Quick and Simple Stir-Fried Kale and Bacon

I posted Serious Eats’s recipe for Collard Greens Mineira less than a week ago and I finally had a chance to make them tonight. In the past, I blanched my hearty greens before I sautéed them – a time-consuming, multiple-pan process – so this super-quick, one-pan recipe piqued my interest.

Time to make quick and simple stir-fried kale and bacon!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch lacinato kale, leaves removed and thinly chopped
• 3 slices of bacon, cut in ¼-inch strips
• splash of Banyuls vinegar or aged balsamic vinegar (the original recipe uses a squeeze of lemon)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Equipment:

• All of my recommended kitchen tools are listed here.

Method:

I washed and chopped the kale leaves…

…and assembled the rest of my ingredients.

I sautéed the bacon bits in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once they were crisp…

…I added in the kale leaves with a dash of salt and pepper.

I stirred the kale and bacon for a couple minutes and then splashed on some vinegar.

Super quick and yummy! The slightly wilted bitter greens are well-balanced with the bacon and vinegar. From now on, this speedy and simple cooking method will be the only way I make my hearty greens! Another shortcut to deliciousness…

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).

PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Quick and Simple Stir-Fried Kale and Bacon

4.59 from 12 votes

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Servings 2

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This is a super quick, one-pan recipe that makes for a delicious side dish!

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 bunch lacinato kale leaves removed and thinly chopped
• ▢ 3 bacon slices cut into ¼-inch strips
• ▢ Diamond Crystal kosher salt 
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ splash of Banyuls vinegar or aged balsamic vinegar

Instructions 

• Wash your kale. Rip off the leaves from the stem and chop 'em. Assemble the rest of your ingredients.
• Sauté the bacon bits in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once they're crisped up, add in the kale leaves with a dash of salt and pepper.
• Stir the kale and bacon for a couple of minutes, just until the kale leaves wilt. Then splash on some vinegar. That's it!

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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