Oh my gooodness this this thiiiissssss. Totally going to be a standard repeat dinner in my house from now on. It is so good. And SO SO SO easy. And healthy!
There are only a few things in this recipe:
- Kale
- Turkey sausage
- Garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Parmesan cheese
Since we are only working with a handful of simple ingredients here, we have to treat them like they are our best frands. How to do that? A few different ways.
The turkey: Broowwnnnn it. BROWN IT. Not “cook on low temperature, stirring constantly, so it is just a beige-ish/gray color.” Brown!! Browning meat makes such a difference – it adds so much extra flavor.
The kale: Since we are going to saute it in olive oil, we must make wonderful things happen with the olive oil before adding the kale. By adding a few cloves of minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes, we really elevate that olive oil and bring so much extra flavor to the kale. Aaaaand bam – your kitchen smells awesome. You’re welcome.
Pile some of this goodness onto your plate and top with shaved Parmesan. The result? A dinner you won’t be able to stop thinking about all week. Isn’t it just the best when you find a healthy recipe that you love just as much as a big greasy pizza or bowl of pasta? It is my favorite thing ever when this happens.
This recipe was 100% inspired by this soup. This soup = one of my favorite things I’ve ever posted on the blog. The thing I love about it so much is the hearty bites of yummy sausage, kale, and potato. This is a little different without the potato, but you don’t miss it!
I like to think of this dish as a soup-less, healthier version of the Zuppa Toscana.
OH MY GOSH do you want to hear the best news ever?!?!?!
So let me preface first – I have two brothers (both in the military) and they are both married. The six of us are really close, and it is a dream of mine that we could all live in the same city some day. I would absolutely looovveee that. A few months ago, my sister-in-law, Jess, and my brother, Lawson, started the process of requesting their next base, and Fort Riley was on their list.
We found out yesterday that they got it!!! They are moving to Fort Riley (where Seth and I live) in May – just a few months! Seriously the best news ever, ever, ever.
And it is the most perfect timing possible. May is when the school year ends, so I won’t be teaching for the next few months. On top of that, Seth is getting back in late June/early July, so those last few months are going to drag. It is so perfect that Jess and Lawson will be getting here right when school ends – it will make those last few months so awesome!
Wooooo!!!!!! I never thought any of us would/could ever be based at the same location, and it makes me so happy!
Family moving closer makes me happy and this kale makes me happy 😀.
For you 21 Day Fix people, each serving of this recipe contains the following:
- 1 1/2 green containers
- 1 red container
- 1/2 blue container
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
*The garlic, pepper flakes, and lemon juice are “free”*
Click here to see more 21 Day Fix friendly recipes!
PrintKale and Turkey Sausage Saute with Parmesan [21 Day Fix]

- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale (3 green containers, packed), chopped into bite size pieces
- 1/2 pound turkey sausage, casings removed (2 red containers)
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (1 blue container)
- 1 wedge of lemon
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add your turkey sausage (you shouldn’t need to add any oil) and season with salt and pepper
- Break up your sausage with a wooden spoon and let it sit in the pan (leave it alone!) so that it will brown. Every so often, stir it around and break up the sausage more, but then let it sit again so it can brown. If you are constantly stirring it and moving it around, it won’t brown
- When your sausage is browned and cooked through, remove it to a plate
- Add the 2 teaspoons of olive oil into your pan along with the red pepper flakes and garlic
- Stir this around and let it cook for about 20-30 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant
- Add your kale, stir to combine, and saute until kale has wilted some and tenderized a bit
- Season to taste with salt and pepper
- Add your sausage back into the kale, and top with your Parmesan cheese. Squeeze a wedge of lemon juice over top, stir to combine, and serve!
*This recipe is gluten free*
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more kale-packed recipes? Check these out:
Simple Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Zuppa Toscana [Olive Garden Copycat]
Baby Kale, Farro Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
This was so yummy and simple. Thank you for all of your amazing recipes!
I made this last night and loved it. Now I’m eating the leftovers with scrambled eggs mixed in and a bit of Cholula hot sauce! Excellent breakfast leftovers!
I’m so glad you loved it, Heather! That’s an awesome way to use up the leftovers – I’ll have to try that next time for sure!
I made this for my lunches this week. I never had kale cooked before so I was looking for something easy instead of salad. I’m so glad I tried this! It was easy and delicious! I made a couple of changes. I used balsamic vinegar instead of lemon because that’s what I had. I also had a can of canellini beans and a potato to use, so I threw that in. I used a big bag of kale that Was already cut and washed. Adding the potato and beans allowed me to stretch it to last all week. So good! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Sarah! So glad you liked it! Kale is so delicious, cooked or raw – I love it. Your variations sound delicious! I bet those beans and potato added some great heartiness. Yum!
I wish you had a print option for your recipes
I do! There is a “print” button right under the picture in the recipes :).
Hi Annie, when I first saw a pic of this last week, I couldn’t help admiring it – it looked so hearty and good! Well, I made it for the first time tonight – super easy and YUMMY! Thanks so much! I found this recipe on a link from a Greatist email. You’ve got a new fan!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you made it and loved it, Yvette! I love this recipe, too :). Thanks for the sweet comment!!
We make this a lot, but with veggie sausages. Although, I do put kale in pretty much everything haha.
Yum! Kale is awesome.
That’s such great news about your brother and sister-in-law moving so close to you! This kale and turkey sausage sauté looks just perfect. You are definitely convincing me to try the 21 day fix!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Blue Apron Review
I know!! So pumped about that. Do it, do it, do it!! It’s really awesome.
I need a big bowl of this beautiful sauté right now! It looks so good. Yay for kale! ?
Amanda recently posted…Strawberry Sauce
Thanks, Amanda! Yay for kale :).