Kale may be in the spotlight, but chard is a wonderful green you shouldn’t ignore. Try it in this simple yet flavorful Pasta with Garlicky Chard.
Obviously I love kale, especially raw, like in Pomegranate and Apple Kale Salad or Fall Kale and Quinoa Salad, but there’s just something about this other leafy vegetable.
When I start getting chard in my CSA box, I wondered what to do with it. So I started experimenting and found my favorite way to eat it is with pasta.
Chard comes in various colors, even rainbow, with stems that are pink, red, yellow, and orange. I prefer to remove the tough stems and ribs, but if you don’t want to waste them, just cook them first before adding the leaves since they take a little longer. Chard reduces substantially in size when cooked, just like spinach and kale.
What do I like the most about this Pasta with Garlicky Chard?
- It’s pasta, which is comforting and delicious. It’s also affordable and a staple in my pantry. And probably yours, too.
- This recipe only takes a few minutes to make. Dinner will be on the table in under 30 minutes.
- If you want, you can prepare the greens in the same pot you used to cook the pasta. Fewer dishes to clean is always a plus for me!
- You only need a few ingredients: pasta, olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, chard, and salt.
- The leftovers taste great reheated the next day.
Pasta with Garlicky Chard
Ingredients
- 1 box short pasta (12-16 ounces) such as penne (I use Barilla gluten free penne)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil for sauteing
- 2-3 cloves garlic crushed
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 bunch chard any color, cut into ribbons
- salt to taste
Instructions
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Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water.
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Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and stir about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
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Add chard and a pinch of salt and saute until chard is tender and reduced in size.
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Combine the chard with the cooked pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Taste and add more salt if desired.
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Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
You can save dishes by cooking the chard in the same pot you used to prepare the pasta.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy chard? Please let me know in the comments!
Looking for more pasta recipes? You may also enjoy Creamy Asparagus Pasta.
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Just made the garlicky chard pasta and loved it!! Just the right amount of garlic without being over powering. I added a little Romano cheese on the top too. I will make this again for sure.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I love simple pasta dishes like this. So flavorful, yet so easy. Chard is one of my favorite greens – it’s so pretty!
I agree, it is really pretty!
I’m a sucker for anything garlic + pasta! This would be a big hit in my house!
Everyone in my house loves it. And it’s such a quick and easy meal!
Yum! It’s so dreary and cold here today – this would be the perfect dinner! Plus I love chard. 🙂
Thanks Mary Ellen! It’s one of my go-to recipes this time of year.
Well, I make an out of the world Swiss Chard gratin!! My kids and grandkids expect it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are never any leftovers. I do like adding a leafy green veggie to pasta. I think it not only is more pleasing to the eye but I think it makes the pasta taste better. Your recipe looks delicious!
Thanks Marisa! Your dish sounds wonderful, too!
I’m always looking for new ways to use chard! This dish looks delicious. 🙂
Thanks Raia! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
What a beautiful pasta dish! It looks so light, but filling & healthy too.
I love the simplicity of this dish. Love chard (or even leeks) ! Can’t wait to try. Thanks for the recipe
Ooh, I look forward to leeks in my CSA box, too!
Love how easy this is to throw together! I haven’t done much experimenting with chard (none, really) but I definitely want to give this a try, so I’ll look for it when next I hit to grocery 🙂
Thanks Giselle! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I cook with spinach and kale often. This gives me a good reason to try more chard!
I hope you enjoy it, Matt!
So fresh and clean. I love it!
Thanks Ginny! I love simple meals.
I’ve had a bumper crop of chard this year & eating it with pasta has been on high rotation for dinner. Sometimes with some mushrooms, sometimes with other herbs like thyme or parsley added, even a splash of white wine.
Love your photography of this dish. (goals!)
Sounds delicious, Louise! I especially love mushrooms. And thank you very much! 🙂