In 20 minutes, dinner is done! Follow these steps at home to make this fresh, bright kale spaghetti. This quick and easy pasta dinner combines sautéed sliced fennel and kale with the juice of not 1 but 2 lemons! What I love most about this pasta dish is its versatility—serve it warm, cold or at room temperature.

Lemony Pasta with Kale and Parmesan on a platter with a serving spoon

I know, I know, another pasta recipe. But again, it’s another quick pasta dinner idea! I couldn’t resist. Similar to my Broccoli Lemon Pasta, this recipe will knock your socks off. A few simple tweaks here take your average pasta night to the next level! There are a couple things that make this kale pasta recipe such a win:

  • Lemon! Adding lemon to kale (and really adding it to anything) brightens it up and gives that green such a pop of flavor that’s just perfect.
  • Fennel! Every time I cook with fennel people ask if they HAVE to use it. Of course you can leave it out, but cooking it changes the flavor so it goes from a licorice taste to nice and sweet.
  • It’s not a true pasta night without parmesan! Can I get an Amen?
  • The lightest sauce. You’ll actually just save a cup of pasta water to add back in for moisture! This keeps things light without losing any flavor.
Lemony Pasta with Kale and Parmesan in a pan with a wooden spoon

What’s the best way to serve Lemony Pasta with Kale?

There’s really no wrong answer here! This is a great dish that pairs well with a bigger meal or even stands alone as a main dish. Truth: I love it both ways!

  • Bring it to a picnic
  • Hot, cold or room temp
  • Serve it with BBQ
  • As a casual dinner with a glass of wine
  • For a potluck dinner with friends
Lemony Pasta with Kale and Parmesan on a platter with a lemon

I gotta say, cooking vegetarian pasta dishes really have my heart. They’re hearty and satisfying while still feeling light and delicious. Pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil is another quickie along with this pasta with artichokes and mushrooms.

sauteed kale and fennel in a pan with wooden spoons

What else can I make with kale?

So many good dishes! Sometimes kale gets a bad rap, but when prepared well, it’s so, so good. Here are some of my favorites:

  1. Chopped Kale Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, & Herb Dressing
  2. Kale and Peach Smoothie
  3. Zucchini Sweet Potato Kale Frittata
  4. Blender Green Juice
  5. Mushroom & Kale Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Bowls
  6. BBQ Chicken Kale Salad
Lemony Pasta with Kale and Parmesan on a platter

Making Lemony Pasta with Kale & Parmesan couldn’t be easier

I find that these ingredients I typically have on hand.  It’s also a great end-of-the-week recipe since the ingredients will last for a several days after your Monday grocery run! You can even use any shape of pasta your family prefers. Long, short, mix it up, use whatever you’ve got in your pantry.

pasta with lemon and kale on a platter with a serving spoon
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Lemony Pasta with Kale and Parmesan on a platter

Easy 20 Minute Kale & Lemon Pasta Dinner

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian
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Description

In 20 minutes, dinner is done! Follow these steps at home to make this fresh, bright kale spaghetti. This quick and easy pasta dinner combines sautéed sliced fennel and kale with the juice of not 1 but 2 lemons! What I love most about this pasta dish is its versatility—serve it warm, cold or at room temperature.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 pound spaghetti, or any pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch Lacinato kale, stems removed and chopped
  • salt
  • pepper
  • juice from 2 lemons
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile heat a large pan over medium/high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the sliced fennel and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 5-7 minutes until soft and cooked down.
  2. Once water has come to a boil add 3 teaspoons salt to the water then add the pasta and cook according to package.
  3. Add the chopped kale to the fennel with another 1/4 teaspoon salt and some freshly cracked pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until kale has wilted down. Turn off heat and set aside until pasta is done cooking.
  4. When pasta is done cooking, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and add the cooked pasta to the kale mixture.
  5. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice and sprinkle parmesan on pasta and toss to combine with the kale mixture. Add a little bit of the reserved pasta water as needed to help loosen up the sauce. Serve with extra parmesan if needed.

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