If you're looking for a frozen kale recipe or simple Gluten Free side, this is a great one! With only 5 ingredients, it's the perfect easy side for healthy weeknight dinners.

We first developed our Herbed Corn & Frozen Kale recipe as part of our Pantry / Freezer menu in Spring of 2020. It became an instant hit with Prep Dish subscribers and it couldn't be any simpler!

It requires only a few ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry or freezer. This is a simple go-to you can rely on at the end of the week when you're low on produce or didn't have a chance to prep anything ahead.

No one likes mid-week emergency grocery runs, which is why I love keeping ingredients for a few easy dinners on-hand. Having a good frozen kale recipe means you'll always be able to provide a healthy side dish, even when the fridge is bare. This one is perfect because it only requires a few staples. Combining kale with something super familiar like corn is also an excellent way to encourage picky kids to give it a try.

I hope you love this one!

For more meal prep recipes & tips on the regular, make sure to sign up for my free weekly newsletter! Bonus – you'll get a free meal plan when you sign up!

What is the nutrition like in herbed corn and kale?

As simple sides go, this is a nutrient-packed one! Here's what you need to know:

• Corn: While corn is mostly carbohydrates, it ranks low-medium on the glycemic index, so won't spike your blood sugar as much as some carbs. Corn is also high in fiber, folate, vitamin B6 and potassium.
• Kale: Kale is high in vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate.
• Herbs: The exact blend varies but herbes de Provence (<< affiliate link) contains a variety of healthy herbs like basil, thyme and rosemary. Basil is a significant source of vitamin K and may also reduce memory loss, blood pressure, and depression. Rosemary is also full of antioxidants. Smelling both basil and rosemary also may help you feel more alert and focused so consider growing some in a kitchen garden to smell whenever you need a boost! Thyme is thought to potentially help lower blood pressure, improve immunity and improve your mood. Many of the studies on herbs have focused on essential oils and extracts so further studies are needed to substantiate these benefits from culinary uses.

Is frozen kale as healthy as fresh?

It's easy to think of fresh fruits and vegetables as the healthiest choice, but frozen produce is often just as healthy! Its picked at peak ripeness and immediately processed and frozen, rather than sitting on a shelf gradually losing nutrients.

So can you freeze kale and maintain the nutrition? With frozen kale, there is likely a slight decrease in the nutritional value because frozen kale is generally blanched before freezing. Cooking kale can decrease its vitamin C and antioxidant value. However, the nutrient loss is low and vitamin C is abundant in a variety of foods.

At the end of the day, the more leafy greens the better! If minimizing prep work by buying frozen kale means your family eats more kale, I'd consider that a win.

What's the key to a tasty frozen kale recipe?

I like to keep frozen kale on hand, but it definitely has a time and a place.

Along with this herbed corn and kale recipe, my favorite ways to use frozen kale are in soups, chilis, pasta sauces and smoothies. I would never use frozen kale for a salad because the texture would be off.

In addition to choosing an appropriate recipe for frozen kale, the other key is thawing and draining it properly. If you add frozen kale directly to a recipe, it will likely yield a watery result. Instead, thaw the kale in a colander in the sink so that all of the excess water can drain as it thaws. Then squeeze all of the excess water out of the thawed kale.

My Tips for How to Cook Frozen Vegetables

I will always prefer fresh vegetables to frozen. At the end of the day, I just prefer the taste.

However, I definitely think frozen produce can play a key role in making sure we all get enough veggies, even on the busiest of weeks.

I recommend experimenting to see which frozen vegetables are most palatable to you and your family. While some might enjoy roasted frozen butternut squash, others will prefer steamed frozen broccoli or frozen green beans sautéed with some lemon and garlic.

It's worth experimenting here because if you can find even just 2-3 frozen veggies your family enjoys, you'll always have a healthy side on-hand. Not only do you not have to worry about frozen veggies going bad, they obviously require very little prep work as well since you don't need to wash or chop.

For more tips on using frozen veggies, check out my Meal Prep Monday episode on my must-have freezer items (and those I skip!)

What should I serve with this herbed corn and frozen kale recipe?

One of the best things about this simple gluten free side is that it contains carbs from the corn as well as plenty of vitamins from the kale, so all you really need to make a complete dinner is a protein.

Serve this with any protein you enjoy, such as Maple Mustard Pork Tenderloin or a simple salmon recipe like this one.

What are some other kale recipes?

Here are some of my favorite simple kale recipes! Frozen kale would work well in the first three, but you'll want to stick with fresh kale for the massaged kale salad.

Vegetable Bean Soup: This is another frozen kale recipe and another big hit from our 2020 freezer / pantry menu. Keep the simple ingredients in your freezer and you'll always have a healthy homemade option, no matter how bare your fridge gets!

3 Bean, Kale & Ancho Chili: While this chili recipe calls for fresh kale, you could easily use frozen instead. It takes less prep and is just as tasty in soups and chilis!

Sweets, Beets & Kale Hash: If you want a breakfast that packs a nutritional punch, you can't beat this one! Full of veggies and protein, your body will be fueled for even the craziest days after this breakfast.

Massaged Kale Salad: If you prefer your kale raw in salad form, give this citrusy recipe a try!

What to Do with Frozen Kale – More Ideas!

Frozen kale is quite versatile and you don't always need a “frozen kale recipe” per se. Here are some easy ways to use frozen kale in your day to day cooking. Just make sure to squeeze the excess liquid out when you thaw the kale, just like in the corn and frozen kale recipe above!

• Throw it into soup! Just like spinach, frozen kale is an easy addition to your soups and stews, majorly upping the nutrition with very little effort.
• Add to marinara. Saute some frozen kale before adding a jar of marinara sauce. I always add greens to my marinara on pasta night because, why not?
• Toss in smoothies. I'm a huge fan of green smoothies! If you don't have any fresh greens, toss a little frozen kale into your next smoothie. This is an excellent way to boost nutrition for any kids who don't yet love fresh greens. Just start small – kale does have a bitter taste and you don't want to overwhelm the smoothie. Start with a small handful and if you still love the smoothie, add more next time!
• Simply saute. I admittedly prefer fresh veggies to frozen BUT I love keeping a few frozen options on hand for when groceries are running low. If you need a super quick, healthy side dish, just saute some frozen kale with your favorite spices. Dinner is done!
• Add frozen kale to a frittata. This recipe calls for fresh kale but you could totally use frozen kale instead! Or, add to any frittata or quiche recipe you like.
• Add to lasagna. Give your favorite lasagna recipe (I love this one) a nutritional boost with the addition of frozen kale. Just saute it and add to the sauce layer.
• Add to quesadillas. Saute some frozen kale and add to your quesadilla filling. Such an easy way to up the veggie content of a meal!

Recipes with frozen kale are great but feel free to experiment! Most places where you cook fresh kale, frozen kale will work too.

Additional Frozen Kale FAQ:

How long does frozen kale last once cooked?

Cooked frozen kale (or any cooked kale) lasts about 3-4 days in the fridge. For more tips on how long various items last, check out my food safety and storage guide.

Can you freeze kale?

Yes, you can freeze kale. If you have an abundance of kale from your garden, or perhaps grocery delivery gave you too much, you can freeze the extra so it doesn't go bad. Beth from Budget Bytes has detailed instructions on how to do this. For other freezer meal prep hacks, read my 10 Freezer Meal Prep Hacks.

Is frozen kale cooked?

Yes. Like most frozen vegetables, frozen kale is generally blanched before freezing.

How to Cook Frozen Kale…and Have it Taste Good

Wondering how to cook frozen kale and have it actually taste good? The key is in how you thaw it! Rinse the frozen kale under cold running water until it's thawed. Then squeeze all of the extra moisture out before cooking. That's the key to tasty frozen kale!

This page contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support of Prep Dish!

Want to save for later?  Pin the image below!