Chickpea Kale Caesar

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Kale Salad With Dates and Almonds

Liven up dinnertime with a winter kale salad bursting with flavors stemming from sticky-sweet dates, briny olives, and tart lemon.

Get the recipe for Kale Salad »

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Gabriella Vigoreaux Contributor Gabriella is a freelance writer and recipe developer based in Lakeland, Florida.

Zee Krstic Associate Health Editor Zee Krstic is a health editor for GoodHousekeeping.com, where he covers the latest in health and nutrition news, decodes diet and fitness trends, and reviews the best products in the wellness aisle.

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