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Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Weeknight dinners can be homemade, healthy, and fast! Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta comes together in 30 minutes and is packed with hearty kale, citrus, and lots of fresh garlic.

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Feeding yourself a healthy dinner can be hard after a long day. My favorite 30-minute meal lately has been this Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta, which is flavorful, filling, and fast! Chopped kale, garlic, lemon juice, and your favorite pasta are blanketed in a creamy Parmesan white wine sauce. The perfect comfort meal to wind down and relax with!

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Hello, pasta lovers! Do you ever dream of velvety, creamy pasta that is comforting but also good for you? Today, that dream is about to come true!

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta combines high-quality, healthy ingredients such as kale, garlic, and lemon and combines them with your favorite pasta. The result is a fast and fabulous meal that is filling and refreshing.

Pasta is extra special to me because I grew up eating it in so many ways. For a quick meal, I would toss pasta with some butter and cheese and happily call it dinner.

This kale pasta is a grown-up version of that meal I had when I was younger. Instead of simply adding butter and cheese, I also add kale, garlic, lemon, and white wine. Such a classic comfort meal with a healthy twist!

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Healthy Aspects of Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

While some would not deem pasta as a health food, I like to pair my pasta with other healthy ingredients. This ensures that I'm getting enough nutrients while still enjoying the glorious carbohydrates that pasta offers.

While my recipe calls for traditional white pasta, feel free to change up the variety based on your diet!

There are tons of different kinds of pasta out there for any dietary restrictions. If you would like the benefits of whole grains, you can use whole grain pasta.

Gluten-sensitive people can use any variety of gluten-free pasta. There are so many different types of noodles at the grocery store, you will be certain to find a variety that you enjoy. You can even choose a flavored pasta, such as spinach and herb or sun-dried tomato.

In addition to your pasta choice, there are plenty of other healthy ingredients in this quick dinner recipe. Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta offers healthy fats and vitamin D from the kale, gut benefits from the garlic, and vitamin C content from the lemon. Feel free to add any additional vegetables that you enjoy in your pasta for even more nutrition and heartiness.

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Ingredients in Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

  • 1 16 oz. package rigatoni pasta, substitute w/ your favorite pasta
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup organic chicken stock, low-sodium
  • ¼ cup white cooking wine
  • ¼ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • A pinch of red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more for topping
  • 1 cup organic kale, de-stemmed + roughly chopped

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

How to Make This Pasta Dish

To begin, cook pasta according to packaging.

NOTE: rigatoni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 8-10 minutes. However, you should cook at 6-8 minutes or so for ‘al dente’.

Over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a 10-inch skillet.

Once heated, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and add minced garlic sauté frequently for about 1 minute until translucent and fragrant.

Add in the seasonings and stir together until well combined. Add in the kale and cook until the kale becomes wilted, about 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the lemon juice, white cooking wine, chicken stock, and grated cheese until combined and sauce begins to bubble, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the cooked pasta and stir until pasta is well coated.

Remove from heat and serve with additional grated parmesan, if desired.

Bon Appetit!

Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

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Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

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Weeknight dinners can be homemade, healthy, and fast! Lemon + Herb Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta comes together in 30 minutes and is packed with hearty kale, citrus, and lots of fresh garlic.
Author: Shanika
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 oz.) package rigatoni pasta  (You can substitute w/ your own fave)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 Tbsps unsalted butter
  • 1 cup organic chicken stock, low-sodium 
  • ¼ cup white cooking wine
  • ¼ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + more if desired
  • 1 cup organic kale, de-stemmed + roughly chopped

TOPPINGS:

  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions

  • To begin, cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: rigatoni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 8-10 minutes (however, you should cook at 6-8 minutes or so—‘al dente’).
  • Over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tbsps of unsalted butter in a 10-inch skillet.
  • Once heated, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and add minced garlic sauté frequently about 1 minute until translucent and fragrant.
  • Add in the seasonings and stir together until well combined. Add in the kale and cook until the kale becomes wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Stir in the lemon juice, white cooking wine, chicken stock, and grated cheese until combined and sauce begins to bubble, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the cooked pasta and stir until pasta is well coated.
  •  Remove from heat and serve with additional grated parmesan, if desired.
  • Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

  • STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
  • GLUTEN-FREE: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta. 
  • PASTA: You can use long pastas like Pappardelle, Fettuccine, etc. if desired, however, I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated. Otherwise, the traditional Penne pasta works perfectly!
  • KALE: If preferred, you can always substitute Kale with Spinach or Collard Greens.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 603mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1373IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 2mg

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