Kale Madeline

Kale Madeline is creamy, cheesy and utterly decadent. This spicy creamed kale recipe comes together quickly and can be made in advance for the holidays. If you’re looking for a kale recipe with some spice to bring to the Thanksgiving table, this is it! Makes 4 servings.

I was introduced to Spinach Madeline on New Years Eve. It was end of quarter for my work, so I had to work late.

My husband and mother a special dinner for us to enjoy after I was off work. One of the recipes was Spinach Madeline.

I fell in love with it at first bite.

Funnily enough, I got to photograph Madeline Wright, the woman who created the recipe, a few years later.

When I was thinking about Thanksgiving, I wanted to add a twist to her recipe, so I used kale.

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Not surprisingly, it is every bit as wonderful.

What is Kale Madeline?

Kale Madeline is a creamy side dish. It’s similar to creamed spinach, but with kale. Instead of just using cream, it gets a kick from pepperjack cheese.

The original recipe calls for a jalapeno log. This one calls for shredded pepperjack cheese.

This Kale Madeline recipe was adapted from my Spinach Madeline recipe, which was adapted from River Road Recipes.

Why I love this recipe:

Kale Madeline is a fun twist on a classic.

It’s comforting, cheesy and decadent while also being wonderfully delicious.

Unlike a lot of creamy kale recipes, this one does not call for heavy cream, cream cheese or parmesan cheese.

We’re using a combination of milk and pepperjack cheese, along with some spices, to really bring the flavor.

This recipe is simple, calling for just a handful of ingredients. It comes together quickly.

We love the versatility of it, too. You can serve it as a side dish for a holiday, like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

It also is an excellent side for Date Night at Home. We love to pair it with Broiled Steak, Garlic Butter Steak or Cast Iron Ribeye.

Other side dishes to try: Roasted Parmesan Broccoli with Pine Nuts | Hasselback Sweet Potatoes | Lemon Pepper Green Beans | Homemade Mashed Potatoes | Broiled Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan

Looking for more inspiration? Head on over to my Side Dish recipe index for more ideas.

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Baking dish
• Saute pan
• Whisk or wooden spoon
• Liquid measuring cup
• Fine mesh strainer

Here’s what you need:

• Kale — I like to use frozen chopped kale and cook that before draining it and saving the liquid. My original recipe called for fresh kale, and I changed it because I liked the ease of the frozen kind better. However, if you want to use fresh kale, be my guest! More on this below.
• Unsalted butter — you could also use extra virgin olive oil here, if desired.
• All-purpose flour — I like to use unbleached AP flour, but the regular kind works, too. I have never swapped this for a gluten free flour, so I do not recommend that.
• Onion — yellow or white is perfect. You do not want to use a sweet onion or a purple onion.
• Milk — whatever you’ve got on hand works. We like to use 2% or whole milk for the most flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce — this gives the sauce some umami. If serving this recipe to vegetarians, purchase vegan Worcestershire sauce.
• Kale cooking liquid — this is the liquid that comes out of the kale after it cooks. You want to save it because it imparts such amazing flavor to the dish!
• Seasonings — we’re using a combination of celery salt, garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can add extra salt, to taste, though I suggest holding off on it until you taste the final sauce. It can get salty.
• Pepperjack cheese — this is what adds our spiciness. It goes into the sauce, as well as sprinkled on top before baking. Give it a taste before stirring it in to gauge the heat, as different brands are spicier than others.

Substitution ideas:

• Use fresh kale. Blanch the kale in a pot of salted water until crisp tender, then remove and drain. Reserve some of that liquid, then make the recipe as written below.
• Add some more heat. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes will add a kick!
• No onion? Use shallot! It will have a milder flavor, but it’s still delicious. I always have onions on hand, but if you’re into shallots, those work!
• Don’t have garlic salt? Use granulated garlic instead. You might need to add a pinch of salt to the final dish, but taste it beforehand.
• Pepperjack cheese too spicy? Use half pepperjack and half monterrey jack. If you don’t like heat at all, you can use all monterrey jack. We love the kick pepperjack adds, but I know it can be too much for some.

How to make Creamy Kale Madeline

Cook and drain the kale. Steam the frozen kale in the microwave. Drain over a large bowl in a fine mesh strainer. Let it cool before pressing the liquid out with a large spoon or your hand.

Preheat the oven, and spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat.

When the butter is melted, add the onion. Cook until soft but not brown.

Add the flour and stir until the onions are coated.

Cook for a few minutes until the flour begins to turn a golden brown. This is a roux, which will thicken the cheese sauce.

Slowly pour in the milk and the kale liquid. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens.

Once the sauce has thickened, add Worcestershire, celery salt, garlic salt and black pepper. Give it a taste and add salt, if necessary.

Remove the skillet from the heat and add most of the cheese. You also should add the kale.

Stir until combined.

Transfer into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 30-40 minutes. The cheese will brown.

Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

One thing I love about this spicy kale is that it’s versatile. You can make it for a variety of different occasions.

Here’s what I like to do when I make it for a gathering:

• Make it early. Put together the sauce and stir in the kale. Sprinkle the cheese on top, wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator overnight. Bake when ready.
• Double or triple the recipe. We always make extra when hosting because this side is always gobbled up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips and Tricks to making the BEST Kale Madeline

• Cook the kale early, and let it drain slowly over a bowl. This will give the kale time to cool off so you don’t burn your hands.
• Prep everything before starting cooking. This will make the assembly and cooking easy.
• Taste the pepper jack before stirring it in. Some are more spicy. If you’re concerned about this, mix in some mozzarella or monterrey jack.
• How to store: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container after cooled. Refrigerate for up to a week.
• How to reheat: Reheat portions in the microwave until warm.

More unique sides:

• Hatch Green Chile Macaroni and Cheese
• Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
• Bacon Streusel Stuffed Baked Apples