Garlic Bacon Kale Side Dish

Garlic Bacon Kale is the healthy side dish you have been dreaming of. Minced garlic, onions, bacon, and kale give you the ultimate flavor combination. An easy side dish where kale is the showcase!

Who says that eating healthy has to taste bad? This is one of the best-sauted kale recipes ever! It’s easy to eat well when it tastes this good. We think you will enjoy our vegan Caesar salad with spicy roasted chickpeas too.

We used to be afraid to try kale because it has a bad name for being flavorless. Now it’s the first thing we reach for when we are craving something clean to eat. Try it! You won’t be disappointed. Learn how to prepare kale in a and savory way.

Try our cabbage with bacon as well for another idea.

Why You Should Make This Recipe

• Packed with nutrients
• Takes under 20 minutes to make
• Great for all occasions
• Only 5 ingredients
• Flavorful
• Easy
• Inexpensive dish
• Gluten-free side dish
• Affordable
• Great to pair with roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, and more to add more dimension
• Pair with a quinoa salad and a drizzle of lemon juice for a tasty lunch

• Kale
• Bacon
• Onion
• Garlic
• Salt & Pepper

How to Make Garlic Bacon Kale

1. Cook the diced bacon pieces and drain on a paper towel.

2. Sautee onions in skillet after removing bacon.

3. Add in the garlic and kale (try this kale tool!) to the skillet. Stir frequently until softened.

4. Top with cooked bacon and serve. Enjoy!

Expert Tips For Success

• Before you begin cooking the kale, you will need to rinse it with cold water. Let it dry, then chop it. We like using a strainer to rinse.
• You don’t need to save the stalks, and they can be thrown out. The stems aren’t good and are tough, so you don’t want to leave them in the dish.
• Drizzle with a little bit of maple syrup to add some sweetness if desired.
• If you want to add some heat to the bacon and kale, add some chopped jalapenos or red pepper flakes. Otherwise, season with salt and pepper
• This is great with roasted veggies.
• Make sure your kale leaves are bright colors, fresh and not wilted.

Storage

If you happen to have leftovers you can place your leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. This dish is best served fresh as it has the best texture to the kale.

You can warm it up in a skillet or in the microwave. Or eat the leftovers cold if you prefer.

Practical notes

What kind of nutrients are in this dish?

The kale provides you with calcium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and so much more! u003cbru003eu003cbru003eGarlic is also a nutritious ingredient. It has vitamin C, selenium, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, and potassium.

Can you prepare this ahead of time?

Sure! After it’s been cooked and cooled, it will actually last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just be sure to keep it airtight, and you shouldn’t have any issues.

How do you reheat?

The easiest way to reheat it is by adding a little bit of olive oil to a skillet. Stir until hot then it’s ready to devour.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAdditionally, you can heat it up in the microwave too. Just place it on a microwave-safe plate, cover, and warm for a minute or two until it’s hot.

What goes well with kale and bacon?

Honestly, it’s so good and filling you can eat it alone without anything. However, if you want to include more in your meal, it goes fabulous with some steak, chicken, or salmon. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThen serve some crusty bread, and you will have a meal made for a king.

How do you get the bitterness out of kale?

Braising kale is one way to get rid of the bitterness out of your kale. That is why you see we saute the kale as it will not only soften the kale but it will also reduce the bitter flavoring.

More Tasty Side Dishes

• The Best Creamed Spinach
• Homemade Creamed Corn
• Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf
• Classic Green Bean Almondine
• Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn
• Brown Sugar Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Tried this recipe? Make sure to rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment to let us know how you like it! Plus get more Instant Pot Recipes or Home Cooked Recipes Facebook Page on our Facebook. Stay up to date and Follow Me On Pinterest!

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

• 6 cups kale, stems removed and coarsely chopped
• 6-8 slices of bacon, I used a thicker cut bacon
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

1. Start by dicing up your bacon into smaller pieces. Then you will toss them in a skillet over medium heat and cook until browned and fully cooked.
2. Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate.
3. Now you can remove some of the bacon grease or leave it all in the pan. But you will then add in your onion and saute till softened. This takes 5 minutes roughly.
4. White you bacon and the onions are cooking wash, and prep your kale. Toss in the pan with the onion and bacon grease along with the garlic.
5. Cook for around 5 minutes or until the kale softens down to your preference. Then top with bacon and serve.

Kitchen notes

Swap Out Bacon:

You are welcome to swap bacon with prosciutto, Canadian bacon, or any other type of meat. Or leave it out altogether. Doneness of Kale: You can cook your kale to your preference. The longer it cooks the more wilted it will become. Salt and Pepper to Season to your liking. Swap out spices: This is a great side dish for a weeknight dinner or holiday side dish. Feel free to change up the ingredients to create a dish that fits your preference. Try out different herbs or spices to create layers of flavor. Add More Ingredients: Add in some cooked diced sweet potatoes, quinoa to make it like a salad.