This delicious and simple sautéed kale with bacon and almonds is a savory healthy side dish that you’ll want on repeat! It’s paleo and Whole30 friendly, keto, and Low FODMAP. Serve it with any main course to add lots of flavor and nutrients to your meal.
Dressing up kale is one of my favorite things to do. Whether it’s a kale salad with ALL the goodies, a sweet potato kale hash or a “cheesy” kale Caesar salad, kale is a super versatile veggie that soaks in tons of flavor.
Sometimes you need to keep things simple, and quick (hello weeknights!) and having a go-to veggie side dish that’s not completely boring is a must.
That’s where this sautéed kale comes in! With crispy, savory bacon and crunchy almonds packs lots of flavor and texture into the whole meal.
What You Need to Make Sautéed Kale with Bacon and Almonds
Just a few simple ingredients make this sautéed kale shine! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4-6 slices bacon (use sugar-free for Whole30)
- 8 cups kale
- 2 Tbsp water or broth
- 6 Tbsp sliced almonds
- Sea salt and black pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
How to Make Sautéed Kale with Bacon
The magic for sautéed kale is all in the method of cooking.
I find that it can either be too dry (and burnt!) or too mushy depending on the amount of liquid used, how long you cover the skillet, how “tough” the kale is to begin with, and the level of heat.
First, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Cut the bacon into bite size pieces and add to the skillet. Cook until crisp, stirring for even browning. Once crisp, remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towel. Lower the heat to medium.
Reserve 2 Tbsp of bacon fat and discard the rest. If you discard too much fat, you can always add a bit more back as needed.
Add the kale to the skillet in batches, sprinkle with the water or broth and cover the skillet with a lid. Cook 2 minutes or until kale has wilted.
Once wilted, remove lid and cook, stirring, for another minute. Push kale to the side and add the almonds to the skillet to toast.
Sprinkle the almonds and kale with sea salt and pepper to taste, then stir together. Add the bacon back and continue to cook another 30 seconds until almonds are toasty brown.
Drizzle with lemon juice if desired and serve right away.
Where Can I Find Whole30 Compliant Bacon (with no sugar)?
There are so many more companies that make bacon without any sugar added now! I’ve always loved the bacon from Jones Dairy Farm and U.S. Wellness Meats, but you can also find sugar-free bacon from Applegate, Wellshire Farms and Pederson’s Farms.
There might be other brands in your local grocery store that carry bacon made without sugar. If you’re on the Whole30 or avoiding added sugar for other reasons, make sure you check the ingredient list to be certain.
Ingredients Substitutes for Sautéed Kale with Bacon and Almonds
If you don’t eat pork, you can easily sub in turkey bacon, beef bacon (love this one) or a vegan “bacon” here.
You can also sub in any other nut for the almonds. Make sure they’re either sliced or roughly chopped. Pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts are all good choices.
What Can I Serve Sautéed Kale With?
This is such a versatile side dish that it can really go with any main course! Try lemon chicken piccata, Salisbury steak meatballs, Whole30 meatloaf or baked garlic salmon to keep your meal low carb and keto.
For extra carbs, serve with crispy sweet potato fries and bunless burgers for a delicious savory paleo treat!
I hope you’re ready for an easy veggie side dish packed with flavor and texture! Chop your kale and grab a big skillet – it’s time to sauté 🙂
Sautéed Kale with Bacon and Almonds {Paleo, Whole30, Low FODMAP}
Sautéed Kale with Bacon and Almonds {Whole30, Keto, Low FODMAP}
Ingredients
Instructions
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Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Cut the bacon into bite size pieces and add to the skillet. Cook until crisp, stirring for even browning. Once crisp, remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towel. Lower the heat to medium.
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Reserve 2 Tbsp of bacon fat and discard the rest. Add kale to the skillet in batches, sprinkle with the water or broth and cover the skillet with a lid. Cook 2 minutes or until kale has wilted.
-
Once wilted, remove lid and cook, stirring, for another minute. Push kale to the side and add the almonds to the skillet to toast.
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Sprinkle the almonds and kale with sea salt and pepper to taste, then stir together. Add the bacon back and continue to cook another 30 seconds until almonds are toasty brown.
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Drizzle with lemon juice if desired and serve right away. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Want More Easy Paleo Side Dish Recipes? Try One of These!
Garlic Bacon Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower Risotto with Bacon and Mushrooms
Garlic Parsnip Fries with Bacon Aioli
Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Bacon
Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
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Sometimes you need to keep things simple, and quick (hello weeknights!) and having a go-to veggie side dish that’s not completely boring is a must.
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