100+ Leafy Greens Recipes

Wondering how to eat more leafy greens? You’ve come to the right place.

I’ve outlined why leafy green vegetables are good for you, how to cook them and how to easily (and deliciously) incorporate them into your meals, every day!

There are over 100 leafy green recipes to help you reach your green goddess goals!

A collage of leafy green vegetable recipes.

Do you feel like you get enough vegetables in your day? You’re likely aware that veggies are filled with nutrients like vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, so they’re super important to eat on a regular basis.

But sometimes it’s just difficult to get enough of them in. That’s why I’m here with a ton of easy ways to eat more vegetables!

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What are leafy green vegetables?

  • Lettuces, such as romaine and mixed greens
  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Arugula
  • Bok choy
  • Beet, mustard, dandelion and turnip greens
  • Collard greens
  • Swiss chard
  • Watercress
  • Cabbage
  • Microgreens

Why are leafy green vegetables good for you?

In terms of nutrition, dark leafy greens are nutrient powerhouses loaded with:

  • Vitamins A, C, and K
  • Magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, and folate
  • Fiber
  • Antioxidants
  • Water

Leafy Green Salad Recipes

  • The cool thing about salads is you can use any single green as the base, or you can mix and match!
  • You can even throw in some fresh herbs for a little bit of pizazz.
  • Most people think of lettuce when it comes to salad, like romaine or iceberg, but you can also use spinach, arugula, kale, watercress or any combination of them.
  • It really depends on the toppings and dressing you’re in the mood for.
  • When it comes to arugula or spinach, I like to pair it with a citrus vinaigrette, but when it comes to romaine or kale, I usually like to top it off with something hearty and creamy, like Caesar or ranch.

Marinated Collard Greens Salad

Move aside boring salads! This bright and zesty collard greens salad is marinated in a flavorful vinaigrette until tender and tossed with citrus, almonds and a dash of Parmesan.

An overhead shot of a bowl of marinated kale salad.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

This easy strawberry spinach salad is simple and delicious!

Baby spinach, strawberries, candied pecans, green onions and goat cheese are tossed in a light and flavorful homemade poppy seed dressing.

An overhead shot of a bowl of strawberry spinach salad.

Kale Pomegranate Salad

Ready in just 15 minutes, our kale pomegranate salad with goat cheese is a vibrant, quick, and easy salad that’s perfect for any occasion.

Bursting with fresh flavors, this salad is tossed in a homemade honey-dijon vinaigrette that perfectly balances the sweet and tangy notes.

An overhead shot of a bowl of citrus kale salad.

Spinach Salad with Apple

This spinach salad with apple, cheddar and smoked almonds is a perfectly gorgeous combination of creamy-crunchy-smoky-sweet-tangy deliciousness.

It’s a true family favorite at our house – and one that I know you’ll be making again and again, too!

A front shot of a bowl of spinach apple salad.

Kale and Crispy Chickpea Caesar Salad

This kale caesar salad with crispy chickpeas is the salad to beat all other salads!

Dinosaur kale is massaged with the BEST caesar dressing, then tossed with freshly shaved Parmesan, crispy roasted chickpeas and drizzled with more of that amazing caesar salad.

Plates of kale caesar salad with crispy chickpeas.

Kale Apple Slaw

Learn how to create a vibrant kale apple slaw that’s perfect for holiday gatherings but delicious year-round.

This easy recipe combines the earthy bitterness of kale with the sweet crunch of apples for a side dish bursting with flavor and texture.

An overhead shot of a kale apple slaw.

Try these other leafy green salad recipes

Lettuce Wrap Recipes

  • I am a big fan of putting flavorful meats and fillings in lettuce cups because they’re light, crunchy and fresh and really let the flavors of the dish shine.
  • When shopping, I tend to look for Boston or bibb lettuce, or any artisan variety that is shaped like a cup.
  • You can even use romaine or iceberg leaves as “boats”!
  • Basically, anywhere you’d use a bun, you can use greens!

Firecracker Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

These firecracker shrimp lettuce cups have crispy pan-fried shrimp coated in a sweet, spicy and sassy firecracker sauce stuffed in lettuce cups with fluffy coconut rice.

The hardest part is deciding whether you can wait a moment while you assemble the lettuce cups, or if you just want to eat the shrimp straight out of the pan.

A tray of firecracker shrimp lettuce cups.

Quinoa Mushroom San Choy Bow

Quick and easy vegan lettuce wraps made with quinoa and mushrooms, flavored with ginger, red chili, tamari and lime.

They’re topped with peanuts, cilantro and spring onions.

An overhead shot of a tray of mushroom lettuce cups.

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These easy wraps are made with a sesame cashew (or peanut) sauce topped with toasted cashews and cilantro.

They’re fast, easy and are perfect for meal prep. I promise you’ll love them!

Cashew chicken lettuce wraps on a white speckled plate as an example for ways to eat more leafy greens.

Taco Lettuce Cups

These taco lettuce cups are an easy 20 minute lettuce cups stuffed with taco meat and your favorite taco toppings.

A balanced dinner that makes for perfect lunch leftovers!

An overhead shot of taco lettuce cups.

Try these other lettuce wrap recipes

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Pasta Dishes and Pizza with Leafy Greens

  • This is probably the easiest and most discreet way to add greens to your diet, and is a great way to introduce them to those who may be skeptical – but is also perfect for those who love leafy greens!
  • Grab a handful of spinach, kale, collards, or any other dark leafy green and add them to pasta.
  • I like to saute them first in some olive oil and garlic, then add the rest of my ingredients, like chicken, vegetables, fresh lemon juice and of course… pasta!

Kale Pasta Sauce

This shockingly easy, utterly tasty, and vibrant green-hued kale pasta sauce with olive oil and garlic is the ideal mid-week lunch or dinner.

An overhead shot of a bowl of spinach pasta.

Creamy Kale Pasta

Healthy comfort food is always a good idea, and this creamy kale pasta is perfect for a weeknight meal!

Decadent from a creamy kale sauce, and getting your greens in, it’s a cozy vegetarian meal that takes less than 30 minutes to come together.

An overhead shot of kale pasta.

Homemade Spinach Fettucine

Homemade spinach fettuccine is made from scratch and is perfect with your favorite sauce.

This homemade fettuccine pasta recipe is made with just three ingredients and has the brightest green color that is sure to be your new favorite.

An overhead close up shot of homemade spinach fettucine.

Beans and Greens Pasta Salad

Is there anything better than a comforting pasta salad recipe?

You’re going to love the colors and flavors in my beans and greens pasta salad, the perfect way to serve up a simple dish this summer!

An overhead shot of a bowl of bowtie greens and vegetables pasta.

Cajun Sausage Pasta with Peppers

Behold the tastiest and easiest one pot recipe for Cajun sausage pasta with peppers!

Tender pasta with spinach, bell pepper, garlic, Cajun and Italian seasonings, Parmesan and fresh herbs.

An overhead shot of a pot of Cajun pasta.

White Pizza with Bacon and Spinach

This fabulous pizza is made with a whole grain Greek yogurt crust, a luscious Parmesan garlic white sauce, sauteed garlicky spinach, crispy uncured bacon and ooey gooey mozzarella.

It’s a unique and fun pizza that you’ll totally fall in love with!

An overhead shot of slices of white pizza with bacon and spinach.

Try these other pasta dishes and pizza with greens

Soup Recipes with Leafy Greens

  • Another winner! Whatever greens you have leftover (I’m talking about that container of spinach in the back of your fridge…) can go in your next pot of soup.
  • You can toss them in at the beginning when you’re sauteing the veggies or at the end so they’re fresh and vibrant.
  • Either way you’ll be upping the nutritional game of your soups without much effort.

Kale, White Bean and Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash, kale and white bean soup uses seasonal ingredients like butternut squash to create a comforting 1-pot meal.

Ready in just 40 minutes, this warming + nourishing soup will become an instant favorite.

An overhead shot of a bowl of butternut squash kale bean soup.

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

This fabulously comforting Italian sausage and tortellini soup made with cheese-filled tortellini.

It also has loads of spinach, chunks of Italian sausage, cannellini beans, lots of oregano and a rich and delicious broth.

Tortellini soup in a white pot.

Bob’s Bok Choy Soup

Perfectly crisp bok choy soup is light, yet full of flavor. It’s easily customizable and comes together in 20 minutes!

A nutritious, comforting soup filled with mushrooms, asparagus, and your choice of protein.

Bok choy mushroom soup in a cast iron skillet.

Zuppa Toscana

There are a million copycat recipes out there for your favorite Tuscan soup, Zuppa Toscana. But the truth is, THIS version is going to be your new favorite.

And that’s because it has all of the ingredients and flavors we know and love – spiced Italian sausage, hearty kale, al dente Yukon golds and a creamy Italian seasoned broth – but it’s a little lighter and lots tastier than the OG.

Zuppa toscana in white bowls with leafy greens mixed in.

Kale, Bean and Lemon Soup

This easy vegan white bean soup with lemon is light, healthy, and still cozy, just right for a quick weeknight dinner.

About 30 minutes from start to finish and a meal in a bowl!

Overhead shot of bowls of kale veggie bean soup.

Hearty Lentil Stew

This hearty lentil stew is perfect for a chilly winter evening. French lentils give the stew body, while root vegetables and lightly wilted leafy greens finish the stew.

Plenty of good broth gives the stew a boost of protein, and it’s excellent served with a hunk of crusty sourdough bread.

An overhead shot of a bowls of hearty lentil soup with greens.

Try these other soup recipes with leafy greens

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Main Dishes with Leafy Greens

Spinach Gruyere Tater Tot Hotdish

This modern twist on tater tot hotdish is easy to make and absolutely delicious, with peppery ground beef, spinach, and flavorful gruyere cheese.

A homemade cream sauce comes together quickly instead of using canned soup!

An overhead shot of spinach gruyere hot dish in a cast iron skillet.

Fried Halloumi Quinoa Veggie Bowls

Fried halloumi bowls over bright and lemony quinoa with roasted beets and sautéed garlicky rainbow chard, then topped with pickled red onions, tzatziki, pomegranate arils, and mint.

With pre-roasted beets and store-bought tzatziki, this is our go-to quick weeknight dinner that tastes like it took hours!

An overhead shot of ingredients in bowls for beet green halloumi bowl ingredients.

Roasted Red Kuri Squash

A healthy recipe for red kuri squash, tossed with shredded kale and a delicious lemon tahini sauce. Red Kuri squash, also known as orange Hokkaido pumpkin doesn’t have to be peeled before roasting, and the skin is edible!

Add almonds for a bit of crunch, and serve this dish as a main or a side dish for Thanksgiving.

An overhead shot of bowls of red kuri squash with kale and nuts.

Green Goddess Wraps

Looking for a feel good lunch?

This green goddess chicken Wrap is light, refreshing, and super nourishing thanks to its smart ingredients.

An overhead shot of chicken avocado green goddess wraps.

Pumpkin Chickpea Curry

A vegan chickpea pumpkin curry for a simple, seasonal autumn meal.

Served with naan or brown rice, it’s a budget friendly, filling, and healthy dinner that freezes well.

An overhead shot of bowls of pumpkin kale curry.

Try these other easy meals with loads of greens

Leafy Green Side Dishes

Creamed Collard Greens

Creamed collard greens have a decadent quality, with slow-cooked onion tempering the collards’ mineral-like flavor.

When enveloped in nutmeg-spiked cream, you’ll find the collards resonantly tender and luscious in their flavor.

An overhead shot of creamed collard greens.

Garlic Spinach Stir Fry

Need a last-minute way to add veggies to your dinner?

This easy garlic spinach stir fry is made of ingredients you probably already have at home and can be whipped up in 10 minutes or less!

An overhead shot of a bowl of garlic spinach stir fry.

Sautéed Kale with Golden Raisins and Walnuts

This quick and easy healthy vegan side dish has wonderful texture and flavor using just a handful of ingredients.

Blanched kale is quickly sautéed with crunchy toasted walnuts, mild shallots and sweet golden raisins for a delightfully different recipe that pairs well with any protein or seafood.

A front shot of a bowl of collard greens with shallots, golden raisins and walnuts.

Southern Braised Collard Greens

These authentic Southern Collard Greens are braised in a savory meat flavored and perfectly spiced pot liquor resulting in an amazing tender silky texture!

Serve with this cornbread or corn muffins and hot sauce for a true down home meal. Looking for the real deal? This is a true Southerner’s dream! 

An overhead shot of bowls of southern collard greens.

Try these other leafy green side dishes

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Breakfast Recipes with Leafy Greens

  • I am a big fan of whipping up a breakfast casserole or egg cups to eat for breakfast all week.
  • It’s super easy to add handfuls of greens to either by sauteing fresh or frozen greens with some veggies and/or breakfast meat, then mixing them into the eggs before baking.
  • It doesn’t get any easier than that and you’ll feel really good about eating vegetables for breakfast!

Spinach Sausage Quiche

It features an all-butter flaky crust with a veggie, spinach and sausage filling, topped with Gruyere.

The quiche filling is flavored with Dijon mustard which takes it to the next level.

Overhead shot of slices of spinach sausage quiche.

Spinach Banana Muffins

Healthy banana spinach muffins are loaded with healthy ingredients and make a kid-friendly treat! Made with wholesome ingredients and perfect for making ahead and freezing.

Pack these in lunches or bring them to your next St. Patrick’s Day party or any occasion!

A front shot of green spinach banana muffins.

Try these other breakfast recipes with greens

Appetizer and Snack Recipes with Leafy Greens

Spinach Puffs

Buttery and flaky spinach puffs are easy to make with puff pastry, cream cheese, fresh spinach and savory bacon.

Baked in muffin tins they are elegant enough for a fancy party appetizer but just as delicious as a weeknight side dish!

An overhead close up shot of a spinach puff.

Try these other appetizer and snack recipes with greens

Green Smoothie and Juice Recipes

  • Add a few handfuls of fresh or frozen greens to your favorite smoothie and juices!
  • It adds a big boost of nutrition while letting the flavors of the fruit shine.

Frozen Spinach Smoothie

This simple frozen spinach smoothie contains 6 basic ingredients and is packed with nutrients.

Don’t worry, you won’t taste the spinach at all!

A front shot of a green smoothie carafe.

Try these other green smoothie and juice recipes

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