17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (2024)

It often gets overshadowed by its popular neighbor kale, but Swiss chard is a superstar in its own right, making a colorful, tasty side dish, or a nutritious addition to pasta, soup, quiches, and more.

This leafy vegetable has earthy flavors and a mild bitterness, which adds perspective to dishes without overwhelming the other ingredients. While the leaves are bright green, the stems and ribs come in a range of colors—look for rainbow or red chard varieties. Either option will lend a beautiful pop of color and vibrancy to any dish.

01of 17

Cheesy Stove-Top Barley and Chard

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (1)

In this one-pot vegetarian dinner, chard brightens a cheesy take on risotto with barley standing in for the usual arborio rice.

View Recipe

02of 17

Rolled Stuffed Salmon

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (2)

It's hard to decide which ingredient steals the show here: the creamy Dijon and Swiss-Chard filling or the omega-packed salmon. This main course looks fancy, but it's quite easy to put together and makes a wonderful centerpiece at a holiday meal or other special occasion.

View Recipe

03of 17

Late-Summer-Vegetable Minestrone

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (3)

Homemade minestrone doesn't need to lean on store-bought broth. In this recipe, the flavorful broth builds from the bouquet of vegetables in the soup. For maximum flavor, we bookended this recipe with Swiss chard: We cooked the stems with onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in the beginning and then finished the soup with handfuls of the wilted leaves.

View Recipe

04of 17

Skillet Pizza with Eggplant and Greens

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (4)

It's time for a pizza topping upgrade. While we don't often see Swiss chard on the menu at our local pizza joint, we think it deserves a spot. The deep green leaves lend a punchy flavor and silky texture alongside creamy eggplant and gooey provolone cheese in this decadent deep-dish pizza.

05of 17

Creamy Swiss Chard with Coconut

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (5)

The earthy notes of Swiss chard pair well with creamy ingredients—and that doesn't just mean butter and cheese. In this dairy-free dish, wilted greens are coated in creamy coconut milk with a hint of spice from garlic, ginger, and hot chile peppers.

View Recipe

06of 17

Brothy Beans and Greens on Toast

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (6)

Layer up on nutrition by combining some of the healthiest ingredients—leafy greens and beans—in a fast and easy meal to be enjoyed anytime of the day. Start by sautéing the chard stems in olive oil and garlic before adding handfuls of the greens to wilt, then warm the beans right in the skillet and spoon the mixture over crispy toast.

View Recipe

07of 17

Swiss Chard Tzatziki

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (7)

If you love tzatziki, this Swiss chard-filled spin will surely become your new seasonal favorite. Silky blanched Swiss chard leaves blend right into the creamy rich yogurt in place of the traditional cucumber. Just be sure to drain the leaves well, squeezing out excess moisture so it doesn't water down the dip.

View Recipe

08of 17

Swiss Chard Farinata

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (8)

A topping of sautéed Swiss chard and Parmesan finishes our take on the Italian dish farinata. It's an easy-to-make chickpea flour pancake that you can pick slices of with your hands just like pizza. It's also gluten free.

View Recipe

09of 17

Raw Swiss Chard, Cabbage, and Brussels Sprout Salad

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (9)

Don't overlook the potential of Swiss chard raw in salads. We pair it with super crunchy cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Everything marinates together in a tangy vinaigrette for maximum flavor. It's a dish everyone will want you to make again.

View Recipe

10of 17

Chard Osh*tashi

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (10)

Osh*tashi is a Japanese preparation used for leafy greens such as spinach, but we love to make it with chard. The dark green leaves contrast with the colorful stems and bring a pop of color to any plate. The greens are lightly cooked, drained, and chopped, then tossed with soy sauce and topped with bonito flakes for serving.

View Recipe

11of 17

Swiss-Chard and Almond Pasta

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (11)

A natural addition to pasta, cooked Swiss chard, like any green, almost becomes more of a sauce than an ingredient. In this recipe, we pair the green with toasted almonds and nutty Parmesan for a quick and flavorful plant-based meal.

View Recipe

12of 17

Rainbow-Chard Quiche

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (12)

In this showstopper dish, tender leaves of chard are mixed into a delicate quiche filling, resulting in this gorgeous phyllo dough pie. Chard stems make an appearance as a final colorful touch atop the greens filled-egg custard.

View Recipe

13of 17

Beet Salad with Honey-Lavender Dressing

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (13)

Beets and goat cheese are a match made in heaven, so it's no surprise that Swiss chard, a relative of beets, also tastes fabulous with this assertive cheese. Pair the most tender spring leaves with spring beets, then drizzle with a honey and lavender dressing.

View Recipe

14of 17

Chard-Tomato Sauté

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (14)

Looking for a creative, yet quick side dish? This chard and tomato sauté is just the thing to make tonight. It's packed with burst cherry tomatoes, basil, capers, Parmesan, and, of course, Swiss chard. Basically, it's everything we'd want in a great pasta dish (without the actual pasta).

View Recipe

15of 17

Swiss-Chard-and-Ricotta Galette

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (15)

Swiss chard's earthier notes combine well with creamy, cheesy dishes, which is why we knew it was the green for this free-form pie. The buttery crust includes cream cheese and oats, the perfect foundation for greens and more cheese.

View Recipe

16of 17

Farro Salad with Oven-Roasted Grapes and Autumn Greens

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (16)

Swiss chard season spans from June to October and beyond, meaning there are plenty of chances to pair the green with different seasonal produce. Here, we showcase the heartier fall side of chard by pairing it with sweet roasted grapes and nutty farro.

View Recipe

17of 17

Bacon, Potato, and Swiss Chard Scramble

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (17)

For those who like greens (and potatoes) with their classic bacon and eggs, here's a hearty breakfast, brunch, or even dinner entrée.

View Recipe

17 Swiss Chard Recipes That Showcase the Versatility of This Healthy Green (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 ways you can eat Swiss chard? ›

Chard can be steamed or sauteed, and it's great in soups, stews, casseroles, frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Chard always has green leaves, but the stalks can be a variety of colors.

What is Swiss chard good for? ›

Chard contains 3 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin K and 44 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin A. This vegetable can help to combat cancer, reduce blood pressure, and enhance performance in sports. Swiss chard can be eaten raw or cooked.

Is Swiss chard more nutritious cooked or raw? ›

You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.

What is the difference between chard and Swiss chard? ›

All chard is Swiss chard; it's just stalk colors and names that vary! The stalks and leaf veins of Swiss chard vary in color from yellow to pink and deep red to white. Chard with red stalks is called Rhubarb, Red, or Ruby Chard. Chard with multicolored stalks grouped together is known as Rainbow Chard.

When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stone:

As a result, anyone with kidney stones should avoid Swiss chard because oxalates may increase symptoms in certain people.

What is the healthiest way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Boil Swiss chard for a healthier side dish.

Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove, and add several generous pinches of salt. Add the chopped stems from 3-4 leaves, and cook for 2-4 minutes until they're mostly tender. Place the leaves in the pot, and cover for 1-2 minutes. The leaves should be wilted.

What are the cons of Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stones: Swiss chard contains antinutritive oxalates, which may increase urinary oxalate excretion and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones. Blood clotting: If you are on blood thinners, you may want to avoid Swiss chard due to its high vitamin K content, which plays a role in blood clotting.

Is chard anti-inflammatory? ›

chard is also has an abundance of antioxidants as well as phytonutrient antioxidants. Why are these phytonutrient antioxidants so special? These antioxidants have been shown to have great anti-inflammatory properties. These phytonutrients can be found in the plant's leaves, and colorful stems.

Is chard better than spinach? ›

Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.

What is the healthiest vegetable in the world? ›

According to the CDC, watercress is the most nutrient-rich vegetable on earth. Because high-level amino acid is found in it, it helps in digesting proteins and producing neurotransmitters.

Which is better kale or Swiss chard? ›

While both vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, they differ in their concentrations of certain nutrients. For example, kale is a better source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and calcium, while chard is higher in vitamin A and iron.

Do you eat the stems of Swiss chard? ›

Chard stems are edible, too, so don't toss them when you're cooking the leaves! If I'm making sautéed Swiss chard, I simply add the stems to the pan a few minutes before I add the leaves so that they have a chance to soften.

Why is Swiss chard a super food? ›

Swiss chard is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K and a good source of vitamin C and magnesium. Swiss chard also contains the antioxidants beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Vitamin A plays a significant role in normal formation and maintenance of many organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys.

Is it better to eat chard raw or cooked? ›

Like many leafy greens, Swiss chard shrinks drastically when cooked, so 1 cup of cooked Swiss chard will contain much more nutrition than 1 cup of raw Swiss chard.

Is chard a super food? ›

All that being said, why should you grow chard? Well as it turns out, chard is a superfood and one of the healthiest veggies on planet earth. 100 grams of chard will give you 3 times the amount of vitamin K you need per day.

Can you eat chard without cooking it? ›

Chard can be enjoyed raw, especially if you like the flavours of other raw leaves like spinach, lettuce and kale. Chard is versatile and pairs well with flavours including: Garlic. Olives and olive oil.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5857

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.