• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Easy and Delish logo

  • About
    • Meet Denise!
    • COOKBOOK
    • Contact
    • Press
  • All Recipes
  • BRAZILIAN FOOD
  • Conversions
    • How Many Sticks of Butter in a Cup?
    • How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?
    • Temperature Conversion (Chart & Calculator)
    • US Cups to Ounces to Grams for Common Ingredients (Charts)
    • Volume Conversions (Table for Dry & Liquid Ingredients)
    • Baking Substitutions (with Charts & Tables)
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Português
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Página Inicial
  • About
  • Sobre Mim
  • All Recipes
  • Todas as Receitas
  • Shop
  • Conversions
  • Vídeos
  • Português
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > American Recipes

    Published: May 23, 2015 · Modified: Oct 25, 2020 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." ·

    Kale Pasta Salad


    Jump to Recipe ↓

    I am breaking bread with a wonderful lady today -- who happens to be my favorite neighbor. For those who don't know, my house has been for sale. Knowing that I will miss my neighborhood and especially Ms. C, I decided to make this hearty and tasty Kale Pasta Salad -- as I way to thank her for always being so kind and helpful.

    Kale Pasta Salad in a dish with serving utensils

    The first thing was to make a stop at Walmart to buy Barilla® Penne...

    a box of dry pasta with the name LOVE spelled out of pasta

    ... and then preparing all the ingredients to assemble our dish such boiling the pasta, mincing the garlic, slicing the lemon, and chopping both the bacon and kale.

    a photo collage of kale being chopped

    This kale pasta salad is a simple yet versatile dish that can be served either cold or warm, as a side or main pasta dish, all year round. Although kale is a cold crop, it's available the entire year in the US. Our dish can be easily adapted to fit a vegetarian diet by simply omitting bacon from the recipe... and was inspired in one of my favorite Brazilian leafy dishes, Couve à Mineira.

    To bring its flavor, I just had to cook the kale in medium-high heat until slightly wilted -- softening its bitterness. I could not be more pleased... the kale pasta salad turned out fantastic combining different textures and also flavors (salty, garlicky, smoky, and mildly bitter).

    A dish is filled with kale pasta salad

    Because temps are already on the high, I am serving it cold... and yes, I can already foresee Ms. C's smile when she takes the first bite. I am foreseeing yours too...

    For other delicious pasta dishes, check out Barilla®​ recipes... and enjoy our refreshing kale pasta salad!

    close up of kale pasta salad

    Kale Pasta Salad in a dish with serving utensils
    Print SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin
    No ratings yet

    Kale Pasta Salad

    Kale Pasta Salad is a quick and tasty dish that can be served either cold or warm, as a main or side dish, all year round!
    Prep Time 12 minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes
    Total Time 24 minutes
    Servings 15 mins
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Barilla® Penne
    • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
    • 5 garlic cloves minced
    • 10 strips cooked smoked bacon chopped (for a vegetarian version, omit bacon)
    • ¾ teaspoon salt (or more, if desired)
    • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 bunch kale washed, pat dry, and chopped
    • Fresh squeezed juice of 1 lemon
    • ¾ cup Parmesan cheese either shaved or shredded

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in salty boiling water for about 12 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and add to a large bowl. Set aside.
      Two photos showing cooked pasta being drained in a sieve and then rinsed with water in a yellow collander
    • In a large skillet or pan, heat 4 tablespoons of oil and add the minced garlic. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes. Don't let garlic turn brown! Add the cooked bacon and heat for about 1 to 2 minutes to bring out its flavor. Remove pan from heat, stir in ¾ teaspoon of salt and ¾ teaspoon of pepper. Pour mixture all over the cooked pasta, tossing well to combine. Set aside.
      Pieces of chopped sauteed garlic and bacon simmering together in a pan
    • Add the other 2 remaining tablespoons of oil and chopped kale to the same skillet or pan (without wiping it out) and let cook over medium-high heat for about 3 to 5 minutes or until kale is slightly wilted. Warming up the kale over medium-high heat brings out its flavor, avoiding get too bitter. Add kale to the pasta mixture with the lemon juice, and toss to combine. Let sit for about 5 to 7 minutes. When mixture has cool down, add the Parmesan cheese and toss. Taste pasta mixture, adjusting the seasonings if necessary.
      Two photos showing kale cooking in a pan with oil until slightly wilted, and then tossed with cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese in a bowl
    • Chill kale pasta salad for about 2 to 3 hours (or more if necessary) and serve.

    Recipe Notes

    This kale pasta salad can be served warm if desired. In this case, place the Parmesan cheese on top just right before serving.

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

     
    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla. The opinions and text are all mine.

     

     

    P.S.: To find out about the health benefits of kale, click here.

    « Paçoca Mousse (Paçoca Cremosa) for The June Festivals
    Instant Breakfast Avocado Smoothie »

    Filed Under: American Recipes, Easy And Delish, Easy Dinner Recipes, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: (Bacon), Brazilian Inspired, Cheese, Kale, pasta salad, Vegetables

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Please read our privacy policies before subscribing

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Easy Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe - Easy and Delish says:
      January 21, 2021 at 9:02 pm

      […] Kale pasta salad […]

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Denise Browning!

    photo of Denise Browning smiling
    I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

    About Me

    ORDER NOW!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    GET YOUR COPY NOW!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Subscribe for FREE Email Updates
    Receive EASY & DELISH recipes for free every week! Please check our PRIVACY POLICY!

     

    Marketing by
    Click here & join us on PINTEREST
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • PortuguêsPortuguês
    Portrait of Denise Browning, author of Easy and Delish

    Hi, I'm Denise Browing a professional chef and cookbook author. My mission is to help you cook budget-friendly, healthy global meals for your family with some occasional splurges. They are sure to bring a lot of excitement to your table

    More about me →

    Popular

    • A close up of beef brisket with veggies
      Easy & Juicy Beef Brisket Recipe
    • A bowl of cabbage soup
      The BEST Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe and 7-Day Diet Soup Chart (Printable)
    • A pot of shrimp in coconut sauce
      One Pot Shrimp in Coconut Sauce
    • close up de camarao internacional sendo regado com o molho
      Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe (5-Ingredient)

    Order Now!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    Get Your Copy Now!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Click Here & Join Us on Pinterest

    Seasonal

    • close up of a jar with maple dijon vinaigrette and a spoon pouring the dressing into it.
      Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
    • several slices of air fryer garlic bread in a tray with a bowl of melted garlic butter on the side.
      Air Fryer Garlic Bread
    • close up of whole easy sourdough bread pudding with caramel sauce and berries on top.
      Sourdough Bread Pudding
    • CLOSE UP OF SEVERAL GRILLED CHEESE ON A STICK SERVED ON A LARGE TRAY WITH RED PEPPER FLAKES, HONEY AND FRESH HERBS.
      20 Grilling Cheeses and Grilled Cheese on a Stick Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes | Brazilian Recipes | Contact | Privacy Policy

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Easy and Delish