Instant Pot Kale is a healthy side dish that can be made in minutes. This instant pot recipe calls for simple ingredients that you may already have at home, and it can be easily customized to your liking.
Whether you prefer your kale sautéed, roasted, or pressure cooked, this recipe will show you the best way to cook kale in your instant pot!
If you're new to cooking with an instant pot, don't worry – this recipe is simple and straightforward. Just follow the instructions below, and you'll have a delicious side dish ready in no time.
And if you're looking for more easy side dish recipes, be sure to check out our delicious collection of side dish recipes!
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love it
This Instant Pot kale recipe is healthy and nutritious and is also very quick and easy to make. It is a very flexible recipe as well because you can customize it to your liking.
Making this kale recipe is a great way to use fresh kale from your garden or local farmer's market. It's also perfect as a quick side dish to pair with any meal and is great for meal prep ahead of time too!
🥘 Equipment Used
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I use a 6-quart instant pot for this recipe because the kale cooks so fast under high pressure and comes out so flavorful.
🧾 Ingredients Used
- Raw kale: I use whole leaves for this recipe, but you could also use chopped kale that comes in a bag. Organic kale usually works the best and has the best flavor.
- Olive oil: I prefer to use olive oil for this recipe as it is a healthy cooking oil that adds flavor and moisture to the dish. You could also use avocado oil or another type of mild-flavored cooking oil.
- Onions and garlic: I use onions and fresh garlic cloves, but you can use onion powder or garlic powder if you prefer.
- Spices: Black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt. These ingredients are added for flavor. You can skip the cayenne pepper if you don't want any heat.
- Water or broth: I like to add some chicken broth for even more flavor, but you can use water instead.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Wash the kale and chop it into 3-4 large chunks, removing the stems.
- Turn the instant pot to saute mode and add olive oil.
- Add your chopped onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the chopped kale to the bottom of the pot, and stir.
- Pour in the broth and spices and stir once more.
- Set the instant pot to manual mode, seal the instant pot lid, and pressure cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on how firm you like your kale.
- Press cancel and quick release the remaining pressure with the quick release valve at the end of the cooking time.
- Take out the kale, drain the water, and place it in a bowl.
- Add more spices if you wish.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
This kale dish can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply sauté the kale over medium heat until warmed through. You could also reheat it in the microwave if desired.
You can also freeze any leftover kale if you wish. First, let it completely cool, then put it all together in a freezer-safe bag or container. Then, when you're ready to eat it, just thaw it in the refrigerator and reheat it in a saute pan.
💭 Helpful Tips
- If you are unable to find any kale at your local grocery store or farmers' market, you could also use spinach, collard greens, or Swiss chard in this recipe. Just keep in mind that the cook time may need to be adjusted if you are using a different type of green.
- Add some heavy cream or coconut milk to your instant pot kale for a creamier dish.
- This recipe can also be made in the slow cooker. Simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for about 3 hours.
🧾 Recipe Variations
- Feel free to add other hearty vegetables to this recipe, such as brussels sprouts, celery, or green leaf cabbage. You could also add some protein, such as cooked chicken, sausage, or shrimp.
- If you want a bit more of a flavor kick, try adding tomato paste, red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, or crumbled bacon to the dish.
- You could fry kale with some butter instead of pressure cooking.
- Kale chips in the air fryer are always a good option.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
This delicious pressure cooker kale is so versatile and can be enjoyed as a quick veggie side or snack. Here are some ideas of what to eat this recipe with:
- Serve it as a great side dish with these Ninja Foodie Chicken Wings or Instant Pot Chicken Leg Quarters.
- Add it to soup or stew for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Use it as a topping for a low carb pasta dish like this Palmini Pasta Shrimp Stir Fry.
- Add it to an omelet or frittata.
- Kale is also a great addition to smoothies for an extra nutrient boost.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
Salt, olive oil, and minced garlic are additional ingredients that typically enhance the flavor of a dish with bitter kale. The bitterness of kale can be lessened by chopping the stem and marinating it in salt and olive oil.
Kale holds up really well, and it takes a lot to overcook it. However, if you do manage to overcook it, it can turn mushy and have an unpleasant texture.
To prevent this, just make sure not to use too much liquid and cook kale greens for the minimum amount of time specified in the recipe. If cooking kale in a pressure cooker, use the quick release function to release pressure immediately after cooking.
If you do not cook your kale long enough, it can become chewy. Make sure to cook kale until it is tender and no longer crunchy.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Kale
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz kale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Wash the kale and chop it into 3-4 large chunks, removing the stems.
- Turn the instant pot to saute mode and add olive oil.
- Add your chopped onions and garlic and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the chopped kale to the bottom of the pot, and stir.
- Pour in the broth and spices and stir once more.
- Set the instant pot to manual mode, seal the instant pot lid, and pressure cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Press cancel and quick release the remaining pressure with the quick release valve at the end of the cooking time.
- Take out the kale, drain the water, and place it in a bowl.
- Add more spices if you wish.
Notes
- If you are unable to find any kale at your local grocery store or farmers' market, you could also use spinach, collard greens, or Swiss chard in this recipe.
- Just keep in mind that the cook time may need to be adjusted if you are using a different type of green.
- Add some heavy cream or coconut milk at the end for a creamier dish.
- This recipe can also be made in the slow cooker. Simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for about 3 hours.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
Comments
No Comments