Kale Dishes That Make This Leafy Green Taste Way Better Than You Expect

If you think kale is boring, this roundup is here to change your mind. These dishes pack in big flavor with simple ingredients, from bright and crunchy salads to warm, cozy meals that come together fast. Whether you want something fresh for lunch, a hearty skillet dinner, or a quick snack you can munch on anytime, you’ll find a tasty kale creation that’s easy to love.

Baby Kale Salad

A bowl of green salad topped with roasted chickpeas, sliced apples, and creamy dressing. — Baby Kale Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

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This quick baby kale salad is tossed in a creamy tahini dressing and topped with roasted BBQ chickpeas and crisp apple slices. It comes together fast and makes a satisfying plant based meal.
Get the Recipe: Baby Kale Salad

Chickpea Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

A bowl of kale salad with chickpeas, chopped red bell peppers, and a creamy dressing, with a fork resting inside the bowl. — Chickpea Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

A simple and nourishing kale salad with chickpeas and a rich tahini dressing that ties everything together.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

Copycat Chick-fil-a Kale Salad

A bowl of chopped green salad with kale, cabbage, and sliced almonds, with a fork resting inside. — Copycat Chick-fil-a Kale Salad . Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

Skip the drive thru and make this crisp, crunchy kale and cabbage salad at home. The zesty dressing gives it that familiar flavor you love.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chick-fil-a Kale Salad

Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup

A bowl of creamy soup with mushrooms, leafy greens, and herbs, served with slices of bread on a wooden board. — Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella .

Got leftover holiday turkey? This creamy mushroom and kale soup is the coziest way to use it up and makes an easy bowl of comfort on chilly days.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup

Easy Kale Salad

A simple, everyday kale salad that takes just a few minutes to toss together and works with almost any meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Kale Salad

Easy Kale Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

A glass bowl of kale salad with mixed dried fruit, sunflower seeds, and two serving utensils. — Easy Kale Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Sweet, tangy, and full of texture, this kale salad uses mango chutney in the dressing for a fun twist that tastes perfect for hosting or weeknight meals.
Get the Recipe: Easy Kale Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Two bowls of green salad topped with grated cheese and pumpkin seeds, placed on a blue checkered cloth with garlic and lettuce in the background. — Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Inspired by a popular Seattle spot, this salad mixes pecorino, toasted pepitas, and a garlicky confit dressing for a bold, bright flavor combo.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet

A skillet dish with kale, sweet potatoes, chopped tomatoes, and melted cheese. — Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella .

This one pot skillet mixes ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and kale for a simple, hearty dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Kale Skillet

Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Kale salad with julienned apples, diced red onions, and poppy seed dressing. — Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Massaged kale, crisp apples, and a creamy poppy seed dressing come together for a fresh, bright salad that feels anything but ordinary.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Kale Harvest Salad

A plate of kale salad with shredded carrots, walnuts, crumbled cheese, and dates, set next to a fork and a checkered napkin. — Kale Harvest Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This quick fall inspired salad mixes kale with carrots and dates for a sweet and savory combo that works as a side or light dinner.
Get the Recipe: Kale Harvest Salad

Kale Salad With Cranberries

A bowl of kale salad with feta cheese, dried cranberries, and cashews on a white table, next to a wooden spoon and a small dish of cranberries. — Kale Salad With Cranberries. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

A fast and flavorful salad with tart cranberries, lemon, and crunchy nuts. It’s ready in minutes and pairs with almost anything.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad With Cranberries

Kale White Bean Salad

Tender kale and hearty white beans come together in a bright lemon mustard vinaigrette for an easy, family friendly side dish.
Get the Recipe: Kale White Bean Salad