Garlic Butter Rice with Kale – Easy and Flavorful Side Dish

An easy, flavorful side dish made with pantry staples and fresh greens

If your looking for a cozy side dish that comes together in under 30 minutes, this garlic butter rice with kale is it. Its rich, garlicy, and buttery, with just enough greens to feel good about going back for seconds. We make it on repeat around here.

This is a way to use up the fresh kale leaves you just picked from your garden or that bag of kale in the fridge. And its easy to swap ingredients depending on what you have on hand. Lets get into it.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of fresh kale
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 3 cloves of fresh garlic
• 1 cup of white rice
• 2 cups of chicken broth

Instructions

Chop kale into smaller pieces and place in a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the kale and add a pinch each of salt and pepper. Massage kale with your hands for about 30 seconds and set aside.

Melt butter in a large pan. Add garlic and saute for a minute.

Add rice and chicken broth. Add lid to pan and simmer on low for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Turn off heat and add kale. Place lid on pan and rest for 10 minutes.

Stir kale into rice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Tips and Variations

• Use brown rice if you prefer. It will just need a longer cook time.
• Add protein such as chicken or shrimp to make a full meal.
• Don’t skip the butter. It’s what gives the rice that rich, comforting flavor.

This is one of those recipes you’ll keep coming back to. It’s easy, satisfying, and endlessly flexible. If you try it, let me know how you make it your own.