Best Kale Pasta Recipes

CREAMY KALE AND PASTA WITH SWEET SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gemelli at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add tomato, onion, and garlic; saute for 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze browned bits. Add kale and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• While kale is cooking, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, and drain pasta. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, for 1 minute. Pour in milk slowly while whisking vigorously to smooth lumps. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, 7 to 10 minutes. Add reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency as needed. Remove sauce from heat.
• Pour sauce into sausage mixture, add drained pasta, and toss to evenly coat. Serve warm topped with Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND KALE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving the water.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then pinch off 1- to 2-inch pieces of the sausage, adding it to the pan as you go. Cook for a couple minutes, flipping and stirring the sausage to brown both sides. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion has softened a little, a couple of minutes. Add the red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir and cook until the sausage is cooked through, another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Use a ladle to remove 2/3 cup pasta water from the pasta pot and add it to the skillet. Add the kale and cook until it has started to wilt, about 30 seconds, then add the pesto and cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring gently, until the sauce has thickened and the kale has wilted, about 3 minutes. If the skillet starts to look too dry at any stage, add a little more pasta water.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and add the butter, lemon zest, pasta and Parmesan. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve in bowls garnished with the fresh basil.

PASTA WITH CHORIZO, CHICKPEAS AND KALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chorizo and cook, stirring, until blistered and oil is bright orange, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to a medium bowl.
• Add chickpeas and scallions to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas begin to blister, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer chickpeas and scallions to the bowl.
• Add kale to skillet, season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pasta to skillet along with 1 cup pasta water and cook over medium-high, tossing with kale, until liquid reduces and coats the pasta, about 2 minutes.
• Return chorizo, chickpeas and scallions to skillet and toss to combine. Drizzle with a little olive oil and top with Manchego to serve.

CREAMY PESTO & KALE PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the onions for 10 mins until softened and beginning to caramelise. Add the kale and 100ml water, then cover and cook for 5 mins more, or until the kale has wilted.
• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a little of the cooking water. Toss the pasta with the onion mixture, cream cheese and pesto, adding a splash of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed. Season.

KILLER KALE PASTA

Steps:

• Place the bell peppers over the flame of a gas burner to char, turning, 3 to 4 minutes per side (or char the peppers under the broiler, turning, 5 minutes). Place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow the peppers to steam about 10 minutes. Once cool to the touch, remove the peppers from the bowl and pull off the charred skin and stems and remove the seeds. Slice and set aside until ready to use.
• Set a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then the shallots and garlic; season with salt and pepper and cook until the garlic is fragrant and the shallots are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and wine and cook until most of the wine has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add both cans of tomatoes and the roasted red peppers. Mix well and bring to a steady boil, then reduce the heat so the sauce simmers.
• Meanwhile, prepare the kale by removing and discarding the stems; tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. Fold the kale into the tomato sauce along with the chicken and toss to combine. Cover and cook until the kale has wilted, about 5 minutes. If the sauce seems dry, add the chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time. Continue cooking, covered, until the kale is tender, all the flavors have come together and the sauce is thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and add it directly to the Dutch oven with the finished sauce. Drizzle in some olive oil. Cook over low heat, tossing to coat everything, 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the last cooking of the pasta to be done in the sauce.) Add a little of the reserved pasta water if needed. Serve the pasta in large bowls and top with spoonfuls of parmesan, more red pepper flakes and another drizzle of olive oil.

GREEK-STYLE SHRIMP PASTA WITH KALE

Steps:

• Pour tomatoes into a fine-mesh sieve set over a medium bowl. Shake to release as much juice as possible, then let tomatoes drain in sieve, collecting juices in bowl, until ready to use.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or other large heavy pot over high. Add drained tomatoes and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to caramelize, about 12 minutes. Add wine and cook, scraping up browned bits, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add collected tomato juices, oregano, red pepper, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, 3 minutes less than package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Working in batches, add kale to tomato sauce, stirring after each addition, until all kale is wilted. Using a spider or slotted spoon, transfer pasta to pot with sauce. Add shrimp, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally and adding pasta cooking liquid if needed to loosen sauce, until pasta is al dente, shrimp are cooked through, and everything is nicely coated in sauce, about 3 minutes.
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with feta and drizzle with oil.

KALE-SAUCE PASTA

Steps:

• Put a large pot of generously salted water over high heat, and bring to a boil. In a small skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and garlic, and cook until the garlic begins to sizzle. Reduce heat to low, and cook very gently until garlic is soft and begins to turn light gold, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• When water is boiling, add kale leaves, and cook until tender, but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Pull out the hot, dripping kale leaves with tongs, and put directly into a blender. (Don't drain the pot; you'll use that same boiling water to cook the pasta.) Add garlic and its oil to the blender, along with a splash of hot water from the pot if you need some more liquid to get the blender going. Blend into a fine, thick green purée. Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, then blend again.
• Add the pasta to the still-boiling water, and cook according to directions on the package. Ladle out about a cup of the water to save for finishing the dish, then drain the pasta and return it to the dry pot. Add the kale purée, about 3/4 of the grated cheese and a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss until all the pasta is well coated and bright green, adding another splash of pasta water if needed so that the sauce is loose and almost creamy in texture. Serve in bowls right away, and top with an extra drizzle of olive oil and the rest of the grated cheese.

FALL KALE AND SAUSAGE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Spray a 9-by-13-inch ceramic or metal baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water until about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat a large Dutch oven or heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat the olive oil in the pan, then add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown at the edges, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is very aromatic, another minute. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling into small chunks with the back of a wooden spoon, until browned all over, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup pasta water to the pan and scrape up any of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in the heavy cream and cook, stirring frequently, until it comes to a simmer. Stir in the kale, then cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted and tender and the heavy cream has thickened, another 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle the nutmeg and about 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper on the kale (taste here, as your sausage might have different seasonings). Remove from the heat and stir in the ricotta until just combined, followed by 1/4 cup each of the fontina and mozzarella. Add the pasta and stir until it is coated in sauce and the cheese starts to melt, adding pasta water if the mixture seems too thick. Taste and season with a little more salt, pepper and red pepper flakes if desired.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top it with the remaining 1/4 cup fontina, 1/4 cup mozzarella and the Parmesan. Broil the pasta until the cheese is brown and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHEESY BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA WITH KALE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees and butter a shallow 2-quart/9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling water for 4 minutes, adding the kale for the last minute. Drain the pasta and kale, rinse under cold water, then transfer to a large bowl along with the red-pepper flakes and the chopped herbs.
• In a blender, add the pumpkin, garlic, salt, pepper, cream and vegetable broth. Blend until smooth. (If you don't want to use a blender, add the pumpkin, salt and pepper to a large bowl and use a spoon to break it up into a smooth mixture. Slowly whisk in the cream and vegetable broth until mixture is smooth, then grate in the garlic.) Add the sauce to the bowl with the pasta. Add in most of the grated cheese, reserving about 1/2 cup, and stir to coat.
• Transfer the pasta into the baking dish, then dollop the ricotta over top and sprinkle remaining grated cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until brown and bubbly. If you want the pasta really browned, broil it for 3 to 5 minutes, watching carefully. Allow the dish to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, and garnish with additional chopped herbs before serving.

PASTA WITH KALE, SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Make the pasta in boiling salted water, drain (reserve 2 cups of the pasta water if you're making the vegetarian version), drizzle with olive oil, season with sea salt and black pepper, toss and set aside.
• Sauté with olive oil or grill the sausages to put a crust on the outside, drain on a paper towel, cut into 1/4-inch rounds, then set aside. In a hot pan lightly brown the kale with the olive oil and remove. Add the shiitakes, shallots, and garlic, and sauté until lightly browned. Turn down the heat to medium. Return the kale to the pan along with the sausages, stock, and butter. Braise for 15 minutes. The liquid should reduce by half.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning with sea salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta, toss to coat with the sauce. Serve with grated cheese.

PASTA WITH KALE, BACON AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and stirring kale into the boiling water for the last 2-1/2 min. Drain in colander, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
• Cook and stir bacon in large skillet on medium heat until crisp; drain. Reserve bacon for later use.
• Add onions, garlic and dressing to skillet; cook on medium heat 5 min., stirring frequently. Add reserved cooking water; stir. Bring to boil. Add pasta mixture; mix lightly. Remove from heat.
• Top with cheese and reserved bacon.

CREAMY KALE AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook radiatori in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 to 12 minutes. Strain pasta from water (do NOT drain water). Place kale in the boiling water. Blanch for about 1 minute. Drain off water.
• Immediately drop kale in a bowl with ice water to stop the cooking. Drain off water, squeeze out excess liquid, and roughly chop. Set aside.
• Cut sausage into thin discs and sear in a pan over medium-high heat. Remove sausage discs and set aside.
• Pour olive oil into the same pan and add mushrooms, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat until mushrooms have softened and onions are slightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chopped kale, sausage, marinara sauce, and chicken broth to the pan. Mix in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Simmer sauce down to your desired thickness if you like.
• Divide radiatori amongst serving bowls, and top with tomato sauce.

PASTA, KALE AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots, garlic, tomato paste, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook until the carrots begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth, 6 cups water and the parmesan rind. Increase the heat to high; cover and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and beans and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the kale. Simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 7 minutes. Remove the parmesan rind, stir in half of the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with the remaining cheese.
• Per Serving: Calories: 499; Total Fat: 16 grams; Saturated Fat: 6 grams; Protein: 23 grams; Total carbohydrates: 66 grams; Sugar: grams; Fiber: 9 grams; Cholesterol: 44 milligrams; Sodium: 763 milligrams

SHEET-PAN PASTA BAKE WITH CHICKEN AND KALE

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in top of oven; preheat to 450°F. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, mix panko, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl.
• Toss kale and tomatoes with 1/2 tsp. salt and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Add sour cream, mustard, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid, and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 tsp. pepper; stir until smooth. Stir in chicken and 1 cup mozzarella, adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed, until evenly coated. Transfer to sheet with kale and tomatoes and toss to combine. Top with panko mixture and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Roast pasta mixture until cheese is melted and top is lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.

SAUSAGE, KALE & CHILLI PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp oil in a large frying pan. Brown the sausage with the fennel seeds on a medium heat for 6-7 mins until golden, then set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same pan, add the garlic and chilli, and cook on a medium heat for 2 mins or until golden. Add the lemon juice and tomatoes, cook for 2 mins, then remove from the heat.
• Boil the pasta following pack instructions until al dente. Add the kale for the final 2 mins of cooking. Drain, saving the cooking liquid, then put the pasta and kale back in the saucepan to keep warm. Add about 100ml cooking liquid to the tomatoes. Heat up, pour over the pasta and toss together with the sausage, lemon zest and half the Parmesan. Serve in bowls with the remaining Parmesan sprinkled over.

HARVEST PASTA WITH KALE AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving some of the cooking liquid.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and kale; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, hot pepper, and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, red bell pepper, shrimp, Swiss chard, and green beans. Cook until shrimp is opaque, about 5 minutes.
• Stir spaghetti into the skillet, pouring in some of the reserved cooking liquid if mixture is too dry. Add balsamic vinegar, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Cook until flavors combine, 3 to 5 minutes.

SPRING MINESTRONE WITH KALE AND PASTA

Steps:

• In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add shallots and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ginger, if using, and garlic and stir until very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add stock and bring to a simmer.
• Stir in pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Stir in asparagus and peas and cook until vegetables and pasta are tender, about 3 minutes longer. Stir in kale and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide soup among bowls. Swirl in some pesto and top with Parmesan.

CHICKPEA, SAUSAGE, AND KALE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta, then drain. In a skillet, cook sausage meat in 1 tablespoon olive oil until opaque, breaking up with a spoon. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add chickpeas and cook 3 minutes. Add kale and wilt. Add pasta and Parmesan; season. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.

KALE PASTA WITH CHILLI & ANCHOVY

Steps:

• Boil the pasta. While it's cooking, heat half the oil in a saucepan, then sizzle the chilli, garlic and anchovies. Add the kale, then gently fry until tender, adding a drop of water if needed.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a few tbsp water, then toss the pasta and water through the kale, adding the rest of the olive oil, lemon juice and grated Parmesan. Serve scattered with the Parmesan shavings.

SWEET PEPPER PASTA TOSS WITH KALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in red pepper, yellow pepper, kale and garlic. Season with basil, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender.
• In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with skillet mixture. Sprinkle with feta cheese to serve.