Kale is one of the most favorite ingredients in most of the dishes. The delicious kale recipes make me really crave kale bad. Garlic parmesan kale pasta is one of the fastest and easiest ways to process kale.

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Use The Whole Wheat Pasta

Whole wheat pasta with kale may sound like the most boring, torturous diet meal of all time. But if you lace them with garlic, parmesan, and a little butter, they’ll take on a whole new taste.

You can add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to make it look like pasta heaven.

However, whole wheat angel hair is hard to find sometimes. I do suggest using angel hair pasta rather than other shapes because I find that the thin texture really balances the mouthfeel of the dish.

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta Recipe

Use a Different Vegetable

If you’re not a fan of kale, it’s fine! You can use this pasta-butter-Parmesan combo with all sorts of other vegetables.

Spinach is great, but so is broccoli (see bowties and broccoli), or sautéed mushrooms. If you have leftover roasted vegetables, toss them in as well.

How to Serve Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta?

This garlic parmesan kale pasta recipe makes four side dish-sized servings, but you can bulk it up and make it a meal by adding a chopped hard-boiled egg or a fried egg, adding some chopped fresh tomatoes (or sun-dried), or even crumbling some bacon over top.

You can also top it with your garlic marinated chicken, cut into strips.

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta Recipe

When you’re in a hurry, this garlic parmesan kale pasta is a filling and flavorful meal.

Prep Time: 10 mins / Cook Time: 15 mins / Total Time: 25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch 1/2 lb kale ($1.69)
  • 1/2 lb angel hair pasta ($0.50)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil ($0.26)
  • 2 tbsp butter ($0.27)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan ($0.41)
  • Pinch salt and pepper ($0.05)
  • Pinch red pepper flakes (optional) ($0.03)

Instructions

  • Pull the kale leaves from the woody stems and tear them into small 1 to 2-inch pieces. Rinse the torn kale well in a colander under cool, running water and allow it to drain.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Break the pasta in half, add it to the boiling water, and cook until al dente (about 7 minutes). Drain the pasta in a colander.
  • While the pasta is cooking, add the olive oil, butter, and minced garlic to another large pot or skillet. Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and fragrant. Add the kale and continue to sauté until the kale has wilted and has turned a deep green color (about 5-7 minutes). Turn the heat off.
  • Add the drained pasta to the pot with the sautéed kale. Toss the pasta and kale together. Allow them to cool to the point that steam is no longer rising from the pot. You want the pasta warm, but not hot enough to melt the parmesan.
  • Season the pasta and kale with salt and freshly cracked pepper to your liking. Add the grated parmesan cheese and toss to coat. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes over top if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving ・ Calories: 373.7 kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 48.98 g ・ Protein: 11.48 g ・ Fat: 15.33 g ・ Sodium: 309.9 mg ・ Fiber: 4 g

The nutritional values shown here are only estimates. Please see our nutrition disclaimer.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta – Step-by-Step Photos

Prepare Kale
Step 1: Pull the leaves from the woody stems of one bunch of kale (about 1/2 lb.).

Tear the leaves into 1 to 2-inch pieces as you go. You can also use bagged, pre-chopped kale, if desired.
Rinse Kale
Step 2: Place the kale in a colander and rinse well with cool running water. Allow the kale to drain.
Cook Pasta
Step 3: Begin cooking 1/2 pound angel hair pasta according to the package directions. Get the pasta going first since the rest of the dish will be finished cooking in the time that it takes the pasta to boil.

Break the pasta in half before boiling to make it easier to mix in with other ingredients when it’s slightly shorter (it still looks just like long pasta once mixed).
Garlic Butter and Oil
Step 4: Add 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp oil, and 2 cloves minced garlic to a large pot or skillet.

Sauté the garlic over medium heat for a couple minutes, or just until it becomes soft and really fragrant (it should smell like the best garlic bread you’ve ever laid your nostrils on).
Sauté Kale in butter and garlic
Step 5: Add the kale and continue to sauté until the kale wilts down and is a really beautiful, deep jade green.

This was after about 5 minutes. Turn the heat off after it’s wilted.

Add Cooked Pasta to Kale
Step 6: By now, your pasta has finished cooking and you can let it drain in a colander. Let it cool for just a minute.

Then add it to the pot with the kale and toss them together. Let them rest for a few minutes here until it cools to the point where no steam is coming off of the pasta.

Use this time to season the pasta and kale with salt and pepper.
Add Parmesan and Red Pepper to pasta and kale
Step 7: Finally, add the grated parmesan and toss to coat. You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to this dish if you want a little kick, too.

You can try these other quick pasta recipes:

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