Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake
Jan 25, 2019, Updated May 24, 2021
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Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake is a comfort dish with rich flavors that is sure to make your belly happy! It’s hearty and warm — a great option for dinner on a cold winter evening.
This dish is a great way to introduce kale to kids. Leafy greens can be particularly difficult to get kids to try. But when it’s mixed with hearty pasta, covered in creamy cheese, and topped with crunchy breadcrumbs, it’s practically irresistible.
Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake can be served as a main dish or a side dish. If you are serving it as a main dish, consider serving a green salad and garlic bread alongside it. Or serve it as a side to a protein of your choice. Chicken breast, pork chops, and baked cod are all great options. Because it’s served in a casserole dish and pairs well with so many other foods, Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake is a great recipe for potlucks and pitch-ins.
Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1/2 small white onion diced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar or jack
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 bunch kale chopped
Instructions
- Make pasta according to directions on the back of the package.
- Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a small skillet. Toss breadcrumbs in butter to coat them. Set aside in a bowl.
- Melt remaining butter in a small sauce pan. Add onions and cook for 1-2 minutes or until softened. Add salt, pepper, paprika, and flour and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute over medium-low heat.
- Add milk to sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Stir frequently.
- Remove sauce pan from heat and add cheese. Stir until smooth.
- Combine pasta, kale, and cheese sauce in a large mixing bowl. Place mixture into a large baking dish and top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until breadcrumbs turn golden brown.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Kale Nutrition
At just 33 calories, one cup of raw kale has nearly 3 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fiber. It also contains vitamins A, C, K, and folate, a B vitamin that’s key for brain development. Kale gets its dark green color from lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that protect against macular degeneration and cataracts. Alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, is also found in kale. It’s no wonder that kale is touted as one of the healthiest foods in the world.
Now that your kids have tried kale and have had a positive experience with it, encourage them to try it in other dishes. Here are some other kale recipes your family will love:
- Lacinato Kale and Tomato Medley Pasta
- Sweet Kale Fish Tacos
- Kale and Sausage Hand Pies
- Super Green Smoothies
What’s your favorite way to serve kale? Share in the comments below!
YUM! 🥰 This recipe is spot on! Thank you for sharing
Thank you for this recipe! I was looking for a recipe to recreate my favorite frozen meal from Amy’s. I used white cheddar and pepper jack cheese and it came out amazing.
We are so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for following.
Me too! My daughter loves the Amy’s one so I looked online and found this recipe. Making tonight!
When do you add in the flour?
It’s in Step 3: Melt remaining butter in a small sauce pan. Add onions and cook for 1-2 minutes or until softened. Add salt, pepper, paprika, and flour and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute over medium-low heat.