• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Bites of Wellness
  • All Recipes
  • Gluten Free Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Work With Me
Home / Recipes / Side Dish / 5 Minute Creamy Kale (Vegan, Whole30)

5 Minute Creamy Kale (Vegan, Whole30)

By: Samantha RowlandUpdated: February 13, 2021

Gluten FreeVeganWhole30PaleoLow Carb
Large white bowl filled with 5 minute creamy kale with pinterest text on the bottom

5 minute creamy kale is going to become one of your go-to side dishes for busy nights! The creamy lemon sauce makes this kale go from boring to exciting without a ton of extra work! I promise this recipe will actually make you love kale!

White bowl of creamy kale with a lemon in the background
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 26
Jump to Recipe

Why this recipe works?

Ready in just 5 minutes, this healthy creamy kale pairs well with almost any meal and is a great way to add more veggies to any meal!

The creamy lemon sauce is just 4 ingredients and is so easy to make!

Never suffer through eating boring kale again! This vegan, gluten free, dairy free recipe is also Whole30 and low carb friendly!

Tips for cooking with kale:

Kale needs acid to taste better. For raw kale salads, it’s best to massage the kale in a little vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil or avocado oil before adding the rest of the ingredients. This starts breaking down the kale and changes the taste and texture so that it’s less earthy and more delicious. Creamy dressings work well too since the kale can stand up to the weight of the dressing.

get my 10 greatest recipes ebook by signing up for my newsletterGET 10 OF MY ALL TIME GREATEST RECIPES
IN THIS FREE EBOOK

When cooking kale, the same basic principles are true. Add vinegar or lemon juice to cut through the bitter taste. Kale can handle creamy sauces or just a drizzle of olive oil or avocado oil (good fats are important for absorbing those vitamins and minerals)! The creamy sauce is my secret weapon to making kale crave-able!

How to make 5 Minute Creamy Kale?

  • Step 1: Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ½ tbsp. garlic olive oil or olive oil to the skillet and add the kale to start wilting down.
  • Step 2: Add the creamy lemon sauce ingredients to a small bowl (nut butter, lemon juice, garlic olive oil and salt).
  • Step 3: Stir the creamy lemon sauce well. Add 2-3 tbsp of water to thin out the sauce.
  • Step 4: Once the kale has started to wilt down, turn off the stove.
  • Step 5: Add the creamy lemon sauce to the kale and stir well
  • Step 6: Serve hot!
Steps on how to make creamy kale

How to prepare kale for cooking:

  1. Start by de-stemming the kale.
    1. To do this hold the thick stem in one hand and use your other hand to wrap around the stalk, pulling down the entire kale leaf in one motion, The stem will be left in one hand and the kale leaf will be in the other.
  2. Quickly chop or tear the kale in bite size pieces.

What is the best kale to use for this creamy kale recipe?

Dinosaur kale (sometimes called Tuscan kale) is great in this recipe. You can usually find it at most health food stores and even in some regular grocery stores. It does not have the curly edges like traditional kale and it cooks down quickly.

Regular green or red kale would also be great in this recipe. Be sure to remove any thick stalks before cooking, as those will not break down quick enough in 5 minutes.

Here is a time saving tip: you can find washed and chopped kale at most grocery stores in large 3 pound bags. Just be sure that when you are using the pre-chopped kale, that you pick out any large stems before cooking.

Bowl of creamy kale with a wooden spoon to the side

FAQ’s:

What other greens can you cook this way?

  • Collard greens, thinly sliced
  • Chard
  • Spinach
  • Arugula

What nut butters can you use in this recipe?

  • Almond butter
  • Tahini
  • Sunflower seed butter
  • Cashew butter
  • Walnut butter

If you don’t have access to garlic infused olive oil:

Garlic infused olive oil is what I use in a lot of my cooking since fresh garlic and garlic powder cause digestive issues for some of the members of my family. If that is not the case at your house, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of olive oil + 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for each tablespoon of garlic olive oil.

Bowl of creamy kale with a lemon in background and wooden spoon

If you love this recipe, you should try:

  • Vegan Nacho Kale Chips
  • Cherry Kale Salad with Cherry Dressing
  • Spicy Kale Artichoke Dip
  • Whole30 Spinach Artichoke Dip
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Large bowl of creamy kale with a juiced lemon and a bottle of olive oil in the background

5 Minute Creamy Kale

This recipe for 5 minute creamy kale is going to become one of your go-to side dishes for dinner! It’s so simple to make and only has a few ingredients! Vegan, Whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, low carb and allergy friendly! 
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy kale, lemony kale
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Servings: 3 people
Author: Samantha Rowland

Guided Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1 pound kale, chopped
  • 1/2 lemon - juiced
  • 1 tbsp nut butter - or seed butter of choice
  • 1 tbsp garlic olive oil - or olive oil and 1/2 tsp.garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2-3 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. 
  • De-stem and chop the kale into bite size pieces.
  • Add 1/2 tbsp garlic olive oil to the pan. 
  • Add the chopped kale to the olive oil and stir well. 
  • While the kale is cooking down, make the sauce by combining the rest of the garlic olive oil, nut butter, lemon juice, salt and 2 tbsp of water in a small bowl. Stir well until combined. 
  • Pour this mixture over the kale and stir well. Cook 1 minute. Add 1 tbsp of water if needed. Serve hot 

You’ll Also Love These Amazing Recipes

  • Bowl of roasted cauliflower hummus next to sliced red bell pepper on a white tray
    Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Hummus
  • vegan pad thai with carrots, bell peppers, avocado and red cabbage with peanut sauce
    Vegan Pad Thai (Paleo, Whole30)
  • White bowl of spicy creamy asian slaw with a lime in the bowl, with chop sticks on the left side
    Spicy Creamy Asian Slaw (Whole30, Vegan)
  • This whole30 Mexican cauliflower rice is the perfect side dish for your Mexican style meals! Paleo, vegan, grain free and ready in 10 minutes! Perfect for meal prep as well! | #whole30 #vegan #paleo #mexcian | bitesofwellness.com
    Whole30 Mexican Cauliflower Rice (vegan, grain free)

Notes

What nut butters can you use in this recipe?
  • Almond butter
  • Tahini
  • Sunflower seed butter
  • Cashew butter
  • Walnut butter
What other greens can you cook this way?
  • Collard greens, thinly sliced
  • Chard
  • Spinach
  • Arugula
 

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
148
Fat
 
9
g
Carbohydrates
 
14
g
Protein
 
7
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?Let others know by rating and leaving a comment below!

Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in March 2018, but was published again in June 2019 to include step by step directions,

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 26

SHARE THIS POST!

If you liked this post, share it with your friends and family!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 26
Previous Post: « Mushroom Walnut Stuffed Zucchini
Next Post: Cajun Parsnip Fries »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JTrain

    February 9, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    4 stars
    Yummy!

    Reply
  2. Jami

    May 8, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, somehow this is sooo good! I don’t LOVE kale but I might now. Great simple recipe, thanks!

    Reply
    • Jami Lynn Powers

      May 13, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      Update – I just used the sauce over roasted brussel sprouts and that is just as good. I need more stars to rate this higher then a 5.

      Reply
  3. Robert

    April 25, 2020 at 12:06 am

    I’d like to try this… Can I substitute vinegar or some other acid for the lemon juice?

    Reply
    • Samantha Rowland

      April 25, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      Yes! I often use apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar! Start with 1-2 tablespoons!

      Reply
  4. Linda

    April 10, 2020 at 6:11 am

    I was skeptical how the nut butter would work with the kale. I actually loved it! I used frozen kale and tahini. Definitely requires a repeat performance. It was quick, easy and tasty. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Samantha Rowland

      April 15, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      Thank you! Tahini is a great option here!

      Reply
  5. Ann

    February 18, 2019 at 3:56 pm

    That was yummy. I prepared it with slight moderation of adding coconut milk and it was tasty. Thank you for the recipe

    Reply
  6. Cynthia

    October 4, 2018 at 7:09 am

    5 stars
    Never liked Kale until this recipe! Even my picky eaters at the dinner table liked it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Recipes By Course

Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dessert Sides Snacks Soup Salad All Recipes

Recipes By Diet

    Gluten FreeDairy FreeVeganWhole30PaleoKetoHigh ProteinLow CarbVegetarianQuickLow Fat

Sam at Bites of Wellness

Hi, I’m Samantha. A personal trainer and nutrition coach. I’m here to help you get a healthy meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
Learn More About Me →

Whole30 Recipe Favorites

Bowl filled with cauliflower rice and bang bang shrimp, chopsticks on side.
$10.94 Recipe/$2.73 Serving

Bang Bang Shrimp (Whole30, Keto)

Air fryer carrots in the basket of the air fryer.
$1.40 Recipe/$0.35 Serving

Air Fryer Carrot Fries

Spoon in a jar of cilantro chimichurri sauce.
$4.07 Recipe/$0.51 Serving

Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce (Whole30, Vegan)

Cast iron skillet filled with sun dried tomato shrimp.
$11.48 Recipe/$2.87 Serving

Sun Dried Tomato Shrimp (Whole30 + Keto)

Wooden scoop in a bowl of whole30 taco seasoning
$1.45 Recipe/$0.36 Serving

Whole30 Taco Seasoning (low FODMAP)

Air fryer basket full of delicata squash fries.
$1.16 Recipe/$0.58 Serving

Air Fryer Delicata Squash

Most Popular Recipes

Overhead shot of bowl of best ever mushroom soup with a wooden handled spoon in the bowl on the left side of the bowl. Fresh mushrooms and thyme leaves surround the bowl and there is a grey striped napkin to the left of the bowl

Best Ever Mushroom Soup

Spoon full of broccoli cheese soup over a bowl.

Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup

White Bean Mushroom Soup in a green and orange bowl with creamy mushrooms on the top, a red and orange napkin and a golden spoon next to the bowl

Best Ever White Bean Mushroom Soup

Bowl of protein puppy chow with a silver spoon scooping some out of the bowl.

Protein Puppy Chow (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Bowl of baked balsamic tofu with a spoon of Italian seasoning below.

Balsamic Tofu

Protein hot chocolate topped with whipped cream in a white mug.

Simple Healthy Protein Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free)

Footer

Featured On

Bites of Wellness has been featured on countryliving.Bites of Wellness has been featured on buzzfeed.Bites of Wellness has been featured on women's health.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Boston Magazine.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Well and Good.Bites of Wellness has been featured on SHAPE.Bites of Wellness has been featured on PureWow.Bites of Wellness has been featured on PARADE.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Huffington Post.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Greatist.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Eat This Not That.

Recipes by Diet

  • Gluten Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Whole30
  • Low Carb
  • High Protein
  • Low Fat
  • Keto

Recipes by Course

  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Side Dish
  • Dessert
  • Snacks
  • Salad
  • Quick

Free Resources

  • Free Recipe Resources
  • Kitchen Essentials

Contact & Privacy

  • Work With Me
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Me On Social!

© Copyright 2021 Bites of Wellness